We all like to have a moan about the Premier League, about all the things it gets wrong and about how much better it could be with a few small alterations. But Sundays like the one upcoming make it all worthwhile.
There are matches that require undivided from football supporters. If you’re going, you make sure you’re there early. If you’re watching at home there’s no book alongside you to dip into, nor any chance of a skim through social media to see what’s going on among your circle of friends. On Sunday, there are two of those fixtures.
The first sees Arsenal, seeking to cap their recent progression, face one of the toughest challenges in the game at the moment; they visit Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The second is bursting with storylines, as Chelsea host Manchester United. But with City on the march early in 2017-18, the main narrative will be the pursuit of points, as neither side can afford to fall behind another step in pursuit of the leaders.
Both fixtures admittedly dominate the weekend, but there are other vital matches to savour as well. Read on for a line on the rest of the games and a prediction for all 10 games to come from English football’s top flight. Predictions are in bold, odds and bookmaker in italics.
West Ham United vs. Liverpool
Liverpool will be out to continue their recent upturn in form on Saturday evening, as they make the trip to West Ham United for a key game at both ends of the table.
The Reds have bounced back well from their hammering at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, winning routine home matches against Huddersfield Town and Maribor in the UEFA Champions League. This trip to the London Stadium will be a little tougher for Liverpool, but it’s a match they’ll be expected to win.
Especially given the recent woes that have been endured by West Ham. Against Crystal Palace last weekend they let a two-goal lead slip, with the last-gasp equalizer conceded amid comical defensive scenes. For Slaven Bilic’s side, stopping this Liverpool attack will be a huge challenge.
Late last season Liverpool ran riot at this stadium in a 4-0 win, with West Ham teetering just above the relegation zone. Based on what we’ve witnessed from each side this term and especially in recent encounters, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a similar scoreline again. 0-3 (15.00 William Hill)
Manchester City vs. Arsenal
We already know that Manchester City are a force of nature, favourites for the Premier League title and playing some of the most eye-catching football the competition has ever seen. So it feels as though we’ll learn more about Arsenal in this one.
The Gunners have made progress as of late, having won nine of their last 10 games in all competitions ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Red Star Belgrade. But a defeat that sends the team into a tailspin never seems too far away.
Obviously, there’s no disgrace losing to this City side; it’s the manner in which Arsenal approach this game that’ll be examined. Can they maintain concentration defensively? Can they adapt to the pattern of the match? And can they be ruthless when chances do drop their way?
In the past, they’ve failed on all of those counts in these big games and at Anfield, earlier in the season they came apart at the seams against a rampant Liverpool attack. City, who are so confident at the moment, will pray on those vulnerabilities.
Guardiola’s side will surge out of the traps in this one in an attempt to set up a similar onslaught. Based on what we’ve seen from the Gunners as of late, they may have it in them to dig in a little more than usual, but their defence doesn’t have the tools to sufficiently limit the home side’s attacking incision. 3-1 (12.00)
Chelsea vs. Manchester United
Jose Mourinho’s in a mood again, it seems.
The United boss was angry after his side won against Tottenham, angry at his supporters for what he believed was insufficient backing of Romelu Lukaku and even had a pop at the fans in the programme ahead of the Red Devils’ Champions League meeting with Benfica.
So it’ll be interesting to see how he copes with a return to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea and a touchline battle with Antonio Conte. The last two visits to his former club have been feisty occasions after all, with the Portuguese criticising Conte and then reminding the Blues supporters he was “still No. 1” after they dished out a bit of stick.
Cool heads are required, though, from the United manager and his players. For Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, it’s a huge occasion too, as they both return to their ex-employers for the first time in the red of United.
It’s a fascinating dynamic and it’ll be intriguing to see how Conte sets his team up for this one. At the moment Chelsea doesn\’t appear to be completely at ease, as they’ve been unable to exert a vice-like grip on matches as they did last season.
When the sides last met, Mourinho utilized Ander Herrera in a man-marking role against Eden Hazard and you sense there’ll be similar proactive tactical moves from each coach here. With that in mind, it’s easy to see this one fizzling out into a draw. 1-1 (6.60 at green listed bookmaker)
Stoke City vs. Leicester City
After tough beginnings to the season for each of these two teams, they each secured big victories in their respective matches in Week 11. For Stoke, a win on the road at Watford was something of surprise, whereas Leicester were lively under Claude Puel in his first game in charge. Expect these two outfits to cancel one another out. 1-1 (7.00 William Hill)
Huddersfield Town vs. West Bromwich Albion
David Wagner’s side were brought back down to earth on Saturday with a hugely disappointing performance at Liverpool and will hope to find their groove again at home. They should have just enough against a West Brom side that have fallen into a lull and struggled all year on the road. 1-0 (7.00 BetStars)
Newcastle United vs. Bournemouth
Newcastle and Bournemouth were both uninspiring in defeats in Week 10, so this one is unlikely to be a high-scoring encounter. The home side will at least be cohesive, determined and tough to beat; those gritty qualities will see them edge past Eddie Howe’s side in another tight game. 1-0 (8.00 BetStars)
Southampton vs. Burnley
Burnley’s early-season form has been one of the standout storylines of the Premier League season so far, particularly away from home. However, Southampton seem to be finding something gradually under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino and have enough quality to get the job done on the south coast. 2-1 (9.50 BetStars)
Swansea City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Paul Clement’s side are in desperate need of a victory as things stand, as they are perched on the brink of the relegation zone. The visitors, meanwhile, are starting to look more and more like a Premier League outfit. Another evenly contested fixture is on the cards and you sense both would be content with a point here. 1-1 (6.50)
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace
After difficult games against Manchester United and Real Madrid as of late, a meeting with the division’s bottom club at home will be welcomed by Mauricio Pochettino. Spurs can’t afford to take an improving Palace side lightly although they have the firepower to see of Roy Hodgson’s Eagles at Wembley. 3-0 (8.50 Betfair)
Everton vs. Watford
There’s no team in the top flight who are in more desperate need of a victory this weekend than Everton, as the Toffees begin the weekend in 18th position. Marco Silva and his Watford team have been strong away from home this term, but at an atmospheric Goodison Park, David Unsworth’s side will grind their way to three points. 1-0 (8.00)
Calculators
