It was a tough week in the predictions world with both Burnley and Wolves getting upset wins in midweek. Those games dropped me to 7 out of 16 or 44%. Hopefully this week I can move above the 500 mark.
Arsenal v Portsmouth
Arsenal have looked very impressive in their wins at Everton and Celtic and will be full of confidence for this game. I think Arsenal’s style is better suited to counter-attacking and playing away from home as they had trouble breaking teams down at home last year. This will not be the case this week as Portsmouth are in total disarray and look very much like relegation candidates.
Prediction: Arsenal win 3-0
Birmingham v Stoke
Big win at home for Birmingham in midweek and now they get to play another team that will be around them in the relegation zone all season. I don’t expect this game to provide a lot of technical highlights, but it does have a draw written all over it, which will make both managers happy.
Prediction: 1-1
Hull v Bolton
Is it too early to put Phil Brown on the first manager to get fired watch? Hull were ripped to shreds by Spurs in midweek and it will be a long season for them. Bolton had a tough loss to Sunderland last weekend and they have had a week to stew about the Sunderland loss and I expect them to come away from this with a win and continue Hull’s dismal run of poor form at home.
Prediction: Bolton 1-0
Man City v Wolves
That was a huge win for Wolves in midweek at Wigan, considering that they were without most of their first-choice strikers. However, Man City is not Wigan and they have more quality than Wolves all over the park. In front of a sold-out Eastlands crowd I expect City to win this one comfortably.
Prediction: Man City 3-1
Sunderland v Blackburn
Darren Bent has made a great start to his Sunderland career with two goals in two matches. The Stadium of Light is a tough place to go and win and I don’t think that Blackburn have the quality to win this game. It will not be a classic, but Sunderland get their second win of the season.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-1
Wigan v Man Utd
If there is such a thing as a must-win game for the Champions this early in the season this is it. With upcoming games against Arsenal (h), Spurs (a) and Man City (h), Man United cannot afford to drop points to Wigan and fall further behind Chelsea. Wigan had a tough loss at home in midweek to Wolves and will be looking to rebound here. But United are the more desperate team here, and that will carry them to victory in a game that will be closer than people think.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-0
West Ham v Tottenham
Spurs have had a great start to the season and look like the European contenders that they think they are. West Ham also had an impressive victory last weekend and Wolves and they have had a week to prepare for this game. This should be an entertaining game with plenty of goals.
Prediction: 2-2 Draw
Burnley v Everton
Huge win for Burnley in midweek over Manchester United, but so was Everton’s impressive win in Europe. I cannot see Burnley pulling off two upsets in less than an week, and I expect Everton to notch up their first points of the Premier League season/
Prediction: Everton 1-0
Fulham v Chelsea
Big win for both teams in midweek as Roy Hodgson continues to do a great job at Fulham. This is a local derby, but Chelsea have class all over the park and I expect them to make this 9 points out of 9 to start the season.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Big win for Liverpool in midweek as they rebounded nicely from losing to Tottenham last weekend. Villa are really struggling at the moment, losing two games and I cannot see them getting their first win of the season at Anfield.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0
