SATURDAY
MAN CITY V BRENTFORD
Man City should have Erling Haaland back in their starting line up here after coming off the bench against Fulham last week and I expect that he will. He was rested against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in midweek and he should play the full game as he's not going to the World Cup.
Brentford will no doubt be kicking themselves for going out of the Carabao Cup in midweek where they wasted a number of chances during normal time. There have been a number of games this season where they have missed a number of chances and it's ended up costing them.
The Bees have been woeful away from home this season and particularly defensively. They've let in 17 goals on the road this season with only Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth conceding more. They're up against the team with the most goals here and you really wouldn't fancy their chances here.
PREDICTION: 4-0
I'm backing City to win this one and comfortably because of the wuality they have and Brentford's poor form away from home. With Haaland back to lead their attack and Brentford conceding a lot of goals on the road, this should be a straight forward win here.
BOURNEMOUTH V EVERTON
These two met in the Carabao Cup in midweek with Bournemouth winning comprehensively against a weakened Everton side.
Bournemouth were excellent that night as they forced Everton into mistakes on numerous occasions and punished them. It was a massive result for them having lost four games in a row going into the game and the result will give them some much needed confidence.
Everton were dreadful in midweek with their decision to make wholesale changes and play a completely different formation massively backfiring. I can see why Frank Lampard made those changes so he could give other players some game time but he didn't need to make that many changes.
The Toffees have never won at Bournemouth in the Premier League losing 3 and drawing 2 of their last 5 league visits there. Having lost to them in midweek and their current form not exactly pleasing, ending that hoodoo may look unlikely.
PREDICTION: 1-1
Both of these sides have struggled with scoring goals this season and I expect that problem will be brought into this game. Everton will respond as they'll bring back their regulars but I don't think they'll win here though.
LIVERPOOL V SOUTHAMPTON
Liverpool made a lot of chances against Derby in midweek with the majority of their big hitters getting a rest. Those players arguably needed a rest as they've looked leggy and tired for much of the season. Having rested those players, they should feel refreshed and up for this game.
Southampton will have Nathan Jones in charge for the first time here following his appointment during the week and I'm not sure whether he's the right man for them. He did do a great job at Luton but the last time he took a big job it didn't go very well for him. That was when he was at Stoke three years ago.
It is however good that they got him in when they did with this being their final game before the World Cup break. He'll have the chance to have a good look at his team here and see what he needs to do over the World Cup break to get his side winning football matches.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Liverpool to win here because they'll have their big hitters back after being rested in midweek and they'll be feeling refreshed as a result of that. They have lost to teams in the relegation zone recently but having rested those players in midweek, they'll be full of energy here.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V CRYSTAL PALACE
Nottingham Forest showed some fight against Brentford last weekend and were unlucky not to come away with all three points. They had two penalty decisions go against them and both of them were wrong with Ryan Yates clearly being shoved for one of them and Dean Henderson barely touching Yoanne Wissa for the other.
Steve Cooper's side were handed a much needed confidence boost during the week with their win over Spurs in the Carabao Cup which could be the result to properly kick start their season. They started the game the much better side with their energy and they now need to build on that result in this one.
Crystal Palace recorded their first away win of the season last weekend with their victory at West Ham but went out of the Carabao Cup to Newcastle in midweek. They'll be disappointed with going out the cup as they were hoping to go on a cup run but they'll still be happy with how things are going for them in the league.
There have been games where Palace have let themselves down in the final third both this season and last season. They have a lot of attacking talent at their disposal but don't always get the results that their performances deserve.
PREDICTION: 1-1
Forest have are unbeaten in their last three home games going into this one whilst Palace only just got their first win on the road last weekend. I think both teams will give it a go but I can't see either of them being clinical in front of goal despite the quality of players they have.
TOTTENHAM V LEEDS
Spurs appear to be a different side in each half at the moment as they're starting games slowly but ending games strongly. Their defeat to Liverpool last weekend was certainly one of those games as they were poor in the first half but much improved in the second half.
They were poor throughout against Nottingham Forest in midweek as they looked suspect defensively and didn't offer enough going forward. It was a big opportunity missed as they blew another chance of winning a trophy which is something they were looking to do at the start of the season.
Leeds' win over Bournemouth last weekend was the kind of game we saw during the Marcelo Bielsa days because of how end to end and exciting it was. They were brilliant to watch going forward with the energy they showed and the way they pressed but defensively they looked suspect.
There have been games this season where they have looked suspect at the back this season like they were on a number of occasions under Bielsa. Their style of play can be good to watch but defensively you would still question them.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I'm backing Spurs to win here because they'll have Kulusevski and Richarlison back which is a massive boost for them. Leeds will start better than them but I think Spurs will hurt them defensively with the quality they have in forward areas.
WEST HAM V LEICESTER
West Ham are having an inconsistent season this year with David Moyes apparently under pressure. If he is the pressure on him is a bit unfair given the job he's done for the last two seasons. His side are 15th and two points above the relegation zone but we shouldn't be talking about him being under pressure just yet.
Leicester put in a professional performance in midweek against Newport as they fielded a reasonably strong team and got the job done as expected. Jamie Vardy looked back to his best in the way he scored his goals and the problems he caused with his runs in behind.
The Foxes are looking a revived team with the form they're in for which Brendan Rodgers deserves a lot of credit for. There was a lot of pressure on Rodgers earlier in the season with many people thinking that he was going to be sacked. The board have stuck with him and it looks like they made the right decision in doing so.
PREDICTION: 1-1
I can see this one being a close game as I can see both sides really go for it. They both look decent at both ends of the pitch and with that being the case, I can see the points being shared here.
NEWCASTLE V CHELSEA
Newcastle are flying and full of confidence at the moment and I guess that a number of their fans are dreaming of Champions League football next season. I wouldn't involve them in that conversation just yet as it's early in the season but with the Magpies currently 3rd in the league, the fans will no doubt be dreaming.
Eddie Howe marked his one year anniversary in charge of Newcastle during the week and they've come a very long way since. They were 19th and without a win when he first took over a year later they find themselves 3rd going into the World Cup break. That is some turnaround.
Chelsea didn't offer much going forward against Arsenal last weekend where their all round performance was pretty poor. Graham Potter will surely want a reaction from his team in this one but I'm not sure he'll get one given his sides' unconvincing performances recently.
There is already a lot of pressure on Potter yet he's only been in the job for about two months. His side may not be in good form at the moment but you still need to give him time as he's an upcoming manager and hasn't had a transfer window to bring in his own players.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I've got to back back Newcastle to win here because they're in better form and are a team with an identity. They go into every game believing that they can get a result and with the form they're in, I can see them carry that confidence and belief into this game.
WOLVES V ARSENAL
Wolves finally brought their search for a new manager to an end last weekend with their appointment Julen Lopetegui just a couple of weeks after originally turning them down. He'll be in the stands for this game so he can have a good look at his team and use the World Cup break to come up with ways to get his new side winning football matches.
Arsenal went out of the Carabao Cup to Brighton in midweek where they made a lot of changes leaving out some of their big name players. Many people have questioned their squad depth this season and whether it is strong enough for them to push City all the way. At the moment it appears to be a worry.
They have showed their title credentials on a number of occasions this season and particularly in their win over Chelsea last weekend. They went into the game with the right mind-set and they managed the game better than than they have done in the past. This will give them a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing Arsenal to win here because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. They have struggled against Wolves in the past but with a much stronger mentality and character, they should win this one without too many problems.
SUNDAY:
BRIGHTON V ASTON VILLA
Brighton have finally got themselves going under Roberto De Zerbi following back to wins over Chelsea and Wolves. Those results were followed up with an impressive win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup in midweek and another result here will give them a lot of confidence going into the World Cup break.
Aston Villa got off to a great start under Unai Emery with their win over Man United last weekend and it will hopefully be the result that will kick start their season. The players were eager to make an impression and they certainly did with the way they started the game and played throughout the match.
PREDICTION: 2-1
I fancy Brighton to win here as they're in better form having won their last three games in all competitions. Villa will look to build on their win over Man United but with De Zerbi being at Brighton longer than Emery has been at Villa, I think the Seagulls will just edge it here.
FULHAM V MAN UNITED
Fulham could go into the World Cup break inside the top 10 which would represent a very good season for them so far. The recruitment has been much improved compared to their last two spells and have been a team with a clear identity which is something they weren't in the past.
Man United showed character to come from behind twice against Aston Villa last night in the Carabao Cup with their performance being much improved from their game against them last weekend. Youngster Alejandro Garnacho impressed off the bench and he is already looking a bright prospect at the age of 18 having impressed in the Europa League.
Their defeat to Villa in the league last weekend showed that Erik Ten Hag stil has a lot of work to do to get United to where they want to be. They're a team in transition as we all know and they're going to expect inconsistency as Ten Hag is trying to build a team in his image.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm going for a United win here as Fulham are set to be without talisman Mitrovic. Mitrovic would've made a big difference if he was available for this game due to his presence in the box. But as Fulham will be without him, I think United will take the points here as they have the quality to do so.
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