Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 6

SATURDAY:

ARSENAL V LEEDS

Arsenal had a rare off day against Brighton before the international break and Mikel Arteta will have used the last couple of weeks to look back and see what went wrong for his side.

Other teams will have watched Brighton's performance and will look to repeat it as they'll see that as one way to stop Arsenal.

Leeds are still unbeaten this season and will fancy their chances of getting a result here because they're a competitive side who are capable of giving anyone a game on their day.

They will look to make it difficult for Arsenal in this game because of them being a compeittive team, but I think the Gunners will show a reaction and come out on top.

PREDICTION: 3-1

ASTON VILLA V BRENTFORD

Villa got their first win of the season before the international break against Spurs which will have given them some much needed confidence moving forward.

It was good to see Nicolas Jackson get on the score sheet in that game and I'm hoping that he'll be a good signing for them having played under Emery at Villarreal.

Brentford went into the international break off the back of a brilliant performance and result against Chelsea where Igor Thiago got off the mark.

The Bees are still unbeaten this season and I think teams should start taking them more seriously because they're capable of getting a result against anyone on their day.

Keith Andrews' side may have made the better start out of the two sides, but I think Villa will come out on top here because they're strong at home and the bees aren't as strong away at this stage of the season.

PREDICTION: 3-2

CHELSEA V BOURNEMOUTH

Both teams could do with a win here to kickstart their seasons despite it being only the sixth game of the season.

Chelsea haven't won since winning their opening two games and their defeat at Brentford before the international break marked the end of Xabi Alonso's honeymoon period.

Bournemouth meanwhile are yet to win since Marco Rose took over and the longer their winless run extends, the more likely their confidence is to drop.

Conceding late goals has been the Cherries' achilles heal this season and Rose has had two weeks to come up with ways to help his side see games out better.

But I can only see it being a case of deja vu here because Chelsea do have goals in their attack and a lot of them.

The Cherries will definitely score as Chelsea are fragile at the back and I'm backing them to come away with at least a point because of this and their problems with conceding late goals.

PREDICTION: 2-2

IPSWICH V FULHAM

Ipswich have made an encouraging start to life back in the Premier League and are looking better equipped to stay up than they were last time.

They've got more Premier League quality in their team than they did two seasons ago and they're also more adaptable in that they're able to play more than one way, which wasn't the case two seasons ago where they kept playing the same way and got punished for it.

Fulham are beginning to improve under Alvaro Arbeloa following back-to-back draws against Liverpool and Man United.

They proved people wrong by getting those results because a lot of people had them down to struggle following the poor start they had and the key personel they lost in the summer.

This game and their next two represent a good opportunity to get some wins under their belt as they're all against newly promoted sides and sides who they'll be expected to beat.

But I'm afriad their first win will have to wait as I'm backing Ipswich to get the win here and especially as they're at home where they'll need to be strong if they're to stay up.

PREDICTION: 2-1

SUNDERLAND V BRIGHTON

Sunderland gave a good account of themselves against Man City before the international break and they no doubt will have taken positives from their performance.

Brighton have started the season brilliantly and were outstanding in the final game before the international break against Arsenal.

They're a side who are full of confidence at the moment and I think it's time we give Fabian Hurzeler the credit he deserves for the job he's done.

The Seagulls nicked a 1-0 win in this fixture last season and I can see them doing the same in this one.

Sunderland will make it difficult for them and especially as they're at home where they're very strong, but the Seagulls should still edge it and especially with the form they're inn.

PREDICTION: 0-1

MAN UNITED V TOTTENHAM

We might be only five games in, but this game feels like a must win for both sides given the poor starts they've made to the season.

Man United have won just once so far this season with that sole win coming against Ipswich at the end of August and they're also yet to keep a clean sheet.

They've been far from convincing in their other games including their draw at Fulham before the international break where they neeeded a deflected strike from Mattheus Cunha to nick a lucky point.

Spurs meanwhile are without a win and are at the foot of the table, but they did finally get their first league goals of the season against Villa before the international break.

Both managers certainly need the win because they're both under the spotlight and they've both had a two week international break to look back at their respective sides' performances and come up with ways to help them get results.

Whoever loses this game will be under pressure and a lot of it and I see Spurs being the team that loses because I can see United put in a performance and come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

SUNDAY:

CRYSTAL PALACE V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Neither side has started the season particularly brilliantly and they'll both want something from this game to get their seasons up and running.

Palace haven't really got going under Pierre Sage and they have some challenging fixtures coming up this month alongside a couple of Europa League games.

Forest boss Oliver Glasner will be returning to Selhurst Park for the first time since leaving Palace in the summer and I'm sure that he'll get a good reception because of the brilliant job he did with the Eagles during his two-and-a-half seasons there.

His Forest side got off the mark the last time they were on the road against Aston Villa and it's on the road where Forest appear to be faring better.

He had a good away record when he was at Palace and it looks like he's repeating it at Forest as they're unbeaten on the road so far this season.

Both games between these two sides ended 1-1 last season and I think this one will end the same despite both teams having different managers in charge.

I can see both teams going for it because they'll both want to win it, but I can see the points being shared.

PREDICTION: 1-1

HULL V EVERTON

Hull have easily been the surprise package of the season and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they've gone about things.

Everton have also started strongly and their strong start has surprised a lot of people given their lack of transfer activity in the summer.

I can see this being a close game as both sides set themselves up to be tough to beat and play on the counter attack.

But I do see there being a winner and I can see Hull being the side that nick it late on to end Everton's unbeaten start to the season.

PREDICTION: 1-0

LIVERPOOL V MAN CITY

It hasn't been the best of starts from Liverpool even though they are still unbeaten in the league so far this season.

They haven't been convincing performance wise and it's probably because they're still adjusting to the way Andoni Iraola wants them to play.

Iraola has had two weeks to work with his players on the training pitch and to get them adjusted to his way of playing.

Man City were found guilty of the 114 charges for breaking financial rules during the international break and it will be interesting to see how that affects the players knowing the punishments the club are likely to face.

They won't be expecting a pleasant reception from the home fans in this one because of every team wanting to beat them and wanting them to be punished, and the kind of atmosphere the Liverpool fans can generate inside Anfield.

City have found Anfield a daunting place to visit over the years and knowing everything that has gone on off the pitch over the last couple of weeks, they'll surely be expecting to enter a hostile environment.

The Liverpool fans will do everything they can to make this game as uncomfortable as they can for City and I can see City struggle to perform under the potentially hostile atmosphere inside the ground.

But I do think Enzo Maresca's side will still get a result though as they should have enough in them to do so despite everything that has happened off the pitch.

PREDICTION: 2-2

MONDAY:

COVENTRY V NEWCASTLE

Coventry finally got off the mark before the international break with their win against Nottingham Forest which will have no doubt given them a great deal of confidence.

Their confidence will have been very low going into that game and for them to finally get that first win will have been a big relief for them.

Newcastle have made a relatively positive start to the season and a better start than most people thought they would given what happened in the summer.

They just got over the line against Hull in their final game before the international break after the Tigers rallied in the second half and especially towards the end.

Coventry will definitely have chances here as they have done in a lot of their games this season despite the results.

But I think the Magpies will come out on top here because I see them having just enough quality to see the result over the line.

PREDICTION: 1-2