SATURDAY:
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V LIVERPOOL
Nottingham Forest have looked more stubborn defensively in recent games and particularly in their goalless draw with Brighton in midweek. Keeping a clean sheet in that one will give them a lot confidence moving forward and they'll need more performances like that if they're to stay up.
The change to a back four you could say is working as they're not conceding as many goals. They did let in three in their first game playing that system against Leicester but since then they haven't conceded that many. Maybe the change is working after all.
Liverpool are looking much more like their usual selves after back to back wins over Man City and West Ham which gave given them a lot of confidence. They made a strong start against West Ham and kept it up for most of the game until the Hammers began to put the pressure on them.
Darwin Nunez is starting to come good and his all around performance against West Ham will give him a lot of confidence. It has been a tricky start for him after the red card against Crystal Palace but with 3 goals in his last 4 in all competitions he's starting to live up to the price tag.
PREDICTION: 0-3
I'm going for another Liverpool win here because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win this game. They're looking more like the team we know they are and with the big hitters finally showing up, they should have no problems here.
EVERTON V CRYSTAL PALACE
Everton's win in this fixture last season was the result that sealed their safety where they had to come from 2-0 down to win 3-2. They've kick on ever since that result with their summer recruitment being much improved and they've shown no signs of getting sucked in towards the bottom.
But they have however been dragged down the table after three straight defeats leaving them just a point above the drop zone. They should still be ok given the nature of their performances before this barren run but they need to win this one so they can put some distance between themselves and the teams in the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace are yet to win away from home this season but their season has got itself going recently with 2 wins from their last 3 games. They did have to come from behind in those games but they still did enough to get those wins with the character they have.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Everton to get the win here because they're at home and have a good record at home. They have Dominic Calvert Lewin back from injury and although he's not at 100% yet, I think he'll play a huge role in this game.
MAN CITY V BRIGHTON
Man City will be up for this game having not played in midweek which has given them a lot of time to prepare for this game. Losing to Liverpool last weekend will fuel them up as that defeat would've no doubt hurt them. They've had a week to get that result out of their heads and they'll be looking to use it as motivation to win this game.
Brighton are still without a win under Roberto De Zerbi under whom the same problems still exist. They've created a lot of chances in recent games but haven't been able to take them. This has been a constant theme for Brighton over the last 2-3 seasons and it's showing no signs of going away.
PREDICTION: 3-0
I'm backing City to bounce back here because I think they'll be too good for Brighton. The Seagulls will go for it but I think City will have more than enough quality to win the game.
CHELSEA V MAN UNITED
Chelsea were a bit fortunate to come away with a point against Brentford in midweek as Brentford arguably had the better chances on the night. The blues did have some good chances themselves but I still think they were fortunate to come away with a point.
Graham Potter beat Man United on the opening day of the season with Brighton and he'll be hoping to achieve the same again here. He'll field a full strength team here having rested a few players in midweek and he has to given it's a game against one of Chelsea's top four rivals.
Man United put in a dominant display against Spurs in midweek which was no doubt their best performance of the season. They were better in every department and they responded well to the critics they received after their draw with Newcastle last weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo won't play in this one after walking down the tunnel before the full time whistle against Spurs. They might as well let him go in January because my guess is that he's not happy and that kind of behaviour from a senior figure is not acceptable.
PREDICTION: 1-1
This fixture has been a draw for the last two seasons and I can see it finish in the same outcome again. United arguably have more creativity in their side but with both defences looking reasonably sound, I can see another share of the points between the pair.
SUNDAY:
ASTON VILLA V BRENTFORD
Aston Villa sacked Steven Gerrard after their defeat to Fulham last night and it's fair to say that he got what was coming. Too many uninspiring performances have cost him this season and I do feel for him as I wanted it to work out for him there.
I feel that Villa need to look at themselves as a football club. They appear to be a club who are desperate to get into Europe this season when the fact is that their current squad isn't at that level. They finished 14th last season and although they have started this season poorly, they should've targeted at least a top 10 finish as that goal is more realistic.
Brentford were unlucky not to come away with all three points against Chelsea in midweek as they arguably had the better chances on the night. Thomas Frank will have no doubt been happy with the performance as they gave it a real go but his team will feel that they deserved more than a point.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I've got to give Brentford the win here simply because they have more confidence on board and are having the better season. They may be winless away from home this season but with Villa without a manager going into this game, the Bees should win this one fairly comfortably.
LEEDS V FULHAM
Leeds fans began turning turning on manager Jesse Marsch after their defeat to Leicester last night with the majority of them booing him off at full time. I can understand their frustration as they haven't won since August and are now just a point above the relegation zone which is very worrying.
You can't criticize their effort as they're really giving it a good go in games. They've been good to watch in some of their recent games but haven't been able to turn those good performances into results. Jesse Marsch certainly needs both here because the pressure on him is beginning to increase.
Fulham returned to winning ways last night with their win over Aston Villa where they were excellent throughout. They were helped by Villa having a man sent off but their performance was still convincing enough for them to win the game comfortably.
The Cottagers have looked like a Premier League side ever since they got promoted as they currently sit 9th which represents a very good season for them so far. They have an identity in the way they play and and are managing games a lot better than they have done in their previous two spells.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing Fulham to win here simply because they have more goals in them at the moment. Leeds will give it a good go like they have done in recent games but I think they'll fall short yet again.
SOUTHAMPTON V ARSENAL
Southampton got a much needed win against Bournemouth in midweek which should ease the pressure on manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. They were organised defensively throughout as they got men behind the ball when they needed to and both the clean sheet and result should give them a lot of confidence.
Arsenal have a comfortable lead at the top going into this game having having seen Spurs lose to United in midweek. The Gunners could extend that lead at the top further if they win here and if both City and Spurs drop points in their games.
St Mary's has been a tough place to come to for Arsenal in recent seasons as they've won just 3 of their last 10 visits there. They will however go into this one with much more belief and confidence because of how far they've come as a team this season.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm going for an Arsenal win here because they're full of confidence and will have enough quality to win this game. Southampton will show some fight like they did against Bournemouth but with arsenal having a much stronger backbone and mentality this season, they should win this one.
WOLVES V LEICESTER
Wolves will have Steve Davis in charge till at least the new year as their search for a new permanent manager was again set back with QPR boss Michael Beale turning the job down during the week. This should help them focus on getting results knowing that they have someone in charge for the next couple of months.
Leicester moved off the foot of the table with their win over Leeds last night which was a must needed win for them. The question going into this game will be whether they can follow that up with a another win here so they can kick start their season and get themselves our of the relegation zone.
The Foxes will have James Maddison back for this one after missing the Leeds game through suspension and his return will no doubt be massive for them. They did well without him against Leeds as Harvey Barnes stepped up and they'll need both them to do exactly that if they're to get themselves out of the current position they're in.
PREDICTION: 1-0
This is a must win game for both of these struggling midlands clubs as they're both in the bottom three. I fancy Wolves to win here because I don't see Leicester following up their win over Leeds due to their awful away form. Wolves may be struggling for goals, but I still think they'll edge it here.
TOTTENHAM V NEWCASTLE
Spurs were outplayed by Man United in midweek where they lacked any sort of creativity. Both Kane and Son didn't get much service because of that as Spurs didn't pose any serious threat going forward. They did have Hugo Lloris to thank on a number of occasions but their play going forward was still disappointing.
Antonio Conte's side have won every home game this season which will give them a lot of confidence going into this game. It's been their best start to a season at home and they'll be eager to keep it up in this one.
Newcastle were bottom of the league without a single win to their name this time last season. One year later they're in the top six and two points outside the Champions League places. They've been on some journey this past year thanks to their takeover and new signings and they have an opportunity here to show that they can compete for Europe this season.
One player who has stepped up in recent weeks has no doubt been Miguel Almiron. The Paraguayan has been underwhelming for most of his time on Tyneside and now he's finally showing what a good player he is.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm going for a Spurs win here because of the 100% record they have at home this season. They may not have a lot of creativity in their team at the moment but with Newcastle without Allan Saint Maximin, Spurs should take the points here.
MONDAY:
WEST HAM V BOURNEMOUTH
West Ham put in indifferent performances in each half against Liverpool in midweek with their second half being much better than their first half. They weren't really in the game in the first half with Liverpool having the better possession and chances. But in the second half they showed a bit more fight as they put the pressure on Liverpool towards the end of the game.
Bournemouth saw their unbeaten start under Gary O'Neil come to an end in midweek with their defeat Southampton where they lacked real quality in the final third. They had a lot of chances on the day but weren't able to take them.
It will be interesting to see how they react in this one having lost for the first time under O'Neil in midweek. They've shown character on a number of occasions during his tenure particularly when they've been behind. How they'll respond after a defeat will be interesting as it could go two ways. They could regain the form they were in or that good form could soon go out the window.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I think this one will be a close game as both sides do have a fighting spirit. I'm backing West Ham to edge here as they have a bit more quality in their side. If they play like they did in the second half against Liverpool, they should have enough here.
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