Premier League Preview

A second week of 6/10, landed some nice predictions but there were also some major surprises. There were a lot more goals in Week 2, will the trend continue? SPORTSvox takes a look at the fixtures this week in our Premier League preview.

Wolves v Manchester City

You could say Wolves may well have played better than the results suggest in their first two games. They are learning the harsh lesson of the Premier League already and a visit this week from the Champions, will not help. Their home form was fantastic in their promotion campaign. They must continue to believe in what they are trying to build under Espirito Santo.

For City and Guardiola its the same story as they finished last season. Two games in, six points, eight goals scored and it will take a good team to stop them this season. The squad depth is immense, in Aguero and Jesus they have strikers that can both score 20+ goals a year and I see only more goals this week.

If Wolves come out and try and play it will be a great game to watch, unless you are a Wolves fan, who I fear for. I think Wolves will put up a good fight but I can only see one team coming away with three points here.

Prediction: 1 – 3

Arsenal v West Ham

I think Emery will feel positive following the encouraging display against Chelsea, but their defensive frailties were still there for all to see. Emery will hope the likes of club captain Koscielny will be back soon to bolster the defense. In reality however, this could be seen as a must win London derby to get the fans behind the side.

Very much the same position for Pellegrini’s West Ham. As reported on SPORTSvox I felt they bought well this summer but they certainly haven’t gelled as a team yet. For all the attacking options you could argue the one thing West Ham required was a classy centre back. Mark Noble will also be out this week if reports are to be believed. there is possibly a lack of leadership in the side and they will need to address this if they are to turn their fortunes around.

I fancy both teams to score, with both defenses looking unsettled. Arsenal should have enough experience to see this one out though.

Prediction: 3 – 2

Bournemouth v Everton

Two sides who have had great starts to the season. You have to admire what Eddie Howe is doing at Bournemouth, they just seem to get better and better. Six points and two good performances and their tails will be flying high. I really hope Wilson carries on his good form, he was a class striker before his injury and hopefully it looks like he his nearly back to his best.

Everton, a side I think will challenge for Europe this season have had a solid start. They still have many players to come back and challenge for a starting spot. I think Silva’s side will just go from strength to strength.

This is a tough one to call, Bournemouth at home will give anyone a game on their day. I just feel Everton have a bit about them this year and will be good for at least a point.

Prediction: 1 – 1

Huddersfield v Cardiff

This is a must win for Huddersfield you would think, even this early in the season. Although a 6 – 1 defeat is hard for anyone, I think Wagner will have prepared them to focus on games like this one. It needs to happen at both ends, get tighter at the back and either Mounie or Diakhaby to find their shooting boots in front of goal.

For Cardiff they will see this as an opportunity to register their first win of the season. After failing to turn their one man advantage into a victory against Newcastle, Warnock will see this as another chance. They played well but as mentioned previously have they got a 20 goal a season man in their squad? Without one I cannot see them staying up and I see them struggling to trouble the Huddersfield net here as well.

A tense affair with Huddersfield grinding out a tight victory.

Prediction: 2 – 0

Southampton v Leicester

The ‘Saints’ fought well in the second half at Goodison, but it wasn’t enough to register any points on the board. Southampton’s home form is going to be crucial for them this season. The likes of Danny Ings will have to re capture his form that saw his big money move to Liverpool previously.

Hughes is not going to have an easy task this week however as this Leicester side look well organised under Claude Puel. If the likes of ‘Man of the Match’ Maddison and young talent like Gray can express themselves then I can see Leicester having a good season.

I fancy Leicester to sneak this one. Although Vardy will be missing, I think they have enough goal threat from their match winners and from set pieces to take all three points.

Prediction: 1 – 2

Liverpool v Brighton

There is a lot more pressure on Klopp and Liverpool this season but so far so good for the Reds. Their squad is immense and they swept past West Ham and avoided a potential banana skin at Palace. There will be bigger tests to come for Liverpool and I wouldn’t be surprised if Klopp rotated a couple of players this week.

For all that Brighton did well last week against Utd, Mourinho’s men were poor and you do not expect it to be the same case at Anfield. Houghton will see getting anything from this game as a bonus and losing their influential captain Dunk will not help matters.

A comfortable victory for Liverpool, greater tests await for Klopp.

Prediction: 3 – 0 

Watford v Crystal Palace

Another tight match and both sides will think its for the taking here for sure. As predicted last week, Watford had a great win at Burnley and looked very dangerous going forward. Garcia will be pleased that he held on to club captain Deeney and he has already started to repay him with his performance last week.

Palace lost nothing in defeat against Liverpool and Hodgson will definitely be looking to get them back on track here at Vicarage Road. He has a lot of match winners at his disposal and if they can keep it tight at the back I think they will prove a tough nut to crack for many sides this year.

A few goals in this for me, with both sides looking for three points. Although Watford have started well I just feel Palace will sneak this one.

Prediction: 1 – 2

Fulham v Burnley

Having played in the Premier League, Jokanovic will know that two losses in a row doesn’t mean your a bad side. He will also know though that if his Fulham side don’t start getting points on the board the pressure will grow immensely. I believe that he has a lovey mix of youth and experience at his disposal and he will need all of that to secure three points at Craven Cottage this week. Home form is so important and this now turns into a big game for Fulham.

Its great that Sean Dyche is taking the Europa League seriously but you have to think that even this early in the season its taking its toll on the squad. We have seen over the years how sides exploits in Europe have hindered their progression in the Premier League and I see that continuing for Burnley here.

As always a Dyche side will keep it tight and will be hard to break down but I see the Three points remaining in London.

Prediction: 2 – 0

Newcastle v Chelsea

Very different starts for both of these sides and I expect the form to reflect in the result at St James’ Park. Newcastle showed glimmers of promise at Cardiff. Arguably, if former Chelsea star Kennedy had have converted a late penalty the mood going into this game could have been very different. Benitez will need to experiment with his best formation / starting eleven but at home to Chelsea is not really the place to start.

Maurizio Sarri has got his men playing some good football. Although he won’t be pleased with how Arsenal exposed the defense so easily, taking six points from his first two games in charge will be pleasing. A new found role for Kante and what looks like a rejuvenated Morata, might just tempt the likes of Hazard to stay. I feel gutted for the likes of Loftus – Cheek but I am hoping he will get his chance as some stage.

Comfortable win here for Chelsea with Sarri going about his job with quiet assurance.

Prediction: 1 – 3

Manchester United v Tottenham

Game of the week to finish with but for how long will Mourinho be at the helm at Old Trafford? The pressure is mounting and a defeat away to Brighton wouldn’t have helped matters. The team looks disjointed and De Gea aside the defense looks all at sea. The big players need to step up. Playing Tottenham at home instead of away at somewhere like Turfmoor is actually probably the best thing that could happen.

Kane scoring in August, maybe its a sign? Pochetino was confident in his squad over the summer and his team has proved that on the field in their first two games. Without being fantastic Spurs have secured six points and will go to Utd full of confidence. They haven’t got the greatest record at Old Trafford and they will have to be close to their best again to grab victory.

Turmoil at United but they are always hard to beat at home. Tottenham will fancy their chances but I think both teams will settle for a draw and move on.

Prediction: 1 – 1

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