SATURDAY:
LEICESTER V CHELSEA
Out of all the newly promoted sides, Leicester have been the better of the three so far as they're currently in 15th. They probably would've taken that at the start of the season.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will return to his former club for the first time since he left them to to join Chelsea in the summer, and I'm not sure what kind of reception he'll get as he was only with the Foxes for a season.
He's done a pretty good job since he's been at Chelsea as they're 3rd in the league and looking more like a team than they were under their previous two managers in Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino. He's doing better than a lot of people thought he would, especially after everything that happened in the summer.
They will have been happy with their draw with their draw against Arsenal before the international break, but at the same time they might've felt a bit disappointed not to have taken all three points. Especially as Arsenal weren't in the best of form going into the game.
Cole Palmer wasn't at his best in that game and it was probably because he was carrying that injury he picked up against Man United the week before.
He pulled out of the England squad during the international break because of him having that injury and he will have used the break to get himself fully fit ahead of this game.
I can see him making the difference in this game.
PREDICTION: 0-3
ARSENAL V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Every game between now and Christmas have to be seen as must win for Arsenal so they don't fall further behind leaders Liverpool.
They haven't won any of their last four game in the league, but the goods news for them is that they have Martin Odegaard back and he showed how much they missed him against Chelsea before the international break.
The fans will have been delighted to see him not play for Norway during the international break and is was probably the right decision for him. Especially as he just came back from a long lay off.
Nottingham Forest are unbeaten on the road this season, where they have taken four points off two other big six sides in Liverpool and Chelsea.
Those results will give them confidence heading into this game alongside Arsenal's current form.
But I think the Gunners will have enough quality to bounce back here. Especially as they have Martin Odegaard back.
PREDICTION: 2-0
ASTON VILLA V CRYSTAL PALACE
Aston Villa are currently on their worst run of form under Unai Emery after failing to win any of their last 5 games in all competitions.
This could be down to the amount of games they've had to play as they've picked up a lot of injuries and have felt tired as a result of it.
Crystal Palace went back into the bottom three before the international break and their next run of games are tough. Three of their next five after this tough one are against Newcastle, Man City and Arsenal.
Oliver Glasner is undoubtedly under pressure and he needs to get results fast because this is the stage of the season where most managers get the sack.
I think Villa will increase the pressure on him with a win here.
PREDICTION: 2-0
BOURNEMOUTH V BRIGHTON
Bournemouth have lost just once at home this season with that defeat coming against Chelsea in September. Their last two home games saw them beat Arsenal and Man City.
Brighton beat the latter before the international break where they were much improved in the second half due to the impact off the bench from Carlos Baleba, who made a big difference.
But their away form hasn't been as good as Bournemouth's home form as they've only won twice on the road all season. They also have a lot of players missing through injury.
Because of the latter, I'm backing Bournemouth here and especially as they're at home.
PREDICTION: 3-1
EVERTON V BRENTFORD
This game will be seen as a must win for Everton because they have a tough run of games coming up between now and the new year. Five of their next six games are against Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City. They also have a bottom of the table clash against Wolves in the middle of all that.
Winning this game will certainly give them the confidence to help them through those tough games and they'll need it if they're to get something from any of those games.
Brentford have been great to watch at home this season, but away from home they've been terrible as they've not recorded a single point on their travels.
Because of the latter, I think Everton will come away with the victory here and especially as they're at home, where they're currently unbeaten in their last three games.
PREDICTION: 2-1
FULHAM V WOLVES
Fulham are just a point off the top four as things stand and and some people including myself were asking if they're European contenders.
I wouldn't say that they are just yet as it's still early in the season and a lot can change between now and the end.
Wolves finally got their first win of the season before the international break against Southampton which will no doubt give them confidence and something to build on.
They finally have a favourable run of fixtures after starting the season with a tough run in, and their next run of games will give them the opportunity to get more points on the board.
But I don't see them building on that first win in this one though as I think Fulham will keep up their good form with another win here. Especially as they're at home and have a player on fire in Harry Wilson, who is likely to come off the bench and score winner again.
PREDICTION: 2-1
MAN CITY V TOTTENHAM
Man City boss Pep Guardiola agreed a new contract yesterday and this could help the players arrest the current slide they're on, as Pep's future could've been a potential factor to their current form.
The champions are on their worst run of form under Pep after losing all of their last four games in all competitions, and one of them was against Spurs in the Carabao Cup.
Ange Postecoglou's side will again fancy their chances in this one, but they'll know that this game will be tougher as City will be fielding a strong team than they did in the previous encounter.
City will also be at home where they've had such an incredible record for the last two years. This will definitely give them hope heading this game alongside the fact that they'll have a fully fit Kevin De Bruyne available, which is a much needed boost.
Both sides played out an entertaining draw in this fixture last season and I think they'll do the same again as they both play great football, but also look vulnerable defensively.
City do have a lot of player out injured including Rodri, who has been a massive miss for them. But because they're at home and have attacking players who can punish Spurs' high defensive line, I think they'll have enough to come away with a point.
PREDICTION: 3-3
SUNDAY:
SOUTHAMPTON V LIVERPOOL
Southampton's last home game saw them get their first win of the season against the other team from Merseyside in Everton.
But I don't see them get anything against the team from the other side of Stanley Park, who are in great form and leading the way in the Premier League.
Liverpool passed another tough test before the international break against Aston Villa, against whom they had to work for the win as Villa did have some decent chances on the day.
I have a feeling that Arne Slot might rest some of his big hitters for this game as the reds have two big games coming up in Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Man City next weekend in the league.
He will of course want to his best players in this one, but with those two big games in mind, he might want to save some players for those two games. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk are the two who could be saved as they're both doubts coming into this one.
The reds should still still comfortably win this one even if they do rest players because they have a strong squad with more than enough quality to win this game.
PREDICTION: 0-3
IPSWICH V MAN UNITED
Ipswich went into the international break off the back of earning their first win back in the Premier League against Spurs, where they looked like a Premier League side in the way they played and saw the game out.
That win will have given them a lot of confidence heading into the international break and Kieran McKenna will now want his side to follow it up.
Another new era begins at Man United as Ruben Amorim takes charge for the first time in this one. It will be interesting to see how his new side will look in his 3-4-3 formation and which players he will select.
I compare his appointment to to when Jurgen Klopp was appointed Liverpool manager as Klopp arrived at Liverpool around the same time that Amorim arrived at United. The the rest of this season will be about the players adjusting to Amorim's style of play just like it was for the Liverpool players when Klopp arrived.
Once the season is over, Amorim will be able to look at his squad and see which players he'll want to keep or move on before signing his own players. Just like Klopp did after his opening months at Liverpool.
I'm expecting United to be fantastic here as it's their first game playing a completely new style under a new manager, but I do think they'll have enough quality to win the game.
PREDICTION: 0-2
MONDAY:
NEWCASTLE V WEST HAM
Newcastle were beginning to climb the table before the international break after back to back wins against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Alexander Isak's return from injury has been crucial as he scored in both games and the Magpies will need to keep him fit if they're to continue rising up the table.
West Ham's goalless draw gave Julen Lopetegui a stay of execution before the international break, but now he needs to get results because the pressure is still on him and we're now at the stage of the season where most managers get sacked.
He also needs his side to deliver promising performances as there have been very few of them so far this season.
But I don't see one in this game as I think Newcastle will be the more convincing side here. They have a clear identity in how they play unlike West Ham, and because of that I think they'll take all the points here.
PREDICTION: 3-1
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