THE VERY BLUNT PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS (WEEK 12)
Enjoy this weekend while you can, another international break is around the corner - the third one this season to be exact. It’s not like we’re counting or anything.
Every week we’ll be giving you our blunt takes and predicting each Premier League match featured in our Pick 10 league along with any other big fixtures - will you take our advice?
Wolves vs Tottenham
We were about to anoint Gary O’Neil as the chosen one, the final boss, the guru of modern football. Then Wolves lost to Sheffield United, SHEFFIELD UNITED. In all fairness the West Midlands side were screwed by the officials again, in fact they’ve been shafted 745 times already this season. We’ve had enough of managers crying about decisions going against their team constantly, but O’Neil might actually have a point.
Under Ange Postecoglou Spurs have been inevitable, an unbeaten machine, chasing an unprecedented Premier League title. That was until the wheels came off against Chelsea on Monday night. Two red cards, injuries to James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, all the while allowing Nicolas Jackson to score a hat-trick. Tottenham are facing adversity, how do they react?
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Tottenham
Arsenal vs Burnley
Speaking of crying managers, has anyone checked on Mikel Arteta? The Spaniard launched a venomous tirade against the officials for allowing Newcastle’s goal to stand on Saturday night, that’s unsurprising. But we have to ask, what did your team do to win the game? It’s easy to point the finger, but you didn’t exactly have your team in position to win the game. Arteta has embraced his inner ‘Karen’.
Congratulations Burnley, you became the first side to lose six straight home games at the start of the campaign, the Championship awaits your arrival. The Clarets lack quality in the final third and are being punished for individual mistakes, Vincent Kompany needed his side to picks up points against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace - spoiler, they didn’t.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Burnley
Crystal Palace vs Everton
The steady Roy Hodgson train rolls on, Palace are well clear of any relegation battle brewing with aspirations of a top-ten finish. Every time the Eagles look beyond their incumbent boss, trouble ensues. Age is just a number, and at 76, Hodgson should have a job until he finally wants to put his feet up. ‘Effective, ‘Defensively sound’, not exactly the most inspiring way to describe your playing style - but it works.
October and November has so far been kind to Sean Dyche, bar another defeat at Anfield of course. A gap has been created between the Toffees and 17th place Luton, it needs to be kept that way. There has undoubtedly been a real improvement in their performances, that has coincided with a fully-fit Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The football gods will decide whether that continues.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton
Manchester United vs Luton Town
Oh, you bounced back from two 3-0 defeats to Newcastle & Manchester City by squeaking past Fulham? No, you must endure misery. Cue a dismal defeat to Copenhagen in the Champions League. Luckily United get another respite on Saturday with the visit of Luton Town. Erik ten Hag has no leaders in his changing room, and no clear way of playing football. Is the inevitable sacking on the horizon?
In consecutive games against Liverpool & Manchester United, Luton genuinely have an opportunity to collect four points. There is a real sense of determination among the Hatters squad who are clearly playing for their manager Rob Edwards. Every season is long, and it might wear down a squad like Luton’s, but they have a shot at survival.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Luton Town
Chelsea vs Manchester City
If Mauricio Pochettino views Monday’s win over Spurs as a cause for hope, he is mistaken, especially with the champions coming to town this weekend. Down to nine-men, Spurs saw Nicolas Jackson turn into prime Andriy Shevchenko - the Senegal striker could use this as a launching pad, but how likely is that? The Blues’ biggest win of the season came in arguably their worst performance of the campaign so far sums up their season so far.
This piece is written by someone who triple-captained Erling Haaland in fantasy football last weekend. City won 6-1 and Haaland contributed nothing. NOTHING YET SOMEHOW HE SCORES TWICE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? Rant over. Pep Guardiola’s side have returned to the summit of the Premier League and look dominant. Jeremy Doku looks like a star in the making by the way…
Prediction: Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City
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