Up to date:
Jan 1, 2023
We check out a few of this week’s video games, together with a large conflict at The Emirates the place Arsenal tackle Newcastle, and an enormous relegation 6-pointer at St Marys the place Southampton tackle Nottingham Forest
This week’s Premier League video games
Brentford v Liverpool
Arsenal v Newcastle
Everton v Brighton
Leicester v Fulham
Man United v Bournemouth
Southampton v Nottingham Forest
Leeds v West Ham
Aston Villa v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea v Man Metropolis
Brentford v Liverpool
Brentford made it 5 video games unbeaten towards West Ham, recording a cushty 2-0 win, placing them as much as tenth within the Premier League. Ivan Toney continued his fantastic kind, scoring his twelfth purpose of the season, and aiding DaSilva, taking his purpose contributions as much as 15.
Toney is significant to how Brentford play. His physicality helps them stand up the pitch, and he has the tempo to beat gamers on the counter as properly. Brentford followers could have been involved when he got here off injured towards West Ham, however Thomas Frank has insisted that he might be in rivalry to play towards Liverpool.
Brentford’s efficiency closely depends on Toney being match and in a position to play. He’s the form of participant Brentford have to be aggressive towards a group like Liverpool. With out him, they’ll battle to create, however with him, they’ll trigger points for Liverpool’s backline.
Liverpool alternatively made it 4 straight wins, with a 2-1 win at dwelling towards Leicester, in weird circumstances, nevertheless. Liverpool registered 21 photographs, solely managed 5 on the right track, and solely received the sport after counting on 2 freak personal targets by Leicester centre-back Wout Faes.
Darwin Nunez is an odd participant. He creates probability after probability after probability, but misses time and time once more. That is one other sport he was responsible of lacking possibilities that he ought to actually be scoring. For the amount of cash Liverpool spent on him, he wants to begin scoring these possibilities, as realistically he might be scoring braces every week.
Though Nunez shouldn’t be scoring, Liverpool continues to be selecting up wins, and placing stress on the groups within the prime 4. They now sit 4 factors behind Man United in 4th and are trying extra doubtless every week to regain a Champions League spot.
It is a powerful sport to name. If Nunez continues to create possibilities and manages to place just a few away, then Liverpool might closely revenue. Nevertheless, if Toney begins for Brentford, they’ve each probability of getting a consequence, if he doesn’t begin, then they’ll battle. I feel it could be too quickly for Toney, and Brentford is not going to need to danger a longer-term damage from occurring. If he does begin I see this ending in a draw, nevertheless, I don’t see Toney beginning, so I don’t see Brentford getting a consequence.
Prediction: Brentford 0 – 2 Liverpool
Arsenal v Newcastle
Arsenal received previous a tough tie at The Amex towards Brighton with ease. A large 4-2 win, stretching their unbeaten run to 10 video games, and have received their final 5. The three gamers who scored towards West Ham the week earlier than have been all on the scoresheet once more, with Ødegaard getting on the scoresheet as properly.
This might have been a tough sport for Arsenal, however they navigated it completely. The early purpose might have helped them settle into the sport, however they appeared so assured going ahead, and regardless of conceding twice, appeared assured defensively.
Nketiah continued to impress while standing in for the injured Gabriel Jesus, as he notched his second purpose of the season. If he continues to attain every week, it will likely be fascinating to see if he retains his place when Jesus ultimately returns.
Ødegaard is shortly turning into one of many prime midfielders within the league. A purpose and an help towards Brighton took him to 7 targets and 5 assists within the league to date. He’s turning into important when Arsenal go ahead, and it’s thrilling to look at when he’s on the ball. If Arsenal can maintain him match and injury-free between now and the top of the season, his quantity might be staggering.
Newcastle’s stretch of 6 straight wins lastly got here to an finish towards Leeds. Regardless of having 16 photographs, with 5 of these on the right track, they have been held to a irritating 0-0 draw.
Kieran Trippier gave the impression to be on the coronary heart of all the things Newcastle created, including to his spectacular performances all through the season. The query for Newcastle now, is whether or not they can return to successful methods or not, and what a troublesome sport they’ve for that query to be requested.
I predicted Arsenal to win by a slender purpose towards Brighton and as an alternative, they appeared snug and that they’d all the time win the sport. I’ve the identical feeling about this one. Newcastle has not conceded of their final 3 video games and has solely conceded 2 targets of their final 8 video games. They’re the most effective defensive group within the league, conceding simply 11 all season.
This actually might go both means. If Newcastle turns up as they did within the weeks earlier than the Leeds sport, we might have one of many video games of the season on our palms. After Arsenal navigated the Brighton sport with ease, I think about they’ll come by means of this too, nevertheless, this must be quite a bit tighter.
Prediction: Arsenal 1 – 0 Newcastle
Southampton v Nottingham Forest
Southampton was unlucky final week. Regardless of having extra photographs, and photographs on the right track, towards Fulham, they discovered themselves shedding 2-1, leaving new supervisor Nathan Jones ready for his first win as boss.
The consequence leaves Southampton backside of the desk, 2 factors from security. The extra worrying situation is the place their run of 5 losses on the bounce will finish. While this efficiency was an enchancment on their latest performances, the all-important factors usually are not getting placed on the board.
Worryingly for Southampton, groups round them are slowly selecting up factors. Nottingham Forest earned some extent towards Chelsea, Wolves beat Everton final week, and Everton picked up an unlikely level towards Man Metropolis. The indicators are ominous for Southampton, and until they begin successful video games immediately, they’re in large bother.
Nottingham Forest picked up a very good level at dwelling towards Chelsea after drawing 1-1, placing them degree on factors with West Ham who sit seventeenth. Forest will really feel laborious completed by as they created sufficient possibilities to win the sport. Gibbs-White cannoned a incredible half volley off the underside of the bar, while additionally they created a number of one-on-one possibilities, which they may simply not end off.
The performances are nonetheless bettering for Forest, and the factors are slowly being picked up. I assumed the worldwide break got here on the incorrect time for them as they have been lastly selecting up some kind, and after shedding towards Man United after the restart it appeared like they could battle once more.
Forest’s dwelling kind shouldn’t be dangerous, they haven’t misplaced in any of their final 6 dwelling video games. They should begin selecting up factors away from dwelling if they’ve any probability of staying up, particularly towards the groups round them on the backside of the desk.
It is a good probability for either side to choose up a significant 3 factors. It is a sport each must win, however neither will need to lose. This might both be a goal-fest with either side going at it for the win or it might be a decent, cagey affair that shall be received by the odd purpose. With how Forest carried out towards Chelsea, I consider they’ll win and maintain Southampton backside of the desk for one more week.
Prediction: Southampton 0 – 1 Nottingham Forest
Leeds v West Ham
Leeds picked up an excellent level at St James’ Park. They have been second finest and received outplayed, however held on to attract 0-0. They lastly confirmed that they are often defensively stable, preserving solely their third clear sheet of the season.
This shall be a welcome change for a Leeds facet who conceded 10 targets of their earlier 3 video games. They should attempt to discover the steadiness now between assault and defence.
Regardless of Leeds sitting in 14th, they’ll have one eye on the groups under them. It continues to be tight between the groups within the backside half of the league desk, with simply 2 factors separating them from the drop zone.
Leeds has not misplaced a sport towards any of the groups under them within the desk, and they are going to be hoping this pattern continues, because it retains them away from the relegation zone.
How lengthy does David Moyes have left at West Ham? They sit simply above the relegation zone on purpose distinction, have misplaced their final 5 video games, and have solely received 1 sport of their final 8.
The stats don’t make good studying for West Ham followers. They’ve been unable to bounce again from defeats, they performed each Crystal Palace and Leicester at dwelling who they may have overwhelmed however misplaced each video games.
Creativity is a serious situation for West Ham. Against Brentford, they managed 20 photographs, but solely 5 on the right track and couldn’t rating. Against Arsenal they mustered 8 photographs, 4 on the right track, and solely scored by means of a penalty, and at dwelling towards Leicester they’d 18 photographs, 6 on the right track, but couldn’t discover the again of the web.
A striker is a should in January for West Ham. They should spend large on somebody who can are available and hit the bottom working, can lead the road and might create one thing out of nothing, which is not going to come low-cost.
I feel Leeds will win this. West Ham is in poor kind, and can’t rating, while Leeds are able to scoring and have proven they are often defensively stable. A snug Leeds win to take them 3 extra factors away from the underside 3 must be on the playing cards right here.
Prediction: Leeds 2 – 0 West Ham
Chelsea v Man Metropolis
Chelsea adopted up their win towards Bournemouth with a poor 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, a sport the place they have been second-best all through a lot of the sport, and have been lucky in the long run to get some extent.
Their purpose got here out of nothing additionally. A weird flick from Boly thundered off the crossbar, earlier than falling kindly to Raheem Sterling on the again submit, who had a easy faucet in. Aubameyang got here on within the second half, and for giant elements of the sport might as properly haven’t been on the pitch, an ineffective efficiency, which sums Chelsea up.
They should create extra. With the attacking expertise they’ve in Pulisic, Hazertz, Mount, Ziyech and Aubameyang, there are targets in that group. Potter must discover a method to get them again to their goalscoring finest.
Chelsea is in actual hazard of not solely ending outdoors of the highest 4 however drifting in direction of a midtable end, which might be an enormous disaster for Chelsea, particularly contemplating how a lot cash they spent in the summertime.
Worryingly for Chelsea, they haven’t overwhelmed a group within the prime half of the desk this season, drawing 3 and shedding 3. This wants to vary for Chelsea. They have to be aggressive with the groups round them if they’ve any hope of climbing the desk once more.
Who would have anticipated Man Metropolis to drop factors towards Everton? I don’t assume anybody gave Everton an opportunity, and when Haaland scored his twenty first purpose of the season after 24 minutes, that ought to have been sport over.
Metropolis didn’t play badly. They created 16 photographs, however solely managed 3 on the right track, a type of being the purpose. Regardless of all their attacking expertise, they evidently had an off day, towards a spirited, and surprisingly defensively stable Everton.
Haaland simply is not going to cease, will he? He has already reached 20 targets for the season, scoring his twenty first final week, that means he has scored extra targets than the whole Chelsea group. In actual fact, Haaland has scored extra targets than 9 groups within the league, managing greater than twice the variety of targets Wolves have scored all season.
This sport must be an fascinating one. If Man Metropolis have one other off day in entrance of the purpose, then Chelsea might have an opportunity, but when Chelsea performs as they did towards Nottingham Forest, then Metropolis will run by means of them. Half of me is saying a decent sport, the opposite half is predicting a cushty win for Man Metropolis.
Prediction: Chelsea 1 – 2 Man Metropolis
Different Predictions
- Everton 1 – 1 Brighton
- Leicester 1 – 1 Fulham
- Man United 3 – 0 Bournemouth
- Aston Villa 2 – 0 Wolves
- Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
