After a short break to make way for international football, the Premier League returns this weekend with a full fixture list. Thomas Woods provides his predictions. Click here for his results this season.
Chelsea 1 Leicester City 1
Leicester’s away form has been woeful this season, but this game feels like it could come down to a battle of wits between the managers. Antonio Conte is expected to stick with his trusted 3-4-3 formation that returned Chelsea to winning ways at Hull City, and brought him success with Italy and Juventus. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri will have a plan to counter Conte. The new formation could be a masterstroke by Conte that offers Chelsea more stability. Leicester’s pacey counter-attacks are sure to provide ample challenge.
Bournemouth 1 Hull City 0
Hull’s three straight defeats must be a concern for caretaker manager Mike Phelan. Especially since the club’s late transfer window signings are yet to make a significant effect. Neither side scores enough goals, but home advantage and the killer instinct of star striker Callum Wilson should give Bournemouth the edge.
Arsenal 3 Swansea City 0
For your Swansea and Premier League managerial debut, they don’t come much tougher than this. Bob Bradley, who succeeded Francis Guidolin last week, might as well write this one off and start planning for the home match with Watford next week. Arsenal are the league’s form team, having won five in a row. As long as their squad returns from international duty mostly fresh, they will stroll to victory.
Manchester City 1 Everton 1
The international break has given everyone an extra week to try to digest City’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham, where they were comprehensibly outplayed. Was it a blip on their march to the title or a sign that they don’t have the defensive strength to be champions? This is another test. Everton have the quality in their squad to hatch an effective game plan at the Etihad Stadium. City could potentially be without Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero. Not ideal for Pep Guardiola.
Stoke City 2 Sunderland 0
Stoke will take plenty of positives from the 1-1 draw at Manchester United. Yes, they need to improve defensively as United missed four clear chances, but they also stuck in the game and played decent football. With a fully fit squad, they should find their rhythm soon, particularly at home. Sunderland’s winless run continues.
West Bromwich Albion 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Spurs look very impressive and are surely set for another title challenge this season. Dele Alli is coming into top form too, which is important in the absence of striker Harry Kane. West Brom have only conceded seven goals this season, on par with Arsenal and Manchester City, so it could take Spurs a while to break them down. But they will.
Crystal Palace 2 West Ham United 1
West Ham’s defence has let them down immensely this season, conceding a league-high 17 goals. Against a Palace side who have scored 10 in their last four — and whose star striker Christian Benteke just netted a hat-trick on international duty for Belgium — it is hard to see Slaven Bilic’s side keeping a clean sheet.
Middlesbrough 1 Watford 1
After impressive wins over West Ham and Manchester United, Walter Mazzarri will be disappointed with Watford’s following two results — a defeat at Burnley and a home draw with Bournemouth. The Italian’s side are still a tough team to gauge but they have the attacking threat to trouble Middlesborough and, at the very least, leave with a point.
Southampton 2 Burnley 0
Burnley are winless on the road this season, having conceded six in two games. If they avoid relegation this season, it looks like it will be primarily based on their home results. A trip to Southampton is not the occasion to turn their away form around. Claude Puel’s team are motoring at home and have taken seven points from their last three games. Watch Charlie Austin get on the scoresheet against his old team.
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 1
If Liverpool play as well as they did in their home games against United last season, they will win this game hands down. United are a better team than last season and are solid defensively, but they haven’t gelled in the way Liverpool have in attack. Klopp’s men can get up a head of steam if they are on their game. They should rise to an occasion like this against major rivals.