Leaders Liverpool and Arsenal are at the top of the third round of the Premier League, while Frank Lampard and Chelsea travel to Norwich in a difficult test today.
Liverpool and Arsenal are still the only teams to have scored the full six points from the first two rounds, and European champions Liverpool will be hoping to continue their impressive run against London north London recently when they host the Gunners at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp's men have not lost in the last seven encounters against Arsenal in the league, and the victories have included big results like 4-0 and 5-1 in the last two seasons.
However, Spain coach Unai Emery, who has boosted his squad this summer with six men, will hope to do better this time after finishing last season 27 points behind Liverpool. Ivory Coast striker Nicolas Bibi this summer from Lille could have a historic £ 72 million deal for Arsenal for the first time. Real Madrid midfielder Danny Sibaius, who was loaned out by Real Madrid, won great praise after the last game against Burnley, which Arsenal won 2-1 after contributing to the goals.
However, on 13 occasions, the last time in 2004 when they won the league title without defeat, they have struggled since last season in the back line. Brazilian midfielder David Luiz, who comes from Chelsea this summer, will have the chance to prove his heel against Egypt's dangerous attacking trio Mohamed Salah, compatriot Roberto Firmino and Senegal's Sadio Mane, who all contributed to Liverpool's five goals in their last meeting.
"A lot of times I had a lot of great players (but) they were not world-class," Klopp told Liverpool's official website. "Now I have players of this type that make a big difference." "Sadio Manet, Bobby Firmino and Salah are very good at the last third of the pitch," said the former Borussia Dortmund coach.
Arsenal, the 2006 runners-up, also have brilliant strikers; Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who shared the Golden Boot with Salah and Manet last season (22 goals), scored the winning goal for the Londoners in their first two games at the start of the season.
He will try to exploit Liverpool's defensive fragility this season, after the Reds failed to keep clean sheets in all four of their games this season (the Charity Cup, the European Super Cup and two league matches), after they kept their clean sheet in 20 matches. Premierlig »Last season.
Brazilian goalkeeper Alison Becker will watch the game from the stands as he still suffers a calf injury, meaning that Spanish substitute Adrian, who caused Southampton in the second round, will protect the den at Anfield.
While Liverpool and Arsenal made a perfect start to the season, neighbors Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham wasted points in the second round.
The Red Devils host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, the Citizens are away to Bournemouth and Spurs are looking to overthrow Newcastle.
Great pressure on Lampard
Frank Lampard did not have an easy start to Chelsea after a trip to Old Trafford at the opening of the season before facing Liverpool in the European Super Cup (lost on penalties) to come back and draw with Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in the league.
However, the former Blues player, who had only one year of coaching experience with Derby County before taking over at the London club, will need to beat Norwich to remove the pressure on him, as some Chelsea fans have criticized him as "reckless."