FRIDAY:
ARSENAL V ASTON VILLA
Arsenal were fortunate to come away with a point against Crystal Palace on Monday night and it was the second straight game where that has been the case. They appeared to be turning a corner with their three straight wins in September following their poor start but their draws and performances against Brighton and Palace have in some way brought them back down to earth.
Mikel Arteta will want his team to put in a much better showing in this one because if they don't, they may not get anything from this game. Especially as Villa are a tougher opposition than the ones they had in their previous games.
Aston Villa let a two goal lead slip last weekend against Wolves with their substitutions playing a part in that. They lost control of the game when Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz were brought off with the score at 2-0 and that appeared to be the turning point as Wolves went up a level in the final few minutes of the game.
They did the double over Arsenal last season and they'll believe that they can do it again having done it before. They may be yet to get going with the new signings still settling in but Villa will still back themselves having beaten Man United and pushed Chelsea already this season.
I'm going for a draw in this one because Arsenal have wobbled a bit with their back to back draws and Villa are still trying to find out what their best team is. It will be an open game but I can't see there being a winner.
PREDICTION: 1-1
SATURDAY:
CHELSEA V NORWICH
Chelsea put in a professional performance in midweek against Malmo but they lost both strikers in Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to injury. They'll both be major losses for the blues over the next few weeks depending on how long they're out for but they should still win this one. Kai Havertz stepped up in that position at times last season and I can see him do the same in this one having scored in midweek.
Norwich are still without a win this season but their back to back clean sheets against Burnley and Brighton will give them some confidence going into this one. They looked very open at the back at the start of the season and their change in formation to a back three appears to have made them more solid in that department.
Despite their improvement defensively in recent weeks, the Canaries are however struggling to put the ball in the net. They had some very good chances in their draw with Brighton last weekend but they didn't take them with Josh Sargent missing arguably their best one. They've scored just two goals all season and they were both scored by Teemu Pukki.
I've got to give Chelsea the win in this one because they look much stronger than Norwich. They may without Lukaku and Werner up top, but they should still get the win without too many problems.
PREDICTION: 2-0
CRYSTAL PALACE V NEWCASTLE
Crystal Palace were unlucky not to come away with the three points against Arsenal on Monday night as they had the better chances and looked the better side on the night. For them to put in that kind of performance against a team like Arsenal without talisman Wilfried Zaha deserves a lot of credit because they wouldn't have got something from that game without him in the past.
The Eagles have put in many good performances this season but haven't got the results they deserved. I said last week that they're still in transition and I still think that having not won since that brilliant result against Spurs and their performances not getting the results they deserve. If they can start seeing games out better, the result will soon come and hopefully this one will be the start of that.
Newcastle finally got rid of Steve Bruce during the week and you have to say that it had been coming. With their poor start to the season and the recent takeover, the inevitable was obviously going to happen. In terms of who they appoint as Bruce's successor, their search will not be easy as they're in a relegation battle and the majority of managers on their shortlist will not want to manage them in their current situation.
Graeme Jones will take charge of this one and will want the players to show a reaction because the majority of them haven't turned up this season. Alain Saint Maximin has arguably been their only shining light so far this season and he'll want his teammates to help him out or it'll be another tough afternoon for the toon.
I've got to go for a Palace win here because I can see them put in a performance that will be enough to earn them a win. They've been unlucky in some of their games this season and I can see that changing in this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0
EVERTON V WATFORD
Everton really missed Richarlison and Dominic Calvert Lewin in their defeat to West Ham last weekend as they lacked a real attacking threat for most of the game. They coped reasonably well without them against Norwich and Man United before the international break but against West Ham they really struggled without the pair.
The Toffees were dealt with another injury blow during the week with Abdoulaye Doucoure set for a spell on the side-lines which is another massive blow for them. Doucoure has been one of their standout performers this season and his energy in midfield will be a big miss.
Claudio Ranieri got off to the worst possible start as Watford manager last weekend with that humiliating defeat against Liverpool where they were never in the game. They were outplayed and outfought by a very good Liverpool side on the day and they need to show a response in this one if they're to get themselves up and running under their new manager.
They have some difficult games coming up which isn't nice for a new manager coming into a new club and especially after losing his first game in the way they did. They have a tough one in this game against Everton and after that it doesn't get any easier for them.
Everton may have some injury concerns, but I still think they'll win this game. They beat Norwich without their two best players not that long ago and with Watford looking out of sorts at the moment I can see them win this one.
PREDICTION: 2-0
LEEDS V WOLVES
Leeds really missed Raphinha, Phillips and Bamford in their defeat to Southampton last weekend which a lot of people probably saw coming. Without Phillips they lack someone who can dictate the flow of a game and without Bamford and Raphinha they don't look as dangerous in attack. They'll have Raphinha back for this one which will be a massive boost but they'll once again be without Phillips and Bamford. With those two out I can see them struggle in this one.
Wolves are looking decent at the moment after winning their last three games and there is no doubt that they'll be going into this one full of confidence. They're looking better going forward as they're converting their chances better than they were at the start of the season and that has been key to their improvement over the past month.
No one saw their comeback against Aston Villa coming as Villa were in control up until the final 10 minutes when the game was turned on its head. Two of their goals came from set pieces and I can see them using that in this one as Leeds do not have a great record when it comes to defending them.
With Leeds without Phillips and Bamford, I have to give Wolves the win here. They're in good form having won their last three games and as Leeds are not the same without those two players, this simply has to be a win for Wolves.
PREDICTION: 0-2
SOUTHAMPTON V BURNLEY
Southampton got their first win of the season last time out against Leeds which will give them plenty of confidence going into this one. I was questioning where their goals would come from going into that one and they might have found someone to get them in Armando Broja. The Albanian netted 11 goals on loan at Vitesse last season and his goal against Leeds will give him the confidence to bag more.
Burnley are still without a win this season and I'm beginning to wonder where that first win will come from. I still think they'll stay up as Sean Dyche has pulled it off in the past but if they're to do that again they need that all important first win and quickly.
Goals have been hard to come by for the Clarets this season along with letting leads slip which is why they haven't won a game yet this season. They need to address both issues quickly if they're to start winning games as both goals and seeing games out win you games.
With Southampton without Ward Prowse and Burnley being a tough team to beat defensively, I can see this one being a dull draw. The Saints lack that player who can play a pass through the lines like Ward Prowse can and because of that and both teams not scoring a lot of goals, I can see this one being goalless.
PREDICTION: 0-0
BRIGHTON V MAN CITY
Brighton's good start to the season has stalled recently following back to back 0-0 draws with Arsenal and Norwich. They'll still be happy with their start as no one saw them anywhere near the top four at this stage of the season but they to return to winning ways soon so they don't get carried away like certain teams have done in the past.
The Seagulls won this fixture at the end of last season and they'll surely be expecting a different kind of game this time round. City had the title already wrapped up by the time the two sides met at the AMEX last season whereas this time there is still a lot to play for as it's still early in the season.
Man City put in a dominant and professional performance in their Champions League win over Club Brugge in midweek where they were their usual excellent selves throughout. It was a performance we probably expected from them given the opponents they faced and they'll be flying going into this one.
Their league form going into this game has been good having not lost since the opening day defeat to Spurs and a number of their players are also flying like the team itself. Bernardo Silva is probably their in form player at the moment due to the performances he's been putting in and with the form he's in I can't see him being dropped anytime soon.
I'm going for a City win here because they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. Brighton will do their best to keep the score down as they're good defensively, but I still expect City to win this one without too many problems.
PREDICTION: 0-2
SUNDAY:
BRENTFORD V LEICESTER
Brentford really went for it against Chelsea and if it wasn't for Eduoard Mendy they might've got something from the game. They've gone for it in every game they've played in this season and you would expect them do to the same in this one. They'll definitely fancy themselves as Leicester aren't having a great season by their standards and the Bees themselves have given the top teams a good game.
Leicester were back to their best against Man United last weekend by pressing high and forcing the defenders into mistakes. It was more like the Leicester we've seen for the last couple of seasons and they even followed that up during the week with their thrilling 4-3 win over Spartak Moscow. With some much needed confidence on board the Foxes can finally look up after a tough start to the season.
Wilfried N'Didi is still out for them but they do have Jonny Evans back which is a massive boost. The Foxes are much better defensively when he's in the backline and his return is a massive bonus for them going into this game.
This should be a great game as both sides are great to watch when they're both at it. With Brentford going for it in every game they play and Leicester back to their best and without Wilfried N'Didi, I can see both teams cancel each other out.
PREDICTION: 2-2
WEST HAM V TOTTENHAM
West Ham continued their impressive Europa League campaign with their win against Genk last night which moved them closer towards a place in the last 32. They've won all three of their games in Europe so far this season and they'll want to carry that into the Premier League which they're yet to do so having lost all their league games following a European tie.
The Hammers will have Michail Antonio back for this one having been rested in midweek and he'll definitely be up for this game because of that rest. With him back in the side I can see him make it a difficult afternoon for Spurs because of his energy and pace at the top end of the pitch.
Spurs will be delighted that Harry Kane is off the mark having broken his duck last weekend in their win over Newcastle. I had no doubt he would get himself up and running soon as he's had slow starts to seasons in the past and he's made up for them by ending the season with roughly 20-25 goals. He's got a good record against West Ham so I imagine that he'll fancy himself to get on the score sheet again.
They were beaten last night in the Europa Conference League at the hands of Vitesse where they did not have their best team available to them. They really missed their big hitters on the night as the fringe players failed to step up and make an impression on the manager. I can't see many of them make the team for this one.
With both sides having played in Europe two days before this game, I can see them both looking a bit jaded because of the lack of recovery time. Spurs will have their big hitters back in Kane and Son and West Ham will have Antonio back, but I still think they'll both look a bit tired because of their midweek involvements.
PREDICTION: 1-1
MAN UNITED V LIVERPOOL
Man United showed some character to come from behind to beat Atalanta in midweek and it was a result the manager needed because of the pressure he was under going into the game. They didn't start the game to badly as they started on the front foot but they made themselves work hard for the result by going 2-0 down and having to come from behind to get the result.
This will be their first big test of the season so far and one they'll need to get something from to relieve the pressure on Solskjaer. United do tend to deliver in the odd big game and have done since Solskjaer has been in charge. They got a draw in this fixture a couple of seasons ago when Solskjaer like he is now under pressure and I wouldn't be surprised if his side got an unexpected result in this one.
Liverpool will probably be favourites going into this one because of where they are in the league and the form they're in compared to United. They're still yet to be talked about as title contenders this season despite being the only unbeaten team so far and a win here could throw them into that conversation.
If United had lost in midweek I would've predicted a Liverpool win but because they won I'm going for a draw. They do get the odd result in these kind of games and I can see that happening in this one despite Liverpool being in brilliant form.
PREDICTION: 1-1
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