Godsmark's Premier League Predictions - Week 9

By Nick Powell

Godsmark has taken a front seat in Powell's Perspective, but now, as we reach half term, I have time to actually make this website live up to its name.

Mikey's recent shift in the predictions has been superb so I have given him a few weeks off, and hopefully I'll be able to live up to his high standards with my analysis and prediction accuracy. 

Currently his score against his guests is level at 600 all. What a great place to take up the burden. This week I'm up against Gabriel Humphrey, who will be hoping to keep the recent guests momentum going. 

Chelsea and United feature in the eye-catcher of the weekend, with both teams looking to establish themselves in the top four

Without further ado...

Bournemouth vs Spurs
Bournemouth looked so dangerous last week as they dismantled Hull 6-1. Hull didn't defend well, but Bournemouth were excellent with high passing percentages all round and dangerous balls played in behind Hull. No-one has put this many past Hull and to do it when they were buoyed by the permanent signing of manager Mike Phelan was strong from the Cherries. 

They face a Tottenham team who will be a little disappointed with the week they've had. A point away at West Brom and Bayer Leverkeusen aren't bad results but they will not be best pleased with the performances in those games, and Mauricio Potchettino made it very clear before both games he expected to win them. In reality, their opponents deserved to win both games, and they face another difficult away trip against a good side. 

Their attack has been somewhat affected by the loss of Kane and the loss of form of Son but I do fancy them to score here. In saying that though, I expect both teams to attack and have chances and can see Bournemouth getting a goal too. Spurs will have to settle for a point once again.

Bournemouth 1-1 Spurs
Gabriel: Bournemouth 0-2 Spurs 
RESULT: Bournemouth 0-0 Spurs

Arsenal vs Middlesbrough
Arsenal are on fire at the moment. They are in a superb vein of form, and look so dangerous going forward. They've netted 23 times in their last 7 games and could have had a lot more than that, especially in the Champions League. With Walcott finally showing his potential pundits have been waiting to see for ten years, Sanchez looking dangerous up-front and Ozil in superb form with his passing play, Arsenal are looking like an unstoppable force.  

In stark contrast, Middlesbrough are really struggling to find the net and the reliable defence that saw them promoted looks really shaky. If they aren't on top form against Arsenal they will be ripped apart by Ozil's passes to the firing Walcott and Sanchez. Arsenal's defence isn't looking to shabby either, and you get the sense they'll really struggle to create chances against the Gunners. 

It will be a comfortable, and potentially big, win for the home side, and with trips to City and Leicester as their next two away games and having failed to win at home this season so far, things are looking tough for Boro. 

Walcott is in terrific form

Arsenal 3-0 Middlesbrough
Gabriel: Arsenal 4-0 Middlesbrough
RESULT: Arsenal 0-0 Middlesbrough

Burnley vs Everton
Burnley have made a decent start to the season, they look very capable of survival this year, but I still fear for them if teams like Stoke, West Ham and Swansea find their best form. They look a solid side, but they need to become a class one if they want to survive this year, that's the nature of the Premier League this season. But they have got players with quality, Jeff Hendrick and Andre Gray (currently suspended) to name a few, and you feel for them that they will start to show their class as this season goes on.

Everton have had a cracking season and look really solid. Against the League's worst attack, with the second meanest defence in the division, they will surely be confident of success at the back. Going forward, the likes of Bolasie and Lukaku have looked dangerous and you feel if they control the game, they will score regardless of how well Sean Dyche sets up his team. 

Everton are without a win in three, and Burnley have picked up all their points at home, but I feel this will be the end of that unwanted run, and Burnley will have to accept a defeat here. Everton look good under Koeman, this is not a game Burnley need to be winning to survive. 

Burnley 0-1 Everton
Gabriel: Burnley 1-1 Everton
RESULT: Burnley 2-1 Everton

Hull vs Stoke
There is an extraordinary contrast between these two teams. One was expected to suffer terribly, started brightly and are quickly slipping in line with many fans' and pundits' predictions and the other was expected to have a solid season, started dreadfully and are beginning to put some decent performances. I am of course talking about Hull and Stoke respectively there.

Hull's season started well but they are beginning to look really weak at the back. Last week's 6-1 defeat to Bournemouth saw Premier League debutant Harry Maguire give the ball away 13 times at the back, and while he's unlikely to start today, Hull's marking and defensive solidity was dreadful last week. 

They will be hoping returning captain Michael Dawson can come in and produce a quality display. It will be tough, against a Stoke side who are finding the net with a lot more ease than at the start of the season, led by Joe Allen who is in really excellent form at the moment. Stoke are doing well but haven't won away in the league for 7 months, a run I suspect will keep going, Hull will tighten up in front of a passionate home crowd and I fancy their attack to nick a goal.

Dawson's return should shore up Hull's defence

Hull 1-1 Stoke
Gabriel: Hull 0-2 Stoke
RESULT: Hull 0-2 Stoke

Leicester vs Palace
Leicester have been up and down like a yo-yo this season. Superb in Europe, bang average in the League. Incredibly they've managed more points in their Champions League group in which they've played 3 games, than in the defence of the Premier League where they've only managed a point a game after 8 matches.

The Champions have begun to put some pressure on themselves, looking to avoid the worst Premier League title defence since...Chelsea last season. But joking aside they don't want this season to just be a terrible disappointment for them. Of course hunger must be difficult to find in the League when you've already produced your greatest season ever with the biggest upset in sporting history, but they have to keep their heads down and make sure they get in the top half, where they really should be.

For Palace, it has been a decent season. Last week's defeat against West Ham must have been a huge disappointment, but other than that they've looked really solid. They've taken 7 points from their last 9 on the road and if Leicester wanted an easy game to really kick-start their Premier League season, the aren't getting it here. 

I do see them winning this one though. Leicester put a huge emphasis on making sure they win this game. They will be up against a team that will put them under pressure and won't be the easiest to break down but when they are on their day they have a rock solid defensive and dangerous attack. It will be a win that will give them memories of last season, a classic 1-0.

Leicester 1-0 Palace
Gabriel: Leicester 1-0 Palace
RESULT: Leicester 2-0 Palace

Swansea vs Watford 
Swansea are on a miserable run at the moment, picking up just a single point from their last 21 available. Despite having a team with plenty of talent, the Swans have failed to hit anything like the heights that many expected they would this season. Bob Bradley could be huge for them however. He is a manager that will bring some much needed confidence into the side and it has to be said they looked really strong going forward.

For Watford, it has been a really positive start to the season. Other than underwhelming performances at Burnley and at home to Arsenal earlier in the season, they have played a big part in each of the games they’ve featured in this season and are looking sharp in attack. Whilst Middlesbrough were quite poor last week, Watford never let them get into the game. Swansea are a team in a similarly difficult spell who are low on confidence and another dominant Watford performance might be enough to keep them very much at bay.

But I can see the Swans getting a point here. They have a strong attack, that should be able to find a goal against a Watford side that has only kept one clean sheet all season, and their defence will be able to front up well. I would doubt they could deny Watford for 90 minutes however, so these two will have to settle for a draw, but I suspect both would be reasonably happy with that.

Swansea 1-1 Watford

Gabriel: Swansea 2-2 Watford
RESULT: Swansea 0-0 Watford

West Ham vs Sunderland

West Ham have been quite disappointing this season really. They looked extremely defensive frail. Last week was a big lift for that defence however, to go to Selhurst Park, with Palace having put 4 on Stoke and put 3 past Sunderland the match before, and get a clean sheet. It might just be the turning point in their season and with the incomparable Dimitri Payet continuing to show his class, they are still in a good place with their attack.

Sunderland look really poor but have to see this as an opportunity to exploit West Ham nerves, who have really struggled at their new home with just win at the Olympic Stadium. This is a big game for them, one that they will see as a chance to get their first win. They have an excellent striker in Defoe, and some quality wingers in Borini and Januzaj, but their defence is really letting them down, shipping 3 goals after having a 2-0 lead against Palace for example, the kind of defeat that relegation candidates suffer.

I think there will be goals, given the vulnerability of the two defences, and I think it will be a really good game. West Ham look stronger than Sunderland at the moment and after last week will be feeling up for this. I think they will just have too much in their locker for Sunderland.

West Ham 3-2 Sunderland

Gabriel: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland
RESULT: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

Liverpool vs West Brom

Liverpool came up against a typically dull Mourhino away side on Monday, and they found it very difficult to break them down, unsurprisingly. I don’t fancy West Brom to play with an open defence mind, so it’s not about to get much easier. West Brom will attack more than United did, no doubt, but I don't see them causing Liverpool many problems at the back. This will be a big test of Liverpool's resolve for me, win it and they start to look like real title contenders, draw 0-0 or lose it and you just don't get the sense this will be their year. 

They obviously have the talent but its that ability to see off teams that will be really important. For me it's about getting early goals, and I fancy them to get a couple here, they'll coast this one home, but I could be badly wrong if the baggies can get an early foothold. 

Liverpool 3-1 West Brom

Gabriel: Liverpool 3-1 West Brom

RESULT: Liverpool 2-1 West Brom

Man City vs Southampton

City's superb start to the season has somewhat come off the rails in their last four games. After a long winning run they haven't managed victory for just under a month in all competitions and are not looking like the dead-cert title favourites they did at this point in September. Their frailties, in defence and attack are becoming clearer and clearer and Southampton play them at a good time. 

Southampton have started well under Claude Puel and are once again showing that the core of their team, the likes of Fonte, Tadic, Romeu and Austin can make them a really solid outfit. They will see this as a good time to play the sky blues and City will feel this is a dangerous clash. A lacklustre performance could cost them, especially given the severe European hangover they'll be feeling after Wednesday's shambles. 

I think City will feel it badly and will struggle to put together a strong performance. They are a good offensive side and I would struggle to pick out a single home game where they wouldn't score but at the back I think they look frail enough to hand the Saints a goal. Can they outscore them? I think so, just about, but it won't be easy and I won't be surprised if this finishes a point apiece. 

Man City 2-1 Saints

Gabriel: Man City 2-0 Saints
RESULT: Man City 1-1 Saints

Chelsea vs Man United

Jose's return. The first time he will be coaching at Stamford Bridge with a different Premier League club to the hosts. It will be a strange day for the Portuguese, and for Chelsea fans I imagine. This might be the only year they don't want to see United put to the sword, but by God will they be hoping for a win. 

For Chelsea, it has not been the best start. They usually embarrass Arsenal but were on the receiving end of a thrashing at the Emirates. They've suffered a home defeat against Liverpool, and this is all whilst not having any involvement in Europe. But with that all said, they could be in the top three with a win in this one. 

Chelsea do have weaknesses, but they are assessing them. Ivanovic is out the side, Cahill and Kante are looking more solid at the back in every single game and Diego Costa has hit some good form this year. It all leads to them looking like they will cause United some problems here.

But I think the red devils will shut it down. Inspired by Mourinho. The former Chelsea manager wanted a draw at Liverpool, and he will absolutely take one here. He has talked about this being an "important week" and you can't help but feel by that he means a week in which he can stay unbeaten. 

He will see United's chances of winning at the Bridge as limited and as a result will park the bus and unless Chelsea make a horrendous mistake, this game is unlikely to have a result. Strap in for more boring football, and more bizarre post-match interviews. 

Chelsea 0-0 United
Gabriel: Chelsea 2-1 United
RESULT: Chelsea 4-0 United

GABRIEL Wins 120-50