Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 9

SATURDAY:

BOURNEMOUTH V LEICESTER

Bournemouth have been very resolute since Gary O'Neil took over and the results they've had have given him a very good chance of getting the manager's job full time. They might as well give it to him now as the Cherries are clear of the relegation zone and yet to lose under his management.

My only worry about Bournemouth is that they're not scoring enough goals and they only had one shot on target in their previous game against Brentford. O'Neil has done a good job in terms of making them difficult to beat but their lack of goals is a worry.

Leicester finally got off the mark against Nottingham Forest on Monday night where they looked like the team everyone knows they are. Both the performance and result will give them a lot of much needed confidence and now they'll be looking to kick on as they look to push up the league.

The Foxes have a poor record at Bournemouth and especially in the Premier League where they have lost 3 and drawn twice against them away from home. Given how much Bournemouth have improved under Gary O'Neil, the Foxes might be in for another tough game here despite them picking up a confidence boosting win on Monday.

PREDICTION: 1-1

Given Leicester's poor record at Bournemouth and Bournemouth being a much improved side under Gary O'Neil, I'm predicting this one to be a draw. The Foxes will have some confidence on board after their win over Forest on Monday but I think the Cherries will frustrate them here.

CHELSEA V WOLVES

Chelsea were excellent in their win over AC Milan in midweek with their performance probably being their best one of the season so far. They barely gave the Italian side much of a sniff defensively whilst going forward they were always a threat and were clinical in front of goal.

It's been a fairly decent start for Graham Potter as Chelsea manager in winning 2 of his opening 3 games in charge. He will still need time to find his best 11 but wins from his previous two games will give him and his side a lot of confidence going into their coming games.

I wasn't at all surprised with Wolves' decision to sack Bruno Lage mainly because they weren't scoring a lot of goals and hadn't made a good start to the season. I can see them be in that relegation mix this season mainly because of their lack of goals. Unless their new manager can sort that out, I still think they'll be down there scrapping it out.

Julen Lopetegui appears to be the favourite to take over and I'm not really sure if he would be the right man. He is available after getting the sack at Sevilla but whether he would have the character to manage a side in a relegation battle remains to be seen.

PREDICTION: 3-0

I'm backing Chelsea to win this one and comfortably because I think they'll have enough quality to win the game. Wolves may respond to the sacking of Bruno Lage but with the quality of players that Chelsea have, they should win this one reasonably comfortably.

MAN CITY V SOUTHAMPTON

Man City were ruthless against Copenhagen in midweek where Erling Haaland scored yet again. He seems to be scoring every time he steps put onto a football pitch and there has been some talk that he might break the all time record for goals in a top flight season currently held by Dixie Dean with 60. He might break the Premier League record currently held by Shearer and Cole with 34 but breaking the top flight record is a massive ask.

Southampton took points off City both home and away last season with both games ending in draws. They took points off City as City didn't have an out and out no.9 to cause them problems but they do, taking points off them again will be a massive ask.

The Saints are not in great form going into this game and there is even a rumour saying that the club are set to sack Ralph Hasenhuttl. There was pressure on him going into this season after a poor end to last season and that pressure appeared to be off after early season wins over Leicester and Chelsea. But after three straight defeats and the club just a point above the drop zone, the pressure appears to be back on him.

PREDICTION: 5-0

I've got to go for a City win here because I can see them being too strong for Southampton. With the form Erling Haaland is in and the quality of their overall squad, I can see them win this one reasonably comfortably.

NEWCASTLE V BRENTFORD

Newcastle picked up a much needed win last time out at Fulham which will give them a lot of confidence. They were on a winless run of seven games going into that one and it was important that they got the win so they have some momentum to take into this one.

The Magpies might have Allan Saint Maximin back for this one after a month out injured which will be a major boost for them. He probably won't play the entire match as he's been out for a fair while but having back will still be a big boost because of the quality of player he is and how much they've missed him during his absence.

Brentford are yet to win away from home this season and were wasteful in their last outing at Bournemouth. They certainly had enough chances to win the game but they just couldn't take them and there have been one or two games where that has been the case for them this season.

The Bees should still feel satisfied with the start they've made as they're currently 10th in the league. They would've taken that at the start of the season as many people were writing them off with it being their second season. They're showing no signs of struggle at the moment and their decent start has given them a platform to build on.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm backing Newcastle to win this one because I think they have a bit more creativity in their side. It will be a close game with both sides looking to attack but I think Newcastle will just edge it.

BRIGHTON V TOTTENHAM

Brighton got the Roberto De Zerbi era off to an entertaining start last time out with their draw at Liverpool and they'll be looking to carry that performance into this one. Their approach reminded me a bit of Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa because of the intensity they played at and they way they started the game. De Zerbi-ball looks set to be entertaining to watch.

Spurs had a frustrating game in midweek against Eintracht Frankfurt in that they created a lot of chances but couldn't take any of them. We rarely say this about Spurs because of the forward players they have and after a poor performance in the North London Derby the previous weekend, they might be hitting a dip in form.

There hasn't been one game where you could say that Spurs were truly outstanding this season but there have been a couple of games where they have looked very good. Given how well Brighton played against Liverpool last weekend, Spurs may need to be a bit scruffy again if they're to win this one.

PREDICTION: 2-2

I fancy Brighton to get another result here simply because I can see them put in a similar performance to the one they put in against Liverpool. Having taken points off Man United as well as Liverpool already this season, I can see the Seagull nick another point here. But I do think Spurs will hit them on the counter.

SUNDAY:

CRYSTAL PALACE V LEEDS

Crystal Palace are that team this season who just can't hold on to leads. They've dropped 10 points from winning positions this season with their defeat to Chelsea last time being one of them. Some of their performances have been good but they haven't been able to turn them into wins.

They were hard done by against Chelsea as Thiago Silva should've been sent off for a handball and it was him who set up Chelsea's equaliser. The Eagles hope to have more luck in this one than they did last weekend.

Leeds played well in patches of their draw with Aston Villa and especially before they were stupidly reduced to 10 men where they were the better side. They still showed spirit after going down to 10 men which deserves a lot of credit as Villa looked to be making the most of that extra man advantage.

Leeds haven't won at Selhurst Park since their return to the Premier League and are yet to win away from home this season. Their last victory in fact came against Chelsea within the early weeks of the season and a victory here could help them regain the momentum they had at the start of the season.

PREDICTION: 2-0

I'm going for a Palace win here because they're strong at home and I can see them use the Selhurst atmosphere to their advantage. Selhurst Park has been a tough place to come to in recent seasons manly because of its atmosphere and I can see that play a big part for the Eagles in this game.

WEST HAM V FULHAM

West Ham looked very much back to their best against Wolves last weekend in being solid defensively and a threat on the counter. Having Craig Dawson back in defence made a difference as he's someone whop makes the Hammers better in that department whilst Jarrod Bowen looked like the player he was last season.

That win will hopefully kick the Hammers' season into gear after a slow start. But it won't be very straightforward as this game will come off the back of a Europa Conference League game. Getting players back from injury will help but with Europe thrown into the mix, it may take a little bit longer for the Hammers' season to properly get going.

Fulham could be without some key players for this one and notably Aleksandar Mitrovic. Their talisman went off injured during their defeat to Newcastle last weekend and it's quite unlikely that he'll feature in this one. If that's the case it will no doubt be a major blow for them because of how important he's been for them this season.

PREDICTION: 2-0

West Ham might be a bit tired and leggy as they're coming off the back of a Europa Conference League game. But I think they'll have enough to win here as they've got their best defensive players back and Fulham are likely to be missing some key players themselves.

ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL

This will be another massive test for Arsenal and their ambitions for the season. They'll really fancy themselves here because of the way they've started the season and the fact that Liverpool haven't really got going. They have a much stronger mentality and their is a much better balance to their team than there has been for a number of years.

The Gunners were outstanding in their North London Derby win over Spurs last weekend where they were the better side throughout the contest. That win will give them plenty of confidence going into this one and I can see them go for it in the same way as they did against Spurs.

Liverpool put in a much better all round showing against Rangers in midweek and they now need to transfer that kind of performance into the Premier League. They looked more together as a team defensively and they really looked up for it in the way they started the game and the way they kept it up.

The reds changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation in that game and it appeared to serve them well as they got a much needed win. It wouldn't surprise me if Jurgen Klopp kept that formation for this one as he looks to help his side gain some much needed momentum.

PREDICTION: 2-1

I'm backing Arsenal to win this one because they've started the season better and are looking more settled as a team. They're looking better in all areas at this moment in time and I can see them cause Liverpool's backline all kinds of problems with the pace they have in their attack.

EVERTON V MAN UNITED

Everton are turning into a competitive side under Frank Lampard who has brought a togetherness and fighting spirit to the club ever since he's been in charge. He's established a connection with the fans which no Toffees boss has had since the days of David Moyes and has got his team playing for each other which deserves a huge amount of credit.

The Toffees won this fixture on their way to staying up last season and will be looking to do the same having won their last two as well being strong at home. Their home form was crucial to them staying up last season and they've carried it into this season as well.

Man United were completely torn apart by City in the Manchester Derby last weekend where they were brought back down to earth by both the result and performance. That runs of wins between August and September did get them back on track but the result in the derby was a reminder that a lot of work still needs to be done.

They'll need to show a reaction here after a defeat like they suffered last week and I think they will. It won't be easy for them as Goodison is a tough place to come to but I still expect them to show some fight and desire.

PREDICTION: 1-1

I can't see either side winning this one mainly because I think Everton will frustrate United defensively but not threaten them at the other end. I would've given the Toffees a chance if Dominic Calvert Lewin was fit as he would've caused Lindelof and Martinez some problems with his height and aerial presence. But as he's not I think the Toffees will have to settle for a point here.

MONDAY:

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V ASTON VILLA

I fear for Nottingham Forest at the moment mainly because they're now bottom of the league and still trying to bed in their many new signings. They didn't really need to make that many signings but I can understand why as many of their players last season were out of contract and they also had a fair few on loan. They had the kind of summer that Villa had when they came up but the only difference was that Villa didn't sign as many players.

They changed from a back three to a back four against Leicester on Monday night which clearly didn't work as they looked uncomfortable and unfamiliar with the system. Steve Cooper is still trying to find his best team and he needs to do it quickly now his job is apparently under threat.

Aston Villa are struggling to score goals at the moment with their draw at Leeds being an example of it. They had a lot of chances after Leeds went down to 10 men but couldn't take any of them and they will no doubt be kicking themselves for that. They've only netted 6 times this season with only Wolves and West Ham scoring fewer.

It's been an underwhelming season for Villa so far and now is the time where they need to start winning games. They have given themselves a platform to build on with a win and two draws from their last three games which have stopped the rot they were on in terms of that run of defeats. But they need to get some wins under their belt so they can push themselves up the league.

PREDICTION: 0-2

I'm backing Villa to win this one because Forest are lacking cohesion and are low on confidence. Villa have been struggling for goals of late but I think they'll get a couple here as Forest are not at all watertight at the back.