SATURDAY:
LEICESTER V CHELSEA
Leicester are yet to get going this season and one reason for that is down to injuries to key players. Jonny Evans and Wilfried N'Didi were big misses earlier in the season and with both of them back fit, the Foxes will be hoping that their fortunes will change. They did beat Man United recently where they were excellent but I still think they're yet to get themselves going.
The Foxes enjoyed a couple of good games against Chelsea last season in winning this fixture and beating them in the FA Cup final in May. But they did lose the reverse fixture at the end of the season which all but killed their hopes of a top four finish.
Chelsea dropped points against Burnley before the international break with a lack of cutting edge being the main reason. Romelu Lukaku could feature in this one after roughly a month out injured but I have the feeling that this game may be a bit too soon for him despite having an international break to get himself fit.
With Chelsea likely to be without Lukaku again and Leicester not quite firing yet, I can see the points being shared here. Both defences will be tight and the game itself should be a good watch, but I can't see a winner from either side. Especially with Chelsea not having their star striker available.
PREDICTION: 1-1
ASTON VILLA V BRIGHTON
I was quite surprised that Aston Villa appointed Steven Gerrard as their new manager as I thought he may have wanted to win another SPL title at Rangers. But other than that it is still a good appointment for Villa because of the job he did at Rangers plus it's good to finally see him managing in the Premier League.
He'll definitely need time to get his methods across to the players and time is something he'll need as Villa's upcoming fixtures look pretty tough. They face Palace, City, Leicester and Liverpool in their next four following this tough one against Brighton which isn't a nice start to have when walking into a new club. They definitely need results because of the current form they're in but they also need to give Gerrard time.
Brighton haven't won any of their last 6 league games which has me wondering how they're still in the top half of the table. They've been playing well which is a bonus for them but they'll still feel frustrated that they haven't been able to turn their recent draws into wins. Hopefully the international break has given them the chance to address that.
Villa will surely show a reaction with this being their first game under their new manager. But I'm going to go for a Brighton win here. They have drawn a lot recently but with Villa beginning to get used to Gerrard's new tactics, I think the Seagulls will nick it here.
PREDICTION: 1-2
BURNLEY V CRYSTAL PALACE
Burnley have improved over the last few games but are still in the bottom three. They were very resolute and organised in their draw at Chelsea before the international break and they had to be because of the amount of pressure they were under for most of the game.
They'll be feeling confident going into this one because of their recent results and performances which have looked promising. They're looking more like the Burnley we know and their recent results will be a step in the right direction.
Crystal Palace are progressing nicely under Patrick Vieira and they're finally getting the results that their performances have deserved following back to back victories over Man City and Wolves. They've struggled to see games out at times hence why they've picked up a lot of draws but after those wins they'll have plenty of confidence on board going into this one.
Both sides have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks which could make this an interesting game. BUt in the end I'm going for a draw because Palace have picked up a lot of those this season and I can see them get another here because of how tough a side Burnley are defensively.
PREDICTION: 1-1
NEWCASTLE V BRENTFORD
Newcastle are the only club still without a win this season and achieving that has to be top of Eddie Howe's to do list. His main aim will of course be to keep Newcastle in the Premier League but for them to do that they need to get that first win so they can build some confidence and momentum.
It will take them time to get used to his tactics but I do think there will be a reaction from them in this game. Howe has had a week or two to prepare for this game following his appointment and although they don't have the current personnel to suit his way of playing, I still think the players will show a reaction.
Brentford have gone off the boil recently following four straight defeats and I have to say that Premier League reality has got to them. The majority of newly promoted teams go through patches like this during their first season and they eventually get over them and I'm hopeful that Brentford will do the same.
Both sides will want to prove something in this game with Newcastle wanting to impress their new manager and Brentford wanting to get their season back on track after four straight losses. Newcastle will definitely show a reaction but I also think Brentford will as well so I'm backing this one to be a draw.
PREDICTION: 1-1
NORWICH V SOUTHAMPTON
Norwich finally got off the mark before the international break with their win at Brentford but it wasn't enough to keep Daniel Farke in the hot seat. I wasn't surprised that they sacked him as I thought the decision was coming but I was surprised that they made the decision after picking up their first win of the season.
Dean Smith is now in charge of the Canaries and he's got a tough job on his hands in keeping Norwich in the Premier League. It's still a good appointment for Norwich as I do think he can make them less open but I still think they'll go down as there is not enough quality in the squad.
I had Southampton down as a potential relegation contender not that long ago and now I think they'll be fine because of their recent form. They're looking more solid defensively than they have done over the last few seasons and going forward they're taking their chances even though they're yet to find a settled strike partnership.
They've won three of their last four in the league and they'll be going into this one with confidence because of the form they're in. Ralph Hasenhuttl deserves credit for this because I thought the pressure would begin to get to him following their poor start and especially after their poor end to last season.
I've got to give Southampton the win here because of the form they're in and the quality of players they have compared the Norwich's. With those two things playing a part, the Saints should have no problems in this game.
PREDICTION: 0-2
WATFORD V MAN UNITED
Watford are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and their wait for one may have to wait because of the fixtures they have coming up. They take on Leicester, Chelsea and Man City in their next three following this tricky clash against United and I really can't see them keep a clean sheet in any of them.
I'm quite surprised that Solskjaer is still in charge of United because I thought their derby defeat to City before the international break would be the final straw for him. Their performance was lethargic and given the fact that he reportedly had three games to save his job, a lot people are probably surprised to still see him in charge.
Even if they do get a result here the pressure will still be on him because they have two tough games after this one in Chelsea away and Arsenal at home. He's more likely to be judged in those games than he is in this one because his side will expect themselves to win here.
United need a response following their poor showing in the Manchester derby and I think they will. They've got enough quality to win this game and they also have a point to prove which should guide them towards a victory.
PREDICTION: 0-2
WOLVES V WEST HAM
Wolves saw their good run come to an end before the international break with their defeat at Crystal Palace and they'll want to bounce back in this one. They were coming together nicely under Bruno Lage prior to that defeat and now they need to pick themselves up and get back to performing how they were during that good run they were on.
West Ham are absolutely flying at the moment with a number of their fans even suggesting that they could challenge for the title. They'll definitely challenge for Europe because of their strong start and the current form they're in but in terms of challenging for the title, we'll have to wait and see.
They were excellent in their win over Liverpool before the international break as they caused them problems on the counter and from set pieces all game. There is a real togetherness amongst the team and the comes from the manager who is doing a great job as we all know. I can see them use that togetherness in this game as well as executing their regular game plan.
With the form that West Ham are in at the moment, I have to give them another victory in this one. They're full of confidence following their win over Liverpool before the international break and I can see them carry that into this game.
PREDICTION: 0-2
LIVERPOOL V ARSENAL
Liverpool have looked shaky at the back recently and I'm sure that Jurgen Klopp has used the international break to find a way of sorting it out. They were cut open so many times against West Ham before the international break which could be down a lack of protection from midfield or the defence itself not being as organised as it used to be.
They'll need to be a bit more cautious in this one because they're up against an in form Arsenal team who will fancy their chances for sure. If the reds are to win here, they'll need their attacking players to turn up which won't be a problem for them as they deliver almost every week. Their attack could be crucial for them in this game.
This will be Arsenal's first big test since their poor start with their games since then being against teams they expect to win against. They have improved since their bad start by having a more solid look about them and this game could tell us how much they've improved as it's against one of the big boys.
The Gunners have a poor record in these kind of games but they do have their moments where they pull off a surprise result from absolutely nowhere. They'll be feeling confident because of the form they're in but given their record in these games and the quality they'll be up against, it could be a tough one for them.
This should definitely be an open game because of the attacking quality on show and although Arsenal go into this game in better form, I'm backing Liverpool to take the points. They have had their troubles defensively in recent weeks but as Arsenal don't have a great record in these kind of games, I think the reds will just edge this one.
PREDICTION: 3-2
SUNDAY:
MAN CITY V EVERTON
Man City put in a top quality display in their derby win over United before the international break where they were excellent from start to finish. They were excellent in all departments and they showed why they're one of the best teams in the league by being brilliant both in and out of possession.
The champions won this fixture 4-0 last season in Sergio Aguero's final league game for the club where he scored twice from the bench. Given how well they played in the Manchester Derby and the kind of team they are overall, it wouldn't surprise me if they won this one by a similar score line.
Everton are in a sticky patch of form at the moment as they're without a win in their last five games. Dominic Calvert Lewin has been a huge miss as they're missing his goals an presence up top which appears to be having an effect on the team in terms of how they're playing.
They were getting crosses into the box earlier in the season which suits Calvert Lewin's game and with him out of the side they're playing a completely different way. They appear to lack an identity on the pitch which was evident in their draw with Spurs before the international break and I can see that trend carry on into this one.
I've got to give City the win here and a comfortable one because Everton are low on confidence. They're superior in quality and with the work they do both in and out of possession, they'll surely secure another straight forward win here.
PREDICTION: 3-0
TOTTENHAM V LEEDS
Spurs' old problems were still there in their draw with Everton before the international break with those problems being scoring goals. They once again failed to have a shot on target like they did in Nuno's final game against Man United and Antonio Conte has hopefully used the international break to find ways of improving Spurs in that department.
He'll definitely be boosted by Harry Kane's two hat tricks for England during the international break which will give him plenty of confidence going back to his club. The only problem with that is the lack of creativity in the Spurs side. The lack of creativity has been an issue for Spurs all season and it's one of the reasons why Kane hasn't been scoring. If he can get the service he's lacked all season in this game, I can see him getting another goal.
It's been a tough season for Leeds so far and one reason for it is the lack of goals. They had a lot of chances in their draw with Leicester before the international break where they might've won if they took their chances and had a clinical centre forward to put them away.
There is no doubt that they're missing Patrick Bamford because he's the player they rely on to put the ball in the net. With him out of this one as well as the next few, I can see Leeds once again struggling in the final third.
With Leeds struggling to score goals as well as keep them out, I can see Spurs get their first win under Conte in this game. Harry Kane appears to be getting his confidence back after back to back hat tricks with England and I can see him carry that form into this game if he gets the service he needs.
PREDICTION: 3-0
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