EPL Match day three didn’t go down well for clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United and particularly West Ham (who are yet to pick a point in the league heading into week four). The ‘big boys’ are not coming up against each other this weekend, so, which of the smaller sides will upset the big boys? Read on to find out…
LEICESTER V LIVERPOOL
Liverpool started the season with a resounding 4-0 win over West Ham at Anfield, and have gone on from that game to wrestle three points off Crystal Palace and Brighton. It would be interesting to see how long they can go snatching three points off teams even when they struggle. Because I looked at Liverpool’s next seven fixtures across all competition and they’re all absolute crackers (bar the game at Anfield v Southampton).
They will play Spurs (EPL) next, PSG (UCL), Chelsea (Carabao Cup), Chelsea again in the league, Napoli (UCL) and wrap up the whole stormy run of fixtures with a league game against champions Manchester City. How they fare after this tempestuous run of games will really show how ready they are for the title and it’s the same message Jurgen Klopp will be passing across to his players. That said, I believe Liverpool have got the depth in squad to withstand this stormy run of games about to hit them and I think they will try to prove that at Leicester on Saturday.
It’s going to be difficult for the Reds because Leicester are in a good run of form at the moment. But I think they have a solid defense to withstand whatever Leicester will throw at them, and I expect their attacking force to be ruthless in front of goal. So, I think Liverpool will nick this one.
MY PREDICTION: Leicester 0-1 Liverpool
BRIGHTON V FULHAM
Fulham will come into this game buoyed by their 4-2 win against Burnley last weekend and their 2-0 victory over Exeter City in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup game. But Brighton rested players in their Carabao Cup game against Southampton on Tuesday and should be battle ready for Fulham on Saturday. I think Fulham have got the players to upset Brighton in this one, but Brighton are no pushovers and I expect them to come out of this clash with something.
MY PREDICTION: Brighton 1-1 Fulham
CHELSEA V BOURNEMOUTH
Chelsea are yet to lose a game in the league so far, likewise Bournemouth. But Bournemouth couldn’t overcome Everton last weekend in an intriguing game that saw both teams finish the game with ten men. Bournemouth are a side that like to play and won’t ‘park the bus’ like Newcastle did against Chelsea last weekend and it will open them up. Everyone is enjoying watching Chelsea play under Maurizio Sarri and I think his side will have too much for Bournemouth at the Bridge on Saturday.
MY PREDICTION: Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth
CRYSTAL PALACE V SOUTHAMPTON
Palace will be looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats against Watford and Liverpool when they welcome struggling Southampton side on Saturday. I don’t know how Southampton will cope against the likes of Zaha and Townsend. I am going for a Palace win here.
MY PREDICTION: Crystal Palace 3-1 Southampton
EVERTON V HUDDERSFIELD
I think this is a matter of how many goals are Everton going to win Huddersfield by on Saturday. Huddersfield have been miserable so far as everyone (bar Huddersfield fans) will expect. I say this almost every time I write my weekly predictions so far; that Huddersfield are going down this season.
MY PREDICTION: Everton 3-0 Huddersfield
WEST HAM v WOLVES
West Ham have lost all their league games so far and are bottom of the log, but they will be encouraged by their 3-1 win on Tuesday at League One Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. While Wolves would come into this one gingered by their win at Championship Sheffield Wednesday in midweek and their 1-1 draw against City last weekend. I really like this Wolves side and enjoy how they play. I know West Ham really need a win after their disastrous start to the season, but they will find Wolves really difficult to play against on Saturday.
MY PREDICTION: West Ham 2-2 Wolves
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MAN CITY V NEWCASTLE
Just can’t fathom what’s going wrong with Newcastle – they are really struggling at the moment. I don’t know how long they will carry on like this, but don’t think they will turn the corner with this game at City.
MY PREDICTION: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
CARDIFF V ARSENAL
Cardiff got a point at Huddersfield last weekend and, against Norwich in midweek, Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock fielded a team showing nine changes from the side that drew at Huddersfield. But I still think they will get beat by Arsenal on Sunday. Arsenal are coming into this one on the back of their first league win this season. They enjoyed that and will really want to win again.
MY PREDICTION: Cardiff 0-2 Arsenal
BURNLEY V MANUTD
I think it was always obvious Burnley will struggle in the league as they try to combine it with continental fixtures. They got knocked out on Thursday by Olympiakos and that will enable them focus on the domestic games. But still think that game on Thursday would have left a strain on them and it will allow an ‘injured’ United side take advantage.
Injured, because José Mourinho come into this one needing a win or face the sack after back-to-back league defeats against Brighton and Spurs. It will be a difficult game for United but I expect the Red Devils to come out of the game on top.
MY PREDICTION: Burnley 1-2 Manutd
WATFORD V SPURS
I think this will be the toughest game of the weekend as both sides come into this one on the back of three wins from three and are really in-form at the moment. Watford have defeated Brighton (home), Burnley (away) and Crystal Palace (home) so far in the league. While Spurs have defeated Newcastle (away), Fulham (home) and Manutd (away) so far to maintain a 100 per cent record.
Judging by that outlay of results, you will agree Spurs have had the stiffer sides to battle and overcome. Really going to be a difficult game for both sides, but I think Spurs will nick this one by the skin of their teeth.
MY PREDICTION: Watford 1-2 Spurs