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CRYSTAL PALACE vs FULHAM (1500)
Ninth plays tenth in a game primarily of interest to the two sets of fans. Palace were desperately unlucky to come away from Villa Park last time out with null points, having led until the 87th minute. You’d expect them to be revved up for a reversal of sorts against Fulham, who managed to squeak past lowly Luton last week. Home win.
LUTON TOWN vs WOVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (1500)
Luton may not take kindly to being called lowly, but that is precisely what they are, having secured no points on their Premier League journey to date. They could overtake their opponents with a healthy win today, but Gary O’Neil will have something to say about that. Draw.
MANCHESTER CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1500)
Forest have made an encouraging start to the season having amassed seven points from their opening five games. But this fixture won’t, by any stretch of the imagination, add to that tally despite half of City’s first choice team being injured. Steve Cooper might want to adopt a Moyesie approach. Home win.
BRENTFORD vs EVERTON (1730)
There’s something intriguing about this game. The Toffees have just a single point to their name and sit firmly in the early season relegation zone. But they are, or should be, better than that solitary point. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly where their problem lies – they’ve got a half decent first team and a half decent manager. The Bees on the other hand have a very decent manager and will expect another three points this evening. Is there an obvious, available replacement for Sean Dyche? Don’t think so, and anyway that may not be the real problem. Home win.
BURNLEY vs MANCHESTER UNITED (2000)
Another intriguing fixture between two sides stuck firmly in the brown stuff. There can be few better times for Burnley to play Man U than now, when the visitors seem to be suffering from a marked absence of self-belief. But Burnley, too, are suffering, though it’s hard to diagnose their problem. Two pretty decent managers meet and it may be time to take a perch on the fence. Draw.
*SUNDAY*
ARSENAL vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (1400)
There’s little chance you won’t have heard about this game in recent days. Goal difference separates them and in fairness it has the makings of a good game of football. It’s hard to distinguish the two sides, so home advantage could be decisive. Home win.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs BOURNEMOUTH (1400)
How will Brighton’s Euro defeat affect them as they host a Bournemouth side that you feel has more to offer than they’ve shown so far. The Seagulls are strong – too strong for today’s opponents. Home win.
CHELSEA vs ASTON VILLA (1400)
There’s no easy game in the Premier League, so the saying goes. Pochettino may be inclined to agree with that, particularly with a mounting injury list. As, indeed, may Emery. If it weren’t for that game at Anfield, this could have been the one to watch. Home win.
LIVERPOOL vs WEST HAM UNITED (1400)
We rarely come away from Anfield with anything but a black pudding and a missing wing mirror. Liverpool will offer infinitely superior opposition than Backa Topola, but then so did Man C and Chelsea and we managed to subdue both of them for a half and come away with three points. Coufal will face another challenge from the wing in the form of Diaz, but he did reasonably well against the very impressive City fellow last week. Many others would have fallen long before he did. The early signs from Kudus are encouraging and it will be interesting to see if Moyes starts him in place of Antonio. A fresh and energetic Antonio coming on as sub after an hour would make an interesting and possibly welcome change. Pool are strong, probably too strong for us, but in Kudus, Paqueta and Ward-Prowse we possess threats of the kind we’ve not had for some years. Hope? It springs eternal. Draw.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (1630)
The Blades have managed one draw from their return to the top table thus far. Newcastle, surprisingly, are twelfth with two wins to date. So not much between them, on the face of it? Don’t judge a book by its cover. Away win.
*CHAMPIONSHIP*
Preston are top, Middlesboro are bottom. Who’d have expected that after seven games? Leicester and Ipswich make up the early chasing pack, while it’s as tight as ever below them with just three points separating the next 10 teams. Preston visit Rotherham (21st) today while Boro host the Saints (13th) and Millwall (11th) travel to West Brom (15th). All Saturday’s games kick off at 3.00pm. Remember that? Sunday’s highlights see Stoke hosting Hull and Cardiff making the long trip from Rhoose to Durham Tees Valley.
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