Premier League Previews
Chelsea v Leicester (12:30pm Saturday)
On paper this should be a home banker. Leicester's routings at the hands of Liverpool and Man United have indicated that they aren't really equipped to deal with a side as powerful as Chelsea. Nevertheless, Chelsea have been stuttering and a 2-0 win over Hull wasn't convincing evidence that they're capable of going toe-to-toe with the league's top sides. I suspect that this will be a hard fought and narrow win for Chelsea on balance; they're good enough to beat Leicester but not good enough to romp them. And if that man John Terry is back, as expected, then it will be a huge boost for a defence that desperately needs it.
Prediction: 2-1 Chelsea
Arsenal v Swansea (3pm)
Another game that you'd very much expect to be a home win. Arsenal have won five straight games, Swansea weren't able to get anything from games against similarly strong Man City and Liverpool sides and the fact that it's at the Emirates will bolster Arsenal significantly. Again though, I don't think it'll be a game that Arsenal run away with, but given their recent defensive strength and attacking prowess, I think it will be reasonably comfortable.
Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal
Bournemouth v Hull (3pm)
This will be an interesting game. Two sides separated by one point in the lower ends of the table, and reasonably similar teams. They're both capable of grinding out results, but also prone to defensive implosion. This one really could go either way, so I'm going to fence sit and say that it ends a score-draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Man City v Everton (3pm)
Everton have had one of the easiest sets of fixtures so far this season, and since drawing with Spurs on the opening day they have had a relative simple run, beating West Brom, Boro, Sunderland and Stoke. But they hit a sticky patch a few weeks ago, losing to Bournemouth and drawing to Crystal Palace, and that's the sort of patch that Man City will look to exploit, as they seek to instantly bounce back from their first defeat of the season. City will surely have the firepower to win this one.
Stoke v Sunderland (3pm)
This is an early season six-pointer. With Sunderland on two points and Stoke three, neither team has won a game yet this season, and that's a run that I could very much see continuing. Stoke have accumulated three 1-1 draws already this season, and Sunderland have accrued two, so 1-1 is very much the prediction as far as these two are concerned.
Prediction: 1-1
West Brom v Spurs (3pm)
This one has banana skin written all over it. Spurs have just beaten Man City, and know that they could top the Premier League with a win. West Brom have done pretty well so far this season with a decent set of fixtures in front of them. Spurs will be missing a lot of key players and have Champions League in midweek so will rotate heavily. And of course, this is where Spurs all but lost the title last season. Anything can happen and I'm going to stick my neck out and say it will.
Prediction: 2-1 West Brom
Crystal Palace v West Ham (5:30pm)
Palace are on form, with ten points from their last four games. West Ham are in free-fall, with just one point from the same. Pardew teams are very much all about their form, and with Crystal Palace very much in form against a West Ham side who don't look sure how to attack or how to defend, for me there's only one outcome to this game.
Prediction: 2-0 Palace
Middlesbrough v Watford (1:30pm Sunday)
Pretty mixed bag for both of these teams so far this season. Boro arrested their slide with a 1-1 draw with West Ham last time out, whilst Watford lost a lot of momentum by losing to Burnley and drawing with Bournemouth. These are two teams who could really use a result to pick up their fortunes, with the middle and bottom end of the Premier League becoming increasingly congested, as just three points separate West Brom in 9th from Boro in 16th. I think on balance, Watford are a better side with more firepower, but who knows whether that will be enough, the way this league is shaping up, especially as Boro are due a win.
Prediction: 2-1 Boro
Southampton v Burnley (4pm Sunday)
This is one game that I cannot see many goals coming from. Burnley have scored the joint least goals in the division, but have conceded less than any team in the bottom half of the table. Simultaneously, only two teams have conceded less goals than Southampton, but they've scored less than any team in the top half. So whilst 0-0 might be a very high possibility, I think Saints will just nick this one.
Prediction: 1-0 Southampton
The Hard and Fast Section
- Hulkenburg is moving to Renault. Interesting move.
- Alex King has left Saints. Disarray.
- Wijnaldum and Lallana might make Monday night. Boom.
- And finally, Son, Henderson and Klopp win EPL gongs. Talent.
P.S: If you're sitting reading this thinking: hang on there's only nine games there, then you would be correct. I'm going to do a proper preview for Liverpool v Man United on Monday, because it's going to be a belter.
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