EPL fixtures: Man City face Aston Villa test as Arsenal host Crystal Palace

Manchester City’s nine-game unbeaten run will be tested by trip to Aston Villa, while Premier League leaders Arsenal welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Liverpool must halt their three-game Premier League losing streak with Saturday’s visit to Brentford to remain in touch with Arsenal, while Manchester United are aiming to build on their long-awaited victory at Anfield last weekend but face a Brighton side that have grown used to winning at Old Trafford in recent seasons.

City begin the weekend in second, three points off the top, and showing signs they will brush off the malaise that caused an unceremonious fall from grace last season.

Pep Guardiola’s men finished a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal in their first trophyless season for eight years.

Early defeats to Tottenham and Brighton suggested more of the same for Guardiola’s new-look squad.

But the signing of giant Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the unstoppable form of Erling Haaland have dragged City back into title contention once more.

“I have the feeling things are coming back to what we were in the past,” said Guardiola after Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win at Villarreal.

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“Last season was tough for us, the vibe and how the team are playing now make me feel fine,” he added.

A trip to Villa Park, where City have lost for the past two seasons, is a litmus test of their credentials as title contenders.

See the Premier League fixtures scheduled for the weekend below:

Friday

Leeds v West Ham

Saturday

Newcastle v Fulham

Chelsea v Sunderland

Manchester United v Brighton

Brentford v Liverpool

Sunday

Wolves v Burnley

Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Manchester City

Everton v Tottenham

The Star