The Premier League is getting ready for another blockbuster gameweek of football.
Saturday sees an early season relegation clash between Southampton and Newcastle United, while title-chasing Liverpool host Cardiff City among six games that day. Sunday’s games task Chelsea and Arsenal with tricky away ties at Burnley and Crystal Palace respectively, while Manchester United host an ever-improving Everton side. The gameweek is then rounded off on Monday night with a tantalising tie between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, with just two points separating the two prior to kick-off.
We’ve had a look at the fixtures and had two of the Squawka team come up with predictions:
Brighton v Wolves
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Chris Smith: Brighton have surprised everyone with how well they’re avoiding ‘second season syndrome’, while Wolves have made a strong start to the season with all of their Portuguese talents. Despite falling to a shock home defeat to Watford last week, Wolves, with the likes of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves, should be too strong for Brighton. 1-2 Wolves.
Mohamed Moallim: I was really disappointed with Wolves last weekend, although Watford have proven to be tough nut to crack this season you expected the home side to gobble up all three points especially on the back off two consecutive league wins, that being said visiting Brighton will not be a walk by the seaside especially as they’re now buoyed by recent victories. I’d expect a closely fought game with both ultimately sharing the spoils. 1-1 draw.
Key stat: Beram Kayal has scored or assisted in each of his last two games for Brighton in the Premier League.
Fulham v Bournemouth
(Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
CS: Fulham were supposed to join Wolves in being a newly-promoted side that would have no problem adjusting to life in the Premier League. Instead, they have won just one game from their opening nine, languishing in 18th. By contrast, Bournemouth’s attacking trident of Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Josh King has caused havoc, firing the Cherries to sixth place and should have no problem seeing off a Fulham side that looks bereft of confidence. 0-2 Bournemouth.
MM: So much was expected of Fulham heading into the season but those hopes are starting to fade. Scoring at home is not an issue, though Bournemouth are not going to make life any easier for them especially as they’ve won three of their last five Premier League away games. 1-2 Bournemouth.
Key stat: Callum Wilson has been involved in 43.75% of Bournemouth’s goals this season, more than any other player in the side.
Liverpool v Cardiff
(Photo credit OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
CS: Surely this is the most foregone of conclusions the Premier League could hope to throw up? That comment may just come back to haunt but, with Liverpool’s insatiable attacking talent you just cannot see Cardiff building on their morale-boosting win against Fulham last week, especially at Anfield which has become a real fortress under Jurgen Klopp. 5-0 Liverpool.
MM: It’s going to be damage limitations from the off for Cardiff as the Reds rediscovered their shooting boots in Europe midweek. Liverpool have been near imperious at home this season and it would take a minor miracle for the Welsh side to leave with anything. 4-0 Liverpool.
Key stat: Mohamed Salah has 3 goals and 3 assists against newly promoted sides since the start of last season.
Southampton v Newcastle
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
CS: Even at this early stage of the season, this is a huge game for both clubs. Newcastle are bottom of the Premier League and winless with just two points from their opening nine games. Southampton, meanwhile, aren’t much better off and sit just four points above the Magpies in 16th with one league win. Both sides have only bagged six goals in the league so far, so expect a tense, low-quality affair. 1-1 draw.
MM: Both teams in desperate need of a win. It’s incredible to think Newcastle are winless after their opening nine league fixtures and, unfortunately, you can see that run continuing after this weekend. 2-2 draw.
Key stat: Jonjo Shelvey has completed 81 successful passes ending in the final third; at least 29 more than any other Newcastle player.
Watford v Huddersfield
(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
CS: After making a blistering start to the season, Watford seemingly fell off a cliff and managed just one point from four games until they beat Wolves last week. Meanwhile, Huddersfield are really struggling and although there’s a lot of commitment and effort from David Wagner’s men, they really lack quality and are yet to win a league game this season. Watford should have too much for the Terriers at home. 3-1 Watford.
MM: Huddersfield, like Newcastle, to remain winless after their visit to Vicarage Road. Watford’s mini-slump came to a halt last time out at Wolves and with the wind beneath their sails expect them to inflict more pain on David Wagner’s men. 2-0 Watford.
Key stat: Abdoulaye Doucoure became the eighth player of the nine this season to record two assists in a single game after providing both goals in Watford’s 2-0 win over Wolves last Saturday.
Leicester v West Ham
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
CS: This is a battle between two of the Premier League’s most patchy sides. Leicester have lost their last two and will be seeking a reaction at home, while only West Ham could take seven points from Everton, Man United and Chelsea and then follow that up by losing their next two without scoring a goal. These two have only drawn one game between them this season but, with the two being so evenly matched, the law of averages is bound to kick in. 2-2 draw.
MM: The Foxes were, unfortunately, to leave the Emirates with nothing in gameweek nine, but what can you do when Mesut Ozil turns on the style? Nevertheless, West Ham should provide a more equal contest as well as a chance for revenge following the outcome of this fixture last season when the Hammers ran out 2-0 winners. 2-1 Leicester City.
Key stat: James Madison has won more fouls than any other player in the Premier League (27) and only two players have created more chances from set plays than the 10 he has.
Burnley v Chelsea
(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
CS: A 5-0 defeat to Man City was very harsh on Burnley last week, who had been improving on their tough start to that point. The Clarets have stabilised and now sit 13th in the Premier League but will struggle to cope with a Chelsea side that is playing with verve, solidarity and consistency. ‘Sarriball’ has turned the Blues from a negative, grind of a team into one of the most attractive sides around during the early part of this season. 1-2 Chelsea.
MM: Nothing says a challenge more than playing Burnley away, but that hasn’t always been the case this season and Chelsea are in the mood. The Londoners presently sit within touching distance of the leaders and, given the form of Eden Hazard, can’t see anything but a Blues win. 0-2 Chelsea.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
(Photo credit IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
CS: Palace have lost their last three and looked really negative against Everton last week, with Roy Hodgson seemingly more interested in trying to stifle the opposition rather than trusting in his own player’s talents. No such problems for Arsenal though. After a tough opening two games, Unai Emery’s side has steamrollered everything that has come before them and the Gunners have now won 11 games in a row in all competitions – expect them to make it 12 on Sunday. 0-3 Arsenal.
MM: Arsenal are on a roll – seven consecutive league wins (and 11 in all competitions) – and the Emery train rolls into Selhurst Park this Sunday with Palace the latest club attempting to derail their momentum. But they will come short, especially now that Mesut Ozil has found his mojo. 1-3 Arsenal.
Key stat: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang currently has the best min/goal ratio of any player to ever score at least 10 Premier League goals (104.6 mins).
Manchester United v Everton
(Photo credit OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
CS: With every positive result that Mourinho snatches, there is another stumbling block hidden around the next corner that puts the beleaguered boss back to square one. Sunday sees the Red Devils host an Everton side that is rapidly improving under fellow Portuguese Marco Silva. Even with the Toffees winning their last three Premier League games, conceding just one goal in the process, it would be asking a lot for Everton to win at Old Trafford. A draw isn’t out of the question though. 1-1 draw.
MM: Everton last won at Old Trafford in December 2013 and this weekend represents their best opportunity since then and that’s because Man Utd are in the midst of another crisis. Two wins from seven home games in all competitions this season suggests another difficult weekend for Jose Mourinho. 1-1 draw.
Key stat: Paul Pogba provided two assists the last time he played Everton. This season, no United player has created more chances (17) or completed more take-on (14) than he has.
Tottenham v Manchester City
(Photo credit GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
CS: On the face of it, this Monday Night Football clash has all the makings of an extravaganza. However, despite being just two points behind them in the league, you just cannot see Spurs beating Man City. Instead of letting the pressure of defending their league title get to them, Guardiola’s men have somehow got better and could easily have taken maximum points so far. Spurs have been consistent yet uninspiring, often struggling to see sides off. They could pay for that here. 2-3 Manchester City.
MM: Another defining game for Spurs, who are currently on a four-game winning streak in the Premier League, but the reigning champions have in recent weeks found their groove and with Kevin De Bruyne back in tow it could spell trouble for Pochettino and company. 1-3 Manchester City.
Key stat: No player has created more chances (26) than David Silva this season, 24 of which have been from open play.
The post Premier League predictions for all 10 matches this gameweek appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2J2SArQ
No comments:
Post a Comment