Premier League Matchweek 10: Preview, Betting tips and Predictions
Last weekend wasn’t fun, typical of the haze that follows the international break but there were big winners, and of course, some better-forgotten showings starting from Spurs’ refusal to best Watford and ending at Bramall Lane where Unai Emery conjured yet another questionable result for Arsenal against Sheffield United.
Manchester United were forced to a draw by the log leaders and credit must be given to the Red Devils; maybe critics would say they could have gotten it all, the other half would heap it on the absence of Mo Salah but if the best Liverpool team in thirty years couldn’t beat the worst United team in same thirty years then take nothing away from Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side.
Chelsea are quite on something, you’d rightly wonder what would have happened were they not banned from signing players, turned out to be the blessing they desperately need to explore with their academy boys doing the most; Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson Odoi to name just a few have become regulars and are no doubt going places, the chances they needed they now have and you have a team on the rise.
Ajax was heavily tipped to beat Chelsea in Europe but the Blues were resolute, they took their chance when it came and defended deep to contain the trickery of the Dutch side, up next is a trip to Turf Moor and they can continue there with yet another result to take them higher but Burnley wouldn’t exactly be easy, their most famous win over Chelsea would be the season they went three up at Stamford Bridge, it’s a totally different story now and it will take more than luck for the Clarets to get a result on Sunday.
Manchester City got two points on Liverpool last weekend and that should be the start of something interesting in the race for the title come May next year, beating crystal Palace isn’t anything to gloat about but the same Eagles derailed them a bit last season with a 3-2 win at the Etihad, with City probably placing their priorities in Europe for the big one, but they won’t take their eyes off the league completely and Aston Villa will have to be at their very best to contain the Citizens.
Speaking of Villa, they turned things around brightly last weekend against Brighton to earn three solid points that took them six places away from the drop zone, their enigmatic skipper, Jack Grealish keeps driving them forward and their biggest worry now would be his long term loyalty, should he continue in this mould till next window, big spenders won’t think twice before looking into his directions.
Manchester United earned a respectable draw against Liverpool last weekend when most bookmakers expected them to win, once again they got one over their long term enemies by ending their 100% record, that in some quarters feels like winning the title for the Devils who are famous for such records, with Anthony Martial back to full fitness to add to the bite of the attack, and with a trip to Norwich up next, it might be the tonic United needed to fire up.
Norwich City have lost steam and their early season wonder boy Teemu Pukki seems to be struggling but he can find the back of the net with half a chance, United must be wary of the new boys who now sit second from bottom and need results to rise.
There is crisis in North London, both sides of the divide have their challenges albeit self-inflicted, Arsenal’s problem has to do with coaching, no doubt about it, with someone else in charge the Gunners would have been second on the table and not too far away from the leaders but Unai Emery need to explain why he keeps shutting Mesut Ozil out of the team sheet.
Tottenham nearly lost at home to Watford again last weekend and although they shipped five past their opponents in Europe on Tuesday, that doesn’t take away the fact that they are so much far away from the top of the league and it’s worrying.
From the word go last Saturday, Spurs were poor, conceding a very avoidable goal from Doucoure, the long diagonal that got to Janmaat out wide should never have happened had Danny Rose been alert and not just ball watching, the neat square to the French midfielder should have been anticipated by either of the center backs but the two Belgians couldn’t decide on time and they were behind within six minutes; had VAR being honest, Watford would have gotten a penalty before halftime to put the result beyond Spurs but Dele Alli managed a brave equalizer to earn a point, but with Liverpool next at Anfield, it’s a very difficult moment for Pochettino and his wards, they could take this one as a springboard to turn the corner but that depends on what Liverpool thinks of this fixture on Sunday.
Arsenal must beat Crystal Palace on Sunday, if they don’t for whatever reason, Unai Emery should be fired, no disrespect to Roy Hodgson’s men but if you can’t pick results at home then you have no business leading such a talented side, he obviously doesn’t know his best eleven and seems to allow emotions to becloud his judgment as seen in the Mesut Ozil case, the fullbacks should be a no-brainer with Tierney and Bellerin showing once again what they can do in their latest Europa League victory and Rob Holding showing signs of composure and mental stability, you ask yourself what Emery sees in training to warrant his incessant confusing starting lineups; Sheffield United deserved the win over Arsenal on Monday and Palace will look at that and also draw inspiration from last season’s win at the Emirates, would be an interesting one for the neutrals.
Everton finally won last weekend against Westham, fine result with a very commanding display as well and two well-taken goals, they go again and this time against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, they must be wary of a certain Aaron Connolly; Westham have to bounce back and they have to do that against a very organized Sheffield United side, and elsewhere, Watford seek their first win with the visit of Bournemouth to Vicarage Road, everyone is warm now and no excuses, let’s enjoy the weekend.
Fixture
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Verdict
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Player to watch
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Southampton vs Leicester
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Over 7.5 Corners
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Jamie Vardy
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Man City vs Aston Villa
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City to win
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Sergio Aguero
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Brighton vs Everton
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Both teams to score
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Jordan Pickford
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Watford vs Bournemouth
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Over 7.5 corners
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Callum Wilson
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Westham vs Sheffield
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Westham to win or draw
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Seb Haller
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Burnley vs Chelsea
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Chelsea to win or draw
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Mason Mount
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Newcastle vs Wolves
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Wolves to win or draw
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Raul Jimenez
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Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
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Arsenal to win
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Nicolas Pepe
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Liverpool vs Spurs
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Liverpool to win
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Roberto Firminho
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Norwich vs United
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Both teams to score
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Anthony Martial
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Strictly the writer’s opinion… Gamble responsibly