SATURDAY:
CRYSTAL PALACE V TOTTENHAM
Crystal Palace have looked decent in their last two games and their draw with West Ham in their last game will give them confidence going into this game. It will still take time for them to get used to Vieira's style of play but their performance a couple of weeks ago was one that they'll be looking to build on in this game.
Odsonne Edouard could make his debut in this one following his deadline day move from Celtic and he's what Palace have lacked for the last few seasons in terms of a consistent goal scorer. Goals have been a problem for Palace over the last few seasons despite them staying up comfortably and with someone like Edouard in their team, they won't need to heavily rely on Wilfried Zaha.
Spurs go into this one top of the league and with a 100% record after winning all of their games so far. After their strong start I actually can't believe that Nuno Espirito Santo was so far down their list of managers. He proved himself at Wolves where he did at excellent job in leading them to two straight 7th placed finishes and he's made a good start at Spurs. It may be early days but I've still been impressed with the job he's done so far.
This month is a tricky one for Spurs as they face Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two league games. They should win this one as it's a game they're more than capable of winning but their next two will be big tests for them and their ambitions for the season.
I'm going for Spurs to win this one becuase they've made a strong start and I can see them keeping that up in this game. Palace have have improved over the last couple of weeks but I still think Spurs will have enough quality to win the game.
PREDICTION: 0-2
ARSENAL V NORWICH
We may already be three games in but this already one feels like a must win game for Arsenal. It's been their worst ever start to a season and they simply need to start winning games of football. They've been poor in both departments as they've let in 9 goals and scored none plus they have no leaders on the pitch to get the team organised. They're a shadow of the club they once were.
Mikel Arteta has hopefully used the international break to look back at their games and see where they can improve. They're probably many things they can improve on having started the season so poorly and Arteta has surely got his players working on the training field so they can work on the mistakes made from their opening three games.
Norwich were much improved in their defeat to Leicester last time out as they created more chances and did well to keep the score down. They may have lost the game but Daniel Farke will still be happy with the performance that his team put in. They'll be looking to carry that performance into this game so they can get their first points of the season.
It hasn't been a nice start for the Canaries as they've already had to face three of last seasons top five and they have yet another tough fixture in this one. It may not be as tough as it was when the fixtures came out but it is still a tough fixture because of the size of club they're facing.
It's a must win game for both teams and I think it will be Arsenal who will get off the mark. They've had two weeks to work on the mistakes made from their opening games and I can see them put in a better performance in this game.
PREDICTION: 2-0
BRENTFORD V BRIGHTON
It's been a good start from Brentford and they'll need to keep it up if they're to stay up. We've seen newly promoted teams start well in the past before eventually falling away and being dragged into a relegation battle. Thomas Frank will not want his side to become one of those teams. They've looked impressive in the games they've played and the manager will want them to carry that on into this game and the games they have coming up.
Brighton have also started well but had their winning start halted by Everton before the international break. They weren't as clinical in that one as they were in their first two games and were second best for the majority of it as Everton had the better chances. It was an off day for them and they'll want to move on by winning this game.
I'm going for a Brentford win in this one because I have a feeling that they're going to win here. It should be a decent game as both sides play good football and I can see the Bees run away with the three points.
PREDICTION: 2-0
LEICESTER V MAN CITY
Leicester beat Man City last month when the two sides met in the Community Shield and that result will hopefully give them some confidence going into this game. It may have been a month ago but it will still give the team confidence because they'll believe that they can beat them again having already beaten them before. With all their key players available, they'll definitely fancy themselves to.
It's been a decent start to the season for the Foxes with two wins from their opening three games which isn't a bad start. They did have that poor result against West Ham in their second game but other than that its still been a decent start from them. They haven't been fantastic in the games they won but they did get the job done on both occasions which is all that matters to them.
Man City could have Kevin De Bruyne back for this one having returned to training during the international break. De Bruyne hasn't played since their opening day defeat to Spurs where he only got a few minutes and has struggled to recover from the injury he picked up during Euro 2020. With him now back City look a stronger a team and it will give them a massive boost in this one.
But on the negative side they're set to be without Ederson and Gabriel Jesus due to FIFA regulations around the selection of South American players who didn't travel to represent their countries. Ederson will be the biggest loss because he's crucial to how they play as he's very good with the ball at his feet. Scott Carson is likely to step in for him with Zack Steffen unavailable and this isn't the kind of game to play him because of the opposition they're facing plus he's not as good with the ball at his feet as Ederson.
I'm going for Leicester to win this one because they beat them in the Community Shield last month and I can see them ding it again here. With City also without Ederson with Scott Carson stepping in, I can see the Foxes' force City into mistakes as Carson isn't as good on the ball as Ederson is.
PREDICTION: 3-1
MAN UNITED V NEWCASTLE
The day that all Man United fans have been dreaming of has finally arrived. Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Old Trafford will be expecting to make his return debut in this game in front of a full stadium. He may be getting on at 36 years of age but he can still score amazing goals like he has done for the majority of his career. He won't be the player he was the last time he was in this league but he'll still score a good amount of goals.
United simply have to be challenging for the title with that signing along with the others they've made during the summer. I don't think they'll win the title this season but I think they'll be up there challenging because of the signings they've made. Varane makes them more solid defensively whilst Sancho and Ronaldo will add more quality to the attack. This looks like the best United team since Fergie left.
It's been a poor start to the season from Newcastle and already the fans are unhappy. They're yet to win a game and they didn't do enough in the transfer market with Joe Willock being their only signing. That has probably been a reason for their poor start because their team at the moment looks no better than last season.
This is the kind of game they did not want to play coming back from the international break as they'll be up against one of the greatest players to play the game making his return debut for their opponents. They have had two weeks to work on the things that didn't go well for them in their opening few games, but getting off the mark in this one will be a tough ask.
I've got to go with Man United for this one because I think they'll be too strong for Newcastle. With Ronaldo making his return debut and the majority of their key attacking players available, I can see them win this one rather comfortably.
PREDICTION: 4-0
SOUTHAMPTON V WEST HAM
Southampton may still be without a win, but their recent performances haven't been too bad. They went for it against Man United in their second game and they showed good character to come from behind twice to grab a point at Newcastle before the international break. I was worried about them after their opening day defeat to Everton but their recent performances have been encouraging and will give them confidence going into this game.
West Ham made a couple of important signings before the transfer window closed by bringing in Nikola Vlasic and Alex Kral. I still think they should've brought in as Michail Antonio is the only recognised player they have there but bringing those two players is massive for them as they need their squad to have a good depth with their Europa League campaign starting this week.
The Hammers have got off to the start they needed to which is a good start as they currently lie in 2nd after two wins and a draw from their opening three games. They needed to start well as they have the Thursday-Sunday schedule coming up for them which is never easy to deal with due to the travelling and the lack of recovery and preparation between games. A win for them in this game will give them the confidence they need going into it.
I'm going for a draw in this one because I can't see a winner from either side. Both sides have played well recently and I can see them get matched in every department.
PREDICTION: 1-1
WATFORD V WOLVES
Watford haven't had the greatest of starts since and performance wise its been quite a strange on for them. They were brilliant against Villa but against Brighton and Spurs they never really looked like scoring. They sat very deep for the majority of their game against Spurs before the international break which is understandable but they still could've been more adventurous.
They'll surely be more adventurous in this one as they'll see this one as a winnable game which it is. They won their last home game on the opening day against Aston Villa and their home form will be crucial to their chances of staying up like it is for every newly promoted team. With this game being at home they'll be looking to make Vicarage Road a fortress by wining this game.
It's been a poor start for Wolves under new boss Bruno Lage as they're yet to score as well as win. They've been decent to watch but haven't had the killer instinct in front of goal despite having Raul Jimenez back. They've surely used the international break to work on their finishing so they can finally get off the mark for the season under their new manager.
They might be without Jimenez for this one due to FIFA's regulation on the selection of South and North American players who didn't represent their countries during the international break. Jimenez was a massive loss for Wolves last season when he was out injured with his fractured skull and will be a big loss for them again if he was to miss this game which I think he will.
I'm going for a Watford win in this one because Wolves could be without Jimenez and are yet to score a goal. With the Hornets being reasonably tight at the back with some decent players going forward, I can see them win this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0
CHELSEA V ASTON VILLA
Chelsea have got off to a decent start and I was impressed with how they defended against Liverpool after going down to 10 men. They looked organised and kept Liverpool at bay for the majority of the second half which isn't easy when you have a player less. They've been excellent defensively since Thomas Tuchel has been at the club and it will be one of their key assets if they're to challenge for the title.
The blues could be without a few key players for this one including Romelu Lukaku and N'Golo Kante who are out with knocks sustained either on International duty or before the international break. They'll both be a massive loss for Chelsea if they were to miss this game but they do have players who can step in for them like Saul Niguez hoping to make his debut and Kai Havertz who can play as a centre forward.
Aston Villa has a pretty good record in these kind of games last season in doing the double over Arsenal and beating Liverpool and Spurs along with beating Chelsea at Villa Park on the final day. With the majority of the bigger teams looking stronger this season, beating them will be a challenge and a tough ask for Villa. This especially will be.
It's been an ok start from Villa with a win, a draw and a loss from each of their three games so far this season. They would've wanted to start better considering the quality of players they brought in but as they brought in a fair few and lost their talisman in Jack Grealish, we're arguably not surprised with the start they've made as it can take time for new players to settle into a new team.
I'm going for Chelsea to win this one because I think they'll have enough to win the game. They may be missing some key players, but I still think they'll get the win as they have players who can step up when needed.
PREDICTION: 2-0
SUNDAY:
LEEDS V LIVERPOOL
Leeds haven't started brilliantly as they're yet to win a game but they should be ok despite their poor start, They've had some tough fixtures to start the season with which doesn't always help but as soon as they're out of the way they'll hopefully start winning football matches.
Dan James will be looking to make his debut in this one following his deadline day move from Man United and especially with Raphinha unavailable due to FIFA's regulations on the selection of North or South American players who didn't play during the international break. Leeds have some good competition in the wider areas with the signing of James as they also have Jack Harrison as well as Raphinha in that department. This signing strengthens their attack further.
It's been a decent start from Liverpool and one they'll be reasonably happy with and expected. Norwich and Burnley were games that they were expecting to win and do so whilst the Chelsea game was one that they were expecting at least a point which they got. It's been an overall satisfying start from them.
They'll be without Alisson and Fabinho for this one which will be a big blow for them but they will have other key players available for them. They're not the same defensively when Alisson isn't there but they will have someone to play as a defensive midfielder in Jordan Henderson. They suffered a lot without a defensive midfielder last season but they shouldn't do this season as they have their defence back.
Leeds aren't brilliant from set pieces and because of that I think Liverpool will win this one. They have a player whose good in both boxes in Virgil Van Dijk and I can see him cause Leeds problems with his height and aerial presence.
PREDICTION: 1-2
MONDAY:
EVERTON V BURNLEY
Rafa Benitez has started to win the fans over at Everton after a positive start which he needed having managed Liverpool in the past. They started well last season under Carlo Ancelotti which saw them top of the league until their form dropped off in the weeks that followed. They'll want to avoid a repeat of that this season so they don't settle for mid-table mediocrity like they have done for the last few seasons.
Burnley finally got some players through the door before the transfer window shut in Maxwell Cornet and Connor Roberts. They didn't make many major signings prior to deadline line but getting those two players in will without a doubt strengthen their squad further.
The Clarets haven't started well but they should have more than enough to stay up. They didn't start well last season and still managed to stay up despite not making many major signings. Their wait for a win may have to wait but I still think they'll stay up because of the manager they have.
I'm going for an Everton win here because they've started well under Rafa and I can see them continue that start with another win here. Burnley will try and make it difficult for them but I still think the Toffees will have enough to win the game.
PREDICTION: 2-0
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