Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 7

FRIDAY:

ASTON VILLA V SOUTHAMPTON

Aston Villa put in a decent performance in their draw with Man City in their last game which will hopefully give them something to build on. The pressure will still be on Steven Gerrard but that result along with the performance will give him the belief that he can turn things around.

They've had a couple of weeks to prepare for this game after last weekends' postponement and they've hopefully carried on the good work from their draw with City on the training ground. This is so they can carry that performance in to this game.

Southampton's recent results have been inconsistent with their last four being win-lose-win-lose. They might win this game if that run continues in this one as they were beaten in their last game by Wolves a couple of weeks ago.

It's been an ok season for the Saints so far as they're currently 12th which is a position that they would've taken after six games at the start of the season. I still think they'll get sucked into a relegation battle later in the season but their ok start should give them confidence.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm backing Villa to win this one because I think they'll carry their performance from the City game into this one which will help them win the game. They won't win it as comfortably as they did last season but I still think they'll have enough character and quality to win the game.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V FULHAM

Nottingham Forest let a two goal lead slip in their last game against Bournemouth which will have hurt them a lot psychologically. They've had two weeks to get that out of their system following the postponement of last weekend and they'll go into this one with a point to prove.

Fulham have made a decent start to life back in the Premier League and they have no doubt been the best of the newly promoted sides. They know how to set themselves up for each game they play in depending on the opposition and are also learning from the mistakes they made in the past.

They've been criticized for being too open and not looking ruthless enough in front of goal during their last two spells in the Premier League and they've clearly done something about that this season. They're looking more organised as a team defensively and have a striker in Mitrovic who is playing a system that suits his strengths.

PREDICTION: 1-2

I'm going for a Fulham win here because they look more like a Premier League side than Forest do. I think Forest will have a go but I think Fulham will have enough quality to win here.

SATURDAY:

WOLVES V MAN CITY

Wolves finally got off the mark with their win over Southampton a couple of weeks ago which will hopefully give them the confidence to win more games and score more goals. They scored an actual goal in that game unlike their opponents and they'll need to keep it up if they're to push themselves up the table.

Diego Costa could make his debut in this game and I'm really not sure why Wolves have signed him. He was a good player during his time at Chelsea but he hasn't been the same player since he left these shores five years ago. Whether he's the man to solve Wolves' goal scoring problems remains to be seen.

Man City reacted well to going behind against Dortmund in midweek as they started to cause them more problems which they rarely did in the first half. They had to be patient as the German side were very resolute defensively and that patience eventually paid off when John Stones hit that strike to level the score.

City look like they could run away with the league this season and especially with the form that Erling Haaland is in. They will have games where they will drop points but given Liverpool's inconsistent start to season, I have a feeling that City will run away with the title.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing City to win here because they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. It won't be as one-sided as it was in this fixture last season because Wolves will try and be difficult to beat. But City should still win this one reasonably comfortably.

NEWCASTLE V BOURNEMOUTH

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will be facing his old club for the first time since he left them a couple of years ago and for the first time ever overall. It will be an emotional day for him because of how long he was at Bournemouth and the success he achieved during his time there. I'm sure he'll get a good reception from both supporters.

The Magpies haven't won a game since the opening day of the season and Eddie Howe will surely be determined to get his side back to winning ways in this one. There have been some positives from the games they haven't won but now they need to turn those good performances into wins.

Bournemouth have responded pretty well to the sacking of Scott Parker as they've picked up four points from their two games under Gary O'Neil. They showed good character to come from behind in their win over Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks and that result will hopefully give them the confidence to win more games.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm backing Newcastle to win here because I think they'll have enough to win the game. There will be questions over the fitness of Bruno Guimaraes and Allan Saint Maximin but the Magpies should still win this one without too many problems.

TOTTENHAM V LEICESTER

Spurs will have been very disappointed to concede two goals in stoppage time against Sporting Lisbon in midweek where they were never really at their best. They did have some good chances in the game but were second best for most of it as they had to rely on Hugo Lloris to keep them in it on a number of occasions.

The form of Heung Min Son is beginning to become a concern with the South Korean yet to score this season. He had another quiet game in midweek and Antonio Conte will be hoping that he'll come to life soon because of the quality of player he is.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has hopefully used these last two weeks to look back at their games from this season and see what has gone wrong for his side. His main area for concern will no doubt be defensively as they've looked all over the place in that department all season and especially in their last game against Brighton.

They'll need to be better defensively in this one because of the quality of players that Spurs have in their attack. Harry Kane has a good record against the Foxes and will be someone they'll need to keep an eye on because of the start he's made to the season and the quality of player he is.

PREDICTION: 3-1

I've got to go with a Spurs win here because I can see them cause Leicester all kinds of problems with the quality of forward players they have. They haven't been exactly perfect this season but I think they'll put in a convincing performance here because of how open Leicester are at the moment.

SUNDAY:

BRENTFORD V ARSENAL

This fixture last season was Brentford's first ever Premier League game which they won 2-0 and set themselves on the way to a good first season. Thomas Frank will know that this one won't be as straightforward as Arsenal have improved a lot since then and will want to show it in this game.

The Bees are having a good season so far as they're currently 8th in the table which represents a good start for them. Some tipped them to struggle this season with it being their second season as a Premier League club but given the start they've made and the manager they have, I can't see the second season syndrome hit them like it has done for some clubs in the past.

Arsenal saw their unbeaten and winning start come to an end a couple of weeks ago with their defeat at Man United where they weren't actually that bad. They had some good moments in that game in that they had some good chances but they were let down by some poor defending which is what cost them.

The Gunners have shown a stronger side to them this season in terms of their mentality and character of which they haven't shown for some years up until now. They certainly didn't show it in this game last season and they'll be eager to show how far they've come since that day.

PREDICTION: 1-2

I'm backing Arsenal to bounce back in this game because I think they'll have enough in them to win it. Brentford will give them a game but with a stronger mentality this time round, I think Gunners will just edge it.

EVERTON V WEST HAM

Everton are still without a win this season but their performance in their last game against Liverpool a couple of weeks ago will have given them plenty of encouragement. They had Jordan Pickford to thank for in that game as he made countless saves to keep them in the game plus the defenders also did their jobs by making vital interventions when they needed to.

The Toffees could have Dominic Calvert Lewin back for this one which would be a massive boost for them moving forward. They've really missed that no.9 who can put the ball in the back of the net and with their main striker likely to return, a first win of the season shouldn't be too far away.

West Ham haven't really got going this season yet they have one win to their name which came at Aston Villa three games ago. They need to start picking up points soon as they're currently in the bottom three and with players coming back from injury like Craig Dawson for example, they'll hopefully push themselves up the league.

They were hard done by in their last game against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago thanks to a terrible VAR decision which cost them the game. Both David Moyes and Declan Rice were unhappy with it as were I assume a number of their fans. They'll be hoping for some good luck in this one.

PREDICTION: 1-1

I think this one will be a close game as they'll both want to get their seasons up and running after slow starts. I think Everton will get something as they're strong at home but only a draw as I think West Ham will make it a close game as they're a competitive side like Everton are.