Midweek matches in English Premier League provided with some upsets and shocking results while some big teams seem to be regaining form and the table is now shaping up.
Leicester v Manchester united (0-1, prediction 1-1)
Another away win for Manchester United and now they are on a roll. Three wins in three games and two tough away days negotiated conceding just one goal and back to back clean sheets. The defensive partnership of Martinez and Varane is working and the ploy of bringing Casemiro and Ronaldo for last 30 minutes to shore up defense and stretch opposition so far has worked a treat. Leicester are bottom of the table and cannot buy a goal. Vardy is shooting blanks and gets no help from Maddison or Barnes. They won't stay bottom as they are too good for that and now with transfer window shut the team might be able to concentrate better on the pitch. It doesn’t get any easier for either teams as United host top of the league Arsenal next. I expect Manchester United to break Arsenal’s winning run and win 2-1. Leicester are away to Brighton and right now its hard to see anything but a Brighton 2-0 win keeping Leicester rock bottom.
Liverpool v Newcastle United (2-1, Prediction 3-1)
How did Liverpool manage 3 points here? Newcastle United deserved a point if not more. Isak looked a brilliant signing and missed the second goal by thinnest of margins. Liverpool seem to be playing with a very flimsy midfield. Henderson at 32 and Milner at 37 is not what you need to win matches in premier league. The signing of Melo will help and Scousers cannot wait for Thiago to regain fitness. Despite all that Liverpool managed 3 points here and Newcastle left empty handed. I now include Newcastle amongst contenders for 4th place finish. Liverpool are off next door to Goodison next and should win another Merseyside derby 3-1. Newcastle host Palace and their home form is too good for Palace to get anything from the game. 3-1 Newcastle.
West Ham v Tottenham (1-1, Prediction 2-2)
Yet another game for Conte’s side where they don’t play well away from home and manage to avoid defeat. West ham seem to be getting their act together and Pacquetta is a really good signing. They had enough chances to bury the game till last minute but struggled to score. Chances are coming so goals will come for hammers. Spurs on the other hand are still playing in second gear and managing to stay unbeaten which makes them a probable contender for the title come next May. West Ham are off to Stamford bridge next and Chelsea have shown good home form so far. I expect a tasty London derby with Chelsea winning 2-1. Spurs are hosting Fulham in yet another London derby and I have a feeling that Fulham can manage a draw here. 1-1.
Arsenal v Aston Villa (2-1, Prediction 3-0)
In the top four English divisions of football this season Arsenal is the only team with a 100% record. 5 games and 5 wins is stuff of dreams and they have managed a come back in last two games at home to win 2-1. Having said that they are conceding at home and were wasteful against Villa. This could have been a five goal margin if Arsenal took their chances. Villa are struggling and Gerrard might be the first managerial casualty of the season. 19th in the table and looked clueless in defense against Arsenal. They host Man City next and are likely to get a battering of 5-0. Arsenal head to Old Trafford and with Partey and Elnenny injured. Bid for Luiz failing on deadline day and United regaining form and confidence, I see United beating Arsenal 2-1 to end their run.
Man City v Nottingham Forrest (6-0, Prediction 5-0)
Halaand is a beast. The striker made for Premier League. He is by far the best striker in the league and he is keeping the second best striker in Alvarez on the bench. Three for Haaland and two for Alvarez in the game and City look absolutely invincible. Can they go on and win a quadruple and stay unbeaten all season? Eho says they cannot. Forrest are looking like relegation fodder but a result against City is not something their fans are likely to lose any sleep over. Next up City visit Villa and are likely to win big again and I wont bet against a hat trick of hat tricks for Haaland. 5-0 to City. Forrest host a manager less Bournemouth and it’s a must win game for them. 1-0 to Forrest
Bournemouth V Wolves (0-0, Prediction 1-1)
The worst game of the week. Nothing happened over 90 minutes. Bournemouth managed a precious point and Wolves are still struggling to score. With Jiminez fit and running the goals should come but Neto and Neves are also misfiring. They host Southampton and will likely go for another 0-0 over the weekend. Bournemouth travel to Forrest and are likely to lose 1-0. Both teams favorites to be relegated.
Leeds v Everton (1-1, Prediction 2-1)
Everton played a lot better than they had this season. Gordon is attracting a lot of interest from bigger clubs and Idris is now back from PSG. Less money spent but intelligent money spent and things should improve going forwards. A good point away from home and Leeds suffered as their talisman Rodrigo was replaced in the first half due to injury. This will hamper Leeds’ good start to the season. Merseyside derby at home for Everton next and they wont win that. Leeds go away to Brentford and with both teams playing well a 2-2 draw is likely result.
Southampton v Chelsea (2-1, prediction 1-1)
Chelsea has some serious problems away from home. Havertz cannot seem to score and there is no number 9 in the team. Defensively they are struggling and there is a distinct lack of cohesion. They are falling behind in the pack with their rivals in Spurs Arsenal and United amassing points. Tuchel needs to fix this problem as soon as. They have a London derby next but at Bridge they should be good enough to beat hammers. Southampton lost to United with a narrow margin but beat Chelsea convincingly. They go away from home to Wolves who are hard to score against so a probable 0-0
Crystal Palace v Brentford (1-1, Prediction 3-1)
Vieira would have pulled his hair out if he had any. Once again leading in a game and conceding in dying moments to drop 2 points at home. After the game comments by Zaha give him yet another headache and the trip to Newcastle United is a tough one for any team this season. Brentford keep doing enough to slowly progress away from relegation zones. Over the weekend Palace will get beaten away from home and Brentford look set for a draw at home.
Fulham v Brighton (2-1, Prediction 2-1)
Mitrovic is proving himself in the premier league and is attracting interest from multiple big clubs now. At the moment though he is making sure that his team stays away from the relegation zone and sits comfortably mid table come end of the season. Brighton had a rare defeat but Potter and his team are surpassing all expectations. Fulham get ready for a London derby when they go to White Heart Lane and I have a feeling they might get a draw. Brighton have Leicester at home and on current form they should easily add three points to their tally.
| Matchday 5 Predictions | ||
| MANCHESTER UNITED | WLDLD | 2 |
| v | ||
| ARSENAL | WWWWL | 1 |
| BRIGHTON | WDWLD | 2 |
| V | ||
| LEICESTER | LWLWW | 0 |
| ASTON VILLA | LWWDD | 0 |
| V | ||
| MANCHESTER CITY | DDWLW | 5 |
| WOLVES | DWDDL | 0 |
| V | ||
| SOUTHAMPTON | WWLDD | 0 |
| TOTTENHAM | WWLDW | 1 |
| V | ||
| FULHAM | LLDWL | 1 |
| FORREST | LWDWL | 1 |
| V | ||
| BOURNEMOUTH | LWLLW | 0 |
| NEWCASTLE | DWWWW | 3 |
| V | ||
| C. PALACE | LWDWW | 1 |
| CHELSEA | WDWDL | 2 |
| V | ||
| WEST HAM | WWLDD | 1 |
| BRENTFORD | DWWDL | 2 |
| V | ||
| LEEDS | LDDLW | 2 |
| EVERTON | DLWWL | 1 |
| V | ||
| LIVERPOOL | LDLWL | 3 |
Last Week we got 5 correct results and one correct.