Last week’s Premier League featured Liverpool’s impressive win over Chelsea and a raft of goals, fans will be hoping for more of the same. This week will mainly be played out on the Saturday on a day of eight matches.
After last’s weeks 100-60 humbling by Ned, I take on reader Ollie Milton, who supports West Ham.
Man United v Leicester
Three terrible results in a row for Jose’s men could have easily become four as they looked unconvincing in beating Northampton Town. Losing to Watford was not good enough considering the amount that they spent over the summer and results will need to turn around quickly, fans at Old Trafford are not after mediocracy. Just when it looked to be getting better for Leicester after a tough start, they managed to lose 4-2 to Chelsea after having led 2-0. The Champions don’t look as strong defensively as they did last season, something Raneri will be keen to iron out. Neither side is playing well, draw for me.
Prediction: Man United 1-1 Leicester
Ollie: Man United 1-1 Leicester
Result: Man United 4-1 Leicester
Ollie: Man United 1-1 Leicester
Result: Man United 4-1 Leicester
Bournemouth v Everton
Everton look to continue their brilliant league form so far this season with a trip to Dean Court although they would have lost a bit of momentum in the week as they managed to lose 2-0 to Championship Norwich, with what was admittedly a much changed side. Bournemouth on the other hand are struggling a fair amount. A midweek loss to Preston compounded what has been a tough run of games and they sit just one place outside the relegation zone. The Cherries will want to move up the table as soon as possible but I don’t think they’ll get the chance to do so this week as the Toffees are just in too good form.
Prediction: Bournemouth 0-3 Everton
Ollie: Bournemouth 1-2 Everton
Result: Bournemouth 1-0 Everton
Ollie: Bournemouth 1-2 Everton
Result: Bournemouth 1-0 Everton
Liverpool v Hull
For Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, beating the hard teams seems to be the easy part. Whether the German can get his side motivated for this game though is another matter. Hull have continued to surprise people with their form as whilst they lost heavily with 10 men to Arsenal, they were able to bounce back with a late victory against an out of form Stoke in the cup. Liverpool will only be able to climb up the table if they win this type of game comfortably. Hull won’t be a push over but I think that the Reds are in too good form, plus they’re at home: Liverpool Win.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Hull
Ollie: Liverpool 3-0 Hull
Result: Liverpool 5-1 Hull
Ollie: Liverpool 3-0 Hull
Result: Liverpool 5-1 Hull
Middlesbrough v Tottenham
Last week’s loss to Everton meant that it is now over a month since Middlesbrough recorded a win in a competitive match and this form has seen them slip down the table at quite a rate. Boro are by no means being blown away, just edged out, but this is a trend that can’t continue if they are to survive. A point to Saturday’s opposition would be a good result and morale boost for the home side but it will be hard going. Tottenham have been good in the league so far this season and currently sit in 3rd place. Their good domestic form should continue and they’ll win comfortably.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-3 Tottenham
Ollie: Middlesbrough 1-2 Tottenham
Result: Middlesbrough 1-2 Tottenham
Ollie: Middlesbrough 1-2 Tottenham
Result: Middlesbrough 1-2 Tottenham
Stoke v West Brom
A season that promised so much has been an unmitigated disaster so far for Stoke. They have a goal difference of -11 and have got just one point so far this season from their five games. Their defending last week was especially concerning as they shipped 4 goals to an average attack, West Brom strikers will be licking their lips. This is especially true after they sscored four in beating West Ham 4-2 was weekend, impressive considering they had only scored two all season before that, and they are currently sitting comfortably in mid table. The Baggies should record another win.
Prediction: Stoke 1-2 West Brom
Ollie: Stoke 0-1 West Brom
Result: Stoke 1-1 West Brom
Ollie: Stoke 0-1 West Brom
Result: Stoke 1-1 West Brom
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Sunderland are another team that would have hoped for much better going in to this season. David Moyes has traditionally been able to ensure that his sides are tight at the back but nine goals conceded and just three scored leaves his side in 19th with just a single point. The opponents for the Black Cats on Saturday come in the form of Alan Pardew’s Palace side. A loss in the cup in the week followed back to back league victories that should mean that the form post-Christmas last year has been abandoned. A trip to the Stadium of Light offers an excellent chance for a third consecutive league win and Palace should take it.
Prediction: Sunderland 0-2 Crystal Palace
Ollie: Sunderland 1-1 Crystal Palace
Result: Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace
Ollie: Sunderland 1-1 Crystal Palace
Result: Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace
Swansea v Man City
A feeling of déjà vu will be around for these two sides as they undergo a repeat of Wednesday’s fixture in the EFL Cup at the exact same ground. Man City won that fixture 2-1 to continue Pep Guardiola’s magnificent 100% start to the season in all competitions. Swansea’s start to the season has been a lot more mixed with just one win so far this season for Francesco Guidoli and the pressure starting to mount. City will still be without Aguero but De Bruyne and the rest looked ample to see of Bournemouth and will be enough so beat Swansea too.
Prediction: Swansea 0-3 Man City
Ollie: Swansea 1-3 Man City
Result: Swansea 1-3 Man City
Ollie: Swansea 1-3 Man City
Result: Swansea 1-3 Man City
Arsenal v Chelsea
Eight goals in two games is the perfect run in for Arsenal to what will be a hotly contested match at home to Chelsea. Arsenal’s wobbly start has now been left behind as they move into the top four, one place ahead of their opponents. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have recorded home defeats to Liverpool so far this season but Chelsea’s was the most recent and won’t leave the Blues fans to confident of a trip to the Emirates. Chelsea were unable to blame their loss on the referee because they just didn’t play well. Arsenal look better at the moment and should win.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Ollie: Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
Result: Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
Ollie: Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
Result: Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
West Ham v Southampton
West Ham are having a horrible start to the season. Their defending in their 4-2 defeat to West Brom was quite frankly horrendous and they relied on a very late Dmitri Payet free-kick to get them past the might of Accrington Stanley. The Hammers now sit in the relegation zone, not quite a Champions League push. Most of this comes from their leaky defence which has conceded 13 goals, Southampton will look to exploit those frailties on Sunday. Three wins, three clean sheets in three different competitions has given Claude Paul a more optimistic feeling and I think that this tight defence will grind out a win.
Prediction: West Ham 0-1 Southampton
Ollie: West Ham 1-2 Southampton
Result: West Ham 0-2 Southampton
Ollie: West Ham 1-2 Southampton
Result: West Ham 0-2 Southampton
Burnley v Watford
This week’s Monday Night Football features Watford travelling to a Burnley side who have still only recorded s single win in the league so far this season. That win featured two goals but they have only scored three this season which has failed to back up a defence that has adapted alright to life in the Premier League. Watford appear to be settling well under their new manager, they are used to having to so, which was underlined by a truly magnificent win to star studded Man United which made it two wins in a row. I’d back their potent attack to make it a third.
Prediction: Burnley 0-2 Watford
Ollie: Burnley 1-1 Watford
Result: Burnley 2-0 Watford
Ollie: Burnley 1-1 Watford
Result: Burnley 2-0 Watford
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