Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the weekend fixtures for the 27th round of Premier League football. Last time out we got four out of ten predictions right and three correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

West Ham vs Crystal Palace (12:45)
The Hammers performed well against Spurs but threw the match away in spectacular fashion and their season is in danger of meandering into mediocrity. Palace’s charge up the table has also slowed somewhat in recent weeks but they should avoid relegation and that would be a good achievement for The Eagles. Alan Pardew will probably set his stall up to get a draw and I think they’ll get it.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace

Burnley vs Swansea (15:00)
The Clarets returned from Stamford Bridge with a miraculous point and renewed hope of survival. Swansea also earned a shock win over Man United and perhaps their season will not begin to drift as expected. Having said that, this is a very important match for Burnley and the atmosphere at Turf Moor should galvanize their team to earn a vital three points.
Prediction: Burnley 2-1 Swansea

Man United vs Sunderland (15:00)
United stuttered once again and wasted an opportunity to create breathing space between them and their top-four rivals, which leaves them susceptible to dropping out of the Champions League spots if they slip up again. Sunderland couldn’t beat relegation rivals West Brom at home and are struggling to find the back of the net. While United are not at their best, Sunderland are offering little resistance and Louis van Gaal will have no excuse if they fail to win.
Prediction: Man United 2-0 Sunderland

Newcastle vs Aston Villa (15:00)
If I could predict that both these teams would lose then I would. Newcastle’s performance was utterly appalling as they slumped to a 5-0 defeat at the Etihad and Villa’s captain Ron Vlaar gave away the most ludicrous of penalties deep into stoppage time to deny Tim Sherwood his first point for the club and to keep them firmly rooted at the bottom of the table. Sherwood has claimed that Villa need to win six of their remaining matches, having won five all season, and if you look at their fixtures you suspect that if they’re to meet that target then they will have to win here. If Newcastle play as badly as they did last week then the Villans will have a chance but there should be some sort of a response from John Carver’s men and a draw seems the most likely result.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Aston Villa

Stoke vs Hull (15:00)
Stoke nicked a late win at Villa Park and look set for a top-ten finish. Hull, meanwhile, have clawed their way away from the relegation zone with wins against rivals Villa and QPR and are now four points clear of the drop in 15th. They may not be safe just yet but they have shown more mettle than the other sides around them and that will give them a big boost going into the end of season run-in. Stoke are a tough team to get the better of, however, and will keep Hull nervously looking over their shoulders.
Prediction: Stoke 1-0 Hull

West Brom vs Southampton (15:00)
Tony Pulis set his side up perfectly to take a point back to the Midlands from the Stadium of Light and will continue to make sure his side are hard to beat. Southampton may have lost to their top-four rivals but they were unfortunate not to get a penalty early on in the match and were by no means embarrassed. With only one point between them and fourth, it’s important for Ronald Koeman’s men to keep their challenge up and I think they’ll win here.
Prediction: West Brom 0-1 Southampton

Sunday

Liverpool vs Man City (12:00)
Liverpool crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday night after extra time and it will be interesting to see if playing a further 30 minutes will damage their chances against a City side who can close the gap at the top of the table to just two points. Manuel Pellegrini’s team thumped Newcastle but lost at home to Barcelona in the Champions League and are in great danger of failing to win a trophy this season. There is a lot riding on this game and both sides will be desperate to send a message to their top-four and title rivals respectively but City are the stronger side and can apply real pressure on Chelsea.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Man City

Arsenal vs Everton (14:05)
The Gunners’ result against Monaco on Wednesday was one of the most shocking results in Arsene Wenger’s tenure and their Champions League hopes now dangle by a thread. Everton had no such problem as they cruised into the last 16 of the Europa League and their season now revolves around winning that competition. Despite Arsenal’s poor display against Monaco, they have the quality to beat Everton and tighten the grip on a top-four spot.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Everton

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the weekend’s fixtures for the 23rd round of Premier League football. Last time out we got six out of ten predictions right and one correct score. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Hull vs Newcastle (12:45)
Hull were appalling in their last league match where they were thumped by West Ham and their poor form this season continued. Newcastle, meanwhile, have announced that John Carver will stay on until the end of the season – despite not displaying great form under him. Neither side is in great form so a draw looks the most likely result.
Prediction: Hull 1-1 Newcastle

Crystal Palace vs Everton (15:00)
Palace’s magical revival under Alan Pardew continued with an excellent FA Cup victory over Southampton. Everton have really struggled to find their feet so far this campaign but look more solidified at the back than earlier in the season and could return to Merseyside with a point.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton

Liverpool vs West Ham (15:00)
The big headline ahead of this fixture is that Daniel Sturridge is due to return in some capacity. His teammates have started to pick up their form in recent weeks but The Hammers will not be easy opponents to beat. Sam Allardyce has turned his side into a well-oiled machine that plays attractive football and will provide a stern test. The Reds should scrape a win, though.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham

Man United vs Leicester (15:00)
If the reverse fixture of this match is anything to go by then this should be an exciting contest. Leicester stunned Louis van Gaal’s men to win 5-3 at the King Power Stadium. United have struggled to put teams to the sword recently while Leicester have improved but The Red Devils should come out on top.
Prediction: Man United 2-0 Leicester

Stoke vs QPR (15:00)
The Potters marched on in the FA Cup by beating Rochdale and sit in the top half of the Premier League. QPR may be in the relegation zone but they are only one point away from safety. They are still yet to pick up a point on the road this season and it seems unlikely they’ll get one here.
Prediction: Stoke 2-0 QPR

Sunderland vs Burnley (15:00)
Gus Poyet has been criticized recently for Sunderland’s style of play and their lack of goals but he will be hoping that the acquisition of Jermain Defoe can help to change that. Burnley have battled for every point this season and there is every chance that they will fight for another one here.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Burnley

West Brom vs Spurs (15:00)
Tony Pulis appears to have instilled belief back into this West Brom team and they won’t fear anyone. Spurs booked a trip to Wembley to face Chelsea in the League Cup final but their midweek match may have taken it out of them. The Baggies could well earn another vital point towards safety.
Prediction: West Brom 1-1 Spurs

Chelsea vs Man City (17:30)
This is the big match of the weekend and one that City will be desperate not to lose. City have slipped to five points behind the leaders in recent weeks and won’t fancy chasing an eight-point deficit. Jose Mourinho’s side are without Diego Costa through suspension and are likely to be without Cesc Fabregas too. City may just feel they have the edge to win but Mourinho knows how to set his sides up against the top teams and they should get a point.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Man City

Sunday

Arsenal vs Aston Villa (13:30)
Arsenal are in excellent form at the moment and are only one point shy of fourth spot. Villa have made some astute signings this window and Carles Gil looks as if he could be the creative spark that they may need. Having said that, they are playing The Gunners at the wrong time and there will only be one result in this one.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa

Southampton vs Swansea (16:00)
The Saints crashed out of the FA Cup to Crystal Palace, which now has added a little bit of pressure on them to finish in the top four. I said a few weeks ago that Swansea looked slightly fatigued and the sale of Wilfried Bony leaves them looking less effective in attack. Southampton should come out on top.
Prediction: Southampton 2-0 Swansea

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the weekend’s fixtures for the 22nd round of Premier League football. Last time out we got four out of ten predictions right and one correct score. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Aston Villa vs Liverpool (15:00)
Villa are in a real mess at the moment and were fortunate to not lose to Leicester by five or six last weekend. Liverpool, meanwhile, performed well in the first half of their victory over Sunderland with Lazar Markovic finally beginning to demonstrate why they forked out £20m for him. Villa fans are due to launch a protest this weekend over how the club is being run which will only add to the already toxic atmosphere at Villa Park. Another defeat without scoring could really add to Paul Lambert’s woes but it’s hard to see any other outcome.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool

Burnley vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
Burnley will have been disappointed in the manner of their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur to be knocked out of the FA cup but realistically The Clarets will be better served focusing on survival. Crystal Palace’s new boss Alan Pardew got off to the best possible start with their win over Spurs last weekend but this is a more important game in terms of doing damage to their rivals. Burnley are generally strong at home and the honeymoon period may end swiftly for Pardew this weekend.
Prediction: Burnley 2-1 Crystal Palace

Leicester vs Stoke (15:00)
The Foxes are on a decent run of form at the minute but their big problem is their inability to take chances. David Nugent could have scored a hat-trick last weekend against Villa but wasted all his opportunities. Stoke were very poor against Arsenal last weekend but it’s not often they perform poorly in two consecutive games and they can come away from The King Power Stadium with a point.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Stoke

QPR vs Man United (15:00)
There has been a lot of talk surrounding Harry Redknapp’s position at QPR but I still believe he’ll keep them in the Premier League this season, largely due to their home form. United have hit a sticky patch in their season and have slipped to fourth place following their defeat to Southampton. Due to QPR’s strength at home they are well placed to earn a draw.
Prediction: QPR 1-1 Man United

Swansea vs Chelsea (15:00)
The Swans have lost Wilfried Bony and it will be interesting to see how many goals they score without him. I suspect their outlay will decrease significantly. Chelsea are having no such problem and extended their lead at the top to two points – a lead they will be in no mood to relinquish here.
Prediction: Swansea 0-2 Chelsea

Spurs vs Sunderland (15:00)
It was typical of Spurs to beat Chelsea and then lose to Crystal Palace in the following match – they lack consistency. Sunderland performed admirably in the second half when they were down to ten men but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. Jermain Defoe should add firepower to their attack but it’s hard to see him doing any damage against his former club here.
Prediction: Spurs 2-0 Sunderland

Newcastle vs Southampton (17:30)
Newcastle are another team who lack consistency and their lack of manager is hardly ideal. Southampton, however, keep marching on and will hope to maintain their push for a top-four spot. I’m still not convinced that they’ll get it but they should win this one.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Southampton

Sunday

West Ham vs Hull (13:30)
The Hammers have slipped to seventh in recent weeks but are still enjoying an excellent season and should finish inside the top ten. Hull continue to struggle and the supporters have accepted that this relegation battle could last to the end of the season. It’s hard to see anything but a home win.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Hull

Man City vs Arsenal (16:00)
This is the game of the weekend. City dropped points last weekend to Everton and won’t want to give Chelsea any more impetus in the title race, while Arsenal played as well as they have done for a while as they dismantled Stoke. If they can play like that at The Etihad then they will certainly have a chance but City could call upon Sergio Aguero from the start this weekend, which makes a huge difference. This should be an entertaining game but City will most probably come out on top.
Prediction: Man City 3-1 Arsenal

Monday

Everton vs West Brom (20:00)
The Toffees stopped their slide with a good draw against Man City but they have struggled for form all season and Tony Pulis’ side are no pushovers. It was no surprise to see The Baggies win their first match under Pulis and they will be tough to beat under his stewardship. It could be another frustrating evening for Roberto Martinez’s side.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 West Brom

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the weekend’s fixtures for the 21st round of Premier League football. Last time out we got four out of ten predictions right and one correct score. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Sunderland vs Liverpool (12:45)
Sunderland are continually proving themselves to be difficult to beat, although they don’t win enough games. Liverpool slipped up against Leicester in their last match and were very lucky to even get a draw after earning some very dubious penalties. Sunderland have enough about them to get a point.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool

Burnley vs QPR (15:00)
This is a big game for both these teams. A win will do great damage to their relegation rivals and allow the other breathing space. Burnley fought hard for a point against Newcastle while QPR dropped two points against 10-man Swansea. The R’s are yet to pick up a point on the road this season but they will know how important it is not to lose this match and I think they can get a draw.
Prediction: Burnley 1-1 QPR

Chelsea vs Newcastle (15:00)
Chelsea’s remarkable loss to Spurs was completely unexpected and nobody would have thought that they would concede five goals in a single match this season. Newcastle were also involved in a goal fest against Burnley and will have confidence coming into this game having beaten Chelsea earlier in the season. Having said that, Chelsea rarely lose two league matches in a row and normally make a statement to their rivals after defeat. A comfortable home win.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle

Everton vs Man City (15:00)
Everton are close to scooping the prize for most disappointing team of the season and if they continue this form, they could get relegated. I’ve been expecting them to turn things around for a while but they look shot of confidence and are really struggling. City, on the other hand, pulled level with Chelsea at the top of the table and will believe they can regain their title. Everton’s misery will go on.
Prediction: Everton 0-3 Man City

Leicester vs Aston Villa (15:00)
This is another big game at the bottom of the table. Leicester have clawed their way back into contention after appearing dead and buried a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, Villa may be sitting in 12th but they are struggling in front of goal and face a tough run of fixtures against three of last seasons top four in their next three matches. Paul Lambert is coming under increasing pressure from the fans and will be desperate for all three points here. They might be playing Leicester at the wrong time, though, and The Foxes are good value for at least a draw.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Aston Villa

Swansea vs West Ham (15:00)
The Swans have lost top scorer Wilfried Bony to international duty and that will prove a huge miss. There’s a good chance that he has played his last game for Garry Monk’s side and will join Man City in this transfer window. West Ham dropped two points in what should have been a comfortable win against West Brom but they have enough to get a point from this one.
Prediction: Swansea 1-1 West Ham

West Brom vs Hull (15:00)
This is another huge relegation matchup this weekend between two struggling sides. Hull pulled off a good victory against Everton in their last league match, while The Baggies fought hard for a point away at West Ham. Only a point separates the two teams but West Brom have Tony Pulis in charge now who oversaw a comfortable FA Cup victory last weekend and he has a knack of earning good results.
Prediction: West Brom 3-2 Hull

Crystal Palace vs Spurs (17:30)
Alan Pardew takes charge of his first league game against London rivals Spurs who demolished Chelsea in their last match. The Eagles will be up for this game and Selhurst Park should be rocking and I fancy Palace to nick a point.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Spurs

Sunday

Arsenal vs Stoke (13:30)
The Gunners were very poor in their last fixture against Southampton and Wojciech Szczesny is under pressure following a very poor performance and for being fined for smoking in the team’s showers. The Potters did well against Man United and beat Arsenal earlier in the season. Stoke will be confident of attacking Arsenal’s defence but Arsenal are generally strong at home and should have too much for them.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Stoke

Man United vs Southampton (16:00)
This is a battle between two sides who believe that a top-four spot is achievable this season. United have dropped points in recent weeks and the gap between them and their rivals has shrunk. Southampton, on the other hand, have battled back into contention after a poor run of form and Ronald Koeman is confident that they will be fighting at the top of the table for the rest of the season. This could go either way and should be an entertaining game but I’ll sit on the fence and predict a draw.
Prediction: Man United 2-2 Southampton

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the 16th round of Premier League football. Last weekend we got four out of ten predictions right and one correct score. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Burnley vs Southampton (15:00)
Burnley may be in the relegation zone at the moment but in the last few weeks they’ve given their fans great encouragement through their gritty performances. The loss to QPR away may have dampened the mood around Turf Moor slightly but their results at home are what can keep them in the league this season. Southampton are on a three-match run of defeats but they have played strong sides and were a little unfortunate to lose on Monday against Man United. Burnley’s need to get points at home combined with Southampton’s desire to end a losing run may lead to this one ending as a draw.
Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Southampton

Chelsea vs Hull (15:00)
Chelsea may have suffered their first loss of the season last week but they have been gifted the best possible fixture to bounce back. Hull have endured a miserable run of late and have not won since October. They have slipped into the relegation zone and need to stop the rot quickly but they won’t do it at Stamford Bridge.
Prediction: Chelsea 4-0 Hull

Crystal Palace vs Stoke (15:00)
Both these teams are capable of good performances and results and yet they have disappointed their fans on many occasions this season. Palace have outplayed both Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in their last two matches but have only come away with one point while Stoke blew Arsenal away in the first half but have disappointed in some of the fixtures that you would expect them to do better in. This game could go either way but Stoke will fancy their chances of returning from Selhurst Park with a point.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Stoke

Leicester vs Man City (15:00)
Leicester’s miserable run of form went from bad to worse by losing to relegation rivals Aston Villa and they are now four points away from QPR who lie just above the drop zone. Kasper Schmeichel’s injury is another body blow to their survival hopes as he has been their most consistent performer this season. City, meanwhile, are starting to look like genuine title contenders and have narrowed the gap at the top of the table to just three points. It’s hard to make a case for anything other than a victory for Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
Prediction: Leicester 0-3 Man City

Sunderland vs West Ham (15:00)
Sunderland have won fewer games (two) than any other team in the division apart from the sides in the relegation zone and are proving to be the draw specialists in the league. West Ham are flying high in fourth but need to be careful not to get carried away and complacent. Sunderland know how to grind out a result and The Hammers may have to settle for a point.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 West Ham

West Brom vs Aston Villa (15:00)
The Baggies are slowly sliding down the table and are five points behind their Midlands rivals before the derby. Villa have climbed up the table with back-to-back victories and could welcome both Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar back this weekend. Both of the fixtures between these teams were brilliant spectacles last season and a high-scoring and hotly contested derby should be on the cards again.
Prediction: West Brom 2-2 Aston Villa

Arsenal vs Newcastle (17:30)
The Gunners were very poor in the first half against Stoke last weekend and need to improve defensively. It is hard to predict against Newcastle at the moment given their excellent form and they deserve great credit for being the first team to beat Jose Mourinho’s men this season. Having said that, Arsenal earned qualification for the Champions League this week with another good win and Aaron Ramsey looks as if he could return to his best form over the crucial Christmas period. It will be tight but Arsenal should just edge it.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle

Sunday

Man United vs Liverpool (13:30)
United played very poorly but managed to win against Southampton on Monday night – a trait that has been missing around Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. Liverpool’s season took another turn for the worse after their Champions League exit and other teams in the division have worked Brendan Rodgers’ team out. United are in much better form than their bitter rivals and they will see this as a good chance to add further distance between themselves and their top-four rivals.
Prediction: Man United 2-1 Liverpool

Swansea vs Spurs (16:00)
Swansea had their first really poor game of the season last weekend but Garry Monk can generally be delighted with his team this season. Spurs are still yet to get going this season and Pochettino has not been as much of a success as they would have liked. Spurs also lost out on top spot in their Europa League group with defeat against Besiktas on Thursday night. A draw seems a likely result.
Prediction: Swansea 1-1 Spurs

Monday

Everton vs QPR
Everton are another team that have been sussed out this season and their defence has not been as resolute as in previous seasons. QPR have started to look solid at home but have been very poor on their travels this campaign. Everton are in need of a win to boost them up the table and they should get it here.
Prediction: Everton 3-1 QPR

 

 

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@0riginalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the 12th weekend of Premier League football. Last weekend we got four out of ten predictions correct and two correct scores. Will we do better this week?

Saturday

Chelsea vs West Brom (15:00)
While the rest of the league has been unpredictable, Chelsea have consistently been the team to perform well week in week out. West Brom were disappointed with their home loss to Newcastle and it’s a stretch of the imagination to see them returning to winning ways here. This should be a comfortable win for Chelsea.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 West Brom

Everton vs West Ham (15:00)
Both sides slipped up to draw against weaker opposition last weekend and Everton, in particular, will be keen to return to winning ways and put a run together to climb up the table. West Ham have made a brilliant start to the season and will be competitive against every team they play against but I fancy Everton to narrowly claim victory.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 West Ham

Leicester vs Sunderland (15:00)
Leicester have had a very poor run of form and find themselves in the relegation zone. Sunderland have recovered from their string of high-profile defensive errors to earn four points in their last two matches. Nevertheless, I expect these teams to be near to the bottom of the table at the end of the season and both sides will be keen to avoid defeat to relegation rivals.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Sunderland

Man City vs Swansea (15:00)
City have been very poor this season and look short of confidence but they still have an abundance of quality in their squad and one good result could kick-start their season. Swansea recorded an excellent win over Arsenal last weekend and have been one of the success stories of the season. For Garry Monk’s side to only be three points behind City before this match is testament to their wonderful form this campaign. This should be a good game but City need to win and they should find away past Monk’s team.
Prediction: Man City 2-1 Swansea

Newcastle vs QPR (15:00)
For Alan Pardew’s side to be level on points with Manchester United and one point behind Arsenal after their terrible start to the season is nothing short of incredible and Pardew deserves great credit. QPR are also starting to perform to Premier League level and look far more competitive. QPR’s recent improvement means that this should be a more interesting game but Newcastle are playing well enough to secure another victory.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 QPR

Stoke vs Burnley (15:00)
Stoke took advantage of Spurs’ problems last weekend to win and climb into the top half of the table. Burnley also recorded their first win of the season and that will be a huge weight off Sean Dyche’s shoulders. They are working hard for each other and, whilst they may lack the quality to survive, they will make it difficult for other teams to beat them. Stoke, however, are only three points away from the top four and their fans will expect them to climb higher up the table after this one.
Prediction: Stoke 1-0 Burnley

Arsenal vs Man United (17:30)
Arsenal put in another disappointing display last weekend and their fans must be desperately frustrated that their side have not taken advantage of their rivals’ poor starts to the season. Arsenal are one of the most settled sides in the league and after their success last season it was expected that they could kick on but they seem to have gone backwards. United are also not performing to the best of their ability and are crippled by several injuries to their squad. Having said that, they did not add enough bulk to their squad in key areas in the summer and they are suffering because of it. Neither side is defending particularly well but both teams can score and it should be an entertaining, high-scoring draw.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Man United

Sunday

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (13:30)
Palace have been slowly sliding under Neil Warnock and there are serious concerns over their ability to survive this season. Fortunately for them, Liverpool arrive in terrible form and they are struggling to score goals. Palace put in a resolute display against United last weekend and if they put in a similar performance this weekend then Liverpool won’t have enough firepower to find a win.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Liverpool

Hull City vs Spurs (16:00)
Hull performed very poorly last weekend and they are another side who are struggling to score goals. Spurs are also in very poor form and their only win for a month was against Aston Villa who were down to ten men. Pressure will start to mount on Pochettino if results aren’t turned around soon but they are due a win and being away from home should help them.
Prediction: Hull 1-2 Spurs

Monday

Aston Villa vs Southampton (20:00)
Villa stopped the rot last weekend with a good draw away at in-form West Ham but without Christian Benteke they lack a serious goal threat. Southampton have been the best side in the league, Chelsea aside, and there are not enough superlatives to throw towards Ronald Koeman and his team. Villa need the big Belgian back up front before they can improve their performances and a comfortable win for The Saints is on the cards.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Southampton

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@Originalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the eighth weekend of Premier League football. Last weekend we got five out of ten predictions correct and one correct score. Will we do better this week? 

Man City vs Spurs (12:45)
City have negotiated two tough away trips and we all know that they can go several gears higher against bigger teams. Unfortunately for Spurs, they often feel the full force of City’s might. The London club have a very poor record against the bigger sides and it’s hard to see that changing at The Etihad.
Prediction: Man City 3-1 Spurs

Arsenal vs Hull (15:00)
Arsenal suddenly look a bit depleted at right-back with Calum Chambers suspended and Mathieu Debuchy out injured so Hull will look to take advantage of that. Having said that, Arsenal still have a lot going forward and should be able to pick off The Tigers.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Hull

Burnley vs West Ham (15:00)
Burnley are really struggling for goals but secured an important draw with Leicester next weekend. They will desperately need to secure a win somewhere before they get cut adrift along with Newcastle and QPR but West Ham have shown excellent recent form. Sam Allardyce has done a terrific job in galvanising his team’s style and they should continue their good run with another win here.
Prediction: Burnley 0-1 West Ham

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (15:00)
Palace have done pretty well under Neil Warnock, despite sitting in a lowly position in the league, but Chelsea look unstoppable at the moment. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they will remain unbeaten all season but they will certainly take some beating. Mourinho’s teams have a habit of grounding out away victories and whilst Palace will give them a game, a Chelsea win is very likely.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea

Everton vs Aston Villa (15:00)
Everton have had a dreadful start to the season and will need to pick up points quickly to rise up the table. Villa, on the other hand, are coming to the end of one of the worst runs of fixtures any fixture machine could have thrown out and, although they have lost three on the spin without scoring, they have performed admirably against the big sides. Fabian Delph’s injury is a devastating blow, however, and Everton will be confident of recording a win here.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 Aston Villa 

Newcastle vs Leicester (15:00)
Leicester have made an excellent start to the season but they will have been disappointed to let their lead slip against Burnley last weekend. Newcastle, meanwhile, have made a terrible start and if they don’t pick up a result here, Pardew could be heading for the exit door. Newcastle have shown some good battling qualities to fight back in recent games but the crowd will get on their back at home if they don’t take the initiative and I fancy Leicester to hit them on the break and snatch a victory.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Leicester

Southampton vs Sunderland (15:00)
Southampton have been a revelation under Koeman and the manager deservedly won the manager of the month award for September. Sunderland had a good result last weekend and are proving tough to beat but Southampton should have too much for them.
Prediction: Southampton 3-0 Sunderland 

QPR vs Liverpool (13:00)
The focus of this game will be on Raheem Sterling who was left out of England’s starting line up citing tiredness and returns to play against his childhood club. QPR have been one of the worst teams in the division this season and currently deserve to be languishing at the bottom of the table. This is a good game for Sterling to return to top form and Liverpool should edge victory.
Prediction: QPR 1-2 Liverpool

Stoke vs Swansea (16:00)

Stoke will be disappointed with how they’ve began the campaign and will be keen to regain the home form that has struck fear into sides for so many years. Swansea will be delighted with their start and yet there are only three points between these sides, which demonstrates the tight nature of the Premier League. Stoke need to start performing at home and they should get a point here.
Prediction: Stoke 1-1 Swansea

West Brom vs Man United (20:00)
Judging by recent United matches, this should be an excellent game. The Red Devils have an attack that can score against any team but sadly their defence does not match. Saido Berahino is performing ably for The Baggies and will fancy his chances of adding to his tally against United’s shaky back line. Having said that, United should have far too much going forward and this should be a comfortable victory.
Prediction: West Brom 1-4 Man United

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@Originalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the seventh weekend of Premier League football. Last weekend we got seven out of ten predictions correct and one correct score. Will we do better this week? 

Saturday

Hull vs Crystal Palace (15:00)
Crystal Palace lie seven places above Hull despite there only being two points between them. Warnock has steadied the ship extremely well during his brief time at the helm of the club and deserves great credit. Hull are without a win since the opening day of the season, although they have scored six goals in their last three matches. Steve Bruce will be concerned at the amount of goals they’re conceding and will hope to add more solidity. This should be a tight game and a draw seems the most probable result.
Prediction: Hull 1-1 Crystal Palace

Leicester vs Burnley (15:00)
Leicester’s brilliant start to the season stuttered as they were comfortably beaten by Crystal Palace. Burnley, meanwhile, are without a goal since the their first match of the season and Sean Dyche will be concerned at their lack of firepower. Conceding four goals to West Brom last weekend can only be viewed as a disaster. It’s hard to see anything other than a Leicester win in this one.
Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Burnley

Liverpool vs West Brom (15:00)
Liverpool are in terrible form and look toothless going forward. Whilst Sturridge was out injured, they lacked any runners in behind the opposition defence and attacked with no pace going forward making themselves very easy to defend against. The Baggies produced an excellent result last weekend and confidence will be high in their camp. However, with Sturridge set to return, Liverpool should stop the rot.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 West Brom

Sunderland vs Stoke (15:00)
Sunderland are proving tough to beat but, equally, are yet to win a match. The may have only lost once this season but their lack of goals are proving to be a real concern for Gus Poyet as they hover just above the relegation zone. Stoke have recovered from their poor start and will be confident of returning from the Stadium of Light with at least a point.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Stoke

Swansea vs Newcastle (15:00)
The future of Alan Pardew will continue to be under intense scrutiny until Newcastle can produce a convincing victory and that is unlikely to happen in this fixture. The Swans have made a fantastic start to the season and Garry Monk is performing excellently in his managerial role. The Magpies need three points desperately but a convincing Swansea victory should be on the cards.
Prediction: Swansea 3-1 Newcastle

Aston Villa vs Man City (17.30)
Villa have now conceded six goals in their last two matches and they are struggling against the top sides. Christian Benteke is set to return to the bench this weekend and that will provide a massive boost to the Midlands club who currently lack ideas going forward. City dropped vital points against Roma in midweek and could easily have lost the match. The system that Pellegrini is trying to play at the moment isn’t working and their midfield is being overrun more often than not. Fortunately for them, they’re catching Villa at a good time and should return from Villa Park with all three points.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Man City

Sunday

Man United vs Everton (12:00)
This should be a fascinating match between two sides who are very shaky at the back. Everton have had a dreadful start to the season and only a late wondergoal from Phil Jagielka saved them from defeat to their bitter rivals Liverpool. They also faced a midweek trip to Russia that will add to their fatigue. United will score goals but there are still lingering doubts over their defensive capabilities. Fortunately for van Gaal, many of their rivals for the top four have made poor starts and they already find themselves ahead of Everton, Liverpool and Spurs. This should be a high-scoring fixture and United should be able to secure the win.
Prediction: Man United 4-2 Everton

Chelsea vs Arsenal (14:05)
This is a clash between two of the sides I firmly expect to finish in the top four this season. Having said that, only one of them can realistically win the title. There are no prizes for guessing which side are the odds-on favourite to win the league. Jose Mourinho’s side are a very efficient team who look a class above every other team in the division. Arsenal still have their defensive frailties and Chelsea are well equipped to expose them, although it won’t be such a heavy defeat as last season for The Gunners.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal

Spurs vs Southampton (14:05)
Mauricio Pochettino welcomes his former club to White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon, which should add extra spice to an already tasty clash. Southampton are the form team in the league and are sitting pretty in second place in the league. Ronald Koeman has arguably turned them to an even stronger force than last season and Pochettino will be dreading the visit of his former side. Spurs are yet to really get going in the league and they could drop more points at home here.
Prediction: Spurs 1-1 Southampton

West Ham vs QPR (16:15)
The final match of the weekend sees a clash between two London clubs. The Hammers have had a decent enough start to the league and on their day look capable of causing any side problems. QPR are another side who are struggling for goals and are conceding too many as well. Not a good combination. West Ham should have too much for their London counterparts.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 QPR

 

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@Originalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the sixth weekend of Premier League football. Last weekend we got five out of ten predictions correct and one correct score. Will we do better this week? 

Saturday

Liverpool vs Everton (12:45)
Both of these sides have suffered very poor starts to the season by their standards. Liverpool are enduring a terrible run of form. They were fortunate to beat Ludogrets Razgrad in the Champions League after a moment of lunacy from the opposition’s goalkeeper, they’ve suffered back-to-back losses in the league and required penalties to knock out Championship opposition in the League Cup. Other teams have worked out how to play against them and Steven Gerrard is a passenger at the moment who is being too easily marked out of the game. Everton, on the other hand, have been appalling at the back – similarly to Liverpool – and have lost to sides that they should really be beating. With both sides struggling at the back so much, this should be a high scoring and entertaining match.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Everton

Chelsea vs Aston Villa (15:00)
Chelsea may have dropped points at The Etihad last weekend but they remain the favourites to lift the trophy this season. Their title rivals have all struggled to hit top gear but they are ruthlessly dispatching weaker sides in the division. Villa have made a good start and, despite losing to Arsenal last weekend, have already earned more points out of their horror run, that sees them facing last season’s top five, than many would have expected so can play without pressure. Chelsea should emerge victorious.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa

Crystal Palace vs Leicester (15:00)
Neil Warnock masterminded an excellent win for his side against Everton, despite being under the cosh for long periods of the match. Whilst they were largely gifted goals from Everton’s back five, they capitalised on those mistakes and were good value for their win. Meanwhile, Leicester smashed five past Man United and tore them apart in the second half. The speed at which The Foxes attack and can hit teams on the break is frightening and no side in the league will want to face them at the minute. The Foxes should have enough to see off The Eagles.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Leicester

Hull vs Man City (15:00)
Steve Bruce’s side have put in a mixed range of performances and are yet to fully click at the back. Letting a two goal lead slip against a struggling Newcastle side was particularly disappointing. City, on the other hand, showed great resolve to get a point against Chelsea and they have kept themselves within touching distance of the table-toppers. Pellegrini’s men know that they can’t afford to slip up again and must keep the pressure up on Mourinho’s men.
Prediction: Hull 0-3 Man City

Man Utd vs West Ham (15:00)
Louis van Gaal watched on in utter disbelief last weekend as Leicester picked off his side. This must be the worst defence in United’s history and they have to tighten up at the back if they are to be successful this season. The saving grace for van Gaal and his side is that other top-four contenders are currently struggling too and they have not taken full advantage of their failings. West Ham look very organised and produced a wonderful performance to beat Liverpool last weekend. They are playing with attacking flair and confidence and Sam Allardyce deserves great credit for his summer dealings. They will be confident of scoring goals against this poor United defence, however, keeping the likes of Di Maria, Falcao, Rooney and van Persie at bay remains a terrifying prospect for any defence. United should bounce back.
Prediction: Man Utd 3-2 West Ham

Southampton vs QPR (15:00)
Ronald Koeman’s side have been a revelation this season and have demonstrated how important it is to be united as a team regardless of the calibre of players who leave. Whilst their former stars struggle at their supposed greener pastures, Koeman’s team find themselves sitting pretty in second place. QPR, on the other hand, have struggled to find a team identity this season and they need to find a level of consistency to their performances. Southampton should run out comfortable winners.
Prediction: Southampton 4-1 QPR

Sunderland vs Swansea (15:00)
Swansea have suffered back-to-back losses against the top two sides in the league but Garry Monk will be delighted nonetheless with the start they’ve made. Wilfried Bony got himself stupidly sent off last weekend, which ruined their chances against a strong Southampton side. Despite his red card, he has served his ban by missing their midweek League Cup match; another reason that clubs should aim to stay in the competition. Sunderland are hanging perilously close to the drop zone and are in real need of a confidence boosting win. Swansea will have enough to deny The Black Cats all three points.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Swansea

Arsenal vs Spurs (17:30)
This is the second local derby of the weekend and it promises to be an intriguing encounter. Whilst Arsenal have not played particularly well, they are still unbeaten in the league and their performance improved dramatically against Aston Villa at the weekend – although the Villans were suffering from a bug. It was the same old story at White Hart Lane, however, as they dropped points against weaker opposition in the form of West Brom. Spurs are looking to avoid their third straight loss in the league but The Gunners should have too much for them.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs

Sunday

West Brom vs Burnley (16:00)
This is an early relegation battle and one that both sides will be desperate to win. The Baggies performance improved greatly against Spurs as they came away from White Hart Lane with a surprise victory and the addition of Joleon Lescott at the back really added solidity to their defence. Burnley have also looked fairly sturdy at the back and are keeping clean sheets, which is important at this level. The biggest problem both these sides face is sticking the ball in the back of the net and both seem to struggle for firepower. Both sides will know how important a victory is here and may be more adventurous, however, it is vital that neither side loses this game so a draw is the more likely outcome.
Prediction: West Brom 1-1 Burnley

Monday

Stoke vs Newcastle (20:00)
Had Stoke not shocked Manchester City, this would be a clash between the bottom two sides in the league. Stoke have been very disappointing thus far in the campaign and need to rediscover their strong home form. Newcastle have also been extremely poor this season and are yet to register a victory. Alan Pardew’s job was saved by a Papisse Cisse-inspired comeback last weekend, however, pressure remains on him to deliver results. A bad performance and result here could lead to the end of Pardew’s reign and Stoke should nick it.
Prediction: Stoke 2-1 Newcastle

Weekend Preview and Predictions

@Originalfooty takes a look at the fixtures for the fifth weekend of Premier League football. Last weekend we got five out of ten predictions correct and one correct score. Will we do better this week? 

Saturday

QPR vs Stoke (12:45)
Both these sides have made very poor starts to the campaign. QPR have the worst goal difference in the league and have lost three of their opening four matches. Stoke, on the other hand, have had what on paper looked like a relatively easy start and only a shock win over Manchester City has saved them from being glued to the bottom of the table. They will be desperate to get a win against one of the sides around them but a draw seems more likely here.
Prediction: QPR 1-1 Stoke

Aston Villa vs Arsenal (15:00)
Villa have been one of the best sides in the league to date and put in a magnificently gritty performance to earn a victory at Anfield last weekend. Arsenal, meanwhile, have made an indifferent start to the campaign and were battered by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. However, they still remain undefeated in the league. There are serious concerns over Arsenal’s defence but they are always a threat going forward and should bounce back against Paul Lambert’s side.
Prediction: Villa 1-2 Arsenal

Burnley vs Sunderland (15:00)
Burnley were agonisingly close to sealing their first league victory of the season against Crystal Palace and saw a late penalty wonderfully saved by Julian Speroni. They are proving to be no pushovers though and can take heart from their start. Sunderland have started decently enough and have earned draws against Spurs and Manchester United but they look a little toothless in attack. A low scoring draw seems the most likely outcome in this one.
Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Sunderland

Newcastle vs Hull (15:00)
Newcastle have won the award for worst performance of the season so far with their dismal showing against Southampton and Alan Pardew is under huge pressure to get a result here. Hull have made an okay start to the season and will fancy their chances of picking up at least a point here. Pardew will probably need a win to keep his job but it’s hard to see them getting it.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Hull

Swansea vs Southampton (15:00)
This could be one of the games of the weekend as two sides who have played some excellent football go head to head. Swansea’s winning streak was brought to an end by Chelsea last weekend whilst Southampton mauled Alan Pardew’s hapless Newcastle side. Both these sides were tipped to struggle this season due to their manager’s lack of experience in the league and, in Southampton’s case, a mass exodus of their playing staff. However, both sides and managers deserve immense praise for their start and this is a tough game to call. It should be a game full of goals and a great one for the neutral.
Prediction: Swansea 2-2 Southampton

West Ham vs Liverpool (17:30)
West Ham have had a decent start to the season and fought back well to draw against Hull on Monday night. Liverpool, on the other hand, dropped points against Villa at the weekend when trying to rotate their squad. They were very easy to defend against in the absence of Sterling and Sturridge. Fortunately for Liverpool, West Ham aren’t as solid as Villa are at the moment and an away win is on the cards.
Prediction: West Ham 1-3 Liverpool

Sunday

Leicester vs Manchester United (13:30)
What a start to the season Leicester have made. They have been a brilliant addition to the league and have secured some fantastic results. Leonardo Ulloa is proving to be a superb buy and will cause this weak Manchester United defence a lot of problems. United, however, managed a good result and performance themselves last weekend, albeit against a very poor QPR side, but there are still questions to be answered at the back. Leicester won’t be afraid here and can continue their brilliant campaign.
Prediction: Leicester 2-2 Manchester United

Spurs vs West Brom (13:30)
Spurs threw away three points against Sunderland last weekend and were guilty of not taking several great chances in the second half. They did play well though and Pochettino can be encouraged, on the whole, by his sides performances. At the other end of the scale, The Baggies look like a very average side and they will struggle to score against this Spurs team. Don’t be surprised to see Alan Irvine’s team rooted to the bottom of the league after this weekend.
Prediction: Spurs 3-0 West Brom

Everton vs Crystal Palace (16:00)
The Toffees finally got off the mark with an away win at West Brom and that should kick start Roberto Martinez and his side’s season. Palace are still finding their feet under Neil Warnock and were very grateful to Julian Speroni and his penalty save to avoid defeat last weekend. This should be a fairly routine win for Everton.
Prediction: Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace

Man City vs Chelsea (16:00)
This is a clash between the two sides most people believe will win the league this season. City have made a fairly poor start by their lofty standards and are without a win in their last three matches after defeat in Munich. Chelsea, on the other hand, have been magnificent in the league but a midweek home draw with Schalke demonstrated their reliance on Diego Costa. Mourinho ended City’s fantastic run at home last season but he would be happy with a draw to maintain the early five-point gap.
Prediction: Man City 1-1 Chelsea