Dan’s EPL Predictions Week 3: Arsenal to draw 2-2 at Anfield? Brighton 2-2 Man City?

When European Football resumes we will obviously be waiting for Thursday fixtures to finish.
So normally predictions will be uploaded between Thursday nights and Fridays.
If you want to personally send me your predictions email me at danielthemanofdestiny@googlemail.com.

Chelsea 2-1 Fulham

Enzo Maresca revealed that Cole Palmer has been dealing with a groin issue since the Club World Cup.
The likes of Estevao coped so well last Friday in his absence that plans may have changed.
Instead of the midfielder playing through the pain barrier to get his team to the international break, the temptation may be to rest the 23 year old again.
What is the long term solution though?

Man United 3-0 Burnley

If you were wondering why the likes of Roy Keane were baffled by this narrative that his ex club losing at Old Trafford on the opening weekend could be viewed as a positive, look no further than Craven Cottage.
Only losing 1-0 to Arsenal made little difference against Fulham and hardly stopped the Gunners beating Leeds.
You may have noticed that most of the pundits who did not find positives to Man United not winning a game of football are the former professionals who were winners in their careers.
Roy Keane led a dressing room where there were standards and not one person would tolerate falling below them.
If everyone is content with a loss at home then guess what?
The next week your captain is complaining that he put his penalty over the bar because the official accidentally pushed him, hence interrupting his routine. Oh, and apparently there was zero apology from the ref.
Then your manager is saying why it is a positive to have zero European Football only to then get knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby.
Only when someone says enough will things change at the club.
Surely there will be zero excuses if they do not beat a newly promoted side at the Theatre Of Dreams?
Cunha and Mbuemo have been a threat so might get their first goals for their new club.

Sunderland 1-1 Brentford

I said that for Brentford’s dressing room, fans and for Keith Andrews himself, the club just needed something to build on to raise confidence.
With so many changes at the club they needed to remind themselves that they can compete at this level.
A 1-0 win over Aston Villa gives them something to work with, although Bees fans might have to accept the football, at least in the short term, will not be as easy on the eye as it was under Thomas Frank. This will be a scrap.

Spurs 3-2 Cherries

If this was last season I would fancy the visitors to get a result because the home side’s tactics would be ‘you play we place’.
I do not know if it is a case of Ange Postecoglou never changing his principles that makes it more notable but Thomas Frank has employed three different systems in his three games as Spurs boss so far.
You would assume on Saturday he will be patient and pragmatic based on the Cherries attack but trust his front three will eventually have too much against a defence still getting to know each other.

Wolves 0-1 Everton

Jack Grealish’s first Everton start coincided with the Toffees special day as they opened their new stadium.
Super Jack got two assists but the next test is can he do it away from home when he is going to be kicked and bullied?
The 29 year old’s talent is not in question but the reason Pep Guardiola stopped trusting him was the lack of consistency.
Is the appetite there to do that every week when you have to dig deep?
In theory in games like this he can turn draws into wins for David Moyes because on Saturday he starts as the best player on the pitch.

Leeds 0-1 Newcastle

From owners posting comments on social media before kick off, the massive banner unveiled and the reception Liverpool’s team got when they arrived at the ground, in the end were the Toon a little too fired up on Monday night?
I am not just talking about Gordon’s red card but at 2-2 down to 10 men in stoppage time, someone has to calm the emotion and be sensible. Protect the point, instead they chased the win.
I expect over the weekend for the champions to call the Magpies’ bluff. A player does not act like this unless he has been told a second bid will be made.
Only Eddie Howe knows the personality of the striker and as a worst case scenario, would Isak give 12 more months service on the promise next summer he will not get priced out of a move?
It is a gamble because if he were to stay but go through the motions at St James’ Park his value goes down. Hence why Liverpool hold all the cards.
Even if a compromise could be made, Tyneside might be the one city where it is just not realistic.
Geordies seem generally hurt by the Swede as do the dressing room.
This is not a case of the 25 year old staying and scoring against Wolves and all is forgiven.
With that transfer saga, injuries and suspensions I do not know where the quality in the final third comes from but they will be up for the scrap at Elland Road.

Brighton 2-2 Man City

Collectively and individually last season we saw Man City make mistakes that we are just not used to.
Whether it is passing out from the back, being pressed in possession or how high the defensive line is, it is like some have worked out how to play against Pep Guardiola’s tactics.
If he starts on Sunday it is a huge moment in James Trafford’s career after his error against Spurs. If the same happened at Burnley in the Championship it gets forgotten, at the Etihad it is crucial he shows he can respond.
There is a reason the club insisted he had a buy back clause and 22 is an age where a keeper still needs to learn. So on one hand for his development he needs patience and a run in the team, on the other hand his manager needs immediate results.
If the transfer window was closed surely you recall Ederson?
If the Brazilian is still on the bench at the weekend I am assuming he is leaving by Monday night.
The visitors will concede chances but based on how they started their campaign will the Seagulls take them?
It is not like they do not have fire power but their strikers just need a confidence boost.

Notts Forest 2-1 West Ham

After his last game Nuno Santos tried to backtrack from comments he made before the match after accusations he was intentionally trying to talk his boss into sacking him.
The Portuguese though is long enough in the tooth to know how impulsive his employer can be.
As much as Mr Marinakis has officially given explanations for coming onto the pitch to talk to his manager and banning pundits from the City Ground, I think he is an emotional owner who could not cope with the reality of throwing away Champions League Football.
Even before Nuno shared with the media that their relationship was not great, I predicted that at the first sign of trouble this season there will be a managerial change.
Nuno will not accept nonsense just to stay in a job. It is not like he will not get work elsewhere.

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

I actually think it is better to go to Anfield early in the season before they have found their usual rhythm.
There is no way they will keep defending like they have been. If they do they do not retain their title.
Newcastle’s two goals, especially a goal kick that they let bounce in their penalty box, were comically bad.
Knowing they are facing the best in the country at set pieces surely Arne Slot spends all week working on defending corners and free kicks?
The problem is the champions have so many attacking options they do not have to play well but can still score a couple of goals.
Probably the most confident I have been going to the stadium in years that we can get a result.
If the scoreline is level with 15-20 minutes to go, would both dugouts accept a draw?
Seven out of nine points is a solid start for both.

Aston Villa 2-1 Palace

It is rare that two managers roughly at the same time would try and talk themselves out of a job. While Nuno Santos is adamant that is not what he is doing at Forest, both are aware that the owners will not like being publicly questioned and essentially hold all the power.
With a year left on his contract Oliver Glasner seems content for his employer to prove their worth to him and not the other way around.
The Austrian has a reputation for walking away if he thinks his ambitions are not being met.
The 50 year old did not seem impressed that Eze called in sick last Thursday and while you can understand Steve Parish waiting for money to come in before recruiting, if Crystal Palace do not do serious business next week their boss might look elsewhere. He is well aware that after the job he has done at Selhurst Park he would not struggle to find work.
He seems genuinely bemused that the Eagles would leave themselves such a small squad to tackle European Football for the first time ever.
This will be their first taste of going away from home in Europe on a Thursday and then juggling that with an away fixture domestically on the Sunday.

Top 48 Qualify For World Cup

Me 17
Ayan 16
Achizzy 16
Kenya 001 16
Onyango 16
O Achiel 15
Solwills 15
Chronicle 15
Antivirus 15
Adeski 15
NT Gunnerz 15
The Shoba Reality Show 15
J Gunner 14
JRA 14
Gunner For Lyf 14
Classy Gunner 14
J Gunz 14
Dan Kit 13
Sue P 13
Ladi 13
Gunsmoke 13
Timothy Adegbola 13
GB 13
Gunnerstew 13
Matthew 13
Dave 13
Teteu 13
Ejs 12
Famochi 12
Wale A 12
Sue 12
Okobino 12
IGL 11
Drayton 11
Amir 11
Tom 10
Terrah 10
MTG 10
Ackshay 9
Stephanie 9
Samson 9
Splendid 8
Angelo 8
Sagie 8
Bertie 8
Jimmy Bauer 8
Meana 93-8
Kendrick Ohis 7
Joeboggio19-6
Winston 5
Michelle 5
I 5
Akeem 5
QB 5
Bergkampfwagen 5
Uzi Ozil 3
Illiterate 3
Prince 3

If you want to personally send me your predictions email me at danielthemanofdestiny@googlemail.com.

Dan Smith

__________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…

More Stories / Latest News

Paul Merson says other teams are worried about Arsenal’s growth

30 July 2026, 21:00

Manchester City is now ahead of Arsenal in race for Ligue 1 star

30 July 2026, 19:30

Arsenal stars impress Arteta with shape and mentality

30 July 2026, 18:30