By Jamie O’Hara, PricedUp Brand Ambassador
Firstly, thanks to Racing Blogger for taking over last week. Not too far off with his predictions, no one could have seen Liverpool drawing at home to Fulham coming. We’ll have to revisit that Spurs shout before the North London Derby though!
Right, let’s get into it. We’ve got a massive weekend. My club are under real pressure, Brighton are flying, and Maresca’s City are showing they can win even when it gets messy. Here are my five predictions.
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa – Saturday, 12.30pm
My prediction: Spurs win
This is the moment. This is the game for Spurs.
I won’t dress it up. The numbers are ugly. Spurs haven’t scored in four Premier League games, over 400 minutes without a league goal. Two points from four games has us 17th, and De Zerbi badly needs three points.
But Villa aren’t exactly flying right now. They’re 19th with one point and only one league goal all season. They’ve also got a Champions League campaign to juggle, and Onana, Goretzka and Pau Torres are all out. Unai Emery is a top manager, but his side look nothing like themselves at the minute.
Home crowd, a Villa team low on confidence. This is a great chance for Spurs they need to take advantage of. The goal is coming, and I think the win comes on Saturday.
Brighton v Arsenal – Saturday, 3pm
My prediction: Draw
Arsenal have had a perfect start: four wins from four, eight goals scored and one conceded. They’re top of the league on merit. But going to the Amex is one of the trickiest away days in the division, and Brighton are in form.
Look at Wednesday night. They were 2-0 down at Old Trafford after 12 minutes and came back to win 3-2 in the League Cup. That was the first time in 50 years United had lost at home after going two goals up. It perhaps said more about where United are now than about Brighton, but you don’t do that without real belief in the dressing room.
Hürzeler’s side are 5th, and they’ve scored at an average rate of over 3 goals a game. Even the Arsenal defence is going to struggle to keep this lot out. I can see Arsenal dropping their first points of the season here.
Newcastle v Hull City – Saturday, 3pm
My prediction: Newcastle win
That was a bad night for Newcastle on Monday. Losing 4-1 at Elland Road is the sort of performance that stings. They gave away an own goal, went 3-0 down by half-time and never got going. I’d expect that dressing room to want to put it right straight away.
Credit to Hull, though. They’re unbeaten, they beat Man United 2-0 and they drew 2-2 with Chelsea last weekend. Nobody’s having an easy afternoon against them. Back at St James’ Park after a result like that, I think Newcastle respond.
Leeds United v Crystal Palace – Sunday, 2pm
My prediction: Leeds win
Leeds look really good. Playing 3-4-3 suits them: they’re solid at the back and they cause problems going forward. They’re unbeaten after four games, and if you watched them take Newcastle apart on Monday, you’ll know they’re a proper side this season.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, worry me. One win from four, 16th in the table, and beaten 2-0 by Everton and 4-1 by City. On top of that, Mateta, Sarr and Dean Henderson are all injured and Disasi is suspended. That’s a big chunk of the spine of the team missing.
It’s early days, but Palace look like they could be dragged into a relegation battle this season. Elland Road will be rocking. Leeds win.
Manchester City v Sunderland – Sunday, 2pm
My prediction: Man City win
What a win that was for City at Old Trafford. They lost Foden to a red card after 23 minutes and still went and won the derby 1-0, with Haaland getting the goal. That says everything about the character Maresca has built in a short space of time.
People were quick to write City off after the Community Shield defeat, but four league wins from four is a response. City have scored eight and conceded two, and they’re level on points with Arsenal at the top.
They’ll be without Foden, who’s suspended, and Doku, who’s injured, but they’ve got the depth. Sunderland are 14th with four points and were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal last time out. At the Etihad I only see one winner.
The Weekend in Five
- Tottenham to win
- Brighton & Arsenal to draw
- Newcastle to win
- Leeds to win
- Man City to win
Accumulator price – 25/1
As always, these are opinions and nothing else. Have a look, make your own mind up, and only ever stake what you’re happy to lose.
Enjoy the weekend.
Jamie
Odds correct at time of publication and subject to change. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. For free, confidential support and advice, visit BeGambleAware.org
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