Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 13

TUESDAY:

WOLVES V CHELSEA

Wolves' defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday really showed how much they're missing talisman Raul Jimenez. They had a lot of chances in the game but didn't take any and if Jimenez was on the pitch, he might've taken one or two of them. Fabio Silva looked bright at times on his first Premier League start and had a few chances himself including an overhead kick which was saved by Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez. That defeat dropped Wolves into the bottom half of the table and they have some tough games coming up with Burnley, Spurs and Man United coming up after this tricky one. They'll want a win from at least one of those games so they don't drop further down the table.

Chelsea missed a big opportunity on Saturday as they were beaten by Everton because a win would've seen them go top. It was a frustrating defeat for them because Everton blocked pretty much every shot they had in the game and the blues could not find a way past their rigid backline. They missed Hakim Ziyech in that game because he has the ability to open up a defence and Chelsea missed that kind of player against Everton on Saturday. They'll happy that Spurs and Liverpool didn't win their games on Sunday, but they'll still be disappointed that they lost and they'll want to return to winning ways in this one so they can get back in contention for a potential title challenge.

I'm going for a Chelsea win in this one because I still think Wolves will struggle for goals whilst Jimenez is out. Chelsea may be without Ziyech for this one, but they still have good players in forward areas who can win them a game.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MAN CITY V WEST BROM

City were looking more like themselves prior to their dull display in the Manchester Derby on Saturday. The best chance they had in that game was through Riyad Mahrez when his shot was saved by David De Gea after waiting a bit too long to take the shot. They really missed Sergio Aguero in the Derby and they've missed him all season because goals have been City's main problem this season. Jesus is capable of stepping up, but he's not as clinical as Aguero. They're looking better defensively, but going forward they're not taking their chances like they have been in the last three seasons and Pep Guardiola will want to sort that out soon.

West Brom have conceded more goals than any other team in the league this season with 25 and have only scored 9 goals all season which is also a worry for manager Slaven Bilic. They missed Matheus Pereira against Newcastle due to suspension and they really could do with him for this one because of what he offers their team going forward and how influential he was last season during their promotion campaign. This one will be a free hit for the Baggies as it is against Man City but Slaven Bilic will want a good performance from his team so they can something to build on for their next game.

I think this one will be a City win because they have more quality than West Brom and this will be a game where they'll play like they normally do. The Baggies have been poor away from home this season and have conceded a lot of goals which will be why I think City will give them a hiding.

PREDICTION: 5-0

WEDNESDAY:

ARSENAL V SOUTHAMPTON

Arsenal simply have to win this one. Their home form this season has been disastrous at best because they've lost their last four at home which has seen them sink down to 15th in the table. I don't know why Granit Xhaka did what he did to get himself sent off against Burnley on Sunday and I can't believe he's still at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta was supposed to move on the under performing players from the end of Arsene Wenger's reign the moment he walked through the door and he hasn't done that with players like Xhaka and Mustafi still at the club when pretty much all Arsenal fans wanted those players out of the door the moment Arteta arrived at the club. He has brought in his own players, but the underperformers from the late years of Wengers' reign and Unai Emery's reign are still there and have no improved.

Southampton are looking like a really good team at the minute hence why they're 4th in the table. Having Danny Ings back is huge for them because of what he offers plus they're looking solid in midfield and defence. Yannick Vestergaard in particular has been standing out and looks like the player that the Saints havn't had since Virgil Van Dijk left them. He's good in both boxes because of his height and he's also good with the ball at his feet which he showed against Sheffield United on Sunday by playing a through ball into the strikers which they didn't get on the end of. Its strange to think that Southampton were beaten 9-0 by Leicester over a year ago because of where they are in the league. That memory has clearly been forgotten by the players and you can see it by the way they've been playing this season.

I think this one will be a Southampton win because of Arsenal poor home form. I can't see the Gunners score a goal at the minute whereas for Southampton, I see goals in their team. They look like a more organised and well drilled team than Arsenal do at the minute and that is why they'll come away with a win in this one.

PREDICTION: 0-2

LEEDS V NEWCASTLE

Leeds's home form is starting to become a worry for them with only one win at home since they got promoted. Promoted teams usually rely on their home form to keep them up Burnley and Brighton did when they got promoted. I don't know why Leeds have struggled at home. Whether its having no fans in the stadium or things not going right for the team, I was expecting Leeds to be strong at home this season because I thought Elland Road would be a tough place to go to the moment Leeds got promoted. It's still been a good season for Leeds so far because of the way they've been playing and the position they're in, but they need to improve their home form if they're to stay away from a relegation dogfight.

The big question for this one will be: Which Newcastle will turn up? I know they won their second game in a row against West Brom on Saturday, but throughout the season they've been good one week and average the next. That has been the story of their season and they'll want to get a win in this one so the theme doesn't continue and so they can finally get some consistency going which they've struggled to do all season. The win over West Brom was big for them because of what they went through for two weeks with their training ground being closed and also they won back to back games for the first time this season. They can now look forward to the rest of the season with that episode now out of the way and they got a win that they really wanted because of what they went through.

I think this one will be a close game. Leeds will play how they've played all season in being on the front foot, but I think Newcastle will make it difficult for them because of how organised they can be defensively. With Leeds struggling at home of late as well, I think this one will be a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

LEICESTER V EVERTON

Leicester are in a really good place at the moment like they were this time last season before they dropped off. Jamie Vardy is still delivering the goods at his age and James Maddison had his best game since his return from injury with his two goals against Brighton. Their fans may be starting to believe that they could win the league again because of where they are in the table and how open the league is at the moment. If they win this one, the fans may start dreaming about the possibility of a potential title challenge. I thought Leicester may struggle a bit because of being in the Europa League and playing twice a week, but Brendan Rodgers has managed his squad really well and he's got them competing on two fronts which is good to see from a club Like Leicester.

Everton looked a lot better defensively against Chelsea by being rigid and organised which enabled them to block pretty much every shot Chelsea had at their goal. That was big result for them on Saturday because they kept a clean sheet and they moved within touching distance of the top four by moving three points behind 4th placed Southampton. That clean sheet was their first since the opening day of the season when they on at Tottenham and they'll look to build on that so they can remain solid for the rest of the season and try and push themselves into the top six which is what they want to do this season. The only bad news for them is that they still have players out injured with James Rodriguez missing for this one along with Coleman and Digne. Those three have all been missed when they've been missing but if Everton can stay solid like they were against Chelsea, they might get the same result they got on Saturday.

I think this one will be a Leicester win because they've got a good record in this fixture in recent seasons and are in good form at home. Everton looked better defensively against Chelsea, but I think they're problems will return because of Jamie Vardy's pace and I think that will win Leicester the game.

PREDICTION: 2-1

FULHAM V BRIGHTON

Fulham put in a good performance against Liverpool last time out and they got a result they deserved. They started the game well and put Liverpool on the back foot from the first whistle forcing Alisson to make some good saves. They're starting to look like a good team and the credit has to go to Scott Parker because of the team he's built and the poor start they had to the season. They've looked reasonably solid at the back and full of energy in attack with the likes of Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro who both impressed in the draw against Liverpool. If they can keep that up, they stand a strong chance of staying up after it looked unlikely after the first few games.

Brighton have struggled to put a run of results together this season which could be why they're 16th in the league. They play some nice stuff, but don't get results and Graham Potter needs to start putting that right if they're to move further up the table. Both of the Seagulls' wins this season have come away from home and they played well in both against Newcastle and Aston Villa. They made a bright start against Leicester in Sunday, but didn't take their early chances which has been a criticism of them for most of this season and could be another reason why they don't get results despite playing well. Tariq Lamptey could be back for this one after missing the last few games with injury which would be huge because of the performances he's put in whenever he's stepped out on the pitch.

I'm going for a Brighton win in this one because they've been good away from home and I can see them pick up another win on the road. It will be a close game, but I think Brighton will just edge it.

PREDICTION: 1-2

LIVERPOOL V TOTTENHAM

The game of the week. Both teams at the top of the able with the same amount of points. Liverpool will want to put in a better display than the one they put in against Fulham on Sunday. They looked a bit tired and struggled to cope with Fulham's fast start as they were stuck inside their own half for most of the first half due to the way Fulham put them under pressure. They did get a point from the game, but they'll feel that it was an opportunity missed because Spurs dropped points earlier in the day and the reds could've had a cushion at the top of the table if they won. The reds need to start better than they did against Fulham because if they don't, Spurs will punish them because of the players Spurs have in forward areas.

Spurs have a terrible record in this fixture with just one win in their last ten visits to Anfield. Jose Mourinho won at Anfield during his time at Chelsea so that will hopefully give his team some confidence going into this game as they look to win at Anfield for the first time since 2011. It will be interesting to see how Spurs set up in this one. Will they sit in and let Liverpool come at them before hitting them on the counter or will they go at them from the first whistle like Fulham did at the weekend. In Kane and Son they have two players who can hurt Liverpool and especially with the injuries they have at the moment. This worked to good effect against City and Arsenal and it could work against Liverpool if they start the game well.

This will be a great game because of the set of players that both teams have in forward areas. Because of this there will be goals in this game and as it'll be very close, I'm going for a draw.

PREDICTION: 2-2

WEST HAM V CRYSTAL PALACE

What a season West Ham are having at the moment. They're 6th in the league and they're also above both Manchester clubs which tells you they're having a good season. It was surprising to see them revert back to a back four against Leeds after doing so well with a back three for most of the season. Aaron Creswell impressed in his usual left back position in the absence of Arthur Masuaku and they were very good from set pieces as both of their goals were from set pieces like they were against Aston Villa. David Moyes is doing a really good job at the London Stadium and is beginning to get the recognition he deserves because of the job he's done this season. He's making the most of having a full season at the club unlike last time where he was given a short term contract.

Palace have a decent record at West Ham and with the encouraging performances in their last two games against West Brom and Spurs, they'll be looking to improve on that record. They look better going forward with Eberechi Eze in the side because having him there takes the pressure off of Wilfried Zaha and Zaha himself is thriving off of that by playing in a free role where he's allowed to do what he wants on the pitch. Him and Eze have linked up really well in their last two games and its making Palace a better side going forward and a better side in general because they're not constantly relying on Zaha like they have done for the last three or four seasons.

I think this one will be close because both teams play a similar way and are both solid defensively and in midfield. I can see them cancel each other because they both play a similar way and I think its a close call. I'm going for a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

THURSDAY:

ASTON VILLA V BURNLEY

Villa's home form has dropped off since the 7-2 win over Liverpool as they've lost their last three games at home. Its their away form which has kept them in the middle of the table with four wins from their five away games. Overall they're having a good season and if you compare it to last year, they're in a better position and the credit is due to Dean Smith. His summer signings have been decent and they're looking like a good Premier League side by being solid at the back, hard working in midfield and clinical up top. Smith has built a good side this season and they're on course to have a comfortable season in mid-table if they continue doing things the right way.

After a slow start, Burnley are now picking up some points with wins over Crystal Palace and Arsenal along with a draw against Everton in three of their last four games. They're looking like the Burnley we know in being hard to beat and well drilled which has been their success since they've been in the Premier League. Having Ben Mee back in the team has crucial to their pick up in results because the Clarets look better defensively when him and Tarkowski are in the team due to how well they work together. Sean Dyche will be looking for another win in this one to carry on the momentum and get them further up the table and away from the relegation zone so they're no involved in a dogfight come the end of the season.

I think this one will be a Villa win because they're better going forward. They have a player in Jack Grealish who can make a difference when he's on it and I can see him have another good game in this one like he has done all season.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SHEFFIELD UNITED V MAN UNITED

I can't see where Sheffield United are going to get a win from at the minute. They're not scoring goals and they're also not keeping goals out which spells one thing: Relegation. I can see them being a Derby if their results don't improve because they have just one point after twelve games and I can't see them picking up any by the way they've been playing and the results they've been getting of late. If they're to stay up, they need to roll their sleeves up and get back to what they did last season by being solid at the back and catching teams out by surprise which worked so well for them throughout the whole of last season. They need to start winning games now or Chris Wilder could possibly lose his job because of the position his team are in.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that his sides' performance in the Manchester Derby was the best they've had all season even though it was a dull draw. United were better defensively than they were against Leipzig in that they weren't conceding soft goals and they looked a bit more organised. They restricted City to shots outside the box and when the ball was in United's penalty area, they were happy to hoof it out which is what Harry Maguire was doing for most of the match. Solskjaer will want to make sure that his team don't concede the first goal because in their away games this season they've conceded the first goal and have then gone on to win the match. He'll want his side to start well, on the front foot and score the first goal so they don't have too much work to do.

I'm going for a United win because they've been strong away from home and Sheffield United don't look like winning games at the minute. Because of that United should win this game comfortably.

PREDICTION: 0-3