Here are Dan’s Premier League predictions for this weekend. You may be surprised at his forecast for Arsenal!
Friday
Brighton 1-1 West Ham
Hammers will have painful memories of the correspondent fixture last season, Brighton’s best away performance.
This is a challenge for Manuel Pellegrini for different reasons to last Saturday. Having beaten Man United, can he ensure his players have the same attitude and level of professionalism against lesser opposition? I’m not sure.
Saturday
Burnley 1-1 Huddersfield
I always felt that Sean Dyche just needed to get that first win in the League for things to go back to normal, and Huddersfield are in the same boat. To Wagner’s credit, unlike other teams struggling, his men haven’t let it affect their confidence, they are still making chances every week. I think the Terriers will get a result based purely on law of averages, they are due a slice of luck.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Wolves
At 70 years old, you can understand why Roy Hodgson thought he seen it all in the game, until his defender decides to put his arm in the air for no reason to concede a penalty? Wolves have been outstanding to watch in their last few games, Moutinho one of the players of the season so far. Biggest compliment I can give to them is they have got to a point where it’s now about dealing with expectation. In the past ftheir ans would bite off fingers for a point on their travels, now they probably think they should be winning at Selhurst Park.
Leicester 1-1 Everton
Marco Silva is been credited for producing an inspirational half time team talk that inspired his players against Fulham. It helped that Sigurdsson then gave his best performance in a Toffees shirt. This would have been a 4th round Carabao Cup tie had key personnel not been rested at Goodison in midweek. I don’t put too much emphasis on individuals needing a rest, unable to handle two games a week. Everton won’t make top 4, won’t be in a relegation fight, so why not prioritise winning a domestic cup? Is beating Leicester in a mid table clash really more important then trying to win silverware?
Spurs 3-0 Cardiff
After Wednesday night apparently Spurs are now heroes ….. they lost 4-2!!!! Saying that their manager wrote an autobiography based on taking the club to dizzy heights …… He’s yet to win anything!! Having chased Barcelona round Wembley in midweek, Cardiff are ideal visitors. I can understand Neil Warnock being ‘gutted’ by another loss last Sunday. He’s long enough in the tooth to know that when promoted sides stay up, it’s based on a good start. We are in October now!!!!!
Man United 2-0 Newcastle
A draw with Valencia isn’t that harmful in terms of getting out of their Champion’s League group but it was a performance their fans wanted to see. Many of us grew up watching Sir Alex Ferguson. When he lost, you hated to be the opposition after as you knew there be a response. It’s now been Wolves, Derby, West Ham, Valencia, where you could argue levels are getting worse. The owners have a right to question whether their manager get a response out of his dressing room? History says he can’t. That when he loses control, he’s unable to turn the tide. Considering all of that, Jose could not have wished for anyone else to be rocking up at Old Trafford. The Toon are the most depressed bunch of fans in the country right now. While though they bemoan the lack of transfer activity and question where the goals will come from, didn’t they have the exact same issues when finishing 10th?
It’s not like this time last year Mike Ashley was ambitious and they had a 20 goal a season striker. So you have to ask why Rafa can’t squeeze the best out of his men yet again? My theory is the Spaniard thought he’d be so adored by securing top flight football it would force his boss to want to compete at the next level. With his contract up in the summer, knowing he will get offers, Benitez has no reason to be motivated .
Watford 2-2 Cherries
The Hornets are still wondering how they lost at the Emirates. The problem is before that, they were asking how they failed to beat Fulham. Their manager will be aware he works for owners who do not react well to any bad run of form, no matter how good the performances are. Just because they don’t seem to be getting much luck at the moment, I’ll say the Cherries can get a result.
Sunday
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
The biggest compliment I can give Emery is we are winning games while not playing well, something Arsene Wenger couldn’t do in his last couple of years. This is the type of fixture we would have lost last season, making it intriguing. A strange kick off time, opposition who had a whole week to prepare, key players travelling to Azerbaijan, etc. I want to be wrong but we won’t keep getting away with how we are playing much longer.
Saints 0-3 Chelsea
Playing right before Liverpool vs City makes this a key game for Chelsea. Every incentive is there for there to be no reason why they would approach this game lightly. The Blues could go on the international break really believing they are in the title race. Advancing in the Carabao Cup was huge for Saints, just to give their fans something to hope for. While I feel there are 3 worse teams then Mark Hughes men, they seem to lack any identity.
What are they ?
Liverpool 3-1 Man City
If Liverpool are serious about ending their 28 year title drought, this could be huge. Not in terms of points difference, it’s too early to look at that. It’s mentally what a win would do. The city would be buzzing for the next 2 weeks. A loss and suddenly, it’s here we go again. City dominated last season but if there was one side who got under their skin it was the Reds. That Champions League quarter final showed Klopp has the individuals and tactics to take the game to Pep Guardiola’s Champions, something they are not used to. On massive occasions, I view Anfield as a key component. One of the few stadiums to inspire and intimidate. I can see them sucking in the goals for the home side.
Leave your predictions below…
Dan Smith