It’s another EPL weekend! And as usual, the excitements are back. But not just that, my predictions are back too. Here is a look at how I expect this weekend’s round of matches to unfold.
MAN UTD V SPURS
Huddersfield dealt Man Utd their first defeat of the season last weekend. And as expected, United reacted to that in the Carabao Cup – with a 2-0 win at Swansea. They will be looking at improving on that cup triumph when Spurs visit at lunchtime on Saturday.
But you look at Spurs’ away record so far and you have got to give them credits and accord them respect. They scored four in a ground where United lost last weekend. Though they lost at Wembley to West Ham in the Carabao Cup, you have got to look at the makeshift lineup they used and, expect them to visit Old Trafford in their full force.
MY PREDICTION: Man Utd 1-1 Spurs
ARSENAL V SWANSEA
Thought Arsenal were magnificent against Everton last time out, and their display against Norwich in midweek was worthy of note. I expect them to build on those performances and get a win in this one.
MY PREDICTION: Arsenal 3-0 Swansea
CRYSTAL PALACE V WEST HAM
After that enterprising win against Chelsea, Palace returned to their disappointing self; losing to Newcastle in the league and Bristol City in the Carabao Cup. But West Ham are struggling themselves, and Palace would be fancying their chances ahead of this clash. Love what West Ham showed against Spurs on Wednesday in the cup game. And if they build on that, I see no reason why they can’t come out of this one with something. Slaven Bilić is still under fire regardless of that result at Wembley, so I expect him to motivate his team to get something meaningful out of this.
MY PREDICTION: Palace 1-2 West Ham
LIVERPOOL V HUDDERSFIELD
Liverpool would be looking to bounce back from that embarrassing defeat against Spurs at Wembley – when Huddersfield come visiting. Jurgen Klopp’s men were totally outclassed last weekend by a very good Spurs team. But, I don’t expect Huddersfield at Anfield to outwit Liverpool.
MY PREDICTION: Liverpool 3-1 Huddersfield
WATFORD V STOKE
Watford were on the verge of achieving another spectacular result last weekend against Chelsea, until Batshuayi came in for the host. That 4-2 defeat at Chelsea was their first defeat away from home this season. In fact, majority of their points so far in the league were earned away from home. A fact Stoke would very much admire heading into this clash at the Vicarage Road. But Stoke’s last two league games are nothing to write home about. And the sooner Mark Hughes start grinding out those results, the safer his job. I expect this to end in stalemate, though.
MY PREDICTION: Watford 1-1 Stoke
WEST BROM V MAN CITY
West Brom haven’t won a league game since August at Burnley, and I don’t see that changing here against City. I expect this to turn out a routine win for City who would be back to playing with the EPL ball, having seen manager Pep Guardiola and midfielder Yaya Toure blame the Carabao Cup ball for their uninspiring performance against Wolves on Tuesday.
MY PREDICTION: West Brom 1-3 Man City
BOURNEMOUTH V CHELSEA
Chelsea head into this clash on the back of two consecutive wins against Everton in the cup game and Watford in the league. But Bournemouth too come into this one on the back of two consecutive wins recorded in the same competitions. Though I expect Chelsea to have too much for their host here, I see this one panning out into a cracking game.
MY PREDICTION: Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea
BRIGHTON V SOUTHAMPTON
Brighton won 3-0 at West Ham last weekend, and they would be drawing lots of motivation from that display when they battle Southampton on Sunday. Southampton have shown they are not good travelers so far in the season, so a draw would be a good result for them at the Amex.
MY PREDICTION: Brighton 0-0 Southampton
LEICESTER CITY V EVERTON
New Leicester City boss Claude Puel will be looking to continue from where the interim boss Michael Appleton stopped. With the Englishman helping Leicester notch two wins in his two games in charge, getting the Foxes out of the drop zone in the process.
Meanwhile, Everton are still without a permanent manager, having dismissed Ronald Koeman, and would be managed temporary by the club’s U-23 manager David Unsworth in this game. Having said all that, I think this clash will be a difficult one for both managers looking to make a statement with their debut game for their respective clubs.
MY PREDICTION: Leicester 2-2 Everton
BURNLEY V NEWCASTLE
Newcastle are in-form at the moment, and I really fancy them getting something out of this clash on Monday. Burnley haven’t looked convincing at home so far in this campaign. Newcastle’s worst result here should be a draw.
MY PREDICTION: Burnley 1-2 Newcastle
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