Premier League weekend preview: Rice rested, Garnacho primed and Scott injury hits Bournemouth

Title race restarts and injuries shape key clashes

The Premier League returns after the international break with a packed Saturday and Sunday slate. Arsenal begin the defence of their crown against Leeds, Aston Villa look to unlock Alejandro Garnacho against Brentford, and Bournemouth travel to Chelsea with their midfield in doubt after Alex Scott’s England injury.

Arsenal v Leeds, Saturday 12.30pm BST

Declan Rice’s future role in England’s midfield was questioned by Gary Lineker after Alex Scott’s impressive first senior international start in England’s 7-0 thrashing of Croatia. The 27-year-old withdrew from Thomas Tuchel’s squad to manage workload after only three weeks off post-World Cup before returning to pre-season training, and has struggled with persistent back problems after a hamstring injury last December.

Mikel Arteta will hope the rest has done Rice, who is thought to be close to agreeing a lucrative new contract at the Emirates, the world of good as Arsenal prepare to resume the defence of their Premier League title against Leeds on Saturday.

Aston Villa v Brentford, Saturday 3pm

Several Aston Villa players shone for their countries during the international window but one of those who stayed with the club may have made the biggest impression on Unai Emery. Villa’s remaining squad went to Spain for a mid-season training camp, including Alejandro Garnacho, whose last cap for Argentina was almost two years ago.

Garnacho has been lesser-spotted in a Villa shirt, playing just 31 minutes as a substitute, but scored in both of Villa’s friendlies during the break, against Southampton and Sevilla. The 22-year-old, who joined Villa on loan from Chelsea in the summer with a conditional obligation, was an unused substitute for their past matches.

“Ready now!” Garnacho posted on social media last weekend and Villa will hope that is the case.

Chelsea v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

Bournemouth could be without Alex Scott for up to a month, but Marco Rose said England were not to blame for his absence.

With Eli Junior Kroupi, Amine Adli, Veljko Milosavljevic and Julián Araujo yet to feature this season due to injury, Marco Rose must have been tearing his remaining hair out upon learning Alex Scott got hurt on England duty and will be out of action for two months according to club reporting.

Scott became just the second Bournemouth player to start a match for England after Callum Wilson in 2018 during the Three Lions’ 7-0 win over Croatia in the Nations League. The 23-year-old impressed before he was replaced in the 70th minute at Stadion HNK Rijeka, though it has since been confirmed he was struggling with a thigh injury.

Rose told reporters: “It’s an injury to a muscle, and we’ll do pictures [scans] in some days again. But we’re going to miss him, for sure, for four or five weeks. I’m very disappointed and it’s a big loss. Did he have an injury before? No, I think not. I think the club have already said everything about it. For me, it’s disappointing. We miss a very important player, but I don’t want to blame anyone. We are very happy that he made his debut for the English national team. He did well, and we just hope that he gets fit again quite soon.”

Only Kobbie Mainoo (40) and Lewis Hall (38) have won possession more times in the Premier League this season than Scott (36) in 2026-27, who has also won the most ground duels (30) and covered the fifth-most distance (57.7km).

With just 55 minutes of football behind him this season, it seems unlikely Alex Toth will get the nod to replace Scott when Bournemouth travel to Chelsea with the older, more experienced Ryan Christie available and in good form. But having forced his way into the Hungary starting lineup during the international break it would be no surprise to see the 20-year-old get more minutes.

Ipswich v Fulham, Saturday 3pm

Ipswich’s place in mid-table, their total of six points, came via victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace. Gary O’Neil’s team were presented with a tough opening schedule, and while defeated by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, their manager has not allowed those reverses to dilute team spirit.

Like O’Neil, Álvaro Arbeloa is new to his job. An improved performance in the draw against United did not result in a victory Fulham deserved, though there were signs of the progressive, attacking football the arrival of the former Real Madrid interim promised. Much of the burden has fallen on Josh King, the teenager building on last year’s breakthrough season.

Sunderland v Brighton, Saturday 3pm

Still in the Carabao Cup, with a Europa League campaign to negotiate and just four points acquired from their opening five Premier League excursions, Sunderland’s ability to cope with such a hectic schedule remains to be seen. Having lost Dan Ballard and Brian Brobbey to hamstring injuries during the international break, Régis Le Bris will have to reshuffle his pack.

While Wilson Isidor will almost certainly deputise for Brobbey, Ballard’s centre-back berth will be filled by either Omar Alderete or Nordi Mukiele. Having shipped five last time out against Manchester City, a Sunderland defence that had looked conspicuously porous will need all their focus if they are to stop a Brighton side that have already scored 16 goals.

Manchester United v Tottenham, Saturday 5.30pm

Manchester United possess a reputation for healing opponents. They rolled out the welcome mat to Premier League newcomers Hull on opening day and Brighton were ushered back into a Carabao Cup tie. In United’s final game before the international break flagging Fulham were able to restore some faith, their goal via slapstick defending from Lisandro Martínez and Senne Lammens.

This season, like last season and the one before that, Spurs have assumed the mantle of crisis club, a status Michael Carrick’s January arrival temporarily removed from United. Lose to Tottenham, and the crisis prefix is likely to be reattached.

Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest, Sunday 2pm

All eyes will be on Oliver Glasner as he returns to Selhurst Park with Nottingham Forest on an afternoon that will be emotionally charged for both sets of supporters and in the boardroom. Crystal Palace chair Steve Parish sought to defuse tensions last week when he urged fans to “buck the trend” by welcoming the manager who led the south London club to the first three major trophies in their history in the space of 12 months.

“I would be mortified if he gets anything other than the roof blown off,” said Parish. But given the strength of feeling towards Forest and their owner, Evangelos Marinakis – who is still blamed by some for Palace’s demotion to the Conference League at the expense of Forest last season – many have still not forgiven Glasner for joining their rivals.

Aerial battle in Hull v Everton

In Sergej Jakirovic and David Moyes, Hull City and Everton boast two of the more pragmatic managers in the Premier League. Renowned for their safety-first defensive styles, both teams are happy to surrender possession, rank among the top flight’s lowest sides in pass completion rates, and rely on rapid transitions and set pieces for a major share of their total expected goals.

A game featuring two defences that pride themselves on their obduracy may well be settled by a well-delivered dead ball into a packed penalty area.