jonjoward1998

Aug 19, 20229 min read

Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 3

SATURDAY:

TOTTENHAM V WOLVES

Spurs showed character to get their draw with Chelsea the other week where they were lucky to get a result as both their goals should not have stood. Despite that they still deserve credit for getting themselves back in the game after an abject showing in the first half.

Spurs have only won this fixture once in their last four home games against Wolves which is a bit of a worry but Antonio Conte won't read into it too much. His side were very abject in this fixture last season and I can see them put in a much better showing as they'll be fielding a much stronger team.

It was deja vu for Wolves against Fulham last Saturday in that they created a lot of chances but didn't take any of them. Goals continue to be a worry of them this season like they were last season and although they have signed a striker in Goncalo Guedes, I still worry for them a bit.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I'm going for a straight forward Spurs win here as I can see them be too strong for Wolves. They'll definitely play better than they did against Chelsea and with the quality they have they should have no problems in winning this game.

CRYSTAL PALACE V ASTON VILLA

Crystal Palace were unlucky not to come away with a win against Liverpool on Monday night as they had some good chances to win the game. Patrick Vieira would've been happy with their overall performance but he will feel a bit disappointed that his side weren't able to finish the game off.

I feel that the Eagles could do with another striker as they also missed some good opportunities in their opening game against Arsenal as well as against Liverpool on Monday night. They do have some good attacking options but I do think they could do with a more clinical no.9.

Aston Villa got off the mark with their win over Everton last weekend with their performance much better than the one they put in on the opening day against Bournemouth. They showed more attacking endeavour than they did against Bournemouth and Steven Gerrard will want more of the same in this game.

Villa were inconsistent at times last season and if they are to finish near those European places, they need to be a bit more consistent. Another win here would certainly be a start to them addressing that issue but it won't be easy for them as Palace are a tough side to play against.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I can see this being a close game as both sides are good to watch and look reasonably well matched. I'm backing Palace to edge it though as I can see them carry their performance against Liverpool into this game and they also have the players to hurt Villa.

EVERTON V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

It's been a tough start for Everton who really need that striker to them the goals they need to get them off and running. They have some difficult fixtures coming up and their best chance of getting something from those games would be to bring in a striker.

Nottingham Forest got off the mark last week with their win over West Ham where they really but their body on line to get the result. The result will definitely give them confidence going into this game as will their performance which they'll need to show more of if they're to stay up.

The only thing that could stop them is changing their team each week which could really unsettle them. They've brought in a lot of players over the summer and Steve Cooper will obviously want to give them opportunities. But they should stick with a settled starting 11 and not make too many changes.

PREDICTION: 1-1

Everton may be missing that striker but I still fancy them to get something here. They're the home team and when they're at home they're tough to beat but I do think Forest will give it a good go.

FULHAM V BRENTFORD

The last time these two sides met was in the Championship Play Off final in 2020 which Fulham went on to win. Two years later they meet again as Premier League clubs.

Fulham have made a decent start this season with a point from each of their two games. I know they haven't won yet but a point from both games is still a decent start. It will hopefully give them a platform to build on for the rest of the season.

Brentford completely walked over Man United last weekend and both their result and performance from that game will give them a lot of confidence going into this game. They forced their defenders into mistakes by pressing high and they made United look like a very average team.

There have been some questions marks over Brentford this season as to whether they'll be hit by the second season syndrome. But after battering United last week and showing character to come from behind against Leicester on the opening day, they look well and truly set to avoid it.

PREDICTION: 2-2

This one should be a good and close game as they're both good to watch and both score a lot of goals. Both sides will really go for it and I can see it be a very close game. But I think both sides will cancel each other out.

LEICESTER V SOUTHAMPTON

It hasn't been the best of starts from Leicester and their situation off the pitch certainly hasn't helped them. Wesley Fofana is becoming unsettled with the club appearing to price him out of a move to Chelsea and it will be interesting to see what will happen with him over the next couple of weeks.

The Foxes should still be ok if they keep hold of all their wanted assets but they need to make some moves in the transfer market. They have signed keeper Alex Smithies from Cardiff but they need to get more deals done if they're to push for those European spots again.

Southampton reacted well against Leeds last weekend where they grabbed a result from 2-0 down with their subs making a massive difference. They played with a bit more intensity in the second half and their subs certainly provided that when they came on.

I'm not convinced with the Saints defensively and their problems there were exposed yet again last week against Leeds. With Leicester having some good attacking players, I would feel concerned for the Saints going into this game. Especially as they lost 9-0 to their opponents three seasons ago.

PREDICTION: 3-1

Both sides haven't got off to the best of starts. But I think Leicester will take the points here as they definitely have the players to cause the Saints all sorts of problems. With the creativity of Maddison and the pace of Vardy, the Foxes should have no problems here.

BOURNEMOUTH V ARSENAL

Bournemouth were taught a footballing lesson by Man City last time out which was probably expected given the opposition they were up against. They spent the majority of the game inside their own half and were beaten by the more superior side.

The Cherries will be glad that they got that opening day win over Aston Villa because of the tough games that have followed it. They have Liverpool after this tough one against Arsenal and had they not beaten Villa in their first game, they might've been in serious trouble going into the rest of the season.

Arsenal are looking very good this season and Gabriel Jesus in particular is looking like a very good signing for them. He took both of his goals against Leicester very well last weekend and I think this move will really benefit him as he's going to be starting games and playing in a set position on a regular basis.

This fixture was Mikel Arteta's first game in charge of Arsenal back in 2019 on Boxing Day and it's been a rollercoaster of a journey since then. A lot has changed for both sides since that day and this game is the start of a new chapter for both sides.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing Arsenal to win this one and reasonably comfortably. Bournemouth will try and make it difficult for them but with the start they've made I expect the Gunners to have no problems in winning this game.

SUNDAY:

LEEDS V CHELSEA

Leeds have made a decent start to the season but they'll be disappointed that they let a two goal lead slip at Southampton in their last game. Losing Patrick Bamford early on was a massive blow and they'll be hoping that he won't be out for too long. Especially after missing a lot of last season.

Chelsea were unlucky not to come away with all three points against Spurs last Sunday as they were the much better side on the day and both of Spurs' goals shouldn't have been given. They had some good chances to win the game but they didn't take them which backs up their need for a centre forward.

They really do need one as Timo Werner has gone back to RB Leipzig leaving Kai Havertz as their only option. Havertz is a good player but he's not a goal scorer and a goal scorer is what the blues are desperately after.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing Chelsea to win this one because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. They do need that clinical striker but they still have players who can chip in when needed.

WEST HAM V BRIGHTON

It's not been a good start to the season for West Ham having lost both of their opening two games. They have had injuries and particularly in their backline but with players on their way back they'll hopefully see an upturn in form.

The Hammers haven't beaten Brighton ever since they've been in the Premier League drawing six and losing four of their 10 games against them. Another blank result here and we could be calling Brighton as West Ham's bogey team.

It was deja vu for Brighton against Newcastle last week in that they had a lot of chances but weren't able to convert any of them. This has been an issue for Brighton over the last couple of seasons and they need to address it if they're to be an established top 10 side.

The Seagulls will still be happy with the start they've made in picking up four points from their opening two games which represents a reasonably solid start.

PREDICTION: 1-1

Neither side rarely end up on the winning side in this fixture and I can see that being repeated in this one. It will be a close game as they both have a good set of players but I can't see either side winning it.

NEWCASTLE V MAN CITY

It's been a fairly decent start for Newcastle picking up four points from their opening two games. They could've offered a bit more against Brighton last time out but Eddie Howe will still feel satisfied with his sides' start to the season which is much better than their start to last season.

We may be two games in but I'm starting to think that Man City have the upper hand in the title race as they've won both their games whereas Liverpool haven't won yet. The league will still be between those two sides but at the moment City have the upper hand based on the start they've made.

Erling Haaland had a quiet game against Bournemouth last week yet he managed to register an assist with his through ball to Gundogan for the first goal. I expect him to be more involved in this one as Newcastle like to play an expansive game which will therefore give him more space to run into and cause some problems.

PREDICTION: 0-3

I'm going with a City win here because I can see them be too strong for Newcastle. The Magpies will go for it but I think City's quality will be too much for them.

MONDAY:

MAN UNITED V LIVERPOOL

This is looking like Man United's worst ever start to a league season and it will be if they lose this game. Their performance against Brentford was probably the worst I've ever seen from a Man United side and it really showed where they are as both a club and a team.

There is no work rate or organisation in their team which is a massive worry for them going into this game. They'll be up against Liverpool side who work their socks off week in week out and have players who know their jobs. This is the compete opposite of Man United at the moment.

It hasn't been the best of starts from Liverpool and I'm sure they'll show a reaction in this game with it being against a rival. There were both positives and negatives from their opening two games against Fulham and Palace but their overall performances from both were not at all convincing.

They responded well to going a man down against Crystal Palace on Monday night and they had to after Darwin Nunez's silly red card. That certainly didn't help them on the night but their response after the sending off was encouraging and they'll need to carry that into this game.