Premier League questions: Will Arsene Wenger finally beat Jose Mourinho?

By Richard Morgan

Image: Arsenal travel north to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 11.30am

The Premier League returns to action this weekend after the international break with a number of enticing fixtures in store, including Arsenal's visit to Manchester United.

That massive encounter kicks off the action on Saturday lunch time, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, and the following day in-form Chelsea take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Super Sunday.

The weekend comes to a conclusion when West Bromwich Albion take on Burnley at the Hawthorns on Monday Night Football.

It's set to be another busy three days of top-flight football so we look at the pressing questions ahead of those 10 matches…

Watch a preview of Saturday's Premier League fixtures, including Manchester Utd v Arsenal and Tottenham v West Ham

Will Wenger finally get one over on Mourinho? (Man Utd v Arsenal - Saturday, 12.30pm)

Arsene Wenger takes his Arsenal side to Old Trafford on Saturday having never tasted a Premier League victory over Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho.

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The pair have met on 11 previous occasions in the Premier League, with the Portuguese having won five of those encounters, while six ended in draws.

However, those were while Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea, so will a change of club have an impact on the 'Special One's' seemingly impregnable hold over the Frenchman?

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Will the Blues be breached at the Riverside? (Middlesbrough v Chelsea - Sunday, 4pm)

Chelsea make the long journey to the north east for their Super Sunday clash with Middlesbrough in rude health.

The Blues are second in the table, just a point behind leaders Liverpool, and are in the best form of any Premier League team over the last five games, a run that has coincided with a switch to a back three.

Antonio Conte's side have won all of those matches, without conceding, and if they maintain that trend at the Riverside this weekend, it will be the 10th time a Premier League club has won six or more games in a row without shipping a goal.

Watch the Sunday Premier League preview, as Chelsea head to the Riverside Stadium to take on Middlesbrough

Live Nissan Super Sunday

Will the Clarets cure their travel sickness? (West Bromwich Albion v Burnley - Monday, 8pm)

Burnley have been in good form at home in the Premier League so far this season, accruing 13 points from a possible 21 at Turf Moor.

However, the Clarets have been far less impressive on the road, collecting just a solitary point from their four away games, although that did come after a heroic goalless draw at Manchester United.

If the newly-promoted team are to defy the odds and remain in the top flight this campaign, though, then they must start being harder to beat on their travels, starting at the Hawthorns on Monday Night Football.

Watch the Monday Premier League preview as West Brom host Burnley at The Hawthorns

Live Monday Night Football

Will the Eagles end their latest losing run? (Crystal Palace v Man City - Saturday, 3pm)

Alan Pardew is a manager that tends to go on runs, whether they be losing or winning streaks, and the Crystal Palace boss heads into Saturday's game with Manchester City on another.

The Eagles have slipped to 16th in the table having lost their last four Premier League games in a row, the third time already this has happened since Pardew took over the club in January 2015.

So the former Newcastle boss will be desperate to kick off a run of the positive nature when City come to the capital this weekend.

Image: Crystal Palace have had little to celebrate in the Premier League recently

Will Bradley finally break his Swans duck? (Everton v Swansea City - Saturday, 3pm)

Bob Bradley replaced Francesco Guidolin as Swansea City manager on October 3, but the American is yet to register a victory in any of his first four league games at the club.

Bradley did manage a goalless draw at home to Watford in his second game at the helm, but the other three matches ended in defeat, leaving the Swans six points from safety in the relegation zone.

And Bradley takes his struggling team to Everton on Saturday trying to avoid becoming the first Swansea boss not to win any of his first five Premier League contests in charge.

Image: Bob Bradley is enduring a tough start to life at Swansea City

Will the Potters' turnaround in form continue? (Stoke City v Bournemouth - Saturday, 3pm)

Stoke City endured yet another one of their underwhelming starts to the season, failing to win any of their opening seven league games to sit second from bottom of the table on just three points.

However, since drawing at Manchester United on October 2, the Potters have earned 11 points, with only Chelsea (15) and Liverpool (13) gaining more than them in that time.

Much of that recent change in fortunes is based around a return to winning ways at the Bet 365 Stadium, with Mark Hughes' side beating Sunderland and Swansea at home last month.

And the Welshman will be targeting three Premier League home victories in a row for the first time since April 2014 when Bournemouth come to the Potteries on Saturday afternoon.

Image: Stoke could make it three home wins in a row on Saturday

Will the Reds maintain their impressive start on the South Coast? (Southampton v Liverpool - Saturday, 3pm)

Liverpool travel to Southampton on Saturday afternoon top of the table having made their best start to a Premier League season after 11 games (also 26 points) since the 2008/09 campaign.

In fact, only once before in the Premier League era have the Reds collected more points at this stage of the season, and that was 14 years ago when Gerard Houllier's side had 27 points.

However, in neither of those campaigns did the club go on to win that elusive Premier League title, so Jurgen Klopp will be keen for his players to carry on their recent good form at St Mary's.

Image: Liverpool go into the 12th round of fixtures as Premier League leaders

Will the real Foxes stand up? (Watford v Leicester City - Saturday, 3pm)

Leicester City take on Watford on Saturday with just 12 points to their name, compared to the 22 they had at the same stage on their way to the title last season.

That represents the biggest points differential between this campaign and last by any team, and with Claudio Ranieri's side currently only two points clear of the relegation zone, the Italian could really do with last season's Foxes turning up at Vicarage Road this weekend.

Image: Champions Leicester are 14th in the table, just two points above the drop zone

Will Defoe bring up his 150 not out? (Sunderland v Hull City - Saturday, 3pm)

Sunderland will once again be looking to striker Jermain Defoe to fire them to victory against fellow strugglers Hull City at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

Defoe scored the winner as the Black Cats came from behind to win 2-1 at Bournemouth last time out, the club's first league win of the season.

That strike, from the penalty spot, was the 34-year-old's 149th of his top-flight career, meaning another against the Tigers on Saturday will see the former England international become only the eighth player to reach the 150-goal mark in Premier League history.

Image: Jermain Defoe is looking for his 150th Premier League goal

Will Spurs get back to winning ways? (Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United - Saturday, 5.30pm)

Tottenham head into Saturday evening's London derby with West Ham on the back of their longest winless run in all competitions (D5 L2) since May 2004, when they went eight without a victory.

Oddly, though, Spurs are also the only unbeaten side left in the Premier League this season (W5 D6 L0), so it is not all bad news for Mauricio Pochettino and his team.

But with Tottenham now four points adrift of the Champions League places, they need to get back to winning ways when the struggling Hammers visit White Hart Lane this weekend.

Image: Tottenham entertain West Ham in the Saturday evening game
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