Here is this week’s Premier League predictions from Dan. See what you think of them and leave your thoughts in the comments. Can Arsenal continue to move up the table while the Spuds drop further?
Fulham 3-2 Watford (12.30)
An exciting game to kick off the weekend. Two teams who play football the right way, both with a feel good factor around their clubs. I simply can’t see this being a 0-0…
Burnley 1-2 Cherries
Sean Dyche doesn’t get carried away when things are going well so won’t panic so early on in the season . He has a group of men he trusts and who have proved how good they can be. Nonetheless confidence can be a fragile thing.
The longer they go without a win, the more it effects them mentally. It could be a good time for Eddie Howe to take his men to Turf Moor
Crystal Palace 1-0 Newcastle
Rafa played into our hands last weekend the moment he handed his team sheet in. The world knows you can bully our defense yet he left Rondon and Shelvey on the bench. If your not going to show ambition at home, no guarantees you will on your travels either. I’m disapointed Zaha is complaining about a lack of protection from refs. The games very best get kicked all the time but get on with it. No need for the sense of entitlement.
Manchester United 2-1 Wolves
Not often I would suggest a newly promoted side should go to Old Trafford with no fear. Yet given their squad, there is no need for Wolves to have a negative approach. Enough investment has taken place where they have the individuals to give this ago.
Cardiff 0-2 a Man City
Recent history shows that Champions struggle to defend their title. You imagine if any manager has the obsessive attention to avoid complacency it would be Pep Guardiola. Yet that’s what happened against Lyon which is only going to refocus the Spaniard. He would rather them be complacent in the Champions League then the Premiership.
In Europe he has five games to make up for midweek, domestically he won’t want to give any more encouragement to Liverpool. If he thought Neil Warnock’s men were over-physical in a cup tie I can imagine what they will be like when battling for survival.
Leicester 3-0 Huddersfield
Huddersfield were so unlucky not to score last weekend that you have to wonder have they lost their beleif from last season? There won’t be many matches where the Terriers make so many chances. This Saturday they might only get a couple but who can they rely on to put them away?
Liverpool 3-0 Saints
Biggest threat to Liverpool this weekend is themselves. There’s such a momentumn round Anfield at the moment , the only danger is taking the Saints lightly. What’s so impressive about Klopp at the moment is you can see his players have all brought into his tactics.Yes they have a world class front 3 but none play like they are bigger then the team.
Brighton 2-2 Spurs (5.30)
Sir Alex Ferguson used to say the sign of a great manager was not when things were going well but when they were facing adversity. It’s a bad sign then, having lost 3 games on the trot for the first time, Pochettino reacted by attacking the media. Having charmed journalists for years, people are finally reporting on Spurs’s flaws. At this level, it’s not unusual to have to explain why you would leave two key defenders out of your squad, any top boss would expect the question to be asked. After a Champions Leauge loss, this is a nightmare game. An away trip, with questions being asked, which they are expected to win if serious about a title bid. Another big test of their mentality.
Sunday
West Ham 2-2 Chelsea
Apart from Hazard getting a rest, I’m surprised how strong Chelsea went in the Europa League, suggesting they havn’t got the depth of squad we have. This is not the fixture the Blues want after an away trip in Europe, especially given how West Ham performed last weekend. If they play like that again they can get a result but need to remain positive
Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Like last season we had a squad where we can field seperate elevens in Europe and the League, meaning Thursday -Sunday should not be an issue. Starting Aubameyang was a smart decision, as it will help his confidence in front of goal. Statistics suggest we are more effective when Torreira is on the pitch, leaving Gooners campaigning for him to get a start against the Toffees. He’s been good against opposition he should be good against, which is how to sum up Emery’s start. He’s won the fixtures he should win. The nature of Everton’s defeat to West Ham means their visit falls at a good time. They have the individuals to hurt us but can Silva get them to respond to a setback, something they didn’t do under previous regimes?