Week 6 preview...

Some tasty looking fixtures this weekend, which extends to Monday night.
We still have 4 unbeaten records, with all 4 teams drawing with each other last week. Then there is the 6 winless clubs all looking to get that first victory. Injuries dominate a lot of the build-up, while refs didn't have the greatest weekend last time out.

Saturday:

NEWCASTLE UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY 12:30 on TNT
Rodri got his foot stuck in the Etihad pitch and now misses the rest of the season, and he joins Kevin de Bruyne, Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb on the sidelines.
Newcastle also have a major doubt over Alexander Isak as they go looking for a win that will put them level with the champions.
Last season saw City win 3-2 at St James Park thanks to an injury time Oscar Bobb goal, while Bernardo Silva scored 3 times across the 2 fixtures last season.
There have been plenty of goals between these two in Newcastle, with a 3-3 draw, a 3-4 away win and an 0-4 City victory in recent times - but Newcastle did win 1-0 a year ago today in the EFL Cup.

My Prediction:
Newcastle 1-3 Man City

ARSENAL vs LEICESTER CITY - 3pm
An unbeaten side host a team yet to win.
Arsenals main injury concern is 'keeper David Raya, with Neto set to debut. Odegaard and Merino are among the players definitely missing, although Timber and White seem to be ready for inclusion.
Leicester have a pretty injury free squad, Vestergaard the one name on the list.
Of course these two didn't meet last season, and in the 22/23 season Arsenal won an entertaining game 4-2. Leicester last got an away win at the Emirates in October 2020, a Jamie Vardy winner. They also came away with a point in July that year, again thanks to Vardy - both during the Covid period.
37 year old Vardy will be hoping to add to his impressive tally against a team he could have joined.

My prediction:
Arsenal 3-0 Leicester.

BRENTFORD vs WEST HAM UNITED - 3pm
Two teams in the bottom half of the table after tough starts.
Brentford have had to go to Anfield, Etihad and the THS, but have picked up their 6 points in home wins over Southampton and Crystal Palace.
Contrarily West Ham have picked all their points away. They too beat Palace, and got a late draw at Fulham. Home defeats against Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea show they too haven't had it easy.
Yoane Wissa is a big miss for the Bees, who have a long injury list. West Ham, on the other hand, are injury free - although Niclas Fullkrug is struggling to be available tomorrow.

Both games last season were high scoring affairs, with the home teams winning. Brentford won 3-2 after going in at half time 2-1 down. In the reverse fixture the Hammers took it 4-2. WHU haven't won at Brentford in the league.

My prediction:
Brentford 1-2 West Ham United.

CHELSEA vs BRIGHTON and HOVE ALBION - 3pm
This should be a good watch. Chelsea have started the season very well and are the second highest scorers with 11. Brighton are unbeaten, although they are 3 without a win after disappointing draws with Forest, Ipswich and 10 men Arsenal.
Brighton have already seen 4 opponents sent off against them in all comps, so that could be something to look out for.
Nico Jackson has 4 goals and 2 assists this season, while Danny Welbeck is the Brighton top scorer with 3.

Chelsea are dominant in the home fixture with Brighton, but there have been some thrillers. It finished 3-2 last season, but as recent as 22/23 season Brighton won at the Bridge 2-1.

My prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Brighton

EVERTON vs CRYSTAL PALACE - 3pm
At least one of these will go 6 games without a win, could it be both?
Everton finally got their first point last time out, but once again squandered a lead. It was also the first time they didn't concede 3 or more this season.
Palace are on a run of 3 draws after losing their opening 2 games. Palace have gone behind in all of their games except the most recent - a 0-0 against Man Utd. Could this be the game they finally lead this season?

Everton could welcome Jarred Braithwaite back, and neither team really has significant injury concerns. They drew 1-1 at Goodison last season, although Everton won a cup replay there. The Toffees also beat Palace at Selhurst park 3-2 in the PL.

My predicition:
Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace

NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs FULHAM - 3pm
Two teams who have started the season well and sit in 8th and 9th. Forest take an unbeaten record into this won, winning twice - including a notable win at Anfield - and drawing 3 times. In context of this game, it is worth noting both their City Ground games have ended in draws against Wolves and Bournemouth.
Fulham have yet to win away, drawing with Ipswich and losing the opener to Man Utd. However, an impressive 3-1 win at the Cottage over Newcastle last time out will worry the hosts.
Forest won the fixture last season, 3-1, but Fulham won the reverse 5-0 and also won away to Forest in 2022, 2-3.

My prediction:
Forest 1-1 Fulham

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs LIVERPOOL - 5:30 Sky Sports
Bottom host 2nd, in what will surely be an away banker?
Wolves have had a tough start - defeats to Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Villa - with a solitary point away to Forest.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have looked good winning 4 by an aggregate of 10-0. However, the one goal they have conceded cost them all 3 points in the 1-0 defeat at home to Forest.
Liverpool have a pretty clear physio room, but Wolves have lost Mosquera for the season. With Toti also out they are struggling in defence.

While Liverpool are unsurprisingly dominant in the H2H, Wolves smashed them in the 22/23 Molineux meeting 3-0. They also led 1-0 at half time last season, but Liverpool came out firing in the second half to win 3-1.

My prediction
Wolves 0-4 Liverpool

Super Sunday on Sky Sports
IPSWICH vs ASTON VILLA - 2pm
The last time these two met was in the Championship in 2019. Both teams will be delighted at where they are now in comparison. Ipswich had some welcome back to the PL, facing Liverpool and City, but after expected defeats they have stabilised with 3 draws.
Villa sit 3rd, with 4 wins from 5 as they look to repeat last seasons top 4 finish. They have 10 goals, with just a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal blemishing their record.

Kalvin Phillips and John McGinn are doubts from each midfield, but most of the main players are fit. Jhon Duran has been the supersub so far, scoring 4 times despite yet starting. That is 1 more than Ipswich have managed in their 5 games!!

My prediction
Ipswich 0-2 Aston Villa.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - 4:30
As it stands, this is the very definition of a mid-table clash as 10th plays 11th. Both teams will be expecting to finish far higher, but 7 points from 15 is a disappointing return for both.
United have a 0 goal difference, scoring and conceding 5. The 0-0 with Palace last game highlighted a lot of their attacking issues, with Zirkzee failing to add to his debut goal and Rashford dropped despite finally finding the net. Bruno Fernandes has also failed to find the net.
Spurs had back to back defeats at Newcastle and home to Arsenal, and started with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Leicester. A hammering of Everton and a comeback 3-1 over Brentford shows a more positive side.

No new injuries for either, as Son is expected to be fit. Spurs did play a day after Man Utd, and had 10 men for a lot of it - but did rotate a bit. United have Hojlund back to challenge Zirkzee for the striker role.

A 2-2 draw at Old Trafford last season, with the 4th scored in the first minute of the second half. It isn't a happy hunting ground for Spurs, but their fans won't forget a 6-1 win there in 2020 or a 3-0 in August 2018.

My prediction
Man Utd 2-3 Spurs

Monday night football
BOURNEMOUTH vs SOUTHAMPTON - 8pm
Two teams at the bottom of both the country and the PL table, this South Coast derby will be seen as a good opportunity for both to get points on the table. Bournemouth have lost their last 2, with their win coming in dramatic fashion in week 3 over Everton. They opened with draws against Newcastle and Forest.
The Saints go in the search of their first win of the season, a week after picking up their first point. They were denied a win deep into injury time against Ipswich, and also had the chance of leading Man Utd from the spot in their 3-0 defeat. They lost their opening 2 to the same opponents Bournemouth took 2 points from, Newcastle and Forest.
H2H shows Southampton like the trip along the coast, winning 1-0, 3-0 and 2-0 in their last 3 trips in all comps and unbeaten in 6.

My prediction
Bournemouth 2-0




This weekend promises to have a fair few goals, with a number of the games being recent-historically high scoring matches. Enjoy the action, and good luck if you have a bet or two!!

Feel free to share your predictions below...