Somehow in last week’s terrible tips I correctly predicted three scores, so maybe they’re not so terrible after all. The Premier League is back for another weekend, so here are my best tips for the games once again.
Southampton vs Leicester
Southampton have won just one point at home so far this season and come up against a Leicester side flying high in third place. The Saints are in desperate need of a win as they currently sit 17th and the problem for Leicester is due to their high standing, they have become a bit of a scalp for smaller teams. Southampton will raise their game and Danny Ings will get his standard goal.
Southampton 1-0 Leicester
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Villa fans may be slightly more confident about this one after their recent wins. They got a morale-boosting victory over Brighton last week, whereas City got back to winning ways against Palace. There may be a bit of nervousness from the Champions after their last Premier League home game and if Villa can nick the first goal then this game could get very interesting. City played in midweek in the Champions League and were excellent but come up against a fresh Villa side in decent form.
Manchester City 1-3 Aston Villa
Brighton vs Everton
After a promising start Brighton have fallen away somewhat but thrashed a struggling Spurs side in their last home game. Everton meanwhile picked up their first win in a while to move out of the relegation zone last weekend, meaning just one place separates these sides. Marco Silva’s side may have won their last game quite convincingly, but they don’t travel well and Brighton are good at home. Everton to lose and Silva to be sacked after the game.
Brighton 2-1 Everton
Watford vs Bournemouth
Watford were unlucky to not pick up their first win of the season against Spurs last weekend, with two VAR decisions going harshly against them. Bournemouth sit 10th after a mixed start but they do well on the road due to their excellent counter-attacking football. Watford may eye this game for a potential first win, but I think their defence will struggle to cope with the likes of Wilson and Fraser.
Watford 2-4 Bournemouth
West Ham vs Sheffield United
I don’t think many people would have predicted Sheffield United to be in the top half after nine games of the season, but here they are. Monday night saw them see off Arsenal 1-0 to move up to 9th in the table. West Ham meanwhile have come unstuck after a good start, following consecutive defeats to Palace and Everton. The Blades are joint with Liverpool in only having conceded seven goals so far this term, so West Ham will struggle to score. I think this will go to the side in form.
West Ham 0-2 Sheffield United
Burnley vs Chelsea
Saturday evening’s game sees Burnley take on Chelsea at Turf Moor. Burnley are 8th after an excellent start, whereas Chelsea occupy 4th following an impressive opening nine games under new boss Frank Lampard. However, Chelsea’s squad is young, and they will be tired following their trip to Ajax in midweek. Burnley (excuse the cliché) is no easy place to go and they will be aggressive against this young Chelsea team.
Burnley 1-0 Chelsea
Newcastle vs Wolves
Newcastle currently sit 18th but have been much improved in their last two games, beating fellow relegation candidates Manchester United and narrowly losing out to Chelsea. Wolves meanwhile took a while to get going but are now unbeaten in three. Neither side will want to lose this, so I predict a boring 0-0.
Newcastle 0-0 Wolves
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Arsenal slipped down to 5th after their defeat to Sheffield United on Monday, with Sunday’s visitors Crystal Palace just one place behind them in 6th after an excellent start. The Gunners nearly came unstuck in the Europa League on Thursday and relied on two free-kicks from Nicolas Pepe to win the game. I think that will give him a massive confidence boost and he will start scoring for fun, but not against Palace because there is no denying that they are away day specialists.
Arsenal 1-2 Palace
Liverpool vs Spurs
For some reason Spurs fans were thinking that their midweek win against Red Star Belgrade means they’re back in form, when in reality it’s just papering over the cracks. They couldn’t have asked for a harder game to prove that and I think Liverpool will have too much for this out of sorts Spurs defence. Hugo Lloris might be glad he’s missing this one.
Liverpool 4-1 Spurs
Norwich vs Manchester United
Norwich sit bottom of the league following their injury-hit run, with their only win in recent times against Manchester City. United finally won a game in midweek, winning 1-0 at Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League; scoring a penalty with their one shot on target. That wouldn’t fill me with confidence if I was a United fan, but I think they will manage to get past this disjointed Norwich side, but don’t expect a free-flowing attacking display.
Norwich 0-1 Manchester United
