LONDON, Nov. 1 -- The Premier League fixtures this weekend throw up some interesting encounters and some returns which will keep writers busy over the weekend.
It's only a week since Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka reacted angrily to boos from the crowd when he was substituted after an hour of Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last week and that story has remained bubbling away ever since.
Xhaka has explained he reacted in frustration at what he felt was unfair treatment and insults online and he has been left out of the squad with coach Unai Emery telling the press "it is not in my mind for him to play tomorrow".
Mesut Ozil could, however, return to the side in the league after a good midweek display in the Carabao Cup.
Recent results hint that Manchester United could have turned a corner following their dreadful start to the season and a win away to Bournemouth would confirm the upward trend.
Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has doubts over the fitness of Marcos Rashford, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof ahead of Saturday's early kick off, with all three facing late fitness tests.
Saturday must seem like 'Groundhog day' for Southampton, who return to Manchester City's Ethiad Stadium after their midweek 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat, however, both sides rested key players for that game and Southampton fans will probably travel in trepidation in the wake of their record 9-0 league defeat at home to Leicester City a week ago.
The last time Liverpool played a Premier League game away to Aston Villa was in 2016 and the current league leaders won 6-0 as Villa sank towards relegation.
Under Dean Smith they have returned to the top-flight and are improving steadily, so Saturday's game should be a good deal closer than last time around.
Liverpool won a dramatic Carabao Cup game 5-4 on penalties after a 5-5 draw in 90 minutes against Arsenal in midweek, but few of Jurgen Klopp's first team regulars played in that game and only Joel Matip looks likely to miss out with a knee problem.
Newcastle United should have striker Andy Carroll available for the trip to face West Ham United, who he left to return to play at Saint James Park in the summer. West Ham fans will be hoping that the big forward continues his record of not scoring against his former clubs as while at West Ham, Carroll played six times against Newcastle and three against Liverpool and failed to find the net.
Watford may have tightened up in defense since Quique Sanchez Flores returned as coach, but they are still without a win ahead of Chelsea's visit to Vicarage Road on Saturday evening.
If Watford are to climb out of the bottom three they need to add to their measly target of just five goals from 10 games, but injuries to Danny Welbeck and Troy Deeney are not helping their cause.
Norwich need striker Teemu Pukki to recover his scoring touch when they visit Brighton. Pukki scored six goals in the first five games of the season, but hasn't scored since as Norwich slumped into the bottom three.
Sheffield United will keep faith in their miserly defense which has conceded just 8 goals this season when Burnley travel to Bramall Lane, while Sunday sees Everton entertain Tottenham in a game between two sides that desperately need a win to lift their morale.
Sunday also sees sixth place Crystal Palace at home to third place Leicester City and despite their 9-0 thrashing of Southampton last week Leicester won't be looking forward to playing a side that has beaten them both home and away in the last two seasons.