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Weekend Forecast: Sports Illustrated’s Premier League Picks for Gameweek 3

Gameweek 3 preview: concise predictions for the weekend’s Premier League fixtures and scoreboard calls

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Just two weeks into the 2025/26 season and the Premier League schedule hands supporters another compact, narrative-rich weekend before the first international break. St. James’ Park and Monday night already reminded everyone the league is back, and this weekend’s action is concentrated into under 48 hours with no Friday or Monday fixtures.

Sports Illustrated lays out predictions for each game, beginning with a West London derby at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have historically dominated meetings with Fulham, though the Cottagers won at the Bridge over the festive period last season. Fulham have recorded two draws to start the campaign while Chelsea produced a strong win over West Ham United in Gameweek 2.

Saturday’s early slate features Manchester United against Burnley. United’s Carabao Cup exit on penalties to League Two Grimsby Town has amplified the importance of this fixture for Ruben Amorim. Burnley arrive off their first victory of the season and have shown encouraging form through two weeks.

Sunderland travel to Turf Moor after a heavy defeat and return to the Stadium of Light to face Brentford. Both sides have one win apiece so far. Wolverhampton Wanderers meet Everton after Wolves advanced with a come-from-behind cup victory over West Ham United; Everton will look for their first league win of 2025/26, inspired by Jack Grealish.

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Tottenham Hotspur continued their strong start in Gameweek 2 and host Bournemouth, while Leeds United face Newcastle United at Elland Road with Eddie Howe potentially missing several key players.

Sunday brings Manchester City at Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest hosting West Ham United, fixtures both sides will use to recover from recent setbacks. The weekend’s standout match is Liverpool vs Arsenal at Anfield, a meeting capable of shaping the title race despite not deciding it.

Predictions (kick-off times in BST):

  • 12.30 p.m. — Chelsea vs Fulham: 3–1
  • 3 p.m. — Man Utd vs Burnley: 2–1
  • 3 p.m. — Sunderland vs Brentford: 0–0
  • 3 p.m. — Tottenham vs Bournemouth: 2–0
  • 3 p.m. — Wolves vs Everton: 1–1
  • 5.30 p.m. — Leeds vs Newcastle: 1–2
  • 2 p.m. — Brighton vs Man City: 2–3
  • 2 p.m. — Nottingham Forest vs West Ham: 2–0
  • 4.30 p.m. — Liverpool vs Arsenal: 3–3
  • 7 p.m. — Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace

Analytics & Stats

Salah becomes first player with 152 goal contributions at one Premier League stadium

Salah reached 152 goal contributions at one Premier League ground, overtaking Henry and Rooney. 2026

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Mohamed Salah set a new Premier League benchmark when he reached 152 goal contributions at a single stadium during Liverpool’s 4–1 thumping of Newcastle United on Saturday. That total places him ahead of the previous record of 151, which was held jointly by Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney at Highbury and Old Trafford respectively.

Salah’s tally at that ground is compiled from 107 goals and 45 assists, producing the 152 figure that now stands alone at the top. Thierry Henry’s total there was 114 goals and 37 assists for 151, while Wayne Rooney recorded 101 goals and 50 assists for the same combined total.

Mohamed Salah

Goals 107

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Assists 45

Total 152

Thierry Henry

Goals 114

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Assists 37

Total 151

Wayne Rooney

Goals 101

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Assists 50

Total 151

Beyond the stadium-specific milestone, Salah remains on course for other career landmarks in the Premier League. He is fourth on the all-time scoring list with 190, 18 behind Wayne Rooney’s 208 and behind Alan Shearer and Harry Kane. Whether he can move up into third depends on form and remaining fixtures: Liverpool have 14 Premier League games left and Salah has scored four goals in 16 outings this season.

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Goals

Alan Shearer 260

Harry Kane 213

Wayne Rooney 208

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Mohamed Salah 190*

Andrew Cole 187

*stats correct as of Feb. 1, 2026

The past 18 months have been full of broken records for Salah and have strengthened his standing in Premier League history. The clock is ticking for Salah and it is not yet clear how long he has left to rack up the numbers. His current contract says 18 months but his tense relationship with manager Arne Slot may suggest otherwise.

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Analytics & Stats

Salah sets unique Premier League record with 152 goal contributions at one ground

Salah reached 152 goal contributions at one ground, surpassing Henry and Rooney’s 151 totals Feb. 1.

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Mohamed Salah became the first player to register 152 goal contributions at a single Premier League stadium during Liverpool’s 4–1 thumping of Newcastle United on Saturday. That total moves him past the previous high of 151, a mark held jointly by Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney at Highbury and Old Trafford respectively.

Salah’s landmark is the product of sustained output for Liverpool over several seasons. The numbers at that ground break down as 107 goals and 45 assists, producing a combined total of 152. By comparison, Thierry Henry recorded 114 goals and 37 assists for 151, while Wayne Rooney had 101 goals and 50 assists, also 151.

Salah

Goals

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Assists

Total

Mohamed Salah

107

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45

152

Thierry Henry

114

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37

151

Wayne Rooney

101

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50

151

Beyond this stadium-specific record, Salah is also tracking career scoring milestones in the league. He sits fourth on the all-time Premier League scorers list on 190, 18 behind Wayne Rooney’s 208 return and behind Alan Shearer and Harry Kane. Whether he can climb into third remains an open question given Liverpool have 14 Premier League matches left and Salah has scored four goals in 16 appearances this season.

Player

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Goals

Alan Shearer

260

Harry Kane

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213

Wayne Rooney

208

Mohamed Salah

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190*

Andrew Cole

187

*stats correct as of Feb. 1, 2026

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The past 18 months have been full of broken records for Salah, reinforcing his standing in Premier League history. The clock is ticking for Salah and it is not yet clear how long he has left to rack up the numbers. His current contract says 18 months but his tense relationship with manager Arne Slot may suggest otherwise.

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Analytics & Stats

Neville Criticises Amorim as Mainoo Rises in Carrick’s Midfield Plan

Neville slams Amorim’s handling of Mainoo as Carrick’s system brings midfield balance for United plus

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Gary Neville used blunt language to describe how Kobbie Mainoo was managed at the start of the season, arguing the midfielder was mishandled before finding form under Michael Carrick.

“I must admit, I never liked the handling of Mainoo,” Neville said on the new episode of Stick to Football, accusing Ruben Amorim of damaging the player when it became clear he would not be selected alongside Bruno Fernandes. “I thought it was rubbish,” he added. “It killed him publicly. And then he never put him in the team at all, apart from [against] Grimsby. That was nearly pushing a talented player out of the club before he even really had a chance to perform. You look at him now in these two matches, you think, how could that be? How could [Manuel] Ugarte [be picked ahead of him]?”

Roy Keane welcomed Mainoo’s recent performances. “You couldn’t ask for any more,” he said, adding that the overall turnaround had been “brilliant.” He also warned that conclusions should be cautious given the sample size: “It is only two games,” he warned, wanting to see more.

Paul Scholes praised the renewed midfield balance once Carrick adjusted the system to include both Mainoo and Fernandes while Casemiro remained at No. 6. “Kobbie and Fernandes, they make your team play football,” Scholes said. “When they had just been doing it with Fernandes, they sent [one] to play. He didn’t really have anyone to play with. Now, Kobbie’s also got that ability to play with someone. It makes a big difference.”

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Statistical snapshot from the two recent matches (Man City, Arsenal):
Minutes Played: 90, 90
Rating (Out of 10): 7.5, 6.9
Touches: 51, 54
Passing Accuracy: 91%, 86%
Passes into Final Third: 1, 4
Chances Created: 0, 2
Defensive Contributions: 9, 6

Mainoo’s club revival raises questions about his international prospects. The 20-year-old was instrumental as England reached the Euro 2024 final and has the opportunity to force his way back into the national squad for the World Cup if his run of form continues.

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