Five Games, Five Calls: Matchweek Two
By Jamie O’Hara, PricedUp Brand Ambassador
Right, before anything else, four out of five correct picks last week. Arsenal, Everton, City and Chelsea all came in. The one I got wrong? Brentford against Spurs. Of course it was. I said it was a difficult opener, but I still thought we would come away with a point. Three-nil. I was wrong and it’s fair to say there is work to do at Tottenham.
Anyway. Second weekend, and already there’s plenty to get stuck into. Five games, five calls.
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest — Saturday, 12.30pm
My prediction: Liverpool win
Forest seem to be a little all over the place at the moment.
They’ve played Leeds twice in four days and lost both. First, it was Anton Stach’s late free kick at the City Ground on Saturday, then Leeds went straight back to the same ground on Tuesday and knocked them out of the Carabao Cup 2-0. Same opponent, same stadium, same outcome twice over. That’s not bad luck; that’s a team that has work to do.
Liverpool weren’t exactly convincing either, mind. They needed a Szoboszlai penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time at Newcastle just to get a point, and the defending for Newcastle’s two goals wasn’t great. But look at the numbers: 27 shots, an expected goals of 2.73 against Newcastle’s 1.43. They created plenty. They just didn’t finish it.
Anfield, lunchtime kick-off, a wounded Forest side playing their third game in eight days. I’ll take Liverpool, and I’d be looking at them scoring more than one.
Bournemouth v Everton — Saturday, 3pm
My prediction: Bournemouth win
Bournemouth were about six minutes away from the first win in their history at the Etihad last week. Then Marc Guéhi headed City level on 84 minutes and Gvardiol nicked it in stoppage time with a goal that was flagged offside and only given after VAR.
Bournemouth haven’t dropped off. They finished sixth last season with 57 points, the best in the club’s history, and they had the longest unbeaten run in the entire division. They lost Andoni Iraola and it would have been easy to fall apart. They haven’t.
This is Rose’s first home game, in front of a Vitality crowd that’ll be right up for it after the way that City game finished. Everton have started well and I’m not writing them off, they were better on the road than at home last season, but I think there’s a wave coming here and Bournemouth ride it.
Tottenham v Newcastle — Saturday, 5.30pm
My prediction: Tottenham win
We cannot be as bad as we were at Brentford. We just can’t.
No shot on target in the first half. Expected goals of 0.47 to Brentford’s 3.96. De Zerbi admitted afterwards that Senesi, van Hecke and Tonali weren’t near full fitness. That’s the honest answer and it’s also the reason to think this is fixable with some new additions to the forward line.
The squad is being rebuilt in real time. Five new faces made competitive debuts at the Gtech, the Savio signing has taken spending past £300m, and Omar Marmoush is reportedly close on loan with an obligation to buy. Finally, some money going into the forward line – that was an area I wanted addressed.
Newcastle are dangerous, no question. They twice led against Liverpool and were just seconds away from victory. But Spurs at home, under the lights, with new signings coming in and a squad that owes the supporters a performance – I’m backing Spurs. Partly with my head, and I’ll admit, a little bit with my heart.
Manchester United v Ipswich — Sunday, 4.30pm
My prediction: Manchester United win
Losing 2-0 at Hull wasn’t a good start, and the way it happened was worse. Two first-half set pieces. They are basics that Michael Carrick will be disappointed about.
So, this is chance to react. First home fixture of the season, Old Trafford, and a manager who could do with a good result. United have the players – Šeško, Mainoo and Rashford all came on off the bench at Hull. They were poor, not incapable.
Here’s my warning though, and it’s a serious one. Both promoted sides won on the opening weekend. Hull turned United over, and Ipswich beat Sunderland 2-1 at Portman Road. Gary O’Neil has replaced Kieran McKenna and named seven new signings in his starting XI – twelve new arrivals over the summer. That’s a squad with fresh legs and no fear, like Sunderland last season.
United should win this. But if they defend set pieces the way they did at Hull, they may not.
Aston Villa v Arsenal — Monday, 8pm
My prediction: Arsenal win
Villa won the Europa League in May. First European trophy in 44 years. Finished fourth. And then the summer happened. Morgan Rogers to Chelsea. Ezri Konsa to Arsenal. Lucas Digne to PSG. Youri Tielemans to Manchester United. Ollie Watkins wasn’t even in the squad at Brighton. Only five of the eleven that started at the Amex had started that European final.
The 4-0 loss to Brighton away on the opening day was disappointing. Four goals conceded inside 31 minutes. Emery had to start without a recognised striker. He said afterwards the club would look for solutions in the last days of the window, and he needs them, because he’s had his team sold out from under him.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have picked up exactly where they finished last season. Three-nil in the Community Shield, three-nil against Coventry, and a squad so deep they’re bringing Rice and Saka off the bench. Bruno Guimarães has settled straight in. There’s a bit of needle here too with Konsa potentially lining up against the club that just sold him.
Monday night, Villa Park, with the transfer window closing around them, the atmosphere might drag Villa through forty-five minutes. However, I don’t think it drags them through ninety. Arsenal for me.
The Weekend in Five
- Liverpool to win
- Bournemouth to win
- Tottenham to win
- Manchester United to win
- Arsenal to win
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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