SATURDAY:
TOTTENHAM V WEST HAM
I described Spurs' performance against Brighton before the international break as Spursy and a number of other people probably did too. They looked comfortable in the first half, but in the second half they let Brighton back in the game by not pressing as well as they did in the first half.
Ange Postecoglou has had two weeks to reflect on that result and on the the way his side threw the game away. I'm sure that he will have learnt a lesson from it.
West Ham got a much needed win before the international break against Ipswich, which will have relieved the pressure on Julen Lopetegui, and was their first win at home.
The Hammers don't have the best of records in this fixture, but they did win here last season 2-1.
Spurs had a stack load of players out injured for that one, but they'll have most of their important players available for this one though.
Because of that and the fact that I believe that they will have learnt their lesson from the Brighton game, I think they'll come out on top here.
PREDICTION: 3-1
FULHAM V ASTON VILLA
Fulham gave Man City a good game before the international break and on another day they might've got something from the game.
Marco Silva's side are unbeaten at home this season and I'm not surprised that they are, as they were strong at home last season.
Aston Villa weren't quite at the races against Man United before the international break, which is somewhat understandable as they might've been a bit fatigued from their Champions League exploits against Bayern Munich.
A few key men were missing for that due to injury and more have been added to that list ever since. Their squad depth will no doubt be tested over the next few weeks with the games they have coming up.
They'll still have enough to get a result here even without those injured players.
But with Fulham having a good record at home, I think the points will be shared here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
IPSWICH V EVERTON
Ipswich have put in some encouraging performances since they've been in the Premier League, and especially at home.
But they were taught some harsh lessons about the Premier League in their defeat at West Ham before the international. They were caught out when playing out from the back on a number of occasions during that game and were punished for it once or twice.
Everton began to steady the ship before the international break after a terrible start where they lost their opening four league games. They've drawn 2 and won 1 since then and are out of the bottom three as a result of it.
They picked up their first clean sheet of the season in their final game before the international break against Newcastle, which should give them something to build on, alongside their recent stopping of the rot.
Both sides don't have a massive amount of goals in them, but if one of them was to score it would more likely be Ipswich as they play more on the front foot.
But as Everton are tough to beat have have looked more solid back there in recent games, I can see this one being a cagey affair.
PREDICTION: 0-0
MAN UNITED V BRENTFORD
Man United were an improved against Villa before the international break in that they were more difficult to beat defensively.
Brentford have started the season relatively well and they went into the international break off the back of putting five goals past Wolves.
They were only a matter of seconds away from winning this fixture last season, only for two late Scott McTominay goals t give United a lucky win.
Thomas Frank's side will probably be the more convincing team to watch in this one as they're more likely to start on the front foot, and have more of an identity in the way they play.
But I have a sneaky feeling that United will just nick here, even though I don't think they will play well.
PREDICTION: 2-1
NEWCASTLE V BRIGHTON
Newcastle should be reasonably happy with their start to the season results wise. But their lack of goals is a concern as they only have 8 so far this season. The second lowest in the top 10.
They have in all fairness been without their two recognised strikers in Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, who have both been injured and sorely missed. Especially Isak.
Brighton were brilliant in the second half against Spurs before the international break where they showed character and a good reaction to come from two goals down.
The Seagulls come into this a game level on a points with and a place above Newcastle in 6th, which represents a good start for Fabian Hurzeler's side.
Brighton might possibly be the favourites in this one because of Newcastle not having a recognised striker available.
But as St James' Park is a difficult place to go to and Newcastle having the home crowd on their side, I think the points will be shared here.
PREDICTION: 1-1
SOUTHAMPTON V LEICESTER
Southampton were an improved side against Arsenal before the international break in that they did well to stay in the game for as long as they did.
They lose yet again that day, but Russell Martin still took positives from the way his side played and he'll want his players to take those positives into this game.
Leicester became the first newly promoted side to get off the mark before the international break by beating Bournemouth. This result should hopefully give them the confidence to kick start their season.
The Foxes did the double over the Saints in the Championship last season, but they haven't won at St Mary's in the top flight since the 9-0 win back in 2019, nearly five years ago.
Southampton's only point of the season came against a fellow newly-promoted side in Ipswich just a couple of games ago.
I think they could grab a another point in this one as Leicester don't have the best of records at St Mary's.
PREDICTION: 1-1
BOURNEMOUTH V ARSENAL
This game is the start of a tough mini run for Bournemouth as they face Aston Villa and Man City in their next two following this one.
Arsenal will be waiting for confirmation as to whether Bukayo Saka will be fit after he limped off in England's 2-1 defeat to Greece last week. It might be best that they don't risk him as they have a lot of games to play between now and the next international break. They'll need him fit for those games including the big one against Liverpool next week.
The Gunners have a number of other players out injured including Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, as well as Martin Odegaard of course who is set to return next month.
The Gunners have adapted well to not having these players available by winning games in a different manner.
I think they can do the same here because of the team spirit they have.
PREDICTION: 0-2
SUNDAY:
WOLVES V MAN CITY
Wolves won this fixture 2-1 last season but repeating that this time looks very unlikely due to the form they've been in.
Man City were without Rodri that day through suspension and they'll be without him again due to him being out for the rest of the season.
I still think City will win here though as Mateo Kovacic is capable of stepping up like he did in the early weeks of the season.
Also City will have the quality and determination to get the job done. The latter I learnt from watching their Together: Treble Winners documentary on Netflix during the international break.
I think Wolves will try and cause them problems on the break, but City's quality should still be enough for them to come away with the win here.
PREDICTION: 1-2
LIVERPOOL V CHELSEA
Liverpool went into the international break at the top of the league and people have been asking whether they could be title contenders.
Their credentials will no doubt be put to the test both in this one and their games next week against Arsenal.
Chelsea, like Liverpool's title credentials, will see their top four aspirations put to the test in this one with it being their first big game of the season since the opening the day, where they lost to Man City.
The blues have started the season pretty well under Enzo Maresa like Liverpool have under Arne Slot. But they're both yet to be tested against tough opposition.
Liverpool trounced the blues 4-1 in this fixture last season before going on to beat them in the Carabao Cup final with their youngsters. Chelsea were later criticized by Gary Neville after the latter for being 'billion pound bottle jobs'.
The blues will offer a tough test for Liverpool, but I think the reds will have enough to see the result over the line.
PREDICTION: 2-0
MONDAY:
NOTTINGHAM FOREST V CRYSTAL PALACE
Nottingham Forest have had a decent home record in the past, but this season it's the their way round as they're yet to win at home with their two victories this season both coming away.
This game could represent a good chance for them to finally get off the mark on home soil.
Crystal Palace are surprisingly still without a win this season, but I wouldn't say that Olivier Glasner is under pressure just yet as his side have shown some encouraging signs in the games they've played this season.
They just need to turn those promising performances into results and after having an international break to look back at their games so far, and work on what went wrong in training, Oliver Glasner will be hoping to see an improvement in results.
Most games between these two sides since they've both been in the Premier League have ended in draws. I think this one will be the same.
Both teams will score as they both have players who can score goals. But I can see them cancel each other out.
PREDICTION: 1-1
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