A look ahead at this weekends games in the Premier League. Last weekend I went 7 out of 10, when brings me up to 76% for the season.
Portsmouth v Everton
It looks like David Moyes side has turned the corner after a tough start to the season. In their last three games, all wins, Everton have scored 11 goals with none conceded. Pompey on the other hand are just a poor team, who are playing like a team that already knows it will get relegated. Portsmouth is always a hard ground to win it, but I cannot see anything less than an Everton victory here.
Prediction: 2-0 Everton
Birmingham v Bolton
Birmingham got a great victory at Hull City last weekend and they are another team that needs a good home record if they are to stay up. It has been a good week for Bolton with a late equalizer against Stoke and a midweek win in the Carling Cup. Bolton might be a team better suited to play on the road as they will be able to escape the boo-birds at the Reebok. This will not be a football classic and I expect both teams to share the points here.
Prediction: 1-1 draw
Blackburn v Aston Villa
Since their opening day defeat to Wigan, Villa have started to look like the kind of team we expected them to be. They have a lot of pace on the counter-attack and this will cause Blackburn’s defense all sorts of problems this weekend. It has been a tough start to the season for Blackburn and I expect them to still be in the bottom three come Saturday evening.
Verdict: 2-1 Aston Villa
Liverpool v Hull City
If the press reports are to be believed Hull City boss Phil Brown only has four games to save his job. It’s a pity that one of his last games in charge will be a thrashing at Anfield. Even with a Champions League game coming up in midweek, Liverpool are much too strong for Hull and I expect them to win this one easilyt.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0
Stoke v Manchester United
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has done a terrific job at Stoke and in making the Britannia Stadium a fortress. It is hard to win at Stoke, as Chelsea almost found out, but the best teams someone find a way to get that late goal to win games and I expect Man United to do that this week.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-0
Tottenham v Burnley
This will be an interesting game for Spurs. They started great, but then lost to two of the top four and I will be really interested to see how to respond at home to Burnley team that is still learning about the Premier League. I see nothing but a home victory here.
Prediction: Tottenham 3-0
Wigan v Chelsea
Chelsea are the best team in the Premier League at the moment and they will be far to strong for Wigan. If I had a lock of the week, this would be it.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0
Fulham v Arsenal
Fulham are traditionally a much better team at Craven Cottage and last year they beat Arsenal in this fixture. But I don’t expect that to happen this week. I still winder when the Arsenal forwards will start to score goals, but I cannot see them losing at Fulham for the second consecutive season.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1
Sunderland v Wolverhampton
While Wolves are still finding there way in the Premier League, this is the kind of game that Sunderland has to win if they are to move from perennial relegation candidates to a solid middle of the table side.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-1
Man City v West Ham
Mark Hughes has done a good job with City this season. Their ability to fight back three times last week in the Manchester Derby must have really encouraged him. City are difficult to beat at Eastlands and I cannot see a depleted West Ham team getting anything from this game.
Prediction: Manchester city 3-1
