SATURDAY:
CRYSTAL PALACE V LIVERPOOL
Crystal Palace were booed off the pitch by their own fans after their defeat to Bournemouth in midweek and their current form s a concern. They've won just once in 8 games and have some difficult games comin gup starting with this one.
What's more worrying is their lack of goals. They've found the net just 14 times this season with only Sheffield United scoring fewer. Goals have been a problem for Palace for a number of years now and it's quite hard to believe that it still is.
Eberechi Eze has been a miss for them as they lack the creativity he brings whn he's in the side. But the Eagles are still lacking a goal scorer.
Liverpool will temporaily move to the top of the league if they win this game and I think they will as Palace are out of form and the reds being a far strong team.
It was a professional showing from them on Wednesday against Sheffield United who did not make it easy for them. But they still got the job done.
I think this one will be a similar kind of game as Palace are a tough team to beat. But Liverpool should still have the quality to come away with the points.
PREDICTION: 0-3
BRIGHTON V BURNLEY
Brighton got another much needed win in midweek against Brentford which could be the result that can kick-start their season.
It has been a tough season for the Seagulls mainly because of them being in Europe which has lead them to picking up a number of injuries. But they are 8th in the table and they deserve credit for being in that position.
Burnley again shot themselves in the foot against Wolves in midweek by giving the ball away whilst playing out from the back. This lead to Wolves scoring the goal and winning the game.
I don't see them changing the way they play as Vincent Kompany is willing to stick to his principles. But I think they're again going to get punished here as Brighton will no doubt pounce on any mistake they make.
It will be an open game as both sides play an expansive brand of football. And I think Brighton will come out on top as I think BUrnley will again be very naiive.
PREDICTION: 3-1
MAN UNITED V BOURNEMOUTH
Man United were a much improved side against Chelsea in midweek as they looked up for it more and had more energy about them in the way they played. But will they be able to build on it?
This game is one they definitely need to win so they have more confiodence to tale into their next two games which are both very tough. Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday and Liverpool next Sunday.
Bournemouth are one of the in-form sides in the league at the moment along with Arsenal and Liverpool having won 4 of their last 6 league games. They look like a side who have finally found their feet under Andoni Iraola.
They'll definitely come here with a lot of confidence as a result of the good form they're in. But I think United will find a way to win no matter what kind of performance they put in.
PREDICTION: 2-1
SHEFFIELD UNITED V BRENTFORD
Sheffield United put in an improved display against Liverpool in midweek and one that Chris Wilder will want his players to build on.
I actually think they will build on it as they're at home and I can see the crowd get behind them as they usually do whenever they play at Bramall Lane.
Brentford's long injury list was increased during the week with Bryan Mbeumo going off with anankle injury in their defeat at Brighton on Wednesday. This is a massive blow for the Bees as he's one of their best attacking players and I think they could struggle for goals. Especially with Ivan Toney still suspended.
The Bees will give it everything here as they do most weeks. But with the injuries they have and the home crowd being on Sheffield United's side, I can see the Blades nick a draw here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
WOLVES V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Wolves' problem for the last two season at least was scoring goals and it looks like they've fixed that problem with the form of Hwang Hee Chan. Hwng has netted 9 goals in all competitions this season which is higher than the amount that Wolves' top scorer has in each of the past two seasons.
I hear that Nottingham Forest will sack Steve Cooper if they lose this game but I hope they don't as he's done an excellent job and his side are outside the relegation zone.
He is under pressure because of the form his side are in and that pressure was increased further after his side were thrashed by Fulham on Wednesday. A game where they were all over the place.
I do hope he gets the time to turn things around like he did last season. But I don't see it starting here as they're away from home where they have such a terrible record.
PREDICTION: 2-0
ASTON VILLA V ARSENAL
Aston Villa were oustanding against Man City in midweek where they did what very few sides have done agaoinst them in dominating the game. They had 22 shots whereas City only managed 2 which is somethign that is hard to believe.
They'll be full of confidence heading into this one and Unai Emery in particular will be determined to get one over his former club. And I think he will as Villa are at home where they have such a good record.
Arsenal are showing signs week by week that they're title contenders and they showed character to come from behind and nick a late win over Luton in midweek.
The Gunners were the last side to beat Villa at Villa Park all the way back in February. But with Villa having had such a good home record since then, I fancy them to put a dent in Arsenal's title chances here.
PREDICTION: 2-0
SUNDAY:
EVERTON V CHELSEA
Everton have struggled at home for much of this season but their win over Newcastle last night could be a sign that they're beginning to turn things around.
Their recent form has generally been good and had it not been for their points deduction, they would be in the top half and above Chelsea.
Chelsea are a difficult side to work out. One week they can be brilliant and the next they can be bang average. It will be interesting to see which version of them turns up for this one.
They have struggled at Goodison Park in recent seasons with their win in this fixture last season being their only one in six games.
Everton come into this one with more confidence on board and because of that I think they'll come out on top here.
PREDICTION: 1-0
FULHAM V WEST HAM
Fulham were outstanding against Nottingham Forest in midweek and I was happy to see Raul Jimenez get a brace given the tough start he's had at Craven Cottage.
The goals are beginning to flow for the Cottagers after netting 11 times in their last 3 games. Goals were intially their main problem earlier in the season but now they've found a way to fix it by spreading them out around the team.
West Ham like Fulham are a resilient side who stay in games for as long as they can and they did that last night against Spurs where they came from behind to win the game.
Because of both sides being resilient and tough to break down at times, I can see the points being shared here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
LUTON V MAN CITY
Luton have made it tough for the big bos when they've come to Kenilworth Road this season and they certainly made it uncomfortable for Arsenal on Wednesday. But will they be able to make it difficult for a team so talented as City's?
The Hatters will set themselves up to get men behind the ball knowing that City will dominate possession. They'll also look to hit them on the counter and City have looked vulnerable when defending on the counter in recent weeks.
Something just isn't clicking with Man City at the moment as they're not finishing teams off or seeing games out in the way they used to. But we all know they'll come good eventually as that's what they do later in the season.
They were nowhere near it against Villa in midweek and the absence of Rodri definitely played a part as they missed his presence in the midfield.
Rodri will back for this one and his return will no doubt make a massive difference. With him back, City should definitely win this one. But I don't thin it will be at all comfortable for them though.
PREDICTION: 0-2
TOTTENHAM V NEWCASTLE
Ange Postecoglou had a brilliant record at home when he was at Celtic but has lost his last three at home with Spurs after a strong start.
Spurs are definitely missing some of their injured players and especially Van De Ven and Maddison - both of whom are out till new year. Their defence has been all over the place since Van De Ven's been out whilst Maddison's creativity in midfield has been missed also.
Newcastle looked easy to play against in their defeat at Everton last night as their midfield was broken through on a number of occasions quite easily. They were unrecognisable compared to the side that beat Man United at the weekend.
The Magpies like Spurs are missing a host of players through injury and both sides have felt the effect of it.
Spurs will obviously carry on playing the way they're playing but I do see them leaving holes in their defence. Newcastle will look exploit that and I think they will with the attacking players they have.
They'll both set themselves up to have a good go here, but I think they'll both cancel each other out.
PREDICTION: 2-2
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