I think after last week with Villa beating Manchester City and West Brom defeating United the predictions are all up in the air. To a certain extent it is what makes this League one of the best in the world as on their day anyone can beat anyone else. For fans of the ’lower table’ sides this has been a fantastic start really with most having at least one fantastic result already. For the fans of teams competing for the title, well I know personally there is certainly less hair on my head now! Something I thought was out of my life with my team now, oh well. I like others will be there over the weekend, full of hope and holding on to the theory that ‘the bad results are behind us!’
SATURDAY (All Kick Off times 3pm BST/10am ET unless stated)
Manchester City v Everton (12:45BST/7:45ET):
One of the biggest questions for every City fan is, ‘will Joe Hart start?’ A bunch of errors and lack of concentration in recent games have been putting pressure on a Pantilimon start for some time now and the error, or two if you include the near post Robben goal to put Bayern 3-0 up, will certainly have ramped up that pressure.
Yes he was at fault for the first goal but for me the cracks in the City lineup go deeper than just the England number one. Clichy for example was at fault for the second goal, should Pellegrini replace him too? Navas looked good in certain games, nowhere in others. Dzeko doesn’t track back and what exactly is Fernandinho meant to be doing?
Whatever the line up is Saturday you can bet that Everton, on their current form, are not the type of side City would want to see as they try to kick start their season.
Gareth Barry is not eligible to play against City while Darron Gibsn, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Pienaar are all out. City could welcome back Silva for the first League game in two months and a win would certainly give the Manchester side a boost back into the top two, at least for a little while.
Everton, on the other hand, will look to continue their unbeaten run and with the form of both, who would bet against it!
Prediction: 2-1
Cardiff v Newcastle:
Sunderland fired their boss a couple of weeks ago now and if this ends in a home win then I look for Newcastle to follow suit. It would certainly be harsh on Pardew but I think after the summer activities it is on the cards for owner Mike Ashley to do that. He has done it before and off the pitch it is following almost the exact same trajectory.
For Cardiff, if you would have said after six games they would have beaten the 2012 Champions and be above the current Champions then they would have ripped your arm off Boyo! Now that they have got off to such a good start they need to continue it and their main goal should be getting to the Premiership points target for safety as quickly as possible.
Manchester City found it tough away to Cardiff but the Welsh side haven’t scored at home in their last two games. This is both concerning for Cardiff, and a boost for Newcastle. Loic Remy and Ben Arfa will be chomping at the bit to be able to show what they can do.
Prediction: 2-2
Fulham v Stoke:
Martin Jol will be hoping his Fulham side can do something about the rut they are in. Certainly being in the bottom three after six games is not exactly where they envisioned themselves to be at this point when they met up for the pre season festivities. The pressure on the manager will also be increased because of the fact they Fulham has recently come under new ownership and sometimes with new owners comes a different direction. Jol was there before the regime change and so maybe the new owner will see someone else as the man for the job?
Meanwhile you have the guy in the other dugout, Mark Hughes. This guy was the man in charge of Fulham after Manchester City had dispensed with his services only to then quit the Cottagers in 2011 because the club ‘could not match his ambition’. Well he is now manager of Stoke City, via a spell at QPR and to be fair, and no disrespect to Stoke, I think it is a step backwards.
Certainly the Fulham fans will make it loud for him and if their team can get the three points then it will be difficult to know if they are cheering the three points or because they may have just leapfrogged their ambitious ex Manager.
Prediction: 3-0
Hull v Aston Villa:
Both sides won their previous Premier League ties, both at home and both by the single goal. Hull defeated a struggling West Ham while Villa came from behind to beat Manchester City. Both are on a two game winning streak but Hull City are a point and a place ahead of their visitors going into the game.
Hull have not lost at home so far this season and Villa beat both Norwich and Arsenal away from Villa Park.
Steve Bruce will be without Robbie Brady for this game though and with half his teams league goals tally this season he will certainly be a big miss.
For Villa they should welcome back Gabby Agbonlahor and are waiting on another two to face last minute fitness tests. Benteke will still be out though and much like Brady for Hull, Benteke was Villa’s go to goal machine.
Prediction: 2-1
Liverpool v Crystal Palace:
Liverpool started off great guns early part of the season but then let a 2-1 lead slip at Swansea to get a 2-2 draw before losing 1-0 at Anfield against Southampton. Suarez returned for the Capital One Cup but lost to Manchester United.
Last weekend though, playing alongside Sturridge against Southampton, Liverpool retuned to winning ways. I really cannot see any way that Crystal Palace will get anything but hammered here.
In fact it was a 3-1 win against Sunderland, the same score line Liverpool got against them last weekend, which got the Eagles their only points of the season.
Even without Coutinho, Leiva and the numerous other injuries for Liverpool I think Brendan Rodgers side will have too much for Holloway. That said if you were going to make a statement, now would be the time.
Prediction: 4-0
Sunderland v Manchester United (5:30pm/12:30pmET):
Despite losing 3-1 to Liverpool last weekend I think Sunderland are showing a bit more about them since the sacking of Di Canio. Yes they have lost every single game bar one draw in the League, but since Kevin Ball took over the players seem a little more up for it.
A win in the Capital One Cup was good, albeit to a lower league team, the reality is you can only beat the team put in front of you. Yes they lost against Liverpool 3-1 but the third goal was scored in the last minute after Sunderland had been pressing hard for an equalizer.
Manchester United have lost their last two League games with the first being a hammering against City and then last week the 2-1 at Old Trafford by West Brom.
It was only a few weeks ago that West Brom and Sunderland were playing in a basement match. If West Brom can beat United at Old Trafford then certainly Sunderland can beat them at their own ground, especially as United had to travel to the Ukraine midweek.
Prediction 1-2
SUNDAY (All Kick Off times 4pmBST/11amET unless stated)
Norwich v Chelsea (1:30pm BST/8:30ET):
Norwich City are a tough team to watch this season. The amount of money spent on the attacking players this season keeps coming up. With only four goals in the first six League games you can understand the frustration.
Chelsea, like most other ‘top four’ favorites have had quite a stuttering start. Two draws and a defeat to Everton see them occupying 5th position and four points behind London rivals Arsenal.
Even with a missing Torres I think Chelsea should have too much for City but if City can get Hooper starting with Ricky Van then maybe they can give Chelsea something to think about.
Prediction: 1-3
Southampton v Swansea (1:30pm BST/8:30ET):
You cannot help but admire what Pochettino has done with Southampton since he took charge. Currently 6th in the League and only one defeat in six Premiership matches including that 1-0 win at Anfield two weeks ago.
Southampton, like Norwich, spent big before the season started. The difference is that so far Southampton fans are seeing the results of that investment. There will probably come a time when Southampton’s form slips away but for now enjoy the ride.
Swansea were in European action on Thursday night and the extra game may have an effect on them but either way I think even without the Europa League, Southampton would have too much for Swansea.
Prediction: 2-0
Spurs v West Ham:
Spurs have been dominant in recent games in all competitions. A draw against Chelsea last weekend was the first points dropped since the defeat to Arsenal at the beginning of September. Currently third in the Premier League AVB and Tottenham show no signs of even missing that one guy, what was his name? The only criticism would be the amount of chances compared to goals scored. At some point either they will start to convert a higher percentage of those chances, or those chances will start to dwindle.
West Ham really do not have anything to frighten Tottenham for this game and will no doubt pack the defense and hope to catch Spurs on the break away.
This will suit Tottenham who have quick players and a game consisting of slick passing.
Prediction: 3-0
West Brom v Arsenal:
Can West Brom do the same to Arsenal as they did to Manchester United a week ago? Certainly you would give it a little more serious thought after the last few weeks and especially with the way they came back from the Rooney equalizer.
Arsenal have won every game since that opening defeat at home to Villa but the thing that will give West Brom some kind of hope.
I can really see West Brom holding Arsenal to a draw but it will take a great effort again from Steve Clarkes side if they are going to get any points against Arsenal.
Prediction: 1-1
