Premier League Matchweek 9 Preview: Liverpool vs Arsenal & SAST Times

👀 EPL Weekend Preview

Manchester City’s perfect start came to an end at Villa Park, beaten 2-1, while Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton drew them level on points at the top, with City staying ahead only on goal difference. The standout scoreline of the weekend was Bournemouth’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford, a result that leaves Manchester United winless in three. Premier League Matchweek 9 runs from Saturday 31 October to Monday 2 November, opening with Chelsea vs Manchester United at lunchtime and featuring the round’s heavyweight clash, Liverpool vs Arsenal, on Sunday evening. Here’s every fixture with its SAST kick-off time.

How Matchweek 8 Finished

Manchester City’s run of perfect results ended with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, letting Arsenal draw level at the top, while Bournemouth’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford was the shock result of the weekend. Here’s the full set of results:

Manchester City and Arsenal are level at the top on 21 points, with City ahead only on goal difference (+11 to +8); Brighton are a clear third on 16 despite their defeat at Anfield. At the bottom, Sunderland stayed winless but picked up a point in a goalless draw with Leeds, leaving them last on five.

Premier League Matchweek 9: Fixtures & SAST Kick-Off Times

The UK is now on GMT after last weekend’s clock change, so every kick-off this round is 2 hours ahead of UK time in South Africa. The SAST times above already account for this, but it’s worth double-checking against your operator’s listed time closer to kick-off, since broadcast schedules can shift at short notice.

Saturday Lunchtime: Chelsea vs Manchester United

Chelsea are fifth on 13 points after back-to-back defeats, including last week’s 0-2 loss at home to Tottenham. They’re still without first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who needed surgery after fracturing his jaw in a collision during the win over Everton and is expected to be out for several more weeks, so Mike Penders continues deputising in goal; Reece James also remains out as he continues his rehabilitation programme. Manchester United, 16th on seven points, were thrashed 3-0 at home by Bournemouth last time out and have their own fitness concerns: Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo both missed the recent trip to Atlético Madrid through injury and are doubts, and Benjamin Šeško remains out with a shin issue with no clear return timeline; Lisandro Martinez has recently been confirmed as available again, and Senne Lammens continues as Man United’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Sunday’s Headline Fixture: Liverpool vs Arsenal

Liverpool are fourth on 15 points after a 2-0 win over Brighton, while Arsenal sit second on 21, level with Manchester City at the top but behind on goal difference, after their own 2-0 win over Everton. Liverpool will be without Jeremie Frimpong, who picked up a fresh muscle injury and isn’t expected back before the November international break, and summer signing Victor Munoz is a fitness doubt; Dominik Szoboszlai had been a concern but recent reports suggest he’s expected to be fit for this one. Arsenal’s team news is heavier: Bukayo Saka is out with a back injury whose severity is still being assessed, so there’s no confirmed return date, and centre-back William Saliba remains sidelined by the long-term back problem that has kept him out since before the season even started, with his own return not expected until around December. Piero Hincapié is also out, ruled out for several weeks after scans in mid-October confirmed an ankle injury, though Christos Tzolis, who picked up a hamstring injury on international duty in early October, is in with a chance of being back in time for this one. With Manchester City playing Brighton on Saturday, Arsenal will already know whether they need a result at Anfield to keep pace at the top.

Also Worth Watching

• Manchester City vs Brighton, Saturday, City are level on points at the top but will be out to respond immediately after their first defeat of the season at Villa Park; Antoine Semenyo is still out after limping off with a knock, with no firm return date yet, and a couple of other City players were being managed for knocks picked up in recent matches, so it’s worth checking the team news closer to kick-off. Brighton, third on 16 after their win at Anfield, travel with no major fresh concerns reported
• Hull City vs Ipswich Town, Saturday, Hull are 10th on 10 points after a 1-1 draw at Brentford, and Ipswich are 12th on 10 points after drawing 1-1 at home to Nottingham Forest. Both sides had minor fitness doubts in the build-up, worth confirming against the official team sheets closer to kick-off
• Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace, Saturday, Spurs are 14th on nine points after their 2-0 win at Chelsea; Palace are 17th on seven points after a 0-2 home defeat to Newcastle, with summer signing Quinten Timber a fitness doubt after a hamstring issue. Check the official team news nearer kick-off for the latest on both squads
• Newcastle United vs Everton, Monday, Newcastle are eighth on 11 points after a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace; Everton, 11th on 10 points after a 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal, round out the weekend with a Monday night game at St James’ Park. Confirm team news for both sides nearer kick-off

Where to Bet on the Premier League in South Africa

Every major South African-licensed sportsbook covers Premier League markets, from match-result bets to in-play options once kick-off arrives. See our South African sportsbook comparison to find an operator that suits you, or check individual operator reviews for licensing, bonus and payment details before you sign up.