Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 4

SATURDAY:

ASTON VILLA V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Villa finally found their shooting boots against Club Brugge in midweek and their win will no doubt give them some much needed confidence.

Forest are still without a win under Oliver Glasner and were very unlucky not to have beaten Spurs even though it was unclear as to whether the ball came off Neco Williams' arm before it ended up in the back of the net.

There might be a slight tiredness about Villa in this one as a result of them playing in Europe during the week and Forest will look to pounce on this.

But I fancy Villa to get off the mark in the Premier League here and especially as they're at home where they usually have a good record.

PREDICTION: 2-1

BOURNEMOUTH V BRENTFORD

Bournemouth have been plagued by late goals this season and it's something they'll need to address and quickly.

Their style of play is almost the same under Marco Rose as it was under Andoni Iraola in that they still play at a high intensity and on the front foot.

But if they're to start winning games they need to close them out better than they have done so far this season.

Brentford have started the season well with a win and two draws from their three games so far and some people are saying that they should be taken more seriously.

I'm taking them seriously as I'm backing them to reach Europe this season.

The Cherries did have a strong record at home last season but as they keep conceding late goals, I can only see them do the same again here and especially as Brentford are a side who are always in games.

PREDICTION: 1-1

CHELSEA V HULL

Chelsea needed to bring their big hitters on to turn the game around against Leeds in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after starting off with nine changes from the defeat at Arsenal.

The game against Leeds summed them up as a whole in that they're brilliant going forward but defensively they have holes and the same can be said about their midfield.

They could have Moises Caicedo back for this game which would be a massive boost because they need his steel back in that midfield.

Hull have made the joint best start by a newly-promoted team and they deserve a lot of credit for the start they've made.

They're happy not to have the ball and soak up possession and it's clearly working for them as they're yet to concede a goal this season.

But I'm afraid their brilliant start will come to an end here as I think Chelsea will come out on top here because of the attacking quality they have.

Sergej Jakirovic's side will do their best to make it difficult for the blues, but Xabi Alonso's side should still have enough quality to win this game.

PREDICTION: 2-0

CRYSTAL PALACE V IPSWICH

Palace got off the mark in the Premier League last weekend against Fulham and they followed it up with another impressive win against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Ipswich were taught a lesson about Premier League football in each of their last two games against Man United and Liverpool respectively but they did show some fight in the latter.

They weren't expected to get anything from ewither of those games given the quality of opposition they were facing, but they do have games coming up where they'll fancy themselves to get points from including this one.

But I think Palace will follow up their recent wins with another one from this game to build more confidence and especially as they're at home.

PREDICTION: 2-1

LIVERPOOL V FULHAM

Liverpool got off the mark last weekend against Ipswich and followed that up with another win against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

They were much better in the second half than they were in the first in midweek by playing with more energy and creating more clear cut chances.

Bradley Barcola had some bright moments on his debut and he even had one or two chances to score before going off with cramp.

He'll need time to settle in and get used to the intensity of the Premier League, but he showed on his debut how excited all reds fans should be about him this season.

Fulham are still without a point under Alvaro Arbeloa and I fear that they could be in a relegation battle this season.

I knew they would be in for a tough season after losing Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez, who scored a big chunk of their goals last season.

But it's defensively where their problems lie as they've looked all over the place and I can see Liverpool exploit that weakness in this game.

Alexander Isak appears to finally be finding his feet after scoring twice against Ipswich last Friday and I fancy him to bag another in this one and Liverpool to come out on top.

PREDICTION: 3-0

TOTTENHAM V EVERTON

Spurs' win in this fixture last season sealed their Premier League status after which their fans will have breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Their fans also would've hoped that things were only going to get better but if anything they're arguably as bad given how they've started this season.

They did get a point last weekend against Forest where their performance was better than the ones they put in their previous two games, but after spending the amount of money they did their start has still been far from satisfactory.

Everton came from behind twice to nick a draw against Man United and did so with two very well taken goals including Ainsley Maitland-Niles' stunner in injury table.

They didn't get all the players they wanted during the transfer window and they showed last weekend that they still have fight despite their lack of options.

Spurs may have started the season poorly and their home record for a while hasn't been great, but they did win this fixture last season to stay up and I have a feeling that they'll do the same again in this one.

PREDICTION: 1-0

SUNDERLAND V ARSENAL

Sunderland claimed a point in this fixture last season courtesy of a late goal from Brian Brobbey and I can see them putting in a similar kind of performance by being physical and competitive.

They had an incredible home record last season as well all know and they look set to keep it up this season after showing the same characteristics in their first home game of the season against Fulham.

Arsenal had to be patient against Napoli in midweek and that patience eventually paid off as they found a way to win as all top teams do.

The Gunners have been by far the best team so far this season and their result and performance against Chelsea showed why they're champions and why they're the team to beat.

Sunderland gave them a good game in this fixture last season and because of this I can see them do the same and nick another draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

SUNDAY:

COVENTRY V BRIGHTON

Coventry competed well against Man City by being tough to beat and getting men behind the ball and doing so shows that they can be adaptable.

But they're still without a point and a goal since their return to the top flight and they have a good opportunity here to get both as well in their next few games, all which are against teams they can take points off.

Brighton got a deserved point last weekend against Leeds thanks to their improved second half display after being second best for the entire first half.

Their defeat to Chelsea was a similar kind of game in that they played better in the second half of that one as well after being outplayed in the first half.

Fabian Hurzeler will want to see his side repeat their second half performances over the whole 90 minutes here and this game is a good chance to do that as they're playing a side who are yet to pick up a pint.

But I do see Coventry carry their performance against City into this one and because of this I think they'll nick their first point of the season.

PREDICTION: 1-1

MAN UNITED V MAN CITY

This fixture last season was Michael Carrick's first game in charge of Man United and it marked the start of their upturn under him.

United had a good record against the so-called bigger teams last season after Carrick took over and although this will give him and his team confidence, repeating that record this season will be tough because those teams are arguably stronger than they were last season.

City have started brilliantly under Enzo Maresca as they've won all of their games so far in all competitions even though they haven't been exactly convincing in all of them.

But they've still got the job done and doing so shows signs that they're still a top side despite Pep no longer being in charge.

United have looked far from solid defensively this season after conceding twice in each of their three games so far and knowing City and the attacking players they have, they'll surely be looking to exploit this weakness.

I can see them do exactly that and I'm backing Erling Haaland to once get himself on the scoresheet.

PREDICTION: 0-2

MONDAY:

LEEDS V NEWCASTLE

Leeds will have been kicking themselves for not finishing Brighton off in the first half as their wastefulness allowed Brighton back into the game.

Daniel Farke's are still unbeaten in the league this season and I don't see it ending here because they're at home where they have a good record.

Newcastle didn't have a great record on the road last season but they did win their last away game against Spurs and have started this season reasonably well.

They won't have it all their own way here because of Leeds having a strong home record and the atmosphere inside the ground generated by the home fans.

This game will definitely be close because Newcastle have been in all their games so far this season and Leeds are a side who are always in games.

Because of this I can see the points being shared.

PREDICTION: 1-1