We are already two weeks into the Premier League season and it is incredible how quickly this has come around. It barely seems just a few weeks ago we were watching Manchester City clinch the domestic treble and then Liverpool be proclaimed Champions of Europe following their victory over Tottenham in Madrid.
Yet here we are already on the brink of the first international break of the season and a busy round of fixtures to get the third matchday of the season underway with another big clash between top six hopefuls as Liverpool take on Arsenal at Anfield in what should be the most anticipated and interesting game of the weekend. Although Manchester City’s trip to Bournemouth promises to be a very good game too.
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After two exciting weeks of action, here’s how the third weekend of games in the Premier League is shaping up.
Premier League – Matchday Three Fixtures
All Kick off times 3pm unless otherwise stated
Friday 23rd August
- Aston Villa v Everton (8pm)
Everton have a good record over Aston Villa in recent years and that extends to victories at Villa Park. The newly promoted Villa will find out how good they are over the first few weeks of the season and in truth I think they are a little short of being at Everton’s level, especially in attack and I think that will be the crucial factor here. I am backing Everton to win this game narrowly 2-1.
Saturday 24th August
- Norwich City v Chelsea (12.30)
Frank Lampard’s new look Chelsea is something that I am eager to see over the first few weeks of the season and whether his influx of young players can turn Chelsea’s fortunes around. They’ll have to with a transfer ban in place. Norwich are a dangerous side at home and scored plenty of goals in the Championship at Carrow Road, they’ll find it tough against Chelsea though and while I can see both sides scoring, I am backing Chelsea to win a corking clash 3-2.
- Brighton v Southampton
A south coast derby on the third week of the season promises to be an interesting match up. Of the two teams, I fancy Southampton to have the better season overall and I do feel Brighton could well be forced into a relegation battle. The Saints have the better squad of the two and I think did better business over the summer too. As such, I am backing Southampton to earn a 2-0 victory here.
- Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are always tricky opponents for top six teams as they showed against Manchester City and Liverpool last season but Old Trafford is a tough place to go and Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be keen for his team to make the stadium a fortress. I am not sure United can quite do that as yet, but I do feel they are good enough to pick up three points here with a 2-0 win over Palace.
- Sheffield United v Leicester City
I think Leicester City will have a good campaign this year and I fancy them to really push on towards the top six. As such, they are going to have to win away games against lower sides like Sheffield United and I do think they will do that. The Blades squad just isn’t Premier League standard in my view and I think the quality Leicester have in midfield and attack will expose that somewhat. Back Leicester to win 2-0.
- Watford v West Ham United
Two teams that will view mid table as satisfactory but would want to push on from there this season but who I think have question marks against them as to whether they can do that. I think West Ham have the more talented squad, but I feel Watford are a better unit and are more solid defensively, The Hammers I also see struggling a little for goals, so I am going to go for a rather dour 0-0 draw between these two teams.
- Wolves v Burnley
Wolves face a real examination of their credentials as a potential top six team this season and I think these are the games where they struggled at times last year. Burnley are excellent at negating a team and spoiling a game to earn a result when they play well and I can see Sean Dyche’s team trying to do that here. Wolves have the talent but I think Burnley have the manager to cause an upset here. I am backing the visitors to earn a narrow 1-0 win.
- Liverpool v Arsenal (5.30pm)
Last season, Liverpool thumped Arsenal 5-1 in this fixture and in truth, I can see a similar kind of scoreline here at Anfield once again if the Gunners don’t change a great deal about how they approach this game. Liverpool at home are fearsome and fear nobody and Arsenal on the road in recent years have been abysmal. I can’t quite see it being as heavily in Liverpool’s favour this time around but I am still backing the Reds to land a 3-1 victory.
Sunday 25th August
- Bournemouth v Manchester City (2pm)
Over the last couple of seasons, Bournemouth have given Manchester City a bit of a test at home in the Premier League, but I think City are so strong now and so focused, that the Cherries are not likely to get anything from this game, even in front of their home fans. City have such strength in depth and the ability to rotate players in and out of the squad, without it impacting results is a fundamental to their success. Back Man City to win this one comfortably 3-0.
- Tottenham v Newcastle United (4.30pm)
For me, Newcastle put themselves at a huge disadvantage when they allowed Rafa Benitez to leave the club, failed to give him sufficient backing and put Steve Bruce in charge. Bruce is a decent manager but has done little at this level to suggest a very poor squad can thrive under him as it did under Benitez. Spurs in contrast have added wisely to a very strong squad and I am backing them to emerge as very comfortable winners in this game. I back Spurs to win this one 4-0.
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