After numerous teams were in Carabao Cup action this past midweek, its time to switch attention back to Premier League on this blockbuster Saturday.
Manchester United kick things off as they visit a West Ham side hitting their stride before Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham all feature in the 3pm games.
The day is then rounded off at Stamford Bridge as title contenders, Chelsea and Liverpool collide in a top table showdown.
West Ham United vs Manchester United (12:30pm)
Embed from Getty ImagesBoth teams have found form in the past fortnight but Manchester United will be keen to bounce back from Tuesday’s shock exit in Carabao Cup.
West Ham meanwhile have clearly found their click with Jack Wilshire out injured and the 8-0 Cup thrashing of Macclesfield in midweek will bolster their confidence for this clash.
Although Man U will be favourites here with likes of Paul Pogba back in lineup, the Hammers seem like a side capable of delivering a whacking to the visitors’ mood.
Prediction: West Ham United 2-1 Manchester United
Jake predicts: West Ham United 1-2 Manchester United
Result: West Ham United 3-1 Manchester United
Arsenal vs Watford
Arsenal seem to be on a rise now whilst Watford are starting to get a little sluggish so this is a good time to meet.
After a slow start, Arsenal have hit their stride under Unai Emery but Watford will provide a real test after winning two of last three meetings, and are currently sat above the Gunners in the table.
Both sides tend to score majority of their goals inside box with two of Watford’s being headers, so this could well come down to who has the more solid defence for my liking.
Arsenal however are unbeaten at home in Saturday 3pm league games since August 2013, which gives them real belief on top of the fact that they have scored in 34 of last 36 home matches.
Prediction wise, I would be happy to see this end in a draw but Arsenal will just make home advantage count.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Watford
Jake predicts: Arsenal 2-1 Watford
Result: Arsenal 2-0 Watford
Everton vs Fulham
This should be an interesting game given both sides’ defensive woes so far in not keeping any clean sheets in league.
The issue that I find with both sides is that their attacks are quality but at the back, neither know how to defend well with goalkeepers, Jordan Pickford and Marcus Bettinelli being the main men responsible for their current goal differences.
Despite Everton being at home, I can see a draw coming unless one side tighten up their defence and find a winner.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Fulham
Jake predicts: Everton 2-2 Fulham
Result: Everton 3-0 Fulham
Huddersfield Town vs Tottenham Hotspur
Embed from Getty ImagesFor Tottenham, this is a really important game if they want to head into their Champions League clash with Barcelona brimming with belief that they can win.
Huddersfield meanwhile just can’t score goals at the minute with three goals this season across all competitions, which really needs to improve if David Wagner is to guide them to another successful season by their standards.
If the Terriers didn’t need any more trouble then they will have a fresh Harry Kane to contend with after being rested in midweek.
I therefore can see just one result coming here if Kane quickly finds his best boot.
Prediction: Huddersfield Town 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Jake predicts: Huddersfield Town 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Result: Huddersfield Town 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton definitely have a tough match in store against a domestically in form Manchester City side here.
I really can’t see where City will slip up because they are ferocious across the whole pitch, with 12 goals in past fortnight across three different competitions.
Brighton meanwhile are inconsistent with a set of one win, draw and loss from both home and away. This month however has seen them develop a habit for late comebacks so cannot rule the Seagulls out in final stages.
I however cannot see that happening here with one predictable result in store.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Jake predicts: Manchester City 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Result: Manchester City 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United vs Leicester City
Newcastle enter this in dire form with two points from their opening six matches, whilst Leicester’s away form is questionable.
If there are any positives for the Magpies, it is that all four of their league defeats have been by a 2-1 result whilst both draws were goalless.
Leicester’s away goals have however come after falling behind with only one of those games seeing them turn the match around into a win. They however have conceded in all but opening home game so expect goals here.
To be honest, if there’s ever a time for Newcastle to end their luck, its now against an unpredictable side of Foxes.
Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 Leicester City
Jake predicts: Newcastle United 1-2 Leicester City
Result: Newcastle United 0-2 Leicester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Southampton
Embed from Getty ImagesI can see this being a decent but tight game because both sides are going well despite experiencing different fortunes last weekend.
Whilst Wolves drew at Old Trafford, they are yet to score more than one league goal per match since their opening 2-2 draw with Everton, back in week one.
Southampton meanwhile seem to be struggling to score whenever without Danny Ings, who has scored in three of their last five but was ineligble to face parent club – Liverpool last time out.
His absence really exposed their lack of goal threat so with him fresh for this game, I can see them getting a draw unless Wolves can somehow manage to score more than once.
Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Southampton
Jake predicts: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Southampton
Result: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Southampton
Chelsea vs Liverpool (5:30pm)
For Liverpool, this is a huge game as they look to maintain their 100% winning start to league season whilst extracting revenge for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup exit against Chelsea.
Both teams commence this weekend at top but Chelsea will be disappointed to have drawn at West Ham on Sunday, although can take real confidence from Wednesday’s cup win because both sides fielded strong sides.
Liverpool are the fifth side to win all of their opening six games at start of a new season but could that be a good or bad omen?
Out of the four previous sides to achieve that feat, only Chelsea have done it more than once and went on to win the title in those seasons (2005-06, 2009-10).
Match wise, I can see both teams continuing with their usual tactics but Liverpool have already beaten Spurs this season, so won’t fear this Chelsea side and if stick to game plan, they should make it seven wins from seven.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Jake predicts: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Result: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Prediction Wars
With the new season underway, so is Prediction Wars between me and Boro Rants writer, Jake Self.
Rules however are same as last season and goes as follows alongside latest standings;
Correct score – 3 points
Correct result – 1 point
Incorrect result – 0 points
| Name | Points |
| James Gregory | 37 |
| Jake Self | 53 |
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