Premier League 2018/19 week 3 could be unique
The third matchday in the English top flight could witness something that has never been done before, but it will need the top teams to do the business.
English football is going through a good spell. As well as the national team making to the semi-final of this summer's Fifa World Cup, last season ended with Jürgen Klopp's exciting Liverpool reaching the Champions League final. Add to this Premier League title winners Manchester City, playing wonderful football on their way to breaking several records, and it is understandable why the competition is the most popular around the globe. And as we enter matchday 3, the 2018/19 campaign may be about to provide us with something that hasn't been seen before.
Keep calm, and keep on winning
Currently there are six teams that have picked up six points from their opening two games. They are Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Watford, Tottenham and Bournemouth. With none of these sides facing each other this weekend, a third win for them all and it will be the most teams to have achieved a 100% record after three games.
The closest that the Premier League has had to this before was when three teams sat on nine points from the opening three fixtures of the season. This has occurred five times: Everton, Ipswich and Liverpool in 1993; Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle in 1994; Charlton, Chelsea and Man United in 2005; Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham in 2009; and Chelsea, Man City and Man United in 2016.
So, it's a possibilty, but how likely is it to happen?
The most impressive side of the season, as per last, is Pep Guardiola's Man City and they will be expected to turn over promoted club Wolverhampton Wanderers, much-hyped but yet to back that up with performances of the same level. For their part, Liverpool welcome Brighton to Anfield in what has home win written all over it, and Sarri's Chelsea should overcome a struggling Newcastle team, despite it being away from home. Less confidence lies in Watford's game against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth's match in front of their own fans against Everton.
Spurs to add to Mourinho misery
The final piece in the jigsaw is the biggest game of the weekend and takes place on Monday evening. Manchester United host Spurs and after defeat to Brighton in game two, the pressure is on José Mourinho to get his players to respond with a positive result. Mauricio Pochettino, however, has high hopes for his London side this year and will be heading to Old Trafford for the win.
Of course, it will only take four of the six sides to keep up their winning record to make this weekend unique. As always, the world's eyes will be glued to the most-watched league...