Hello! I’d like to first welcome our new subscribers to The Prem Report! 🎉 Glad to have you here. Think of us as your quick-hit stop for Premier League matchday insight, with a side of laughs.

In today’s issue: Pep’s (under) possessiveness, Rooney anoints football’s next superstar, and a full look at this week’s matchups.

Cheers,
Gabe

In this edition

• Fixtures

• Extra Slice

• Rabbit Holes

Matchweek 6 Fixtures 

Saturday, September 27, 2025

🐝 Brentford vs 🔴 Manchester United – 4:30 AM – USA

🦁 Chelsea vs 🐧 Brighton – 7:00 AM – Peacock
This game has been billed “Brighton vs Brighton”, as Six Chelsea players are former Seagulls. Go ahead and picture the two spiderman pointing meme.
 
🦅 Palace vs 🔴 Liverpool – 7:00 AM – Peacock
The tastiest match of the weekend by far, brings the remaining two undefeated teams together. Liverpool will be without leading goal scorer Ekitike for his silly (not exaggerating) red card in the EFL Cup. Liverpool still has a perfect record in their “Win By One” challenge they seem to be the only ones playing. Let’s see if they can get one more.

🦉 Leeds vs 🍒 Bournemouth – 7:00 AM – Peacock

🌙 Manchester City vs 🍷 Burnley – 7:00 AM – USA

🌲 Nottingham Forest vs 🐈‍⬛ Sunderland – 9:30 AM – USA

🐓 Tottenham Hotspur vs 🐺 Wolverhampton Wanderers – 12:00 PM – USA

Sunday, September 28, 2025

🦁 Aston Villa vs 🏠 Fulham – 6:00 AM – USA

⚫ Newcastle United vs🔫 Arsenal – 8:30 AM – USA
The head to head between these two is HEAVILY slanted to the Arsenal side, with the Gunners winning twenty-three times to the Magpies seven. Newcastle has three draws and a win in their first five, Arsenal couldn’t have come at a better (or worse) time.

Monday, September 29, 2025

🔵 Everton vs ⚒ West Ham United – 12:00 PM – USA

^{Times are in Pacific Standard Time}

Extra Slice
City learns to give up control…

In relationships, being possessive is usually a red flag; clingy, controlling, and the type that leaves you with a 3am text saying both “I want you back” and “you don’t know what you’re missing.”

In football, though? Possessive is gold. For the last 20 years, Pep Guardiola’s teams have convinced us that owning the ball is the only way to win, reshaping the PL and stacking up trophies along the way.

But that era might be shifting. City are averaging just 52% possession this season, a huge drop from the 70% they’re used to. Across the league, more clubs are leaning into direct play, long balls, and counter-attacks, something Liverpool have thrived on for years. It’s early days, but the numbers hint at a style reset that could ripple into Europe too.

Curious how your team stacks up? Check out Opta’s field grid view (scroll down, left side in the link) and see whether they’re still clinging to the ball or joining the direct-play revolution.

This Week’s Rabbit Holes

• 📺 Hazard Goes Wild vs Liverpool 8 Years ago

• 📰📉 Peps Possession Dropoff - Deep Dive