PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS (WEEK 9)
The international break is over, let the bells ring, how long has it been? 47 years?
Every week we’ll be previewing and predicting every Premier League match featured in our Pick 10 league along with any other big fixtures - will you take our advice?
Liverpool vs Everton
An impressive start to the season has petered out slightly, but piling on Jurgen Klopp’s side for winless visits to Tottenham and Brighton isn’t warranted - after all, they’re still just three points off leaders Spurs. With fixtures against Everton, Forest, Bournemouth, Luton & Brentford in their near future, Liverpool could top the table following that stretch. Everton fans are all too aware of Liverpool’s dominance of this fixture in recent years, the Toffees have won just once in the past 25 league meetings. A torturous start to the season has been remedied with two victories in their last three Premier League outings, but patience has worn thin. Another concerning run wouldn’t surprise many, nor would a managerial change at some point.
Klopp's side face a third early kick-off in a row this season, in the immediate match after the international break - the German manager isn’t a happy bunny about that. Little suggests Everton could throw a spanner in the works here.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Everton
Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
In the three games that Rodri was suspended for, Newcastle (EFL Cup) & Wolves/Arsenal (Premier League), Man City lost all three. The good news? His ban has been served and City will get their talismanic midfield figure back for Brighton’s visit to the Etihad. Saturday will be all about putting back-to-back league defeats behind them. Brighton themselves will have something of a point to prove with the stench of their 6-1 hammering to Aston Villa still lingering. Roberto De Zerbi has guided his side to an impressive start just four points off top spot, but failure to gain any result this weekend could set his side back attempting to keep pace with the leading pack.
Both sides have combined for a single point in their previous pair of league outings. With home field advantage and Rodri back in the starting lineup, you would lean towards City in this encounter.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace
You can forgive Newcastle for struggling to keep pace at the top of the Premier League table given their exploits in the Champions League, earlier this month they dismantled PSG at St James’ Park. Crucially, their first taste of UCL football in over 20 years will only matter if Eddie Howe can consolidate Newcastle’s standing among Europe’s elite with another top four finish. After pulling the upset over Man Utd at Old Trafford, Crystal Palace had to settle for a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest in Roy Hodgson's 400th game as a Premier League manager. Hodgson was never going to be a sexy appointment, but comfortably avoiding relegation could be imperative in a month where Palace finalised their plans to significantly expand Selhurst Park.
Palace are a tough side to break down, but Newcastle should have enough to crack the visitors on home soil.
Prediction: Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace
Chelsea vs Arsenal
The most anticipated game of the weekend on paper. In what has been another underwhelming run for Chelsea, they go into this weekend having lost five of their last six Premier League games against Arsenal. Without European football and three victories in as many league games as of late, Mauricio Pochettino may well have stumbled on a winning recipe. Level on points with North London rivals Spurs, Arsenal’s win over Manchester City prior to the international break has their fans dreaming of another title challenge. A challenging run is forthcoming as Mikel Arteta’s side have four fixtures in the Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup in an eleven-day span.
This is Chelsea’s greatest test so far this season, Arsenal cannot afford complacency at Stamford Bridge.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
Sixteen points accumulated after eight games is an exciting total for Aston Villa who sit fifth in the table, just four points off the top. It’s worth mentioning that Villa have won each of their last 10 Premier League games at Villa Park, their longest home league winning run since October 1983. On the other hand Aston Villa have lost their last three Premier League home games against West Ham who are just two points behind the West Midlands side. Jarrod Bowen is firing for David Moyes again this season with five goals in eight games and has scored in all four of West Ham’s Premier League away games this season.
Both sides have good reason to fancy their chances in this fixture, expect an energetic affair with little to separate them.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
18+ begambleaware.org
