⚽️ Premier League Will Feature First Female Match Official This Weekend

Good morning. We’re looking forward to a full slate of Premier League action this weekend. Take note that Saturday’s slate will air an hour later than you may be used to because the clocks have already gone back an hour in the UK but won’t do so here until early Sunday morning. Next week, normal service will be restored.

The Schedule:

• Fulham (H) vs. Manchester United (Saturday, 8:30 a.m., USA Network): The Cottagers’ last Premier League win against United came on December 19, 2009. United looks pretty beatable these days….

• Brentford (H) vs. West Ham United (Saturday, 11:00 a.m., Peacock): It’s ninth versus tenth in the table as these teams try to stay within sight of the European places.

• Burnley (H) vs. Crystal Palace (Saturday, 11:00 a.m., Peacock): Burnley will only get so many home matches against teams in the lower half of the table. This is one of those precious chances.

• Everton (H) vs. Brighton (Saturday, 11:00 a.m., Peacock): After a shaky start, Everton have won three of their last four in all competitions and will face a Brighton side in extremely indifferent recent form.

• Manchester City (H) vs. Bournemouth (Saturday, 11:00 a.m., USA Network): After this one, City’s next four league matches are at Chelsea, home for Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, at Aston Villa. The Sky Blues cannot afford a slip here.

• Sheffield United (H) vs. Wolverhampton (Saturday, 11:00 a.m., USA Network): The Blades concede 2.9 goals per game. In a related story, they’re at the foot of the table.

• Newcastle United (H) vs. Arsenal (Saturday, 1:30 p.m., NBC): This is the must-watch match of the weekend by miles, with the Magpies trying to pull Arsenal down a peg while the Gunners desperately try to keep pace with Spurs.

• Nottingham Forest (H) vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, 9:00 a.m., USA Network): You should be plenty well rested for this one unless you take advantage of the extra hour the bars stay open the night the clocks change.

• Luton Town (H) vs. Liverpool (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., USA Network): Even the worst of the derelicts will be awake in time to see the Reds take the Hatters apart in sections.

• Tottenham Hotspur (H) vs. Chelsea (Monday, 3:00 p.m., Peacock): It’s a mismatch on paper, but the histories of these clubs are so divergent that no Spurs supporter will go into this one all that (ahem) cocky.

In the email today:

The United Kingdom has long been known for its progressive views on equity.

You know what? We can’t do it. We have to tell the truth. If there’s any century the United Kingdom has done the best job keeping up with societally, it’s either the 18th or the 19th. So credit the Premier League for this one very small, comically late move toward acknowledging that women, like, exist.

• Rebecca Welch is set to make history as the first woman referee to work a Premier League match as the fourth official in Fulham vs. Manchester United at Craven Cottage.

• Welch's rapid ascent in officiating began with her refereeing a Birmingham City vs. Preston North End match in the Championship in January, making her the first ever female official in that league.

• Welch previously made similar history by becoming the first woman to referee an EFL match, taking charge of Harrogate Town vs. Port Vale in League Two in 2021.

• She has officiated games in the Women's Super League (WSL) and also participated in the Women's World Cup, having been promoted to UEFA's elite category of female referees in 2020.

• In the current season, Welch has been officiating games across the English Football League (EFL).

Our take: Fourth official is the soft spot on the pitch for the match crew. It probably made the most sense to start Welch there, not for skill-based reasons but because the last thing anyone needed here was Welch missing a key offsides call (which the men do every week, by the way). We wish Welch the best and hope the door she kicked in here stays wide open.

2) ❌ of the Day: Maybe All Manchester United Needs Is a Road Trip

3) 🗳️ Poll: Which Is the Can’t Miss Match of EPL Week 11?

Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.

4) 🚑️ Injuries of Note

All percentages on likelihood of playing from the EPL’s fantasy site.

• Alex Moreno, Aston Villa: Hamstring, Out Indefinitely

• Pervis Estupinan, Brighton & Hove Albion: Muscle Injury, 50% Chance to Play

• Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea: Muscle Injury, 75% Chance of Playing

• Casemiro, Manchester United: Undisclosed, Out Indefinitely

• Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal: Hamstring Injury, Return Expected November 11

• Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea: Knee Injury, Return Expected November 25

5) Betting Lines and Picks

The picks the past two weeks are ahead, but only by a little. We’re looking to bust the book with some tasty plays below.

• Fulham over Manchester United (+230): That’s right. Until United fires ten Hag, take whoever they play at whatever odds they offer.

• Manchester City vs. Bournemouth Both Teams to Score (+130): City will win this match going away, but they get lazy when they’re up.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers over Sheffield United (+100): This should be negative odds on Wolves. Be judicious, but play it.

• Aston Villa over Nottingham Forest (-110): We stay away from laying most of the time, but Villa is a lot better than Forest. Like, A LOT.

The newsletter today was written by Phil Keidel. Follow Phil @philkeidel on X.

Thanks for reading!