Focus returns to the Premier League this weekend. Listed below are our predictions…
After one other manic midweek of European motion, the Premier League returns this weekend with some mouthwatering fixtures on the schedule in week 9.
Having been written off following final Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United, Liverpool bounced again in emphatic trend with a 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt whereas there have been additionally Champions League wins for Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester Metropolis and Newcastle.
Let’s check out what we’ve arising over the subsequent few days as home motion takes centre stage and provide up our weekly Premier League predictions.
FRIDAY
Leeds v West Ham (8pm)
West Ham have been a disorganised mess in opposition to Brentford on Monday night time. It completed 2-0 however the guests may, and may, have been extra emphatic winners.
A repeat of that efficiency at Elland Highway will see an analogous end result.
Leeds have made a strong return to the Premier League however their long-term destiny might be determined in video games like this.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 West Ham
SATURDAY
Chelsea v Sunderland (3pm)
Sunderland have been the pick of the Premier League newboys so far however a visit to Chelsea represents their first conflict with a title-contending crew.
The lack of excellent summer time recruit Omar Alderete resulting from concussion protocols is a serious blow for the Wearsiders, who should discover a solution to cease free-scoring Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca’s aspect have notched 10 targets of their final three video games in all competitions, together with Wednesday night time’s 5-1 hammering of Ajax.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Sunderland
Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)
Newcastle carried out effectively in beating Benfica in midweek, a welcome return to kind after final Saturday’s defeat at Brighton. In Nick Woltemade, they’ve a person in kind and Fulham’s first job might be to cease the free-scoring German.
The Cottagers have misplaced their final three league video games and it’s powerful to see them rising with something right here.
Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Fulham
Manchester United v Brighton (5.30pm)
Have Manchester United lastly clicked underneath Ruben Amorim? That’s the million greenback query. The victory at Liverpool was the primary time they’d received back-to-back league video games underneath the Portuguese however most punters will want extra convincing.
It’s unlikely Amorim would have picked Brighton as their subsequent opponents as he tries to construct momentum. The Seagulls have received on every of their final three league visits to Outdated Trafford.
Prediction: Man United 1-2 Brighton
Brentford v Liverpool (8pm)
The depth of the Liverpool squad was on full show in opposition to Eintracht as Arne Slot made 5 adjustments to his beginning XI after which watched them run amok in Germany.
The massive query forward of the sport is what he does with Mohamed Salah. Will the Egypt star be restored to the beginning XI or spend one other night watching on from the bench.
Brentford appeared excellent in opposition to West Ham, even considering the usual of opposition, and received’t be a pushover.
Prediction: Brentford 1-2 Liverpool
SUNDAY
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest (2pm)
This appears to be like a unique sport now than it did every week in the past. Forest appeared extra organised and extra disciplined within the 2-0 defeat of Porto within the Europa League final night time and the sensation is they are going to be more durable to beat underneath Sean Dyche than they have been underneath Ange Postecoglou.
That mentioned, Bournemouth have the power to carve open any aspect. And with Antoine Semenyo in glowing kind, we fancy the Cherries to get the job executed.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Arsenal v Crystal Palace (2pm)
Can Palace cease the Arsenal juggernaut? They’ll must play higher than they did in dropping 1-0 to Cypriot aspect AEK Larnaca final night time if they’re to face any probability of inflicting an upset on the Emirates.
Even when they carry out at their greatest it might not be sufficient in opposition to a Gunners aspect that seems sturdy everywhere in the pitch. And in Viktor Gyokeres they might have discovered the quantity 9 they’ve been lacking in earlier failed title makes an attempt.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Manchester Metropolis (2pm)
Like Palace, Villa have been surprisingly overwhelmed in Europe final night time. Unai Emery’s males went to the Netherlands on the again of 5 straight wins however couldn’t get previous the Go Forward Eagles.
A repeat of that efficiency will see an analogous consequence in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
Metropolis want a number of extra wins to actually persuade that they will mount a severe problem for the title, and this may be a very good place to start out.
Prediction: Aston Vila 1-2 Manchester Metropolis
Wolves v Burnley (2pm)
Is that this too early to be described as a relegation six-pointer? In all probability not because it’s powerful to think about both of those sides dragging themselves out of hassle with a protracted profitable run.
Burnley actually enhanced their probabilities of staying up with a superb win over Leeds final weekend whereas Wolves have been once more disappointing in dropping at Sunderland.
A draw helps neither aspect, so…
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Burnley
Everton v Tottenham (4.30pm)
It’s turning into more and more tough to know what to make of Thomas Frank’s Spurs. Poor in opposition to Villa final weekend and equally lacklustre in a midweek draw at Monaco. Certainly, the win at Leeds on October 4 is their solely victory within the final 5 video games.
Everton have but to lose at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium house and David Moyes is constructing an efficient, if barely uninspiring, crew that may give little away this season.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Tottenham
