The Premier League returns on Saturday after a 19-day international break, with Arsenal among the leading sides looking to restart their campaigns strongly when Matchweek 6 gets underway.
The 2026/27 season was paused after Matchweek 5 as part of a revised FIFA international calendar that merged the traditional September and October international windows into one extended period from September 21 to October 6.
The new arrangement allowed national teams to play up to four matches during the window, leaving Premier League clubs facing an unusually long spell without domestic action.
That wait ends at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, where defending champions Arsenal host unbeaten Leeds United in the opening fixture of the weekend.
Arsenal will be looking for a response after their final match before the international break ended in a 3-0 defeat away to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Leeds, meanwhile, have made an unbeaten start to their return to the topflight under Daniel Farke and are among only five teams yet to lose this season. Their run has also matched a feat last achieved by the club in the 2001/02 Premier League campaign.
The Saturday schedule also features Aston Villa against Brentford, Chelsea versus Bournemouth, Ipswich Town against Fulham and Sunderland’s meeting with Brighton.
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Manchester United will then welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford in the late fixture, with both clubs hoping the international break has provided an opportunity to reset after difficult starts.
The weekend’s biggest fixture arrives on Sunday at Anfield, where Liverpool host leaders Manchester City in a meeting between two of the league’s leading sides.
City return to action with a perfect record from their opening five matches, while Liverpool have collected nine points so far.
The contest also brings together two of the Premier League’s leading scorers. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland leads the scoring chart with five goals, while Liverpool forward Alexander Isak has four.
Liverpool’s preparations, however, have been complicated by injury concerns following the international break.
Isak left the Sweden squad with a thigh problem, while Cody Gakpo returned to Liverpool after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty with the Netherlands.
Arsenal also have a fitness concern, with Germany international Kai Havertz returning to his club for treatment after sustaining a muscle injury during the international break.
The Matchweek 6 programme will conclude on Monday when Coventry City host Newcastle United.
Coventry head into the fixture after securing their first points of the season with victory at Nottingham Forest, while Newcastle will be seeking a positive result after the international break.
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