Premier League action resumes after a fortnight
The first international break of the season is over & the Premier League is back with the weekend's fixtures expected to be electrifying. Last week also saw the closing of the summer transfer window which saw 133 new faces sign for the 20 Premier League clubs taking the spending roughly £1.4 Billion.
After 3 GWs, Manchester United lead the way with 9 points; 3 wins, 10 goals scored & none conceded. Liverpool, Huddersfield Town, Man City & West Brom are all locked in on 7 points in 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th positions respectively.
3 teams are yet to get their first points of the season i.e. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace & West Ham United who sit in 18th, 19th & 20th places respectively.
Fixture 1
This weekend's action kicks off with a bang as title contenders Manchester City & Liverpool face off at The Etihad.
City won their last PL game against Bournemouth after a last gasp injury time winner by Raheem Sterling. However, he will miss out through suspension & captain Vincent Kompany is injured. Their switch to a 4-3-3 worked well last GW and would expect to do the same this week.
Liverpool thrashed Arsenal 4-0 at home in their last PL game and come in high on confidence after the high profile arrival of Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain on deadline day. Phillipe Coutinho is still a Liverpool player but will miss this weekend's game & Sadio Mane who scored 3 goals in 3 games has been crowned Premier League Player of the Month for August.
Both teams are evenly matched in attack and have an average defense. Liverpool have kept 2 clean sheets in a row & they may have a slight edge this time out.
Prediction:
Man City (1-2) Liverpool
Fixture 2
Arsene Wenger & his Arsenal squad left for the international break after a disappointing 4-0 loss to Liverpool which was their 2nd loss in a row this season. They now face a Bournemouth side who are still looking for their first points of the season.
Arsenal may have Alexis Sanchez for the start of this game after managing to keep him this season. However, Oxlade Chamberlain's loss would have a huge impact on the squad.
Last weekend's wonder goal scorer Charlie Daniels won the Best Goal Award for August and Bournemouth looked a rejuvenated side against Man City. But Arsenal need to bounce back from their loss to Liverpool and at home it looks like a 3 pointer.
Prediction:
Arsenal (3-0) Bournemouth
Fixture 3
West Brom have had a flying start to their campaign, getting 7 points by defending their first couple of one-goal leads. They now travel to newcomers Brighton who on the contrary are finding it difficult to find their feet in the PL.
Last GW, Brighton managed to win their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw against 10-men Watford. This may just be their time to get their first win of the season.
West Brom's quality additions Grzegorz Krychowiak & Kieran Gibbs may be available along with Oliver Burke who could be handed his first PL start of the season.
Prediction:
Brighton (1-0) West Brom
Fixture 4
Mid-Saturday, another blockbuster fixture awaits on Merseyside as this season's 2nd biggest spenders Everton take on last season's runners-up Tottenham Hotspur. Both sides are evenly matched with their strong defensive unite & fierce attack.
Everton's new arrival Nikola Vlasic could make his debut but is unlikely to start. Wayne Rooney who scored the final goal at "White Heart Lane" last season is in contention to start along with former Spurs midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. Everton are looking a much stronger side coming into this game.
Tottenham have just 4 points on the table after their disappointing draw against Burnley last time out. New arrival Fernando Llorente is still injured whereas Serge Aurier may have to settle with a place on the bench. Harry Kane needs to find his goal scoring form soon after his goal drought August month.
Both, Tottenham & Everton are in 9th & 12th positions respectively but on paper Everton still look like a much stronger side.
Prediction:
Everton (1-1) Tottenham
Fixture 5
A clash of the champions is set to occur at the "King Power Stadium" as former PL Champions Leicester City take on current PL Champions Chelsea.
Chelsea have slowly started to find their form after back-to-back wins against Tottenham & Everton and sitting in 6th place on 6 points. Their squad has added former Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater on deadline day along with Italian Wing-back Davide Zappacosta. Drinkwater may miss this weekend's game but Eden Hazard may be set to make his first start of the season.
Leicester City's deadline day move for Portugal midfielder Adrien Silva fell through after the paperwork wasn't submitted on time, he will only be eligible from 1st Jan 2018. They have a good squad capable to get something positive out of the game.
Prediction:
Leicester (0-2) Chelsea
Fixture 6
Slow but steady has been the policy for both Watford & Southampton this season who sit in 7th and 8th places respectively. They face off in a crucial fixture at the "St. Mary's Stadium" this weekend.
Southampton's cult hero Virgil Van Dijk has returned back to first team training after he failed to move to a club this season. Their defense has further been boosted by new arrival Wesley Hoedt who is expected to partner him in the future.
Watford who finished their last PL fixture with 10-men last week have Miguel Britos suspended for the game. There are defensive concerns for Watford who could find it difficult to come out with a positive result.
Prediction:
Southampton (2-0) Watford
Fixture 7
Premier League leaders Manchester United's 100% League record will be put to the test when they face their toughest fixture yet against Stoke City, a team they've struggled with in the past.
Stoke City have a few doubtful players for this weekend's game including former Man United players Darren Fletcher & Mame Biram Diouf. They have had a mixed start to their campaign with 4 points.
But remember, they beat Arsenal in their last home game and are undefeated in their last 4 Home Games against the Red Devils in the PL.
Man United have had the perfect start to their league campaign, 10 goals scored, none conceded & sit handsomely on 9 points. Playing Stoke away will be their toughest challenge yet but if their squad continues the same harmony, this time too they will come away with a positive result.
Prediction:
Stoke City (0-3) Man United
Fixture 8
Sunday's action resumes as Burnley & Crystal Palace; two evenly matched sides face off against each other. Burnley have 4 points this season and sit in 10th place & Palace are still looking for their first points of the season sit in 19th.
Burnley snatched a late important draw against Tottenham last GW which could boost their confidence. New signing Chris Wood who scored late in injury time may be ready for his first league start. However, they are yet to pick up their first points at home this season and may want to re-write it this weekend.
Crystal Palace have added Mamadou Sakho to boost the strength of their defense. They will also be welcomed by the returns of Ruben Loftus-Cheek & Yohan Cabaye. Palace may finally be able to find their first win of the season.
Prediction:
Burnley (0-1) Crystal Palace
Fixture 9
To round-off Sunday's action, an exciting clash against Swansea City & Newcastle United awaits at the Liberty Stadium. Both clubs picked up their first wins of the season last GW.
Swansea's newest arrivals Renato Sanches & Wilfried Bony could be in contention to make their Premier League debuts for the club this season. They will add quality to the Swansea 3-5-2 attack alongside Tammy Abraham.
Newcastle, on the other hand have had a disastrous transfer window this season after failing to land any of their top targets. They are now on 3 points & have defensive concerns after Chancel Mbemba was ruled out. Although, captain Jonjo Shelvey could be ready to feature against his former club.
Prediction:
Swansea (3-1) Newcastle United
Fixture 10
Game week 3 rounds off in style at the "London Stadium" as West Ham United play their first home game of the season against this season's surprise packages Huddersfield Town.
Huddersfield Town have 7 points and sit in 3rd position which is amazing for the newcomers. Their squad is seriously shaping up and adjusting to the high intensity of the Premier League.
West Ham sit bottom of the PL table after 3 straight losses. However, all 3 were away fixtures and now finally will play their first home fixture. An injury boost to the side would be Andy Carroll after his inclusion in the squad. However, West Ham could finally pick up their first win of the season.
Prediction:
West Ham United (2-0) Huddersfield
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