FRIDAY:
ASTON VILLA V LEEDS
Villa are the only team left with a 100% record this season and it continued with their 1-0 win at Leicester on Sunday. Ross Barkley is looking like a really good signing for them after scoring in both games since he joined the club against Liverpool and Leicester. Having him in the team is taking the pressure off of Jack Grealish because they're both creative players and Grealish now has the licence to get forward because he knows he has another midfielder alongside him to create all the chances as well as him. Leeds were dominant in the first half of their defeat to Wolves on Monday night. But they didn't take their chances and they were punished when Raul Jimenez scored the winner. Kalvin Phillips will be a huge loss for them because he's made a great start to Premier League life and is key to the way that Leeds play. I don't think they have anyone else in their team who does what Phillips does.
It will be a close game and both sides will go for it because of the way they both play and the talent of players they both I have. I'm going for Villa because they're full of confidence and I can see them continue their great start in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-1
SATURDAY:
WEST HAM V MAN CITY
City have put four or more goals past the Hammers in this fixture since Pep Guardiola's been at City and West Ham have only scored once in those fixtures. The Hammers have got a decent run going with wins over Wolves and Leicester followed by an incredible comeback to draw with Spurs on Sunday. They'll be hoping to get something out of this one following the runs of results they've had. City on the other hand need to win this one if they're to challenge for the title with the club currently 11th in the table. The good news for them is that Sergio Aguero is back which is huge because of the player he's been over the years and also he's the only fit striker with Gabriel Jesus still out. City will need to keep the Argentine fit and get him scoring goals if they're to move further up the table.
I think City will win this one because they have too much quality for West Ham. They might still be without Kevin De Bruyne for this game, but they still have top quality players to win them a game like Aguero, Sterling, Mahrez and Bernardo Silva. I can see them give West Ham a real beating like they always do whenever they go to the London Stadium.
PREDICTION: 1-4
FULHAM V CRYSTAL PALACE
Fulham picked up their first point of the season with the draw at Sheffield United on Sunday and could've won the game if Aleksandar Mitrovic took his chances and didn't concede the penalty that Billy Sharp scored to level the score. They've looked more resolute since their opening three games where they were conceding goals from anywhere and will want to continue that way going into this game so they can get their first win back in the Premier League. Palace were lucky to come away with a point against Brighton because they only had shot all game which came from the penalty that shouldn't have been given. They'll want to return to winning ways in this one because they've not won their last three after winning their first two.
I think Crystal Palace will win this one because they're better defensively than Fulham and have a player in Zaha who can hurt any defence in the league. Fulham's performances have improved recently, but I can see Palace expose their defensive weaknesses with Zaha's pace.
PREDICTION: 0-2
MAN UNITED V CHELSEA
This one should be a cracker because of the quality of players both sides have going forward and the weaknesses they have defensively. United looked brilliant in the final minutes of their win at Newcastle and they carried that performance into the midweek win over PSG in the Champions League. Edinson Cavani could make his debut in this one after recovering from Coronavirus plus Mason Greenwood could also be available after missing the last two games due to a slight niggle. Those two alongside Rashford and Fernandes could cause Chelsea's struggling backline many problems. Frank Lampard will be hoping his defenders perform better than they did against Southampton because if they switch off like they did on Saturday, United will punish them. They did keep a clean sheet against Sevilla in midweek with new keeper Mendy impressing with some smart saves. He'll want to keep that up if Chelsea are to keep a clean sheet in this one.
There will definitely be goals in this one because of the players both sides have going forward and I think it will be the most open game between these two sides that we'll ever see. I'm going for a United win here because they did the double over Chelsea last season and I can see them causing many problems to Chelsea's vulnerable backline with the pace and creativity they have in the final third.
PREDICTION: 3-2
LIVERPOOL V SHEFFIELD UNITED
Liverpool are set to be without star defender Virgil Van Dijk for a long time after picking up an knee injury during the Merseyside Derby last weekend. Fabinho stepped in against Ajax in midweek and was excellent throughout proving that he's able to step in for the Dutchman when needed. We'll see how Liverpool will cope without Van Dijk bearing in mind Alisson is also out and those two have really transformed Liverpool since they've been at the club. Sheffield United picked up their first point of the season with the draw against Fulham on Sunday and have some tough games coming up with Man City and Chelsea to follow this one. One reason for their tricky start could be that teams have figured them out which can be the case when you go into your second season. Chris Wilder may need to find a different way to get results otherwise the Blades could be in trouble.
I'm going for Liverpool in this one because they've enough firepower to win the game and with Sheffield United not scoring many goals at the moment, I think the reds will keep a clean sheet.
PREDICTION: 2-0
SUNDAY:
SOUTHAMPTON V EVERTON
This game is a battle between two England strikers in good form. Danny Ings and Dominic Calvert Lewin. Ings has started the season well with 4 goals in 5 games whilst Calvert Lewin can't stop scoring hence why he's the top scorer in the Premier League. Southampton are up and running after losing their first two games and they showed great character to come from 2-0 down to grab a draw at Chelsea. They'll want to show the same determination if they want to get something out of this one because they're putting a nice run together. Everton are flying high at the top of the table with Calvert Lewin scoring goals and James Rodriguez pulling the strings in attack which has upped the performances of the Everton players.
There will be goals in this one because both teams are good going forward, but can be suspect at the back. I'm going for an Everton win here because they're top of the table and full of confidence. Richarlison will be a miss for them because he's suspended, but they still have the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson who can come in and do a job alongside Rodriguez and Calvert Lewin. Southampton will score but I think Everton will come out victorious.
PREDICTION: 2-3
WOLVES V NEWCASTLE
Wolves are second best for most of their win over Leeds on Monday night, but still had enough to win the game thanks to Raul Jimenez's deflected strike. They've got their season up and running after winning their last two games following two defeats in their opening three games which is what they didn't expect due to the high standards they set themselves. Newcastle were poor against Man United and had Karl Darlow to thank for keeping the score down with some fine saves. He's been excellent whilst Martin Dubravka has been out by keeping Newcastle in games and he'll be hoping for a similar performance in this one.
Both games between these two ended in draws last season and I think this one will end in a draw because I think both sides will cancel each other out by being relatively strong defensively and I think it will be a close game because of it.
PREDICTION: 1-1
ARSENAL V LEICESTER
It was the same old Arsenal last week in losing to a big six side away from home yet again. But other than that they've started the season reasonably well with three wins from five games and have a better look about them this season. They're looking better in all areas of the pitch and all of that is down to the manager. Mikel Arteta has made them more solid defensively as a unit and if they can improve their away record against the big teams, who knows what they could achieve this season. Leicester missed Jamie Vardy against Villa on Sunday because Iheanacho doesn't run in behind like he does and Vardy is key to the way Leicester play. Leicester have gone off the boil a bit after defeats to West Ham and Aston Villa in their last two games and this will be their first test of their fitness after playing in the Europa League on Thursday night giving them not enough time for a proper recovery. They will cool down on Friday before preparing for this game on Saturday which is a short space of time.
I'm going for an Arsenal win here because they're more used to the Thursday-Sunday schedule than Leicester who may feel a bit tired from it. Because of that I think Arsenal can use that to their advantage to win the game.
PREDICTION: 3-1
MONDAY:
BRIGHTON V WEST BROM
Brighton have played some good stuff since Graham Potter has been in charge and they were unlucky not to win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. They created enough chances to win the game, they just didn't take the other chances they had. They should've won the game because Palace's penalty was not a penalty and it shouldn't have been given. West Brom are still without a win and were denied numerous times by Nick Pope during their goalless draw with Burnley on Monday night. They need their strikers to start scoring if they're to win football matches because you can't rely on the creativity of Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana to win you games. They will want to win this one so they can get their season up and running with their first win back in the Premier League.
I'm going for a Brighton win here because I think they will have enough to win the game. They're strong defensively and if they can take their chances, they should win the game comfortably.
PREDICTION: 2-0
BURNLEY V TOTTENHAM
Burnley picked up their first point of the season with the draw at West Brom and Sean Dyche will now want them to get their first win and move further up the table. They still have a few players out injured but once they're back fit, they can start to get a run going. Tottenham will want to avoid another "Spursy" performance after throwing away a 3-0 lead to West Ham where they were looking good and on top. Kane and Son have started the season on fire and with Gareth Bale finally fit, they'll be a danger for any side in the league. There are questions marks about them defensively and hopefully Jose Mourinho will be working them on the training ground to get them right for this game.
I'm going for a Spurs win here because of the quality they have going forward in Kane and Son. Those have linked up brilliantly so far this season and with Burnley missing a few players through injury, I can see Spurs cause them many problems.
PREDICTION: 1-3
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