EPL Weekly Wrap Gameweek 6

Week two of the Premier League’s first three-week international break, and I’m ready for it to be over. 

England did their bit to fill the gap, thumping Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka early on Sunday morning NZ time. That’s the heaviest defeat in Croatia’s history. The downside is a growing injury list, and if you’re comparing odds across the best online betting sites this week, team news is where I’d begin. 

Here’s a breakdown of all the Premier League news you may have missed last week.

I can’t think of a worse time for Liverpool to lose two forwards. Manchester City come to Anfield next weekend with five wins from five, and both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are now being assessed at the club.

Isak pulled out of the Sweden squad with a thigh problem after scoring against Romania. Gakpo was forced off in the first half of the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia with an ankle injury. Liverpool haven’t put a timeline on either player.

Gakpo is the bigger loss for me. He’s got a goal and three assists in five league games, and he’d scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Germany earlier in the window. Isak got Liverpool’s winner at Bournemouth before the break, so neither absence would be easy to cover.

Florian Wirtz is in form, for what it’s worth. He scored in Germany’s 2-0 win over Serbia and helped create the other goal.

City have a worry of their own. Nico O’Reilly was ruled out of England’s last two games of the window with an unspecified injury, so their left-back spot could be up for grabs at Anfield.

Erling Haaland had a rare quiet night in Norway’s 2-1 loss to Wales. He’d already scored three times earlier in the window, so I wouldn’t read much into it.

Arsenal had a far better week. Bukayo Saka scored twice in the Croatia rout, and Viktor Gyokeres became the first player to score in six consecutive Nations League matches. There’s still no official update on Kai Havertz, with reports suggesting he could miss four weeks. On this form, I’d start Gyokeres against Leeds United.

Manchester United didn’t get through the break unscathed. Patrick Dorgu went down with nobody near him 30 minutes into Denmark’s 2-0 win over Wales, and he’s been sent back to Manchester. Denmark coach Brian Riemer said Dorgu has an injury and has to go home, and Danish broadcaster TV2 reported he’ll undergo further examination at United.

That’s a real loss. Dorgu has featured in all five league games this season and set up their goal in the 1-1 draw at Fulham before the break.

There was better news on Bruno Fernandes. Portugal left him out against Norway after revealing he’d been playing through pain, but he returned to provide two assists in a 4-2 win over Denmark. He’s got four goals for United this season, including a hat-trick against Ipswich Town.

United are 12th on five points. Tottenham at Old Trafford is about as kind a fixture as they’ll get, and I think anything less than a win would be a problem.

Chelsea are waiting on news of their own. Jamie Gittens picked up an ankle problem in England Under-21s’ 4-2 win over Kazakhstan and has been withdrawn from the squad. Chelsea are 10th on seven points and host AFC Bournemouth next.

Tottenham’s board have picked their side. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham told the club’s Fan Advisory Board he was encouraged by parts of the underlying performances and still has confidence in Roberto De Zerbi.

I’m not convinced the table agrees. Tottenham are last with two points from five games and no league win, despite 10 new signings over the summer.

Guglielmo Vicario and Cristian Romero both left too, so this is close to a brand-new squad. Expecting it to click inside five games was always a stretch. I’d still give De Zerbi until Christmas.

Omar Marmoush did score twice in Egypt’s 5-0 win over South Sudan. That’s about the only positive I can find.

Fulham aren’t much better off. They’re 19th on two points and also winless, although Oscar Bobb has scored twice for Norway during this window. Coventry City are 18th on three points, despite winning at Nottingham Forest before the break.

Sunderland are only a point above the drop zone, and their striker situation is getting messy. Brian Brobbey was forced off for the Netherlands with an apparent hamstring injury. Wilson Isidor then scored twice in a 4-1 win over Dominican Republic, but he was forced off in the 72nd minute with an apparent injury of his own.

Arsenal against Leeds opens Gameweek 6 at 12:30am NZDT on Sunday 11 October, with United hosting Tottenham at 5:30am. If you’re planning to bet on football that weekend, Liverpool against City at 4:30am NZDT on Monday 12 October is the one I’m circling. It’s worth checking the betting promotions on offer before then.