SATURDAY:
LEICESTER V ARSENAL
Leicester are looking up following back to back wins over Man United and Brentford where they looked more like themselves in both. The return of Jonny Evans to their backline has helped massively because of how much they missed him when he was out injured. They're still without N'Didi who has also been a big miss but with Evans back in the team they look a lot more solid.
The Foxes have beaten Arsenal in each of the last four seasons with three of those wins coming in this fixture. They'll definitely believe that they can beat them again in this one because they believe they can beat anyone plus with someone like Jamie Vardy leading their attack, they have every chance of doing so.
Arsenal are on a good run of form going into this one with the club currently unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions. Their performances haven't always been brilliant but their good form will give them confidence because of the belief in the team gained from their recent results.
They need to be at their best in this one because of the team they're facing in Leicester who will punish them if they make a mistake. The Gunners do have a tendency to switch off in some games and this could be one them unless they manage the game well.
I'm backing Leicester to win this one because I can see their high press force Arsenal into mistakes. They did that against United and with a pacy striker like Vardy up top, it should work for them again.
PREDICTION: 2-1
BURNLEY V BRENTFORD
Burnley are still without a win this season and they were in a similar situation at this stage last season where they eventually stayed up. They put in a decent performance in their draw with Southampton last time out but only came away with a point which was what they deserved on the day. If they can carry their performance in that one into this game, they might finally get that all important first win. But only if they can see it out.
Brentford have been one of the stories so far this season but their good start has been halted following back to back defeats to Chelsea and Leicester. They'll be disappointed that they didn't get anything from those games as they had a lot of chances in both but in the end they'll be proud with the performances they put in as they were against tough opposition in both.
I can see Burnley frustrate Brentford in this one because of how difficult they are to play against. The Bees will try and play their way as they usually do but with Burnley being a solid and organised team, I'm going for a draw.
PREDICTION: 1-1
LIVERPOOL V BRIGHTON
Liverpool surely have to be talked about as title contenders now following their win at Man United last weekend which was a statement of intent. City and Chelsea have been talked about for most of the season and rightly so but as the reds are the only unbeaten team left and looking strong in all areas, they should also be part of that conversation.
They didn't have a straight forward game against Preston in midweek but they did get the job done with their mostly second string 11. Pretty much all of their big hitters were rested for that one and will all be back for this one which will give them a major boost.
Brighton were taught a lesson by Man City last weekend and will expecting another tough one here against Liverpool. They did take four points off of Liverpool last season but this time they'll be up against a stronger Liverpool team with the home crowd behind them unlike last season.
The Seagulls are without a win in their last four league games which won't be too much of a worry for them as they're having a good season. But another winless game here could see them brought back to reality. Especially with a number of teams one or two points behind them in the table who could send them down the table. That could well be the case here.
With Liverpool in great form and still unbeaten, I've got to give them the win here. They're looking more like the team they were a couple of seasons ago and with Mo Salah on fire, they should win this one reasonably comfortably.
PREDICTION: 3-0
MAN CITY V CRYSTAL PALACE
Man City's dominance in the League Cup was brought to an end in midweek following their exit to West Ham via a penalty shootout. They had a lot of chances to score in normal time but didn't take any of them which they'll be disappointed with as they fielded a strong enough team on the day along with not getting the job done on penalties.
They'll surely bounce back from it as that is what the best teams do a number of times over. They're in great form in the league having not lost since the opening day and with the majority of their big hitters available, they should have enough to win this one.
Crystal Palace have played some good football since Patrick Vieira's come in but their performances haven't got the results they deserve. They've drawn six games so far this season and haven't won since beating Spurs early last month which is their only win so far this season. The players have adapted well to the new style of play and now they need to see games out so they can get the results they want.
I've got to go with a City win here because I think they'll have too much for Palace. They have more in quality and with the Eagles playing the way they do, I can see City exploiting the spaces in behind like they always do.
PREDICTION: 4-0
NEWCASTLE V CHELSEA
Newcastle are still winless in the league this season but their draw with Crystal Palace last Saturday should give them something to build on. Graeme Jones said something similar after the game and will be hoping that it will be the case for his team as they look to get some points on the board. But it may have to wait.
Chelsea completely battered Norwich last weekend where they were in control from start to finish. They probably won't expect the same kind of game here as Newcastle are likely to be more resolute and difficult to beat. The blues will still expect themselves to win but not as heavily as they did against Norwich.
I think Chelsea will win this one but it won't be as comfortable as their win over Norwich. Newcastle will try and make it difficult for them but with the quality that Chelsea have, they should win this game. Even if Lukaku isn't available.
PREDICTION: 0-2
WATFORD V SOUTHAMPTON
It's been quite an eventful start for Claudio Ranieri at Watford having lost his game 5-0 to Liverpool then winning his second 5-2 at Everton. The win over Everton will for sure give his side confidence because of the importance of the result and the character they showed to come from behind twice.
This is another must win game for the Hornets because of the fixtures they have coming up after this one. They face Arsenal, Leicester, Man United, Chelsea and Man City in their next five following this one so they'll need the win to help them through those tough games.
Southampton will have James Ward Prowse back for this one following his suspension for the red card he picked against Chelsea before the international break. The Saints did ok without their set piece specialist but having back in the side is still a major boost because of how vital he is for them.
It's been a frustrating season so far for the Saints as they have had games where they feel they could've won but didn't with their draw with Burnley being an example of that. In fact most of their games have been like that and I wouldn't be surprised if this one to be the same.
I think this one will be a close call because I don't know what to expect from these two sides. Watford can be poor one week then brilliant the next whilst Southampton struggle to see games out. With those two reasons thrown into the mix I can see this one being a draw.
PREDICTION: 1-1
TOTTENHAM V MAN UNITED
Spurs looked rather static in their defeat to West Ham because of the lack of movement in the final third whenever they were in the opposition half. They were better in their Carabao Cup win over Burnley in midweek as they created a number of good opportunities unlike in their defeat to West Ham last weekend.
Spurs have a poor record in these kind of games of which they've been criticized for over the last two or three seasons. They might have a chance of putting it right in this one with the form United are in but at the same time you don't know which version of Spurs will turn up.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer according to some reports has three games to save his job you couldn't pick a tougher set of games but Spurs, Atalanta and Man City. He needs results from at least two of those games if he's to have any chance of keeping his job because at the moment he's on thin ice.
I can't see United being easily beaten like they were against Liverpool in this one because Spurs are not a high pressing team like they were under Pochettino. I still think United may struggle as Paul Pogba is unavailable but I don't think they'll be ripped open as easily as they were against Liverpool and Leicester.
I'm going for a draw in this one because I really don't see much between the two sides as they're both out of form nor playing brilliantly. United are without Pogba which takes a creative element out of their team whilst you never know which Spurs will turn up.
PREDICTION: 1-1
SUNDAY:
NORWICH V LEEDS
You have to say that Norwich are good as gone and we're only 9 games into a season. They're showing no signs of improvement and I wouldn't be surprised if the manager was gone anytime soon. They simply didn't turn up against Chelsea last Saturday as they were easily beaten in every department and I really can't see a reaction from them in this one because of how low their confidence is.
Leeds aren't having the best of seasons at the moment and I can see why because they've had injuries to key players plus other teams have probably worked them out. The good news for them going into this one is that they'll have Kalvin Phillips back which is a massive boost for them because they've really missed him in recent weeks like they always do whenever he's unavailable.
With Phillips back for Leeds, I've got to give them the win here. They may be without Bamford and possibly Raphinha but they should still win this game without the pair considering Norwich's current form.
PREDICTION: 0-3
ASTON VILLA V WEST HAM
Aston Villa have been struggling defensively in recent weeks which is something you never really say about them because they're usually a solid outfit in that department. They've conceded soft goals in each of their last games against Wolves and Arsenal and I wouldn't be surprised if Dean Smith went back to a back four for this one.
They didn't show up for the first half against Arsenal but they did improve a bit in the second by offering more of a threat going forward than they did in the first. The manager will want to see that reaction in this one so they have a chance of getting something from this game.
West Ham are flying at the moment with the club currently 4th in the league and they look set for another season in and around the European places. Their win over Spurs last weekend was their first victory after a European tie this season and they'll want more to show that they're dealing with the Thursday-Sunday schedule well.
The Hammers did the double over Villa last season and they'll believe that they can do it again because they have the experience of doing before plus they go into every game believing that they can get a result. That is their mentality and its one that serves them well.
I'm backing West Ham to win this one because they did the double over them last season and I can see them get another one over them again. With the form the team are currently in, I can't see a reason why they can't win here.
PREDICTION: 0-2
MONDAY:
WOLVES V EVERTON
Wolves have only won once at home so far this season with that victory coming against Newcastle at the beginning of the month. Their other games at Molineux have all ended in defeat and they'll want to put that right with a good result in this one which I'm sure they'll get with the current form they're in.
Everton completely capitulated in their defeat Watford last weekend which is something you never say about a Rafa Benitez side. Rafa's teams are usually tough to play against and well drilled which wasn't the case for them last weekend as they completely fell apart within the final 10-15 minutes of the game.
Richarlison's return is a welcome boost for the Toffees but they are still without striker Dominic Calvert Lewin whose going to be out for another month. The Toffees lack a focal point when he's not in the team and they really could do with someone like him against a strong and physical Wolves defence.
I'm backing Wolves to win here as I think they'll just edge it. They're in better form than the Toffees and with both of their best attacking players available unlike Everton, they should win here.
PREDICTION: 2-1
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