You wait nearly three weeks for a Premier League matchday and then two arrive at once…
Reigning champions and leaders Manchester City head to strugglers Norwich City, while Liverpool visit the lowly Burnley after the Clarets earned a valuable point against Manchester United in midweek.
Ralf Rangnick's Red Devils face Southampton, who impressed with a comeback victory over Tottenham on Wednesday. Antonio Conte's side will hope to bounce back at home to Wolves.
Ahead of the action, Stats Perform uses Opta data to aid your fantasy football selection dilemmas.
JOSE SA (Tottenham v Wolves)
Wolves have become specialists in securing slender wins to propel them towards an unlikely qualification for European football.
Jose Sa has been central to the success of Bruno Lage's backline, saving 69 of the 86 shots on target he has faced – the best save percentage (80 per cent) in the Premier League of any goalkeeper to play at least five games.
While he will be tasked with keeping Son Heung-min and Harry Kane out, the Portugal goalkeeper could be good shout for some important save bonus points.
ANDREW ROBERTSON (Burnley v Liverpool)
Robertson is hardly a new phenomenon for the veteran fantasy football players, but the Scotland international has been sensational on the road for Liverpool.
The left-back has provided five assists in his last four top-flight away games and has six overall for the Reds on the road this season – the last player to assist more away from Anfield in the league was Danny Murphy (seven) in 2002-03.
With Burnley struggling at the top end of the pitch as well, the former Hull City man could be a likely source of clean-sheet points as well.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO (Newcastle United v Aston Villa)
Philippe Coutinho has starred under Steven Gerrard in his limited time as a loanee at Aston Villa, registering a goal and two assists against Leeds United on Wednesday.
That took the Brazil international's tally to four goal involvements (two goals, two assists) in his opening three league games for Villa, averaging a goal or an assist every 44 minutes.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle United are down in the relegation mix, so Coutinho remains a smart pick with many expecting goals galore at St. James' Park.
PATSON DAKA (Leicester City v West Ham)
Leicester City have endured a tough period under Brendan Rodgers, but Patson Daka has still been a standout performer for the Foxes.
The Zambian striker has found the net in four of his five home top-flight appearances and is providing previous fantasy favourite Jamie Vardy with some stiff competition.
Daka has scored on all three of his home league starts and could be the seventh Premier League player in history to do so in his first four if he can breach the West Ham defence on Sunday.
Los Angeles FC v Austin FC: Wolff still targeting playoff spot
Austin FC may have suffered a disappointing loss last time out, but Josh Wolff is aiming to bounce back against Los Angeles FC to give themselves a playoff chance.
The Black and Verde were beaten 2-1 by Toronto FC at the weekend after failing to find a late equaliser, condemning them to a second consecutive defeat.
Austin currently sit 11th in the Western Conference but are losing ground on the playoff spots as they are 10 points behind Houston Dynamo in seventh.
Wolff admitted that their task is now harder but is determined to make sure his team are still in the conversation come the end of the regular season.
"I think there's a points total that we have in mind," Wolff said, "but we need to work on things.
"We're going to be able to get chances, but the playoffs are still achievable. We have to pick up points and get to the last game with a chance of still getting in.
"We've got to take care of our chances in a better way, that's all."
Meanwhile, LAFC are winless in three MLS matches, giving up a 2-0 lead against rivals LA Galaxy last time out in a 4-2 defeat.
They still sit second in the table, but the teams below them have closed the gap.
Steve Cherundolo was quick to brush aside Saturday's defeat, with his sole focus now on picking up three points.
"We'll try to turn it around as fast as possible to get some points on Wednesday night," he said.
"We'll continue to go and hope fatigue doesn't play more of a part as players continue to get towards full fitness."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LAFC – Denis Bouanga
Denis Bouanga has scored six career goals against Austin FC in all competitions, tied for the most of any player against them.
Austin FC – Alexander Ring
Austin failed to register a shot on target against Vancouver on August 31 but improved on that despite their loss to Toronto last time out.
While Owen Wolff got the goal at the weekend, Alexander Ring registered the most shots on target with two.
MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN
Los Angeles have won seven of 10 all-time meetings with Austin (D1 L2), though the Verde and Black did manage to take a point when the sides met in league play in Austin on June 19. LAFC have won four of five home matches against Austin (L1), keeping clean sheets in all four wins.
However, LAFC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Houston Dynamo in their last home match. They have never lost two straight regular-season home matches and have failed to score in back-to-back home league matches only once, doing so against Atlanta United and Houston in June 2023.
Meanwhile, Austin have lost eight of their last 13 regular season matches (W3 D2) dating back to late May. Austin had lost only seven times in their previous 23 regular season matches dating back to September 2023 (W7 D9).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
LAFC – 66.3%
Draw – 18.4%
Austin FC – 15.3%
Luis Enrique: PSG ready to create new stars in Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain may have a less experienced side than in previous years, but Luis Enrique believes they are primed for success.
PSG are embarking on their first Champions League without Kylian Mbappe in seven years, with the Frenchman scoring 48 goals in the competition for the club.
He also helped them to reach the final in 2020, only to lose out on the trophy to Bayern Munich.
PSG host Champions League debutants Girona on Wednesday, boasting an impressive attack with the likes of Bradley Barcola, new signing Joao Neves, who already has four assists in four league games, and Ousmane Dembele.
No player made more passes breaking the opposition's defensive line than the Frenchman (21) in the Champions League last season.
"I have always wanted my players to be motivated for every game. I can use each of the six forwards we have," Luis Enrique said on Tuesday.
"They are ready, and we're a versatile team, and it's great to have all those options because the season is going to be long.
"We need to create our own stars. We need to adapt, convince the players of the way to play. I'm very motivated, and I'm delighted to have the club's trust, and I'm trying to repay them by delivering results. We have a clear project that was set out last season."
PSG captain Marquinhos added: "We always have the target of going deep into the competition. I think my team-mates are the best in the world, even if there are no big names or stars, I am proud of my team."
Midfielders Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha have returned from injury, though goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been ruled out with a thigh injury and 25-year-old Russian Matvey Safonov could therefore be handed his first start.
Luis Enrique noted he was pleased with the squad, and it was too early to jump to conclusions about their lack of experience.
"I don't put any limits on my players. Experience is important, but I see many experienced players making the same mistakes. It's difficult to calculate the percentage of experience needed," he added.
"I think we are selfish as coaches. We always want the team to win. It will take a few months, and we will see how the team evolves and develops."
Luis Enrique heaped praise on Girona coach Michel, who led his team to a surprise third-place finish in LaLiga last season.
"I must acknowledge that no one expected to see them here. It is their first time, but I watched all their games last season, they play great football," he said.
Portland Timbers v LA Galaxy: Vanney impressed by confidence in attacking ranks
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney has praised his attacking players' confidence and hopes they can build on it against Portland Timbers on Wednesday.
The Galaxy came from 2-0 down with a superb second-half comeback against rivals Los Angeles FC last time out, winning 4-2 to go seven points clear in the Western Conference.
They have lost just one of their last five MLS matches, but that did come in their last away match, a 2-1 defeat to St. Louis City.
However, Vanney insisted his team can find the balance they need at both ends of the field to get another win.
"This team is built to attack, especially if you look at the guys we have on the field," Vanney said.
"We have some high-quality attacking guys. Over the course of the year, we've grown a ton of confidence to score goals and finish chances, but it comes down to the balance of being able to do that and being able to defend by not giving up things."
They face a Portland team coming off the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Colorado Rapids at the weekend, leaving them eighth in the table.
The Timbers have won just one of their last four league outings, though that did come at home against Seattle Sounders.
Head coach Phil Neville was disappointed by the weekend's defeat but admitted it would be quickly put behind them.
"At this stage of the season, you can't dwell on [losses]," Neville said.
"We can be frustrated and disappointed, the players are as well, but the game plan was there [against Colorado], we didn't execute it.
"But now it's back to Providence Park on Wednesday which will be an amazing game in an amazing atmosphere."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Evander
Evander has recorded an assist in eight consecutive home matches, equalling the MLS record set by Eric Wynalda in 1996-97.
Evander's nine straight matches overall with a goal contribution equals the Timbers' club record set by Diego Valeri in 2017.
LA Galaxy – Riqui Puig
Riqui Puig starred for the Galaxy in the derby against LAFC, scoring once and getting two assists. He is the third player to reach double-figure goals for LA Galaxy in the 2024 regular season (10, behind Dejan Joveljic on 14 and Gabriel Pec on 11).
This is the fourth time the Galaxy have had three different players score 10 goals in a season (1998, 2014, 2018), tied for the most such seasons in MLS history (San Jose Earthquakes).
MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN
Portland are unbeaten in 11 straight home matches in all competitions, winning nine of them (D2). This is the Timbers' longest home unbeaten run across all competitions since a 12-match stretch from April to July 2018.
However, the Galaxy are unbeaten in seven straight regular-season matches against Portland (W4 D3), including a 3-2 home win on July 20. The only longer unbeaten run against the Timbers in regular season play was an eight-match streak by Real Salt Lake from 2011-14.
The Galaxy have already won at Vancouver and drawn at Seattle this season. LA has avoided defeat in away matches against all three Cascadia clubs in a single season twice before, doing so in 2014 and 2016, but they are not the favourites to win here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 45.2%
Draw – 26.9%
LA Galaxy – 28%
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