By Mikey Godsmark
Last week’s Premier League action featured very few shocks and upsets but lots of goals. This week will see more cringe worthy (second time I've said that, I really don't like it) Friday Night Football coverage and a twelve o’clock kick off.
After a second straight defeat, 100-60, against Ollie
Milton, I take on speedster Bradley Denison who supports the Hammers and is a keen fan of Powell's Perspective.
Everton v Crystal Palace
Two clubs who had very different
weekends last time around last Sunday meet in the Friday night kick-off.
Everton, who had started the season very strongly, lost 1-0 against 2015/16 promoted Bournemouth and as a result dropped out of the top four. Meanwhile
Palace came back from 2-0 down to beat Sunderland 3-2 thanks to Benteke’s last
gasp header, a result that sees them move up to seventh. The antics of Sam
Allardyce have added a different dynamic to this game as Alan Pardew has been
touted as one of the favourites to take over the England post. I don’t think
that he will be able to add anything to his CV on Friday though as his side
will probably lose.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Sunderland
Swansea v Liverpool
Three consecutive losses for Swansea
has led to questions being asked of Francesco Guidolin’s future at the Liberty
Stadium. Liverpool are the visitors to Wales and they will look to further put
his job security in jeopardy. Coming off the back of a 5-1 thrashing of Hull,
Jurgen Klopp will know that this is the type of match that his side should be
winning comfortably if they are to seriously challenge for a top four finish
and the title. To be fair to Guidolin, Swansea’s fixture list has been very
tough so far and they will be no pushovers but Liverpool are on a great run of
form and should take all three points.
Prediction: Swansea 1-3 Liverpool
Hull v Chelsea
After a great start for Hull’s new
Premier League era, the fixtures are starting to get tougher with the visit of
Chelsea following losses against Arsenal and Liverpool. Having already won two
games so far this season, the pressure will not mount for a while and a lot of
thoughts will be on after the international break when the Tigers play Stoke
and Bournemouth. Similarly, Chelsea started the season well; only to lose
against both Liverpool and Arsenal to leave them winless in three Premier
League games. The advantage for Conte’s side is that this is the ideal fixture
to follow successive losses as the Blues should have far too much and will win
comfortably.
Prediction: Hull 0-3 Chelsea
Sunderland v West Brom
You may have thought that things
couldn’t have got any worse for David Moyes in his Premier League return, but
to lose 3-2 to Crystal Palace having been 2-0 up, is a further disaster that
adds to Sunderland’s dreadful start. To make matters even worse Adnan Januzaj
has now been ruled out for six months with an ankle injury. West Brom marked
Tony Pulis’ 1000th game in management with a disappointing 1-1
draw to Stoke. However, their start has been decent so far and the Black Cats
are in disarray. The Baggies should be able to win.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 West Brom
Watford v Bournemouth
A year ago both of these sides were
Premier League new boys but now they will look to become more established this
year. Watford have been inconsistent this season which was perfectly
illustrated in the last two games as they beat Man United but then recorded a
2-0 loss to Burnley, playing very poorly. Eddie Howe has been one of the names
in the ring for the England role and his application would have been greatly
helped by a 1-0 win against Everton last week. That result made the Cherries
one of five teams currently on seven points, with Watford being another. I
think that come five o’clock on Saturday these two sides will still have the
same amount of points as they will probably draw.
Prediction: Watford 1-1 Bournemouth
West Ham v Middlesbrough
This season has been nothing short of a
disaster so far for the Hammers. A 3-0 loss to Sunderland last week added to a
plethora of losses so far this season, and they have now lost four consecutive
league games, something has to change soon or there will be no doubt that a
relegation battle is on the cards. To be honest, this week’s opposition for
West Ham represents an opportunity to stop the rot as they face Middlesbrough
who haven’t won in their last five competitive fixtures. West Ham are a side
with a lot of quality, at home they should still win.
Prediction: West Ham 1-0 Middlesbrough
Man United v Stoke
There’s not too much to say about this
one apart from the ridiculous kick off time (12 o’clock!!!!!). If anyone has
got up in time for this one they will almost certainly see Man United beat
bottom of the league Stoke very comfortably, especially after they won in the
Europa League in midweek to back up their demolition of Leicester. Stoke did
manage to move of the foot of the table with a draw last week, but their
defending remains really poor, something Man United will be happy to exploit.
Prediction: Man United 4-0 Stoke
Leicester v Southampton
This season has been a very mixed bag
so far for the reigning Premier League Champions, yes I am going to say that every
time I mention them. In the league they have been poor
against the bigger sides but good against the poorer ones to leave them 12th.
However in the Champions League they have been great beating Porto 1-0 last
week. Southampton played in the Europa League on Thursday, securing a good
point in Israel but will probably be jaded from the trip. This should play into
the Foxes’ hand as they look to retain their home form.
Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Southampton
Tottenham v Man City
In what is the big game of the weekend,
Man City will travel to Tottenham to look to continue their winning run in the
league. On Wednesday, Celtic were the first side to take anything away from a
clash with City so far this season, the defensive vulnerabilities that Pep
Guardiola’s side showed in that game will give Tottenham a lot of heart. This
feeling will be backed up by the form of Son Heung-Min, who has taken his time
to get used to the Premier League but looks settled now. This is first against
second and will be a good game. I think the two sides will draw.
Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Man City
Burnley v Arsenal
The last game of this seventh week of
Premier League action sees Arsenal travel to Burnley, with both sides looking
to kick on from great results last time out. Burnley played very well to beat
Watford 2-0 to move them into 13th, whilst Arsenal took apart Chelsea
beating them 3-0 before winning 2-0 at home to Basel in the week. Arsenal
are another side whose manager has been linked with the England job but Arsene
Wenger’s eyes will be firmly fixed on another potential title push which should
be given a lift against Burnley.
Prediction; Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
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