[ad_1]
After a two-week hiatus due to the international break, the Premier League returns this weekend. With just seven games gone of the season, the table is yet to take true shape – although there are some very interesting patterns emerging.
And as we gear up for some mouthwatering top-flight action, Sportsmail picks out 10 key reasons why you should look forward to its comeback…
1. Ciao, Claudio!
Let’s start with Saturday’s early kick-off, as Watford host unbeaten Liverpool. The former shocked everyone in England when they sacked their manager Xisco Munoz on October 3 – a day after losing 1-0 at Leeds United.
The 41-year-old’s departure came as somewhat of a surprise considering the club sit 15th in Premier League with seven points from seven games.
However, in his place comes a man who is no stranger to the Premier League in Claudio Ranieri. The Italian’s arrival at Vicarage Road will be his fourth post in England having previously managed Chelsea, Fulham and most famously Leicester City – who he guided to the fairytale 2015-16 title.
Ranieri’s experience coupled with the expected ‘new manager bounce’ should see a galvanised Watford side pose a possibly-depleted Liverpool a lot of problems on Saturday afternoon.
Claudio Ranieri will take charge of his first fixture as Watford boss on Saturday vs Liverpool
2. A local derby to whet the appetite
After the action at Vicarage Road, we have the small matter of a local derby up the M1 and M6 as Aston Villa entertain bitter rivals Wolves in a West Midlands derby.
Last season’s fixtures were a tight affair with only one goal scored across two games. Villa won at Molineux 1-0 – an encounter that saw both teams finish with 10 men. The clash at Villa Park ended 0-0, but is memorable for Wolves defender Romain Saiss’s unbelievable one-yard miss.
With fans in attendance for this game after the easing of Covid restrictions, this fiery derby should have the sparks that were missing last year.
Villa have won just one of their last…
[ad_2]
Source : dailymail
