After a seemingly never-ending international break, the Premier League is back with a bang this weekend.
Arsenal have crashed out of two competitions since their last league outing but are still nine points clear on the summit. After returning to winning ways in Europe midweek, they face a stern test at home to Bournemouth in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Roberto De Zerbi will hope to spark Tottenham into life away to Sunderland while Liverpool are hoping to finish their miserable run of form at home to Fulham.
Manchester City, emboldened by that Carabao Cup victory, still have hopes of chasing Arsenal down but one other slip-up away to Chelsea on Sunday will certainly end them for good.
Manchester United and Leeds United close out the motion on Monday night.
As ever, England legend and Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer has revealed his Premier League predictions to Metro.
West Ham vs Wolves
The reverse game was the fixture where I assumed West Ham were done. I assumed they were dead and buried. But you’ve got to provide them credit for the way in which they’ve come back. Wolves have come back higher as well over the past couple of months. It’ll be a extremely tense one for West Ham.
It was a little bit of a blow for them within the FA Cup and going out in the way that they did. But in the long term, in the event that they were in a position to stay awake, then that may be thing, them going out. So I’m going to say West Ham win here at home because I believe it’ll be an incredible atmosphere, and everybody might be up for it.
They’ve an enormous opportunity to place pressure on their relegation rivals playing on Friday night. That is such an enormous game, not just for West Ham, but for the teams around them, because in the event that they don’t win, that is what everyone’s taking a look at by way of West Ham. That is an incredible opportunity for them to place huge pressure on the opposite clubs, but on the flip side, in the event that they don’t win, then there’s huge pressure on themselves.
Prediction – West Ham win
Arsenal vs Bournemouth
This is big for Arsenal. In the event that they can win again, then I believe it could really, really set them up for a powerful finish because I believe they’d get a little bit of morale and a little bit of confidence back. They gave themselves an incredible opportunity in midweek with the exertions and the performance that they put in. So that they’ve got to go again.
It might be a large blow though in the event that they did drop points, I believe due to noise, it’s an incredible opportunity to quiet every thing down again. They did that on Tuesday, they’ve got to do it again on Saturday and in the event that they can, as I said, I just think the momentum is big.
They were really disappointing against Southampton and didn’t need to win against City. So, to get it back in midweek without playing that well. I believe they’ll use that as a powerful platform going forward in the event that they get one other result this weekend.
I believe Arsenal will win.
Prediction – Arsenal win
Brentford vs Everton
You understand what, with Everton’s away form, I’m going to go for an away win. I do know Brentford are a difficult customer, strong, physical, and Keith Andrews has done an impressive job and Thiago up front is an actual threat. But I just have a sneaky feeling for Everton.
Prediction – Everton win
Burnley vs Brighton
I believe an away win here. I believe Burnley are gone and have been for some time. They’ve never really given me any thought or hope that they may stay awake, unfortunately. So, Brighton win.
Prediction – Brighton win
Liverpool vs Fulham
You’ll be able to imagine the noise if Liverpool lose here and are already under huge pressure being really, really poor defensively. Fulham will go there knowing the job that they should do. In the event that they can quieten down Anfield for 20 minutes, you then definitely hear the moans and groans after that and that might be a part of their job done.
I’m going to back Liverpool though. I believe I’ll back Liverpool. Arne Slot will no doubt will change the system again and Salah might be back. Home win.
Prediction – Liverpool win
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest were good at Spurs, weren’t they? That sets them up really nicely. I believe Villa will make it a troublesome one. I’m going to sit down on the fence with this one and go for a draw.
Prediction – Draw
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle
Newcastle have been hammered after their performance and result against Sunderland, and rightly so. That may hurt them and it’s going to keep on with them until they play them again. But I at all times say you get the possibility to answer as a player, they usually have to return out and reply not only this weekend but next weekend as well because they’ve been miles off it by way of their league campaign this yr.
I can’t say with any huge confidence that they’ll go there and get the three points. I believe I’ll sit on the fence and say they’ll get some extent. Crystal Palace might be tough. They’ve had an up and down season as well, particularly after last season. But they’ve got some really talented players in there, Crystal Palace. So, I’m going to say a draw.
Prediction – Draw
Sunderland vs Tottenham Hotspur
I assume it’s a guessing game by way of the impact that De Zerbi can have. I just think with Sunderland and every thing else that goes with them, I believe the momentum that they’ll take from beating Newcastle, I’m going to say Sunderland to win.
If Spurs go there and win, then I’d think that might be enough to get them through to the tip of the season. Again, in the event that they go there and Sunderland beat them, then you realize the noise that can occur. So, I just think Sunderland with the shape and every thing else, it’ll be an incredible atmosphere. They’re tough anyway, but they’re tougher at home. So, Sunderland to win.
Prediction – Sunderland win
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Man City should win every game with that massive game against Arsenal next weekend.
I believe with what we saw against Arsenal, with what we saw particularly against Liverpool after 25 minutes, City were good, probably probably the greatest performances of the season. I’d think they might carry that on, and I believe City will win against Chelsea.
If Man City don’t win and Arsenal win this weekend, I believe the Premier League title race might be dead and buried.
Prediction – Manchester City win
Manchester United vs Leeds
This can be a big game and an enormous rivalry. Michael Carrick is doing an excellent job and I’m pleased for him. If it was away, then it is likely to be different, but since it’s at Old Trafford, then I believe Man United can have enough to win.
It’s not at all times thing not playing for a protracted time frame because you may come into it a bit rusty and depending on what they’ve had off and where they’ve been and all of those things. But within the important, I believe they’ve had such a comparatively easy season anyway due to no European football. So, it should work of their favour.
Prediction – Manchester United win
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