FRIDAY:
CRYSTAL PALACE V NEWCASTLE
Palace will once again be without talisman Wilfried Zaha who is still recovering from Coronavirus. The Eagles missed him in their defeat at Burnley on Monday night and they generally miss him whenever he's not on the pitch. Palace have only won twice when Zaha has been missing since Roy Hodgson has been at the club which shows how important he is to this team because of what he offers and how influential he is. Palace do have a strong squad and a decent team, but they're better when Zaha is available because there is no one else like Zaha in their team. Newcastle will be delighted to have Callum Wilson back for this one because he was missed in their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea last weekend. They didn't have a focal point in that game as Newcastle spent most of the contest passing the ball backwards and sideways instead of trying to put the Chelsea defence under pressure. They never looked like hurting Chelsea at all in that game and they could've lost by more considering the chances Chelsea had in that game. Steve Bruce will want a better performance in this game after poor displays in their last two games where they never looked like scoring in both. But with Wilson available, the Magpies should look more dangerous than they have done in their last two games.
I'm going for a Newcastle win because Palace are without Zaha and they tend to lose when he's unavailable. Newcastle have had some inconsistent results this season and because of that I can see them nick a win here because they do tend to pick up a good result after a bad one.
PREDICTION: 1-2
SATURDAY:
BRIGHTON V LIVERPOOL
Brighton looked like a better team going forward against Aston Villa last week by taking their chances. Neal Maupay and Danny Welbeck impressed as a pair up top last week as they caused Villa's backline problems with their link up play and movement which dragged Villa's defenders in and enabled other players to run in behind. Manager Graham Potter will be hoping for the same kind of performance because of the absentees Liverpool have in their backline as well as their team as a whole. If Brighton play like they did at Villa, they might have a chance of getting something out of this one. Especially if Maupay and Welbeck play as well as they did last weekend. Liverpool did not turn up against Atalanta in mid-week. They didn't have a shot on target and overall looked very flat. They did make changes and were without the likes of Alexander Arnold and Henderson but the players that came in did not justify their selection. Fabinho and Robertson will hopefully start from the off after starting on the bench in mid-week and Robertson in particular was missed in mid-week as the reds struggled to create a clear opportunity.
I think Liverpool will win this one because they have the mentality to put a negative result behind them. If they start their key players from the off, they should win this game comfortably because of the quality they have.
PREDICTION: 1-3
MAN CITY V BURNLEY
City were themselves against Spurs last week because they lacked the intensity they usually have when they go and win the ball back. That has been a key part of their game which they need to bring back if they're to be up there challenging come the end of the season. They had a lot of good chances against Olympiakos in mid-week and only converted one which Phil Foden scored. They did get the job done by securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League, but they should've scored more with the amount of chances that they created. Pep Guardiola will hope that isn't a problem for them in this one because Sergio Aguero is back and when he's in the team City look more clinical in front of goal. City have lacked that focal point up front this season with both Aguero and Jesus being out injured but with both of them now back, City will want to kick on for the rest of the season. Burnley finally got their first win of the season on Monday night against Crystal Palace and that will hopefully bring some much needed confidence to the team. They looked like the Burnley we've seen since they've been in the Premier League against Palace by being defensively well organised and taking their chance when it came to them. Now they've got that first win of the season, Sean Dyche will be hoping for more results to get the Clarets up the table and away from the bottom three which is what every manager wants after recording their first win of the season.
I think this one will be a Man City win because they have Aguero back and with him back, City will look more like a team that's going to score goals. With players like De Bruyne and Sterling also on the pitch, I can see City return to them old selves.
PREDICTION: 3-0
EVERTON V LEEDS
Everton returned to winning ways last Sunday with the win at Fulham after three consecutive defeats. Having Richarlison back was crucial and he really showed how much Everton missed him by taking players on and being a threat whenever he had the ball. Alex Iwobi impressed at right wing back against Fulham by driving forward and getting balls into the box which was a constant theme throughout for the Nigerian. He'll be hoping for another start with Seamus Coleman still side-lined and if he does, he'll want to produce another display like the one he put in at Fulham so he can be a regular in the side which he hasn't been since he's been at Goodison Park. Leeds were unlucky not to come away with a win against Arsenal last Sunday because of the amount of chances they had. They caused Arsenal problems time and time again but couldn't find the back of the net as they hit the woodwork countless times and forced Bernd Leno to make some sharp saves. They were probably kicking themselves after that match and have hopefully been working on their finishing in training all week so they don't miss as many chances as they did against Arsenal last weekend. They will get chances in this one because Everton are not the best defensively and Marcelo Bielsa will get his side to make the most of that because of the way Leeds play.
I'm going for an Everton win here because they have Richarlison back and he makes a huge difference to this Everton team along with James Rodriguez and Dominic Calvert Lewin. Leeds will score because of how vulnerable Everton can be defensively but I think Everton will just edge it because of the talent they have in forward areas.
PREDICTION: 3-2
WEST BROM V SHEFFIELD UNITED
Must win game for both clubs because they're yet to win a game this season. West Brom's last two performances have been decent despite not coming away with anything. They were unlucky against Man United last time out because they should've had a penalty with the one given overturned by VAR and Sam Johnstone kept them in the game with some decent saves. If West Brom play like they did against Spurs and United, they should get something because their performances in those games definitely deserved at least a point from both. Sheffield United put in a better performance against West Ham, but they couldn't find the back of the net which has been their problem throughout the season. Chris Wilder will be encouraged by the performance that his side put in and will want his players to produce something similar in this one so they can that first win and get their season up and running. If the blades lose this, I will be a long season because they only have one point to their name and very few teams stay up with a single point in their first 10 games of a season. They must win this one so they can get some momentum on board.
I'm going for a West Brom win in this one because of their last two performances. I think they'll carry those performances into this game and get their first three points of the season.
PREDICTION: 2-0
SUNDAY:
SOUTHAMPTON V MAN UNITED
Southampton just can't lose a game at the minute. They haven't lost since their opening two games and they're looking like a really good team at the moment. They've been solid defensively and dangerous going forward which is all down to the manager and the way he sets his team up. The Saints were a bit unfortunate not to come away with three points against Wolves on Monday night because they were the better side for most of the contest and could've won if Theo Walcott scored his second from Che Adams perfect pass. Man United were brilliant at times in their win over Istanbul Besaksehir in the Champions League in mid-week. Bruno Fernandes looked like the player he was last season with his two goals and especially the one which was a cracker. Donny Van De Beek also impressed in that win and he'll be desperate to start this one because of the performance he put in and also Paul Pogba is again unavailable. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will want his team to play like they did in mid-week because it will help his side build some consistency which will hopefully move them further up the table.
I can see Southampton win this one because of the form they're in and the way they're playing. I think their pressing game will be too much for United who don't win in the league after winning games in Europe. I can see this being the case here.
PREDICTION: 2-1
CHELSEA V TOTTENHAM
Could this be the early title decider with both sides in good form and at the top of the league? We could find out. Chelsea showed us in mid-week that they have depth with Callum Hudson Odoi and Olivier Giroud both scoring in the win over Rennes in the Champions League when both of them aren't guaranteed starters. Tammy Abraham has hit form at the right time after scoring in his last two league games against Sheffield United and Newcastle which shows how important he's going to be for the blues this season as well as the apir who scored in mid-week. Abraham has had to fight for his place following the arrival of Timo Werner and and has recently proved that he's up for the fight by impressing in his last two games in which he has started with Werner playing on the left. With Christian Pulisic still to come back, the blues have plenty of depth going forward and players will step up when they're needed like Abraham, Giroud and Hudson Odoi have proved. Spurs showed their credentials by beating Man City last weekend. Mourinho got them tactically well set up by being well positioned and hitting City on the counter whenever they won the ball. Mourinho is building a good team at Spurs at the minute and you can see that with the results he's getting. They look strong in all areas of the pitch and like Chelsea have good squad depth with Giovani Lo Celso coming off the bench to score the winner against City as well as other players like Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko who can come in and do a job for the team.
I'm going for a Chelsea win here because Lampard did the double over Mourinho last season and Spurs' record at Stamford Bridge is terrible. It will be a close game because of the set of players both teams have, but I think Chelsea will just edge it.
PREDICTION: 2-1
ARSENAL V WOLVES
Arsenal have become the opposite of what they have been over the last few seasons. They were brilliant going forward but feeble at the back whereas now they're solid at the back and fairly tame up front. Aubameyang hasn't scored from open since signing his new contract and the team at the moment is lacking creativity hence why they're not scoring goals. They were lucky to come away with a point against Leeds last weekend because Leeds constantly put pressure on them and were the more likely to score. Mikel Arteta did was what many Arsenal fans wanted in sorting out the defence and now people could begin questioning his decision to leave Mesut Ozil out of his Premier League squad because of the lack of creativity in the side and Ozil is a player who on his day can create a number of chances on the pitch. Despite getting a point against Southampton on Monday night, Wolves were a bit lucky to come away with that point. This is because Southampton were better than them for most of the contest and only showed up in the final few minutes. They did not look comfortable playing a back four and you can see why because they're used to playing a three which has been a huge part of their success over the last three seasons. Conor Coady was a miss in that game and he'll hopefully be back after missing the Southampton game as he was self isolating after being in contact with someone with COVID-19.
I can see Wolves nick it here because Arsenal aren't scoring goals at the minute and Wolves have a striker in Raul Jimenez who will take his chance whenever he's in the box. Wolves have more goals in them than Arsenal do at the moment and that is what I think will determine the result of this game.
PREDICTION: 0-1
MONDAY:
LEICESTER V FULHAM
Most people thought Leicester would win at Liverpool last Sunday, but they instead got beaten. Jamie Vardy wasn't given a sniff and Liverpool were the better side on the day. The Foxes have secured a place in the Europa League last 32 following their 3-3 draw with Braga on Thursday and with that out of the way they can focus a bit more on the league as well as trying to finish top of their group in Europe. They're managing the Europa League distraction really well as they're currently 4th in the Premier League which represents a good start to the season and it shows that they've put their end of season slump behind them. Fulham were back to defending sloppy goals against Everton last weekend but did put in a better display in the second half despite missing another penalty. The defending for all the goals were poor with Doucoure left unmarked for his goal and possession being thrown away for Dominic Calvert Lewin's first goal. Ruben Loftus Cheek made a difference when he came on by scoring in the second half but Fulham didn't do enough to earn themselves a point. Fulham's next few games could determine their season with Man City and Liverpool coming up after this tough clash at Leicester.
I think Leicester will win this one because Fulham aren't great defensively and Leicester have players like Jamie Vardy who can make the most of a defensive error Fulham make. Leicester's attack will have too much for Fulham's feeble defence.
PREDICTION: 3-0
WEST HAM V ASTON VILLA
David Moyes appears to have found his best team and system at West Ham in a 3-4-3 formation. They've picked up some good results using that system recently and have won their last two games against Fulham and Sheffield United. Michail Antonio could be back for this one after a month out which will be great news for the Hammers because of what he offers when he's on the pitch. Sebastian Haller may have scored a great goal last weekend which will give him a lot of confidence, but the Hammers are better when Antonio is leading the line because he scores more goals than Haller. This was the fixture that secured Aston Villa's Premier League status last season with a 1-1 draw enough to keep Villa in the league. Jack Grealish scored a brilliant goal on that day and that pretty much kept him at the club and lead him to sign that new contract because of the love he has for the club. He's been excellent for Villa so far this season and is once again proving how important he is to them by being influential on the pitch with his all round game. He'll be key to Villa getting a result in this one.
This fixture has seen a lot of draws over the years and I can see this one being yet another draw. Both sides have good sets of players, but I can't see a winner between the two because I don't think I will be much of a contest.
PREDICTION: 1-1
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