Premier League Preview and Predictions – How Will Manchester City’s Rivals Do This Week?

City and Liverpool go head to head in the weekend’s big match, with some brainless souls already calling it a title decider. So how will they do at Anfield, how will everyone else get on and, more importantly, what happened in my predictions last week? Let’s take a look.

Brighton v West Ham

As much as I like West Ham, I’m going for a Brighton win. I have a feeling Glen Murray will score the only goal in the 25^th minute and I think Beram Kayal will get the assist.

Prediction: Brighton 1-0 west Ham

Burnley v Huddersfield

Burnley recorded a decent win at Cardiff last weekend to ease their early season worries a little. Huddersfield lost again, this time at home to Spurs and remain winless in seven games. They already look like relegation fodder and I don’t think they’ll come away from Turf moor with anything but a defeat.

Prediction: Burnley 3-0 Huddersfield

Crystal Palace v Wolves

At the start of the season, everyone expected Wolves to be a dark horse, and those predictions look like they are coming true. Granted, we’re only seven games in, but they have held their own against City and United and have only tasted defeat once in the league. Palace meanwhile, lost for the fourth time last weekend, which came at Bournemouth and need to find their stride before they are sucked into a relegation fight. I can see Wolves getting the points here.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-1 Wolves

Leicester v Everton

Leicester piled on the agony for the Toon army last weekend, winning 2-0 at St James’s Park, and now sit in 8^th position in the league, having won four out of their first seven. Problem for Leicester is they have also lost three and you feel it is all or nothing with them at the moment. Everton have had a mixed start, but comfortably beat Fulham at home last weekend, but Leicester is a difficult place to go to. These two are evenly matched and that’s the way I see this game going.

Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Everton

Spurs v Cardiff

Spurs won comfortably last weekend at Huddersfield and lie in fourth place in the league, but they were undone by Suarez, Messi and co in midweek in the Champions League and it’s a question of how that will affect them. A match against the new boys will be just what they wanted after a heavy 4-2 home defeat. Cardiff just can’t seem to win and sit in the bottom three with Huddersfield and Newcastle, all three having drawn two and lost five. The Bluebirds have scored four goals in seven games, and will need to start finding the net soon or they’re straight back down. I can’t see them scoring today though and spurs will have too much for them.

Prediction: Spurs 4-0 Cardiff

Watford v Bournemouth

Watford are still up the top end of the league despite losing at Arsenal last weekend and at the moment, could be considered a contender for a place in Europe next season. Bournemouth are right behind them, with the two only separated on goal difference and I think Watford having home advantage will give them the edge, and I expect them to nick this one.

Prediction: Watford 2-1 Bournemouth

Manchester United v Newcastle

If there was ever a game Jose Mourinho needed to win, it is this one. Reports today are suggesting he will be sacked after this match, whatever the result, and as City fans we plead with the United board to keep him. He’s doing a great job! In all seriousness, he looks to have lost control of the dressing room and if he loses this today, it may well be bye bye. It also means it’s a great time for Newcastle to play them. The Toon haven’t won so far this season, but against this United side, it will be a great opportunity for them to get those points. Not just saying this because I’m a blue and I want to see United lose, but I have a genuine feeling they will do it.

Prediction: Man Utd 0-1 Newcastle

Fulham v Arsenal

If this match had been played at the start of the season, I would have said Fulham would win this, but the Cottagers are really struggling. One win and four defeats leaves them one place above the relegation zone and eight goals in seven matches tells its own story. Arsenal have bounced back from those two opening defeats to City and Chelsea and have won the last five, which has propelled them into fifth spot. The new manager has got his team playing well and that spells bad news for Fulham.

Prediction: Fulham 0-2 Arsenal

Southampton v Chelsea

Southampton were beaten at Wolves last week, their fourth defeat in seven games, and only goal difference separates them and Fulham. Saints have only scored six goals, while Chelsea have only conceded five, the second best behind City and Liverpool. But while the Londoner’s struggled against their European minnows in midweek, I can’t see them having any problems on Sunday.

Prediction: Southampton 0-3 Chelsea

Liverpool v Manchester City

The biggest game of the season so far sees the top two face off against each other. It’s not a title decider and it is foolish for anyone to think otherwise. After winning all their opening matches, Liverpool have gone three games without a win. Losing to Chelsea in the League Cup was followed by a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, when they clutched a draw from the jaws of defeat. In midweek, they lost to a last minute goal at Napoli and seem a little bit on the ropes. Some may think it’s a great time to play them and I agree, but the match is at Anfield, where City have recorded just two wins in over 30 years. The blues needed a last minute winner at Hoffenheim in a tough match for them and this one will also be tough. In years gone by, I’ve always felt we would lose this fixture, but I just have a slight inkling that this time, it will be different. I’m predicting a first clean sheet for City since the 1980’s too.

Prediction: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester City

So how did I get on last week? Let’s take a look

Prediction Score

Man City v Brighton 4-0 2-0 Must do better blues

West Ham v Man Utd 2-1 3-1 Happy with that anyway

Arsenal v Watford 3-0 2-0 Arsenal not greedy enough

Everton v Fulham 0-0 3-0 I got the nil bit right…

Huddersfield v Spurs 0-2 0-2 Get in Spurs, someone listens to me…

Wolves v Southampton 3-1 2-0 Almost, got the winning margin right

Chelsea v Liverpool 2-2 1-1 Right result at least

Cardiff v Burnley 1-1 1-2 Greedy Burnley

Bournemouth v Palace 1-2 2-1 Right score, wrong way around

One correct prediction, five correct results. I’m getting there, but if only one prediction comes true this weekend, please let it be at Anfield.

Until next time, enjoy the games.