PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS (WEEK 6)
The early markers in the Premier League have been set!
Manchester United and Chelsea have struggled so far with a number of teams challenging Manchester City at the top!
Every week we’ll be previewing and predicting every match featured in our Pick 10 league along with any other big fixtures - will you take our advice?
Crystal Palace vs Fulham
Crystal Palace have made a steady start to the season under Roy Hodgson. Much has been made over their strength in depth, that will be tested with Marc Guehi and Jefferson Lerma picking up knocks during the international break and the absence of Hodgson because of ill health. Palace are missing a clinical touch, but have the wherewithal to pick up results in this division. Fulham’s victory over Luton Town on Saturday wasn't pretty, but they got the job done. A loss or even a draw against a side who everyone is predicting to be comfortably 20th would have been a real morale blow for Marco Silva’s side who have yet to reach the heights of last season.
Palace look competent despite their defeat to Aston Villa last weekend, Fulham will have to reproduce their performance at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season to get a result this weekend.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-0 Fulham
Luton Town vs Wolves
Luton Town fans were dreaming of a dream start to life in the Premier League, but four straight defeats has the club sitting bottom of the top-flight - the only pointless team thus far. The Hatters are improving having made a raft of summer signings, but costly mistakes have prevented them from getting a result to date. The visit of Wolves on Saturday should change that. The aggressive, front-foot football that Gary O’Neil is trying to deploy is certainly welcome at Molineux, especially the sort that saw them take the lead against Liverpool last weekend. Sustaining that for 90 minutes will be the crucial challenge though having watched their bright start turn into a 3-1 defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s side. Wolves must start to find a clinical edge, it could ultimately be their downfall this season.
Rob Edwards will have his players up for this game, they have to get a result even this early on in the season. Wolves’ struggles up top cannot be overlooked, they will have to contend with a battling Luton side desperate for points.
Prediction: Luton Town 1-1 Wolves
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side are looking to start a Premier League season with a run of six consecutive victories for only the second time, having done so in 2016-17. With games against Nottingham Forest and Wolves to come, City could start with eight victories before their visit to the Emirates Stadium on 8th October. Despite losing Kevin De Bruyne for an extended stretch, Guardiola’s team have been firing on all cylinders. Nottingham Forest consolidated their surprise victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with Burnley on Monday night. Steve Cooper celebrates his two-year anniversary as manager of Forest this week, sitting 8th in the table with seven points already on the board.
City are hitting their straps but have leaked goals as of late, expect that to change Saturday with an impressive win.
Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Nottingham Forest
Brentford vs Everton
Having started the season on the front foot, September is proving to be a challenging month for Thomas Frank and his side with their only point coming courtesy of a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Rico Henry's season-ending injury is a huge blow as the full back had been in great form, without him and currently Ivan Toney, and after the departures of David Raya and Pontus Jansson, Brentford are now without four key players who have led the club to success in recent years. Times are tough at Everton. Confidence is low, especially as they have been in this position for what has felt like an eternity among supporters. This is a club in disarray, lacking serious direction as well as money. 777 Partners have stepped in to purchase the club but there is nothing in their portfolio that makes you think they are going to turn Everton around.
Brentford have all the hallmarks of a side who can put this Everton side to the sword, so don’t be surprised if it happens.
Prediction: Brentford 3-0 Everton
Burnley vs Manchester United
Burnley picked up their first point back in the top-flight on Monday night. An improving side, the supporters are behind Vincent Kompany and his players and acknowledge it will take time to acclimate to the Premier League. The Clarets will be without leading goalscorer Lyle Foster, who found the back of the net on Monday night before it was chalked off. The striker was sent off in injury time and could now face a three-game ban. Manchester United have entered choppy waters with off the pitch matters affecting performances on it. Erik ten Hag’s side have endured a disastrous September conceding ten goals in three games, four of those came against Bayern Munich in the week. A title challenge looks well beyond the Old Trafford side, losing this much ground to their rivals so early in the season does not bode well for a club struggling to block out the noise.
The pressure is on ten Hag to rally his troops, United must win this weekend to keep them within arms reach of those at the top of the league.
Prediction: Burnley 1-2 Manchester United
Arsenal vs Tottenham
It has been some time since both Arsenal and Tottenham entered a North London derby in such a vein of form. After falling short in their bid to win the Premier League last term, Mikel Arteta’s side have taken 13 points from 15 to start the season. David Raya made his Gunners debut last weekend and continued in between the sticks for Arsenal’s prolific return to the Champions League in the week. Spurs, like their North London rivals, have also started their season emphatically having achieved the same points table with a slightly better goal difference. Ange Postecoglou has come across really well in the media and his messages to the players have translated well on the pitch. The departure of Harry Kane has allowed other players to step up into prominent roles, so far they have delivered.
Tottenham are years behind Arsenal in their current process but have started the season well. Arteta’s men have the home advantage and are heading into the fixture with serious form behind them, it won’t be easy but you would lean towards the hosts here.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
18+ begambleaware.org
