Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 2

FRIDAY:

WEST HAM V CHELSEA

West Ham got off to the worst possible start against Sunderland and I even asked on my key points of the weekend post if Graham Potter is under pressure.

A number of people are tipping them to struggle this season and understandably so due to the lack of legs in their midfield which was evident against Sunderland.

But I still think they'll be fine as they have a good enough squad. They do however need to get players through the door before the window closes and especially a central midfielder.

Chelsea looked off it against Crystal Palace and it was probably because they were a bit fatigued after not having much of a pre-season due to their involvement in the latter stages of the Club World Cup.

The blues away record in 2025 is abysmal as they won just twice on the road in the second half of last season.

West Ham were miles off it against Sunderland but they have had some good results in this fixture in recent seasons and with Chelsea likely to again be off the pace, I can see the Hammers nick a 1-0 win here.

PREDICTION: 1-0

SATURDAY:

MAN CITY V TOTTENHAM

Man City looked like the team they were over a year ago against Wolves with new signing Tijjani Reijnders in particular impressing.

They got hammered 4-0 in this fixture last season, but I don't see a repeat of that here as they look like a side who are back in control of games after watching them against Wolves.

Spurs looked very good against Burnley in Thomas Frank's first Premier League game in charge and I think they're going to be more in control of games than they were last season.

Missing out on Eberechi Eze was a big blow for them and it must them hurt them to see him agree a move to Arsenal.

This game will definitely be closer than it was last season, but I think City will come out on top.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BOURNEMOUTH V WOLVES

Bournemouth made a good go of it against Liverpool and if anyone was to score for them, I'm glad it was Antoine Semenyo because of what happened to him.

Wolves were outplayed by Man City in their opening game and a lot of people have tipped them to go down this season.

I think they'll struggle as they've lost some of their best players including Cunha. But they should still have enough to be safe.

Bournemouth have also lost important players and especially in defence. But I do think they'll come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BRENTFORD V ASTON VILLA

Brentford looked passive in their first game under Keith Andrews against Nottingham Forest and a lot people are already tipping them to struggle.

They have lost important players like Bryan Mbeumo for example and they could soo lose another in Yoane Wissa.

But there is still enough quality and knowhow in that squad for them to be safe. There do however need to bring in more players before the window closes.

Villa were second best for much of their opening game against Newcastle and I don't think they had a single shot in the entire first half.

Their form away from home last season was pretty poor and they're up against a side in Brentford who had one of the best home records.

But I don't see either playing a part here as I think the Bees will again look passive and Villa will punish them for it.

PREDICTION: 1-3

BURNLEY V SUNDERLAND

Burnley were taught a Premier League lesson against Spurs in their opening game and they'll need to learn from it quickly if they're to stay up.

Sunderland got off to a dream start against West Ham and they might be the best equipped side to stay up because of how they played, and the players they've brought in.

They took points off Burnley both home and away last season which will give them more confidence heading into this game.

But I think Scott Parker's side will take the points here as they're at home where they had a very good record last season.

PREDICTION: 2-0

ARSENAL V LEEDS

Arsenal were not at their best against Man United but they did find a way to win and if you want to win a title, there will be games where you'll need to win ugly.

Their attack in particular looked off it including new signing Viktor Gyokeres who wasn't given much service.

Some people are already writing off Gyokeres after he failed to score on his debut. But I still think he'll come good as he is exactly what Arsenal needed in a striker who can score 20+ goals a season. He just needs to get some more minutes in the tank to get himself up to speed.

Leeds played at a high intensity against Everton and were the dominant side throughout the entire game.

Daniel Farke said before the game that his side are going to stick to the attacking style that got them promoted just like I knew they would.

Because of that I think Arsenal will punish them here because of the quality they have in attack and I think they'll show it here.

PREDICTION: 4-0

SUNDAY:

CRYSTAL PALACE V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Palace come into this game off the back on playing in Europe on Thursday and will probably feel a bit fatigued as a result of it due to their small squad.

Their need to get players through the door has increased further with Eberechi Eze now on his way to Arsenal and they probably should've found a replacement for him already instead of waiting for him to leave to find one.

Forest looked very good in their win over Brentford where they looked like a side who could potentially kick on this season.

They will have European football to distract them this season, but they could potentially compete on both fronts as their squad now has more depth to it than it it about a week ago due to their recent new signings.

Because I think Palace will struggle to balance Premier League and European football, I'm backing Forest to follow up their impressive win over Brentford with another win here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

EVERTON V BRIGHTON

Everton fans have been waiting a few years for this game to come around with it being the first one at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

They didn't offer a lot in their opening game against Leeds on Monday day where I think they had to wait until the second half to have a shot on target.

But I think they'll be more up for it in this one as they'll want to give the fans the best possible welcome to their new stadium.

Brighton won this fixture 3-0 on the opening day of last season in Fabian Hurzeler's first game in charge.

But I don't see a repeat pf that here because of this game being Everton's first in their new stadium, and I'm backing them to get off to a winning start in it.

PREDICTION: 2-1

FULHAM V MAN UNITED

Fulham gave all the so-called big teams a good game last season and they even took points off most of them.

They've done that pretty much ever since they got promoted and I don't see that changing this season despite their lack of signings.

Man United were unlucky not to come away with at least a point against Arsenal as they played well caused Arsenal a few problems.

Cunha and Mbeumo both impressed and their debut performances will give them plenty of encouragement moving forward.

It will be interesting to see if United can repeat that performance in this one as last season they often played well against the bigger teams, but didn't turn up against the smaller teams.

Fulham will look to give them a game like they do whenever they take on one of the bigger teams, but I think United will get the win whatever performance they put in.

PREDICTION: 0-1

MONDAY:

NEWCASTLE V LIVERPOOL

This game has been built up a lot over the past week simply because of the Alexander Isak saga.

Isak himself won't be playing and it's best that he isn't for a number of reasons with his desire to join Liverpool being one of them.

Newcastle put in a better performance than I expected against Villa but the one thing they were lacking was a no.9 to put away the many chances they had.

Whether Isak goes or not, the Magpies still have such a strong togetherness and team spirit and they showed it against Villa in the way they played.

I feel that Liverpool made a mess of the whole situation by signing Hugo Etikite, who Newcastle also wanted, whilst still wanting to sign Isak. Had they not gone in for Etikite, they probably would've signed Isak.

I don't know why they're still in for him and especially after Etikite scored and impressed on his reds debut against Bournemouth.

The reds got hit on the break twice in that game and the way they defended both goals was very poor.

The defence has been questioned a lot recently and Newcastle will no doubt be looking to exploit it with the pace they have out wide in Elanga and Barnes.

But the good news for Liverpool is that they'll have Ryan Gravenberch back from suspension and could tell that he was missed against Bournemouth through the goals they conceded.

Newcastle will score as they have players who can score goals. But Liverpool should still have more than enough quality to win the game.

PREDICTION: 1-3