The fourth week of the English Premier League is about to begin, and it promises to be one of the most important rounds of the season so far. Several teams will be looking to make up for disappointing results, win back the confidence of their fans and themselves, and get their campaigns back on the right track without falling into situations or traps that could prove costly later in the season. Others, meanwhile, will be determined to prove their superiority and maintain their dominance.
Manchester United vs Manchester City
The Manchester Derby is the headline fixture of the weekend and one of the biggest matches of the round. It will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 11:30 PM Western Australia Standard Time (AWST), which will be 1:30 AM on Monday, September 14, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
This is a match worth staying up late to watch. The Manchester Derby has always produced surprises and unexpected results, making it difficult to predict purely based on the current form of the two sides, especially with the game taking place at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s historic fortress.
The encounter also carries a special tactical dimension, with Manchester City looking to maintain early control at the top of the table. At the same time, it will be a genuine test of United’s readiness against City’s attacking power.
Manchester United will enter the derby with a boost following their convincing and morale-boosting victory over Sabah FC of Azerbaijan in the Champions League. However, United’s defense will face a major challenge against City’s attacking firepower, particularly the goalscoring machine Erling Haaland.
Neither side will have an easy task, and the derby is expected to be a fiercely contested battle from start to finish.
Liverpool vs Fulham
After demonstrating their considerable attacking strength following a period of draws and disappointing results, Liverpool return to action against Fulham at Anfield.
Fulham have struggled at the beginning of the season and have lost all of their matches so far. However, they will be hoping to take advantage of any defensive mistakes made by Liverpool and leave Anfield with a positive result or at least limit the damage against one of the league’s strongest sides.
Sunderland vs Arsenal
The final match of Saturday’s schedule will take place at the Stadium of Light, where Arsenal will be looking to maintain their perfect winning record.
The Gunners, who are among the leading candidates to win the Premier League title for a second consecutive season, will be determined to maintain their consistency. However, they face a difficult challenge against a stubborn Sunderland side at home.
Arsenal have painful memories of previous setbacks at this stadium, with past results in the North East having disrupted their title ambitions.
Sunderland could also struggle because of important absences in their squad, while Arsenal’s defensive solidity has been one of their biggest strengths, with the Gunners conceding just one goal so far.
Mikel Arteta’s men will be determined to avoid another setback in the north of England, especially after last season’s thrilling 2–2 draw between the two teams.
Chelsea vs Hull City
Everything appears to be in Chelsea’s favor at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues showing noticeable improvement in their performances and overall level.
Chelsea will also be eager to bounce back from their defeat against Arsenal in last week’s big clash. However, they will face a strong and ambitious Hull City side.
Scoring goals will not be easy against a Hull team that has impressed so far this season. They have defeated Manchester United and Coventry City, while also securing a draw against Aston Villa.
As a result, the match could prove to be a fascinating test of Chelsea’s attacking patience and ability to break down a well-organized opponent.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton
A wounded Tottenham Hotspur side will be desperate to return to winning ways after failing to secure a victory so far.
Tottenham will also be looking to rediscover their attacking rhythm following an unusual goal drought in the opening matches, despite making significant signings during the transfer window.
Everton, with their physical strength and tactical discipline, will be looking to take advantage of Tottenham’s current situation. If Spurs fail to find their rhythm, Everton could leave with at least a point and potentially more.
The Rest of the Matchweek
Those are the biggest and most important fixtures of the week. As for the remaining matches, Aston Villa will face Nottingham Forest in a battle around the middle of the table, with Villa hoping to make full use of home advantage and the support of their fans at Villa Park
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Bournemouth vs Brentford should be a closely contested encounter between two relatively evenly matched teams. Brentford will be looking to remain among the teams competing near the top of the table, while Bournemouth will be determined to move further away from the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town will provide Palace with an important test against an Ipswich side that has struggled defensively. Palace will be expected to take advantage of their opponent’s weaknesses.
Coventry City vs Brighton will see Brighton attempt to impose their fast-paced style of football away from home, while Coventry will look to use home advantage to frustrate their visitors.
Finally, Leeds United vs Newcastle United promises to be another highly competitive fixture. The match, scheduled for Monday, could develop into an intriguing battle between pace and physical strength, with the two teams relatively close in terms of quality and playing style.
A Crucial Week Ahead
With several major clubs looking to recover from disappointing results and others aiming to maintain their strong starts, Matchweek Four could prove decisive in shaping the early Premier League table. The Manchester Derby naturally stands out as the biggest attraction, but several other fixtures could produce surprises and have a significant impact on the teams’ momentum going forward.
