Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 4

SATURDAY:

ARSENAL V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Arsenal were disappointing against Liverpool before the international break in that they didn't take the game to them.

We all know how good they are as a team defensively but they need to show a bit more going forward if they're to win the title and especially in the big games.

The Gunners will again be without Bukayo Saka for this one as he's still recovering from an injury but I think Noni Madueke will step up in his absence just like he did for England during the international break.

Nottingham Forest sacking Nuno Espirito Santo I thought was surprising and the wrong decision because of the job he did last season.

I know he and Evangelos Marinakis weren't very close as he publicly said in one of his press conferences, but I still think he should've stayed in charge because of the job he did last season.

The appointment of Ange Postecoglou was surprising as I didn't think they would go in for him and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to his way of playing.

He won't have had much time with his new team on the training field having only been appointed a few days ago and I can see being shown in this game.

If he sticks to his principles like he did at Spurs, I can only see this being a comfortable win for Arsenal because of the players not being suited to his way of playing.

PREDICTION: 4-0

BOURNEMOUTH V BRIGHTON

Bournemouth have started the season very well bearing in mind that they lost almost their entire defence and had one or two tough fixtures.

Both their performances and their results have been encouraging and they've got some winnable fixtures coming up which will give them the chance to build on their strong start.

Brighton went into the international break off the back of beating Man City which will have given them a lot of confidence.

They did the double over the Cherries last season and will surely be feeling confident of doing the same again this season.

But I fancy Bournemouth to take the points here as they're at home and the side who have made the better start to the season.

PREDICTION: 2-1

CRYSTAL PALACE V SUNDERLAND

Palace will have been more than glad that they kept hold of Marc Guehi after his love to Liverpool broke down on deadline day and it will be interesting to see how he responds.

The Eagles are unbeaten so far following a win and two draws from their opening three games which is very impressive given that they had had a difficult summer, had games in Europe and lost their talisman in Eberechi Eze.

Sunderland have looked like a Premier League side since they got promoted with the start they've made and the way they've played.

They've been adaptable by being both difficult to beat and playing in the front foot and they've also recruited well by bringing in players of Premier League quality.

They'll make it difficult for Palace in this one by being tough to beat. But the Eagles should have enough in them to come away with the points.

PREDICTION: 2-1

EVERTON V ASTON VILLA

Everton have had a positive start to the season and there is more positivity around the place than there has been in the last few years.

But their recent record in this fixture in terrible as they haven't won any of their last twelve league meetings with Villa.

Villa have started the season surprisingly poorly as they find themselves second from bottom without a single goal scored.

They did however get some players through the door on deadline day including Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott who could both be good buys for them.

They're both certainly players who can help Villa in the attacking third because they need goals and creativity and they're both capable of providing them.

Everton won't make it easy for them here as they're a tough side to beat and the home team for this game.

But because their record against Villa in recent times has been poor, I can only see the points being shared here as I think Villa will show a response.

PREDICTION: 1-1

FULHAM V LEEDS

Fulham were hard done by against Chelsea before the international break as their disallowed goal should never have been disallowed.

There was on contact from Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah, but the contact was accidental as he had no idea that Chalobah's foot was going to be where it was when he performed that piece of skill.

Leeds got pummelled by Arsenal the last time they came to London but they did get a creditable draw against Newcastle before the international break.

Fulham have been strong at home in the past and because of that I'm backing them to win the points here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

NEWCASTLE V WOLVES

Now that the Alexander Isak transfer saga is over, Newcastle can finally move on and but that episode behind them.

Their two new strikers in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa could both make their debuts in this game and I think Woltemade will be the one that starts because of the amount of money the Magpies paid to sign him.

Wolves are the only side yet to pick up a point this season and a lot of people are already tipping them to go down.

Even I fear that they could go down not just because of how poorly they've started the season, but because of how well the newly promoted teams have started and especially Sunderland.

Both teams need to win here so they can properly get their seasons up and running and I think Newcastle will be the side that gets off the mark here and I think Woltemade will score on his debut.

PREDICTION: 3-0

WEST HAM V TOTTENHAM

West Ham needed that win over Forest before the international break so they could ease the pressure on manager Graham Potter.

The change from a back three to a back four helped massively as they looked tighter at the back and and less open than they did in their opening two games.

Spurs saw their perfect start under Thomas Frank end before the international break following their defeat to Bournemouth and they'll be looking to bounce back here.

New signings Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani could make their debuts in this game, but I don't see them starting as Frank may want to ease them in so they can get used to his tactics and the speed of the Premier League.

Whether they feature or not, Spurs should still win this one because of the quality they have.

PREDICTION: 1-3

BRENTFORD V CHELSEA

It's been a tough start for Brentford and new boss Keith Andrews after losing two of his opening three games in charge.

The game they didn't lose was their home win over Aston Villa and it's at home where they've picked up the majority of their points in the past.

Chelsea do not have a good record in this fixture as they've won just one of their four visits to the Gtech with the other three all being draws.

But they have made a reasonably good start to the season and I can see them keep up that good start with another win in this one.

They may be again without Cole Palmer, but they've shown in recent games that they're not as reliant on him and I think they'll show that again here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

SUNDAY:

BURNLEY V LIVERPOOL

The last time Burnley boss Scott Parker faced Liverpool, he got sacked just a few days later after his Bournemouth side were thrashed 9-0 in 2022.

I don't see that happening if the Clarets lose this one unless he says in his post-match interview that his side are not equipped for the Premier League.

His side gave Man United a good game before the international break and their performance in that game will have given them a lot of encouragement.

Liverpool haven't been anywhere near their best so far this season but they have got the results and to win a title, you need to find a way to win games without playing at your best.

Alexander Isak will make his long awaited debut for the reds in this game but I don't see him starting as he hasn't played in a while and because of this, I think he'll have cameos off the bench to build up his match fitness.

The reds won't have it easy here as Burnley are tough to beat and defensively well organised. But they should still have enough in them to come away with the points.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MAN CITY V MAN UNITED

This might be the lowest built up Manchester Derby in a long time because of the slow starts both sides have made to their seasons.

Man City have started surprisingly slow after winning one and losing two of their opening three games and they come into this game with a lot of injuries.

They will however give a debut to Gianluigi Donnarumma following his deadline day move to PSG and they have to because he's more proven at the top level than James Trafford.

Man United have played better against the top teams than they have against the so-called smaller teams since Ruben Amorim took over including their defeat to Arsenal in their first game, where they were unlucky not to come away with at least a point.

They too could give a debut to a goalkeeper in Senne Lammens and if I was Amorim, I would start him because he surely can't be any worse than Altay Bayindir.

But I do see him as a risky signing as he's a young keeper who is inexperienced in a high level league such as the Premier League.

Both sides are not in the best form at the moment and both have vulnerabilities about them.

But I do think there will be a winner with City being the side I'm backing to take the points and especially as they're at home.

PREDICTION: 2-1