After the return of Champions League action in midweek, Premier League clubs’ focus now returns to domestic matters as we get set for another action packed weekend.
Last week, we saw the first blip in the road for Arne Slot since he arrived in Liverpool, suffering a home defeat to Nottingham Forest. Results like that show why there are no easy games in this league. We also saw Arsenal come out on top in a tense, full-blooded North London Derby, confirming their title credentials.
West Ham vs Chelsea – Draw
Details: Saturday, September 21st, 12.30 pm
It has been a mixed start for West Ham under under new boss Julen Lopetegui. After splashing the cash in the summer, the Hammers will have hopes of achieving European qualification this season but to do that they will have to play better than they did last week at Fulham. A late Danny Ings goal meant they escaped from Craven Cottage with a draw. The good news is that showed this team will go to the end and in Mohammed Kudus they have a genuine star. It feels like this team is still finding their way with a number of new players and a new manager but they have the quality to really hurt teams.
West Ham face a Chelsea team who also grabbed a late goal, with Christopher Nkunku coming off the bench to grab all three points for the Blues at Bournemouth. Chelsea were second best for a lot of the contest, with Robert Sanchez saving a penalty to to keep the scores level and the Cherries missing several chances. The introduction of Jadon Sancho at half-time made a big difference, and when you have quality like him and Nkunku in reserve, it makes a big difference.
I think both teams will need to raise their levels if they want to win this, but with teething problems still evident, I am going to sit on the fence and say this will be a draw.
Aston Villa vs Wolves – Home Win
Details: Saturday, September 21st, 3.00 pm
It has been some week for Villa. It started with a stirring comeback at home to Everton, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 thanks to an absolute stunner from Jhon Durán. Then, on Tuesday, they got their first ever Champions League win, beating Young Boys 3-0 in Switzerland. Unai Emery has worked wonders at Villa Park since taking the reigns and Villa should now be considered as perennial Champions League challengers. New signing Amadou Onana as settled into life in Birmingham very quickly and in Ollie Watkins and Durán they have serious firepower.
Wolves will go into this Midlands derby not feeling as great about things. For so long in their home game against Newcastle last week, things looked on track. A Mario Lemina goal in the first half put them in control, and they looked comfortable for the majority of the game. However, a terrible five minute period in the second half saw them concede two goals and they left empty handed. Manager Gary O’Neil mentioned afterwards they can’t keep switching off, and it has proved costly on more than one occasion so far this season.
Even though they have played in Europe and Wolves might be fresher, I think Villa will be too strong at home.
Tottenham vs Brentford – Home Win
Details: Saturday, September 21st, 3.00 pm
Spurs once again came up short against their bitter North London rivals last Sunday. It was Arsenal’s third win in a row at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou has just started to creep up a notch. The fact Arsenal were missing key midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard made this result worse for Spurs, who huffed and puffed throughout the game but showed little quality in attacking areas. They have played well in games with little reward this season but last Sunday was poor. They will need more from captain Son Heung-min, who has looked out of sorts so far, and will also be relying on record signing Dominic Solanke to score the goals to drive a top four challenge.
Brentford were excellent for large part of their defeat at Man City last weekend. In fact, City manager Pep Guardiola admitted they were lucky to be only 1-0 down after the first 20 minutes. The Bees lost the game 2-1 but worse news was to follow as it was confirmed their goalscorer that day, Yoanne Wissa, will be out injured for a couple of months. Since Ivan Toney’s departure, he and Bryan Mbeumo have formed a good understanding up front and Brentford will need to find another way of replacing his output.
I think Spurs need a win here to silence an increasing number of critics. I expect them to just about claim the 3 points but I don’t think it will be easy.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester Utd – Away Win
Details: Saturday, September 21st, 5.30 pm
Palace are still searching for their first league win of the season after some mixed results. They would have wanted all three points at home to Leicester last weekend but were lucky to escape with a point after an injury time penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta saw them earn a 2-2 draw. In Mateta and Eberechi Eze they have big threats and new striker signing Eddie Nketiah will be looking to kick on after scoring his first Palace goal in the cup win at QPR in midweek. This Palace side have a lot of talent and their first win shouldn’t be too far away.
Relief was the big word for Manchester Utd last weekend. After a humiliating defeat to Liverpool before the international break they knew they had to put it right. It didn’t look good during the first half an hour, as Southampton were piling on the pressure culminating in wining a penalty. André Onana saved the spot kick and that proved to be a huge turning point, as Utd ran out 3-0 winners with Marcus Rashford also scoring his first club goal since March. Erik Ten Hag will be hoping that is the spark for his team to go on a winning run.
This is a really tough game to call as I still don’t trust Utd despite their win last week. I nearly went for a draw but I am going for Utd to sneak it.
Manchester City vs Arsenal
Details: Sunday, September 22nd, 4.30 pm
Erling Haaland might actually be a robot! His brace last week made it 9 goals in 4 matches already this season. He is so crucial for City as even when they don’t play well, which was the case last week, they know in Haaland they have a match winner who can strike at any moment. Even with Haaland, though, you feel they will have to be better against Arsenal this week. It is hard to be critical of this team, they have won every game so far, sit top of the pile and it looks like the team that finishes above them will win the league already. That team could be this weekend’s opponents.
Arsenal have developed a reputation for being extremely tough to beat under Mikel Arteta, and that was in evidence in their derby at Spurs last week. Despite missing key players, they never really looked in trouble throughout the whole game. Their keeper and back four look solid, with Saliba and Gabriel forming arguably the best centre back partnership in the league. Their winner came from a set piece, another aspect of the game that Arsenal have mastered under Arteta. Gabriel headed in unmarked meaning the Gunners left the home of their greatest rivals with three valuable points which sets them up nicely for this top of the table clash.
This is the biggest game of the weekend, and probably of the season so far. I think Arsenal will go there with the intention to be solid and would likely accept a point. They are so hard to break down and even with the stars City have I think a draw will be the outcome.
EPL Week 5 Acca
