Manchester City are looking unstoppable at the moment, with no one yet to halt their momentumn in the EPL. So will Spurs come out of the Etihad on Saturday with something tangible? Read on to find out my predictions for this weekend round of matches in the Premier League.
LEICESTER V CRYSTAL PALACE
Claude Puel of Leicester has only lost just one match since his appointment as permanent manager in late October, and forgivable, the loss was against City. With five victories in the kitty so far for the French manager in eight games, he would be looking to continue in that rich vein of form when Roy Hodgson’s Palace come visiting on Saturday. I think Leicester would win this one, and Riyad Mahrez getting on the score sheet.
MY PREDICTION: Leicester 2-0 Crystal Palace
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ARSENAL V NEWCASTLE
Arsenal haven’t won any league match in December and would be looking to change that against a Newcastle side that are yet to win a league game since October. The title is a tall order for Arsene Wenger and his men right now, but, if they must play in the Champions League next season, then they should be winning this sort of games.
MY PREDICTION: Arsenal 3-1 Newcastle
BRIGHTON V BURNLEY
Burnley are above Arsenal on the log right now, and you can’t but appreciate how high they have raised their stock in the league so far in this campaign. Brighton have been woeful recently, but I think they will give Sean Dyche’s Burnley a run for their money. I am going for a draw, with Burnley more likely to win.
MY PREDICTION: Brighton 1-1 Burnley
CHELSEA V SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton drew Arsenal and then lost 4-1 at home to Leicester. They won Everton 4-1 and then lost to City, that has been their story so far in this campaign. They have lacked consistency. Away at Stamford Bridge is always a difficult match, and I’d be shocked if Mauricio Pellegrino and his men come out of this one with something.
MY PREDICTION: Chelsea 2-0 Southampton
STOKE V WEST HAM
Many didn’t give David Moyes and his West Ham side a chance heading into games against two big London clubs in Arsenal and Chelsea, and they surprised everyone; picking four points from an available six in those London derbies. Their confidence has grown, and if they carry that growing confidence into this game at struggling Stoke, they would get something there. Reason I am tipping them to draw this one.
MY PREDICTION: Stoke 1-1 West Ham
WATFORD V HUDDERSFIELD
Huddersfield have given a good impression of themselves so far in the Premier League, for a side that only gained promotion into the elite league last season. But they struggle away from home, and that has been their bane. In fact, the last time they got a point away from home was in September at Burnley. I am not too convinced they can pick anything in this clash at Watford.
MY PREDICTION: Watford 1-0 Huddersfield
MAN CITY V SPURS
City are flying at the moment, with the Citizens notching their 15th successive win against Swansea in midweek. Spurs will come into this one looking to thwart City’s excellent form, but it’s difficult to see any side right now stopping them. They are just a class above everyone. Mauricio Pochettino like his side to always have a go at opponents, and try to dominate often. But the quality in this City side is too much to curtail. One of this days, someone will disrupt City’s excellent form in the league, cause I don’t see them going the whole of the season unbeaten. But, I don’t think that ‘someone’ is Spurs.
MY PREDICTION: Man City 2-1 Spurs
WEST BROM V MANUTD
Following that humiliating defeat to City, I expected United to react in a ferocious manner against Bournemouth in midweek, but, they really disappointed me in the way they struggled to win that game at Old Trafford. The only way they can hip some sort of pressure on City is by winning games. If they drop any point here, and City win against Spurs, they can as well forget about the title. So, I think United will win this against a rather struggling West Brom side.
MY PREDICTION: West Brom 0-1 Manutd
BOURNEMOUTH V LIVERPOOL
It can be frustrating to see your side drop from scoring three, five and seven past opponents to managing a goalless draw. That has been the pitiable story of Liverpool in their last five matches. And Jurgen Klopp will be focused on getting his side backfiring when they face Bournemouth on Sunday. But Bournemouth are no pushovers, and I think they will make things difficult for the Reds in this one.
MY PREDICTION: Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool
EVERTON V SWANSEA
Sam Allardyce is yet to see defeat as Everton boss, and I don’t think that will change here – against bottom-placed Swansea at the Goodison. The English manager has restored confidence in this Everton side that looked vulnerable only last month. Hard to see anything other than an Everton win in this one.
MY PREDICTION: Everton 2-0 Swansea
