Gameweek 10 of the 2025–26 Premier League season arrives with the Carabao Cup fourth-round still reverberating through selections and momentum. A packed Saturday schedule contains a number of consequential fixtures, led by Liverpool hosting Aston Villa and a north London derby between Tottenham and Chelsea.

Brighton & Hove Albion arrive at Falmer after their Carabao Cup exit and sit 13th in the table. Fabian Hürzeler’s side have not managed consecutive league wins recently but will hope a home match gives them a chance to build some consistency against Leeds United. Leeds beat West Ham in their last league outing to end a three-game winless run and come into this game with confidence.

Arsenal travel to Burnley holding a four-point lead at the top. Mikel Arteta’s team are viewed as strong favourites to continue their run, while Burnley have won back-to-back matches and could make the contest uncomfortable.

Brentford and Crystal Palace have both shown efficiency in recent outings. Brentford enjoyed a 3–2 win over the champions and a dominant display against West Ham, while Palace impressed at Anfield midweek. A tight affair is expected.

Fulham face a difficult weekend with Marco Silva’s side having lost four in a row. Wolves sit bottom with two points but showed fight in recent cup and league encounters under Vítor Pereira.

Nottingham Forest have previously troubled Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United when allowing territory and exploiting counters. Sean Dyche’s approach may prompt another physical battle.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are experiencing defensive concerns ahead of the trip to Tottenham, where Thomas Frank’s adaptability could be decisive.

A 13-point swing over five weeks has left Liverpool and Aston Villa level on points, making Anfield a hostile stage for Villa. Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth head to the Etihad looking for a statement result after a strong start to the campaign, while Pep Guardiola’s side should have Erling Haaland available.

Gameweek 10 concludes with Sunderland hosting Everton under the lights, a fixture expected to be competitive given Régis Le Bris’s side’s recent form.

The shortlists for the Premier League Player and Manager of the Month awards for October have been published.

Matty Cash’s individual form was central to Aston Villa’s resurgence in October. The Villans went three for three, with Cash making a huge impact at both ends of the field. His second goal of the campaign downed Manchester City last time out, after a glorious pass the week prior had put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword.

Bruno Guimarães dominated Newcastle United’s highlight packages this month. A delicious strike from range stole the show in victory over Nottingham Forest, and he saved the best for last with a 90th-minute winner against Fulham to keep the Magpies climbing the table.

Erling Haaland, September’s Player of the Month, remains among the favourites. Three goals in three games saw Haaland reach 11 for the campaign—nobody else in the squad has more than one to their name.

October was a breakout month for Bournemouth summer signing Junior Kroupi. He marked his first Premier League start with two goals against Crystal Palace and followed that with another strike against Nottingham Forest to lift the Cherries into second in the standings.

Bryan Mbeumo forced his way into the race with a dazzling October. Nobody in the league managed more than his four goal involvements—three goals, one assist—as United roared to a three-game winning streak.

Sunderland’s understated summer signing Nordi Mukiele has proven to be a masterstroke. His goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers helps his case, and he was a defensive force across October while adding menace with long throws.

Igor Thiago moved into second in the Golden Boot race with two goals for Brentford this month, scoring against West Ham United and converting a penalty to see off Liverpool. Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber emerged as one of the most in-form right backs and helped the Gunners build a record-breaking defence which did not concede a single goal this month.

On the managerial front, Ruben Amorim enjoys his first nomination as Man Utd manager after a dream October that delivered back-to-back Premier League victories and three consecutive wins over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion. Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola also feature among the nominees.

Previous winners listed include Jack Grealish (Everton, August) and Erling Haaland (Man City, September).

Manchester United remain uncertain about Jadon Sancho’s next step after his loan spell at Aston Villa has produced limited minutes and little market momentum. United had hoped the loan would mirror Marcus Rashford’s six-month spell at Villa Park in the second half of the 2024–25 campaign, but that scenario has yet to unfold.

Sancho has made just five appearances for Villa so far and was substituted after being introduced from the bench in Sunday’s 1–0 victory over Manchester City. The Manchester Evening News report United have not agreed a plan for Sancho’s next move.

The 25-year-old’s contract at Old Trafford runs until next summer, with United holding the option to extend for a further 12 months. Letting the deal expire would mean United accepting a total loss on the £73 million they paid in 2021. Extending the contract would preserve the possibility of a fee in a sale but would carry the risk of another 12 months of his substantial wages if an acceptable offer does not arrive.

United see no long-term future for Sancho at the club and are hoping a successful loan at Villa Park will sustain some value and attract interest next summer. Any decision on the contract extension is expected later in the season, once Sancho has had more time to demonstrate his form at Villa.

Sancho’s start at Villa has been slow. He played just eight minutes across his first three Premier League games before illness sidelined him. He returned to start in the midweek Europa League defeat to Go Ahead Eagles, his second start for the club, but drew attention when he was substituted on and then off in the same match against his former employers.

Emery addressed the episode and acknowledged the player’s feelings while underlining fitness concerns. “Yes, sure [Sancho] is not happy, but I did it before with Morgan Rogers, with Emiliano Buendia, with Leon Bailey, and he played 60 minutes on Thursday,” Emery explained. “When [Buendia] was injured, my plan was maybe in case [Sancho] was going to play 30 minutes, but I decided to play more and he played 45 minutes.

“But my plan was when he was swapped with Emiliano Buendia, the idea was maybe not playing all the minutes until the last moment. And I told him as well, he can feel it, it’s embarrassing.

“Before Morgan, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey, they felt the same when I subbed them, but it was not a punishment. And now it’s not a punishment.

“He played 45 minutes, I am so happy because his impact was good, his electricity, his skill, but then to play more than now… he’s not ready, fit, to play 90 minutes, 45 minutes is not easy enough for him and I am happy and of course, progressively he’s coming better and better.”