Saturday
Brighton 2-1 Wolves
Defeat at home to Watford was the first sign of Wolves showing complacency. The same 11 had started every week, a statistic their players had earned, the danger of which is your squad get too comfortable. Wolves have won many admirers this season but having had so many plaudits, the test now is how they react to an unexpected loss.
Fulham 3-3 Cherries
Fulham play the game the right way but need to start showing they can set up as a team tough to beat with some organisation. Things you get away with in the Championship you will get punished for at this level. In terms of my over 1.5 goals accumulator this is a banker.
Liverpool 4-0 Cardiff
You sense Neil Warnock was relieved to get his first win of the season knowing this trip was next? He’s the kind of manager who will identify this as a bonus and will not let it impact on confidence, even if it’s a drubbing. Unfortunately for the Welsh side, Liverpool’s strikers warmed up their scoring boots in midweek. The earlier they score, the bigger the margin.
Saints 1-0 Newcastle
Two managers under immense pressure to the point you would worry if one loses here. It’s not just losing games but the manner of how both sides are being set up. The negativity has knocked the spirit out of both sets of fans who are in desperate need of hope. A win could change eithers outlook. In a cagey game I think the Saints have more of a cutting edge.
Watford 2-0 Huddersfield
One of those fixtures where Watford need to handle the pressure of expectation, fans will be showing up assuming three points. Despite no wins so far, Huddersfield have not lost their confidence in terms of being hard to break down. Their problem is who’s going to score the goals for them? The earlier the break through, the easier for the Hornets.
(5.30)
Leicester 3-1 West Ham
Hard to predict which West Ham will show up. They battered Spurs last week but have had performances where they simply don’t show up away from home. On another day at the Emirates the Foxes would have won a penalty while 1-0 up, with a man advantage Hard to pick as it’s two teams who are Jekyll and Hide,
Sunday
Man United 2-1 Everton
Jose continues to misunderstand at Man United; it’s not just results but performance levels which matter to a club that size. However good Juventus are, being negative on a European night at Old Trafford, goes against the history/tradition of the club. How Everton approach this is fascinating. They have the creative players to hurt United considering how the Red Devils are playing but will Marco Silva’s men play to the occasion or what’s in front of them?
Burnley 0-1 Chelsea
It looks like Chelsea will be without Eden Hazard this weekend, aka; the best player in the League so far this season.
Chelsea have enough experience in their squad to roll up their sleeves and fight, something you need to do if you want to win at Turf Moor. Who will replace Hazard in terms of providing that bit of magic?
Palace 0-1 Arsenal
All 7 Premiership victories have seen us not leading at half time. That tells me that as much as performances are improving, we are dealing with the tough periods of games, showing Uni Emery is creating a stronger mentality compared to years gone by. This is a fixture we would have slipped up in over the years. We would have been intimidated by the Selhurst Part atmosphere or not prepared to battle. If we score early, we can play free flowing football but what’s great about us at the minute is we are prepared to scrap as well.
Monday
Spurs 1-3 Man City
As they have shown in Europe I’m still not sure Spurs are mentally strong enough in the key moments to win the big games. Do they believe they can win this game? I can’t see Pep Guardiola changing his tactics like he did going to Anfield. On the big Wembley pitch, he will back his players to play their usual game. If Spurs continue to make defensive mistakes they will lose.
Dan Smith