Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 8

FRIDAY:

IPSWICH V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Ipswich gave a good account of themselves against Man City last weekend and will have come out of that game with their heads held high despite the result.

Forest also gave a good account of themselves in their last game against Arsenal by staying in the game for as long as they could and being tough to break down.

But they did have some good chances that they weren't able to take and this has to be a concern for them because they struggled to take their chances in their revious game against Crystal Palace.

They'll have Morgan Gibbs-White back for this game after missing the Arsenal game due to injury and his return is without a doubt a big boost for them.

I can see this being a close game because they both offer a threat going forward and are both competitive sides who are also organised.

Because I can;t see a winner between either of them, I've got to go for a draw here and especially as they both lack a poacher up top.

PREDICTION: 1-1

SATURDAY:

ASTON VILLA V MAN CITY

Villa are looking like a side that are coming together following a difficult start as their new signings have settled in and are beginning to deliver.

Unai Emery's side have won this fixture in each of the last three seasons but doing the same again in this one will be challenging as they're facing a City side in brilliant form.

City will have Erling Haaland back after missing their game against AEK Athens in midweek where they did pretty well without him.

It was good to see Phil Foden his hat trick in that game after netting against Ipswich last weekend and if he can keep up this kind of form, he could return to the heights he reached a few seasons ago.

This should be a good and close game because both teams like to play on the front foot and both have quality players in their attack.

Because of this I can see both teams scoring but with Villa beginning to find some form, I can see the points being shared here.

PREDICTION: 2-2

ARSENAL V EVERTON

Arsenal did what all top teams do against Nottingham Forest last weekend in winning when not at their best and Forest made sure they weren't by giving them very little time on the ball.

There were some complaints from the fans about their style of play after their win over Forest saying that they're not playing free flowing attacking football.

Well they shut those fans up in midweek against Bayern Munich where they looked more free flowing and played their part in what was an enjoyable game.

The Gunners will be without Bukayo Saka for this one after he went off early in midweek and whilst this will be seen as a big blow, the Gunners should cope without him because of the depth they have in their squad.

Everton saw their unbeaten start to the season come to an end last weekend against Chelsea and I can see this being back-to-back defeats for them here.

The Toffees will be competitive as they more often than not are, but the Gunners should have enough quality in them to win the points here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

COVENTRY V FULHAM

Coventry have shown in recent games that they can compete at this level including their defeat at Spurs on Monday where they were in the game despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise.

Fulham finally got their first win of the season last weekend against Hull which will have eased the pressure on Alvaro Arebeloa and given them some much needed confidence.

I can see this being a close game as both teams will be competitive and will want to win the game by playing on the front foot.

But I think Coventry will just come out on top because they're at home and Fulham have a poor record away.

PREDICTION: 1-0

CHELSEA V TOTTENHAM

Chelsea finally kept their first clean sheet of the season last weekend against Everton but lost keeper Emiliano Martinez to a serious injury which is a blow.

Despite keeping that first clean sheet, their defensive issues still remain and are likely to until keep more clean sheets or until they sign a player or two in January to help them shore things up at the back.

Spurs finally got their first win of the season against Coventry on Monday and it was good to see James Maddison back and put in the performance he put in.

Maddison was at the heart of almost everything Spurs did going forward and especially in the first half and if they can keep him fit, they should start climbing the table.

I can only see this being a Chelsea win here because of Spurs' terrible record against them and especially in this fixture.

Roberto De Zerbi's side will have some much needed confidence on board as a result of their win over Coventry, but I think his side will be brought back to reality in this one.

PREDICTION: 3-1

SUNDAY:

CRYSTAL PALACE V NEWCASTLE

Palace got ripped apart by Brighton last weekend and there already seems to be a lot of pressure on manager Pierre Sage.

They have looked vulnerable defensively and results haven't been as good as they want them to be, but they are 14th in the league which isn't too bad.

Their struggles defensively have come as a result of losing important players in that department, notably Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix with the latter having left in the summer.

From an attacking point of view, Ismaila Sarr is back and his return is a massive boost because they're a much better team when he's available.

Newcastle also have issues about them defensively and especially in recent games as they've looked so open at the back.

I watched their game against Villa last weekend and they were fortunate not to have lost by more because every time Villa went forward, the Magpies looked shaky and vulnerable at the back.

Because of the struggles both teams have had defensively this season, I can see both teams scoring here and more than once.

But I don't see either of them winning this game because I see it being a close contest and both teams cancelling each other out.

PREDICTION: 2-2

HULL V BRENTFORD

Hull's brilliant start is starting to fade following no wins from their last five games but their approach in this game will not change.

They'll get men behind the ball and pose a threat on the counter attack like they did in their opening games and I think Brentford will be the same.

The Bees saw their unbeaten start come to an end against Liverpool last weekend and had Yehor Yarmoliuk not been sent off, it might've been a different game.

Because I think both teams will play on the counter attack in this game, I can see this being a close game and both teams cancelling each other out.

Brentford will probably have more of the ball because they're the more superior team in terms of quality, but I think Hull will make life difficult for them and nick a draw.

PREDICTION: 1-1

LIVERPOOL V BRIGHTON

Liverpool showed resilience and character to come from behind and beat Villarreal in midweek and whilst they deserve credit for turning the game around, they'll be disappointed with the way they conceded the goals.

The reds are yet to win at home this season which is very surprising because Anfield is usually a tough place for teams to go to and has been in recent seasons.

There has been some talk that Anfield has lost its fear factor but I wouldn't say that is necesarrily the reason for their poor home form because it can still generate a great atmosphere which can still intimidate the opposition on its day.

Brighton are absolutely flying at the moment and I even asked on my key points of the weekend post if they could win the title.

The players won't be thinking about of course because they'll just be taking one game at a time but if they're still in the position they're in after Christmas and beyond, we could potentially be talking about them doing a Leicester as it were.

They're a team full of confidence at the moment and after beating Man United in the Carabao Cup and Arsenal in the Premier League only a few weeks ago, I fancy them to beat another giant in Liverpool in this very game.

Especially with the way they've been playing and how vulnerable Liverpool can be defensively.

PREDICTION: 1-3

MAN UNITED V BOURNEMOUTH

Man United were an absolute embrassment against Como in midweek and I really fear for Michael Carrick and his job.

I don't want him to get sacked because I'd like to see him get given time to turn things around but if they were to lose this game, I fear that it could be it for him.

If the club do decide to sack him at some point, they'll make complete fools of themselves and especially after giving him the full time job only five months ago.

Bournemouth finally got their first Premier League win of the season against Sunderland last weekend which was absolutely massive for them as I was begining to worry for them.

The Cherries have taken points off United in their last three visits to Old Trafford and I'm backing them to pick up more in this one because I'm backing them to win.

The Cherries play with a lot more energy and have a clear identity in how they play and because of this I can see them cruise past United.

PREDICTION: 1-3

SUNDERLAND V LEEDS

Sunderland come into this game at the foot of the table following four straight defeats and I'm beginning to wonder if they're becoming the lastest victim of the second season syndrome.

They also come into this game off the back of playing in Europe during the week which obviously doesn't help because their squad has been stretched due to a lack of depth.

They could have Brian Brobbey back for this game which would of couse be massive because he makes such a difference to them when he plays and has been a big miss for them whilst he's been out.

I was surprised that Leeds didn't beat Man United last weekend because I was very much expecting them to win that game.

But fair play to Man United for putting in the performance they did and earning point which in the end was a fair result.

Because of Sunderland likely to feel a bit tired after playing in Europe during the week, I'm backing Leeds to come out on top here but onyl just as Sunderland do make it difficult for teams at the Stadium of Light.

PREDICTION: 0-1