Manchester United vs Arsenal
Saturday 19th November 2016, 12.30
Manchester United ended a run of four league matches without a win in their last game, a 3-1 victory at Swansea. They'll be looking to earn back-to-back league wins for the first time since August against an Arsenal side who are unbeaten in their last ten Premier League fixtures.
United were comfortable at Swansea, and were 3-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swede netting a brace following a run of six league games without a goal. Wayne Rooney was man-of-the-match having played a part in all three goals, and Jose Mourinho will have been relieved to see him, as well as Pogba and Ibrahimovic, back to his best in a victory that was one of just two for the Red Devils in their last eight league matches.
Arsenal visit Old Trafford on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham in the North London Derby, a point which leaves them fourth in the table, two points off leaders Liverpool. A tie was probably a fair result, although there was a slice of fortune about the Gunners' goal, Kevin Wimmer heading into his own net from a Mesut Ozil free-kick. Arsene Wenger's men created some decent chances to win the game but also saw Christian Eriksen hit the post in the dying moments for Spurs, so they can't be too disappointed about not taking all three points.
Jose Mourinho will not have wanted the international break after his side's performance at Swansea, and he will be hoping that Zlatan Ibrahimovic in particular will be able to replicate the form he showed at the Liberty Stadium. Ibrahimovic has admitted in the past that he turned down an offer from Arsenal as a youngster due to Wenger's offer of a trial, and he will be eager to show the Frenchman that he can cut it in the big Premier League clashes all these years later. I think it'll be a really close game, and don't see enough to separate these two teams.
 |
Mourinho and Wenger meet again on Saturday (Getty Images)
|
Prediction: 1-1
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Saturday 19th November 2016, 15.00
Crystal Palace are on a real run of bad form ahead of Manchester City's visit to Selhurst Park on Saturday, a 3-2 defeat at Burnley their fourth league defeat in a row. They host a City side who are unbeaten in four league games, but three of those have been draws, all coming at home.
Palace played their part in a thrilling encounter at Turf Moor and were unlucky to leave with nothing. The Eagles found themselves 2 goals down at half time, but Connor Wickham replied on the hour before a Christian Benteke penalty drew them level with nine minutes to play. Alan Pardew's men failed to see the game out, and conceded in the 94th minute to leave themselves empty-handed for the fourth successive league game. They are without a win in five, and face another stern test on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola will have been furious that his side failed to kill off Middlesbrough in their 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, conceding a disappointing late goal themselves. It was no surprise to see Sergio Aguero on the scoresheet for his 150th City goal, but Marten de Roon's header embarrassed City and made them pay for an error-strewn second half. It also means that they've failed to keep a clean sheet in nine of their eleven league matches this season, a worrying stat which Guardiola will have been working hard to rectify in training over the international period.
Crystal Palace are having one of those spells where nothing is going right for them, and I see that theme continuing on Saturday. Despite a couple of disappointing draws recently, City possess so much quality and should have a bit too much for Pardew's Palace.
Prediction: 1-3
Everton vs Swansea
Saturday 19th November 2016, 15.00
It will have been a long fortnight for Ronald Koeman by the time this game rolls around, with a 5-0 defeat at Chelsea weighing on the mind of the Everton boss. He will be looking to put things right against a Swansea side without a win since the opening day of the season (ten matches).
The one criticism that you could make of Everton so far this season is that they are showing signs of inconsistency. They enjoyed a comfortable win against a revitalised West Ham three weeks ago, before receiving a 5-0 hammering at Stamford Bridge a week later. The Toffees were outclassed from start to finish, and failed to even muster a shot in the first half against Chelsea. Romelu Lukaku scored a couple of goals for Belgium over the international break, and Koeman will be hoping that his talisman can maintain his good form against the Swans.
Swansea are desperately struggling at the moment, and sit in 19th place in the table, already five points adrift of 18th-placed Hull. They are yet to win under Bob Bradley, and have gained just one point from his first four matches in charge, a drab 0-0 with Swansea. They were lacklustre in their last league fixture, the 3-1 home defeat to Man United, and Bradley has a real task on his hands to turn the club's fortunes around. The decision to sack Garry Monk last year is looking like more and more of a mistake; Monk's Leeds United currently sit in the play-off places in the Championship for the first time in over two seasons.
Everton will be fired up for this one, eager to put the embarrassment at Chelsea behind them at the first opportunity. Swansea are in desperate need of a first league victory since August, but I just don't see it coming at Goodison Park.
Prediction: 2-0
Southampton vs Liverpool
Saturday 19th November 2016, 15.00
Southampton will have been very disappointed to lose 2-1 at Hull last time out, their second successive league defeat. They host the league leaders on Saturday, who have won three in a row after their 6-1 demolition of Watford at Anfield.
Southampton took the lead at Hull thanks to a penalty from Charlie Austin, but fell apart when Robert Snodgrass equalised in the second half, allowing Michael Dawson to net the winner just two minutes later. Southampton have played some nice football this season, but some defensive errors have cost them so far, and they will be disappointed to be sat in 10th with the likes of Watford and Burnley currently above them in the table.
Visitors Liverpool are flying under Jurgen Klopp, and were mesmerising in their victory over the Hornets. A brace from Sadio Mane was added to by strikes from Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Gini Wijnaldum, and the Reds have now scored four-plus goals five times already this season. They have managed 30 goals in just 11 league matches and saw their England international's continue their good form, Adam Lallana scoring against both Scotland and Spain, whilst Daniel Sturridge also scored against the Scots. Everything seems to be going right for Liverpool at the moment, and there is a really positive atmosphere surrounding the club at this moment in time.
 |
| In-form Sadio Mane faces his former side this weekend (Getty Images) |
Despite recent results, Southampton are a tough side to play under Claude Puel, and Liverpool will have their work cut out at St Mary's. However, there is a swagger about everything that Klopp's men do at the moment, and I can't bet against them on current form.
Prediction: 1-2
Stoke vs Bournemouth
Saturday 19th November 2016
Stoke are now unbeaten in six Premier League games following a four match losing-streak, and their 1-1 draw at West Ham lifted them to 12th in the table. They are now three points above the drop zone but only two off 8th-placed Watford, and Mark Hughes will be expecting his side to start making an assault on the top half. Bournemouth have lost two in a row following their 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland, and now face a tricky visit to the Bet365 Stadium.
Glenn Whelan scored an unfortunate own-goal for the Potters in their game at West Ham, and in a game of few chances Hughes must have been fearful of his side's unbeaten run coming to an end. Stoke persisted, though, and got the equaliser courtesy of a fine acrobatic effort from Bojan. In Hughes' own words, Stoke are now "fully into our stride and where we want to be." They will be looking to earn their third home win of the season against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Eddie Howe's men became the first team to lose to Sunderland this season, a worrying result when you consider David Moyes' team played the last half an hour with ten men. Dan Gosling gave the Cherries an early lead, but Victor Anichebe pulled one back for the visitors. Steven Pienaar was dismissed on the hour for the Black Cats, but Adam Smith fouled Anichebe in the box 15 minutes later, and Jermain Defoe dispatched the penalty to leave Bournemouth empty-handed at the Vitality. That loss made it two on the spin for Howe after a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough the week before, and he will be desperate for his team to avoid it becoming three.
These two sit in 12th and 13th positions respectively, and I'm expecting it to be almost as close as it is on paper. Stoke are a solid side at the moment though, particularly at home, and I'm expecting them to earn the victory.
Prediction: 2-1
Sunderland vs Hull
Saturday 19th November 2016, 15.00
David Moyes' finally got his first league win as Sunderland boss in that terrific win at Bournemouth. He will have been disappointed to see the international break roll around that same weekend, but will be optimistic about his side's chances of building on that victory against Hull. The visitors also had a positive result last time out, ending a run of six straight league defeats with their 2-1 home win over Southampton.
Sunderland were dogged in their match with Bournemouth, and showed great character and team ethic to grind out a win with ten men. The Black Cats still sit bottom of the league, but will move to within two points of Hull if they beat them on Saturday. I wrote about Victor Anichebe a couple of weeks ago, and he showed exactly why Moyes brought him to the club, scoring one and winning the penalty from which Defoe gave Sunderland their first league victory of the campaign.
Like Moyes, Mike Phelan will have been disappointed at the international stoppage after such a positive result against the Southampton. The Tigers showed great spirit, coming from behind to win the game, and the travelling fans will be looking to roar their team onto a second successive victory at the Stadium of Light. Robert Snodgrass will be looking to continue his impressive form; the Scot has been directly involved in half of Hull's 10 league goals this term, scoring four and assisting one.
Both teams will be in confident mood ahead of this game, but it becomes a six-pointer as soon as the whistle blows and I think both will be fearful of allowing their relegation rivals to earn an invaluable three points. It'll be close, but I can see Sunderland nicking their second win on the bounce, with home advantage a key factor.
Prediction: 1-0
Watford vs Leicester
Saturday 19th November 2016, 15.00
Watford and Leicester both come into this clash at Vicarage Road on the back of defeats in their last Premier League matches, Watford losing 6-1 at Anfield and Leicester suffering a bitterly disappointing 2-1 home defeat to West Brom.
The Hornets lost for the first time in four league matches a fortnight ago, and they did it in some style, going down 6-1 to league leaders Liverpool. Daryl Janmaat netted a consolation for Walter Mazzarri's team, but they were a shambles at the back and Liverpool will know that they could have had more than six on the day. Watford are not, however, the first team to receive a hiding at Anfield this season, and nor will they be the last. Mazzarri will hope that result was a blip in what has otherwise been a strong start to the season for his team, and they will be looking to bounce back against the champions.
It will have been a long couple of weeks for Danny Drinkwater by the time this game kicks off. His poor touch in midfield allowed Matt Phillips to nip in and score the winner with 18 minutes left to play at the King Power Stadium. Leicester had responded well to going behind earlier in the game, Islam Slimani equalising three minutes after James Morrison's opener, but it was the Baggies who showed the desire to go on and win the game; a result which saw the Foxes lose their first home fixture since September 2015 (20 matches unbeaten, 13 wins and 7 draws).
Leicester are already 14 points adrift of first-placed Liverpool, and their inconsistency will infuriate Claudio Ranieri, but he will have been pleased to see Jamie Vardy score against Spain on international duty, his first goal in 15 matches for club and county. Watford is a tough place to go this season, but I think Ranieri would be content with a point, and the Foxes certainly have enough quality in their squad to earn one.
Prediciton: 2-2
Tottenham vs West Ham
Saturday 19th November 2016, 17.30
Tottenham are still the league's only remaining unbeaten side, but they have now drawn more games than they've won, the 1-1 draw at Arsenal their fourth straight stalemate. West Ham also drew 1-1 in their last league fixture, at home to Stoke, a result which leaves Slaven Bilic's side hovering in 17th, just one point above the relegation places.
The big positive for Spurs at the Emirates was Harry Kane's return to the starting lineup, and the fact that he marked it with a goal. The Englishman scored from the spot to earn Tottenham a point after Kevin Wimmer's own goal, and he'll be looking to follow this up with a goal at White Hart Lane in another London derby. Spurs have gone their first eleven games of a league campaign unbeaten for the first time since 1960-61; the last time that the club was title winners.
 |
| Harry Kane is back in the team and back in the goals (Getty Images) |
Goalkeeper Adrian made a costly error in his team's draw against Stoke, leaving his goal in an attempt to clear the ball, instead allowing Jon Walter's to put the ball on a plate for Bojan to volley home. Bilic admitted a draw was 'frustrating' but 'fair,' a common theme of the Hammers' season so far and one that needs rectifying with immediate effect.
I can't see anything but a Tottenham victory in Saturday's late kick-off. Mauricio Pochettinho's men will be buoyed by the return of Kane, and I think West Ham will struggle to live with them at the Lane.
Prediction: 3-0
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
Sunday 20th November 2016, 16.00
Sunday's only fixture sees in-form Chelsea travel to the Riverside. The Blues have won five league matches on the trot after a dazzling 5-0 win over Everton, but face a Middlesbrough side unbeaten in three, who have held Arsenal and Manchester City to draws in that period.
Middlesbrough defended well as a team at the Etihad Stadium, and are finally starting to look organised at the back. They could do nothing to stop Sergio Aguero prodding home just before half-time, but didn't allow the floodgates to open and held on to earn a mightily impressive point when Marten de Roon scored with an emphatic 91st-minute header to send the visiting Boro faithful delirious.
Chelsea are on the longest winning run of any team in the Premier League, and were sensational in their victory over Everton. Eden Hazard ran the show, scoring twice, whilst Diego Costa and Pedro scored again for Antonio Conte's charges. Marcos Alonso also scored, his first goal for the club. That result means it's five victories in a row for the Blues, and it's no coincedence that that run began when Conte changed his formation to three-at-the-back; a formation which served him so well whilst in charge of both Italy and Juventus.
Aitor Karanka will approach this game in much the same way as he did the recent games with Arsenal and Man City, but it will be harder at home than it was away, where his side will be expected to see a little more of the ball. Chelsea are in such a good place right now, with Hazard and Costa in the form of their lives, and I reckon reckon they'll run out comfortable winners on Sunday.
Prediction: 0-2
West Brom vs Burnley
Monday 21st November 2016, 20.00
West Brom returned to winning ways at Leicester after two straight league defeats, whilst Burnley made it three league games unbeaten after a 3-2 home success over Crystal Palace.
Tony Pulis has got his West Brom side well organised and highly competitive this season, clearly evident in their stunning win at the home of the champions. They became the first team to beat Leicester at the King Power Stadium since September 2015, a remarkable feat, and one which saw them move about the title holders. The Baggies haven't won at home since September, though, and that will be the focus with Burnley the visitors on Monday night.
Burnley won a topsy-turvy game against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 11. They found themselves 2-0 up but were pegged back to 2-2 with just 9 minutes remaining. Sean Dyche's team once again found the character to go and win the game late on, as they did in a 2-1 victory over Everton last month, Ashley Barnes netting a 94th-minute winner to move the Clarets into the top half.
Both sides have made impressive starts to this campaign, and will be looking to put further distance between themselves and those at the bottom of the table. I'm a big admirer of the way Tony Pulis utilises his squad and plays to their defensive strengths, and I'm backing his team to take the three points.
 |
| Two men that have enjoyed impressive starts to the season (Getty Images) |
Prediction: 2-1
No comments:
Post a Comment