EPL Match Day 9: Shock Results Set To Rock Top Teams This Weekend

The English Premier League (EPL) rolls into Match Day 9 this weekend, promising a slate of engaging fixtures where upsets could very well be on the cards. This presents a fascinating scenario for fans and observers, especially those keeping a close eye on the title race and the battle at the bottom of the table.

Dependable NG reports that while the spotlight will be heavily focused on Arsenal’s bid to retain their top spot as they host Crystal Palace on Sunday, and second-placed Manchester City’s trip to Aston Villa on the same day, a closer look at the weekend’s schedule reveals several matches that could defy conventional predictions. Before the big Sunday games, Saturday sees Chelsea welcome Sunderland, Liverpool travel to Brentford, and Manchester United host Brighton. With the title contenders facing tricky opposition, and the mid-table battle heating up, this match week is poised for drama, as five specific fixtures stand out as having the potential for an unexpected scoreline.

The first potential upset lies in the match between Chelsea and Sunderland. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side has recently shown a flicker of promising form, securing back-to-back Premier League victories and a commanding midweek win in the Champions League. However, Sunderland arrives at Stamford Bridge as a tricky and determined opponent. The Black Cats look determined to secure their top-flight status and have been successfully accumulating crucial points, including a notable home win over Wolves last time out. A well-organized Sunderland team, which currently sits surprisingly high in the table, could certainly prove to be a difficult hurdle for the Blues, who are still trying to find a consistent rhythm under their new manager. Despite Chelsea being heavy favorites, their home form has shown inconsistencies, making this match a potential banana skin.

Next, the clash between Manchester United and Brighton has been widely touted as a definitive test of whether Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United has truly turned a corner, especially after finally recording consecutive wins, including a significant victory at Liverpool last weekend. However, Brighton & Hove Albion has historically proven to be a bogey team for United at Old Trafford, having won on their last three visits to the famous stadium. Brighton’s tactical approach and ability to cause problems for the Red Devils mean that despite United’s recent upturn in form, an unexpected result for the visitors is very much on the cards. With both teams having an identical number of points going into the weekend, the pressure is on United to break this unenviable run of home defeats against the Seagulls.

A tough London derby is also expected when Arsenal faces Crystal Palace. Last season, Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace was one of the few teams that took points off Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, a result that contributed to the Gunners’ title challenge faltering. Though Palace has since seen their unbeaten run broken, they remain a robust and decent side capable of causing an upset. They will be eager to test the title credentials of the league leaders once again. Arsenal, sitting atop the league, will be desperate for three points to maintain their gap, but Palace’s defensive strength and threat on the counter-attack make this a far from guaranteed victory for the home side.

Meanwhile, Liverpool must travel to Brentford as they seek to end their domestic misery. Excluding their dominant 5-1 midweek win in the Champions League against Frankfurt, Liverpool has been experiencing a serious wobble in the Premier League, having lost three league games in a row (and four in all competitions). Despite undergoing managerial changes and losing key players over the summer, Brentford continues to be a solid, well-drilled unit under Keith Andrews. The Bees pose a significant challenge at the Gtech Community Stadium and will undoubtedly be looking to pile more misery on the struggling Reds. Liverpool’s domestic form has been a major concern, and an away trip to a resilient Brentford side is arguably the toughest fixture they could face to halt their losing streak.

Finally, the match at Villa Park between Aston Villa and Manchester City is another high-stakes fixture. Aston Villa’s home ground has been a site of unexpected difficulty for Manchester City in the past; they lost their last two league visits there. While the current champions travel with confidence, largely due to the sensational form of striker Erling Haaland, they must be extremely wary of a resurgent Villa side under Unai Emery. Villa’s tactical setup is known to cause City problems, and despite a recent Europa League loss, their home league form has been exceptional since last October. The absence of key City midfielder Rodri further levels the playing field, setting the stage for a potentially stunning outcome where Villa could secure a draw or even a famous victory.