Following last weekend when I got 3 out of 10 resultpredictions correct, a good return for me, I have decided to put a (very) smallwager on all my predictions this weekend, so you can be sure that none of thesewill be correct, here they are anyway.
Manchester United v Arsenal
See Big Game Preview.
Fulham v Everton
The last three games Everton have played have been draws, twoof Fulham’s last three have also been draws, the two teams have started theseason well and lie very close in the table (Everton in 5th andFulham in 7th) and the team who is slightly higher is the away team.So definitely a draw right? Not what I’ve gone for, this is possibly why I’mnot good at betting. Following Steven Pienaar’s one match suspension Evertonhave their first eleven fit, apart from, arguably, Kevin Mirallas who is amaybe out with an ankle injury. This, in my opinion, will be too much for aFulham team who haven’t had any good results against any ‘good’ teams yet thisseason. 1-2
Norwichv Stoke
Not exactly the kind of game you look to for the PremierLeague’s high level of football, however often the kind of game that can giveus a surprise on MOTD. It’s not looking promising though, Stoke have drawn anastonishing 6 out of 9 games so far this season and Norwich have only managedone win. The downside of Stoke’s stoutness at the Britannia is that their awayform is usually correspondingly dreadful, as shown by managing only 17 pointsfrom a possible 57 last season. For this reason I fancy Norwich to get theirsecond win of the season, it won’t be easy though and the Canaries will have tobe on top form to pull off my prediction. 2-1
Sunderlandv Aston Villa
Martin O’Neill, for the first time, welcomes the team heguided to three consecutive 6th place finishes to the Stadium ofLight. Both of these teams would like to be doing better in the league thisseason, each sitting one place below where they finished last season and bothwith only one win so far. However, Sunderland have by far the better claim towin this match, being unbeaten at home and with Aston Villa still without anaway win in five attempts. Look for Steven Fletcher to continue his goodearly-season form. 3-1
Swanseav Chelsea
It is very difficult to see the Swans getting anything out ofthis game at all, with Chelsea riding high after their League Cup victoryagainst Manchester United and simultaneously still smarting from the injusticesof the previous weekend against the same opponents. I should imagine that DiMatteo will line up the same way as he did last Sunday with the possibleexception of Ashley Cole who is 50/50 with an ankle injury. Despite sitting in11th position the Swans have only won one of their last 7 games andlook to provide little opposition to top of the table opponents. However, theteam from Wales did manage to pull off a 1-1 draw last season in this fixtureso we mustn’t rule anything out. Despite this sliver of hope I’m still going togo for an way win. 0-2
Tottenhamv Wigan
Roberto Martinez’s boys will be looking to carry some confidenceinto this game after an impressive win last weekend against West Ham. HoweverTottenham have been quietly amassing points and find themselves in fourth placewith 5 wins from the last 6. Because of this, and the self-assuredness it willbring, I really can’t see any other result than a home win. There are no reallyoutstanding individual performers in the Spurs side at present but it’s theteam performances which have been getting the Lilywhites their wins, which willbe of great comfort to AVB who saw his first three games wield very little interms of teamwork from a team who lost big names in Modric and Van der Vaart.Sorry Wigan fans but there is only one winner here. 3-1
West Hamv Man City
A tough home game for the Hammers here, who, so far, havefound Upton park a happy hunting ground so far this season with 3 wins, a drawagainst Sunderland and a defeat against Arsenal from 5 home games. This fact isnot likely to help them against Manchester City though, one of only two teams toremain unbeaten in the Football League. The Citizens are on a four game winningstreak, the best at present in the Premier League, and will be confident ofcontinuing this against the new promoted West Ham. The only ray of hope for theIrons is that, despite constantly winning, City aren’t winning in style, ifWest Ham can get an early goal and defend bravely they will give themselves agood chance of coming out of this with at least a point. All that being said I’vegone for a win for Mancini’s boys in blue. 0-2
QPR vReading
Both teams are without a win so far this season and will beseeing this game as an opportunity to get off the mark in the ‘W’ column. QPR managerMark Hughes will be desperate to get off the bottom in order to save his jobmore than anything else, he received the ‘vote of confidence’ from owner TonyFernandes quite early on in the season; it’s never good when you chairman feelsthe need to step out in your defence before you’re even played 10 games in thecampaign. Reading boss Brian McDermott was openly critical of his team’smidweek collapse against Arsenal in the League Cup saying it was ‘worrying.’While this is true the League Cup is not the league, no matter how seriouslyyou’re taking it. Despite the fact that both teams are yet to win I don’t seethis being a draw and both teams’ poor defensive records should make it ahigh-scorer. Home win, just about. 3-2
Liverpoolv Newcastle
An absolute classic down the years, this game is still one tolook forward to. In the 90s it was always a difficult one to predict, then inthe 00s when Liverpool became one of the top 4, and Newcastle didn’t, Liverpoolwon more often than not (12 wins 3 draws and 4 losses). But here we are in thenext decade (I don’t know what to call it) and Liverpool and Newcastle seem tobe once again on an even keel, funny how these things come round full circle.Both teams won their home games against each other by two goals last season andneither has had a good start to this season. However you always have to fancyLiverpool in front of the Kop and after Liverpool’s perceived injustices last weekendthey will be looking for some catharsis against a Newcastle team who just aboutstruggled to victory against West Brom. 3-1
WestBrom v Southampton
Monday night football comes to us from the Hawthorns thisweek as the Baggies face struggling Southampton. West Brom will still befeeling the disappointment of last weekend’s last-minute defeat againstNewcastle and will be looking to make amends against a Southampton team who whohave 1 point from the last four games and no points away from home. I am reallystruggling to find any hope for Southampton, no matter how slim. West Brom havestarted this season well and find themselves in 8th position and despiteonly getting 1 win from the last 4 games they will really fancy themselves towin this next one. So do I. 3-1
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