International break ends Tuesday, EPL action returns Saturday with Arsenal, Man United clashes

After a 19-day international break, the Premier League returns on Saturday with defending champions Arsenal among the teams seeking to restart their campaigns on a strong note.

The 2026/27 season was paused after Matchweek 5 as part of a revised FIFA international calendar that merged the September and October windows into one extended period.

The international break ends tomorrow, Tuesday, PUNCH Online had earlier reported.

There, it noted that the EPL would have its first-ever 16-day international break this season after FIFA merged the traditional September and October windows into a single extended period from September 21 to October 6.

The new arrangement allowed national teams to play up to four matches between the given time frame, with Premier League action resuming on October 10.

The wait ends at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal will host unbeaten Leeds United in the opening fixture of Matchweek 6.

Our correspondent reports from the EPL website on Monday that the Gunners, the defending champion, return to action after suffering a 3-0 defeat away to Brighton & Hove Albion in their final match before the break, while Leeds have made an unbeaten start to their return to the top flight under Daniel Farke.

Leeds are among only five teams yet to lose this season and have matched a feat last achieved by the club in the 2001/02 Premier League campaign.

The Saturday programme also features Aston Villa against Brentford, Chelsea versus Bournemouth, Ipswich Town against Fulham and Sunderland’s meeting with Brighton.

The day’s late fixture could provide another major talking point as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford, with both sides looking for a change in fortunes.

The biggest fixture of the weekend, however, comes on Sunday when Liverpool host leaders Manchester City at Anfield.

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City return to league action with a perfect record from their opening five matches, while Liverpool have collected nine points.

The encounter will also bring together two of the league’s leading scorers, with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland leading the chart on five goals and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak on four.

Liverpool’s preparations have been complicated by injury concerns surrounding Isak and Cody Gakpo following the international break. Isak left the Sweden squad with a thigh problem, while Gakpo returned to Liverpool after suffering an ankle injury while with the Netherlands.

Arsenal also have a fitness concern, with Germany international Kai Havertz returning to the club for treatment after suffering a muscle injury during the international break.

The weekend’s action will conclude on Monday when Coventry City host Newcastle United.

Coventry head into the fixture after securing their first points of the season with victory at Nottingham Forest, while Newcastle will be looking to return from the break with a positive result.

The full Matchweek 6 schedule is:

Saturday, October 10: Arsenal v Leeds; Aston Villa v Brentford; Chelsea v Bournemouth; Ipswich v Fulham; Sunderland v Brighton; Manchester United v Tottenham.

Sunday, October 11: Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest; Hull City v Everton; Liverpool v Manchester City.