Premier League Matchweek 16: Preview, Betting tips and Predictions - Manchester derby, a match of huge significance
 |
| Jose Mourinho grimaces in pain after an accidental collision with Daniel James during Manchester United 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. (Image source: premierleague.com) |
Swiftly again we’re back at the predictions table, not too many surprises last time out sake for Arsenal’s continued capitulation at home to Brighton and Newcastle’s renewed surge at Bramall Lane.
Manchester City returned to winning ways at Turf Moor, they shipped four past Burnley on Tuesday night but managed to concede late on and you wonder if they’d ever keep a clean sheet.
With Manchester United next, it’s a big worry as Marcus Rashford seems to have found his form and delivering week in week out, with such consistency and more of the same from the guys around him, expect Manchester United to come good in no time.
Manchester City have grounds to cover if they want to catch Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola conceded defeat in the title race but everyone knows Pep for his mind game and conservative approach in front of cameras.
For Manchester United, eight points off the top four and five games starring at them on the bounce with a very thin squad.
They recorded a huge win over Jose Mourinho’s Spurs on the Portuguese’s return to Old Trafford, repeating his luck on his former ground just as he lost heavily with Manchester United on his return to Chelsea that was managed by Antonio Conte.
On Saturday, Manchester United will have it all to do with a trip to the Etihad.
They have some recent history to call on especially the night Paul Pogba led a second-half rally to pause City’s title celebrations for at least a week, this would be a spectacle.
Arsenal are in real crisis, Freddie Ljuimberg isn’t the man to lead them forward, he has proven with his team selection and game management in two matches.
The board must now make a very big call with Arsenal lying in tenth after another uninspiring home defeat to Brighton and Hove, so bad the Gunners can’t remember what winning feels like.
Emery is gone and the team needs to pick up and start winning, ironically, they’re closer to the drop zone than the top four with their worst start to the premier league since 1977.
Starting Aubameyang and Lacazette together isn’t working, at least not with the materials that surround them.
Nicolas Pepe needs to start playing except some hidden stuff happens in training that we can’t see from distance.
Next for Arsenal is a trip to West Ham, another team with lots of improvement to make, losing yet again at Wolves after beating Chelsea away to buy more time for their aging manager.
They can rejoice with a very poor Arsenal coming to town, Declan Rice fired the Hammers to a 1-0 win the last time Arsenal visited, they would need to do it again.
Tottenham Hotspur host Burnley just after Manchester United halted their moving train.
Three wins in all competitions on a bounce was halted by a brave United display and not without efforts from Jose Mourinho’s men.
It was a huge result for the hosts on the night and Spurs must now respond with the visit of Sean Dyche’s men who lost at home to the champions on Tuesday night.
Burnley aren’t in danger of the drop yet but four points can easily be blown away in two games.
They have to take the game to the hosts here and stay disciplined to get any result against a wounded Jose Mourinho.
Liverpool are seemingly unassailable, fantastic drive and very romantic press.
What a team Klopp has built and you wonder if there’s anyone that can stop them.
They keep breaking records and at this rate, Arsenal’s only surviving pride, the invincible story may well be destroyed by these relentless Kops.
The Reds are away at Bournemouth next and no one would bet against them to lose at the Vitality stadium.
Their strength lies with the full-backs who bomb forward all the time to render opposing wingers useless, their front three remain a nightmarish customer to negotiate and they don’t look like stopping.
It would be a very long evening for Eddie Howe’s men on Saturday but with Champions League football knocking in midweek, rotation might help the Cherries to stand a chance.
Bournemouth were beaten on the road at Selhurst by Crystal Palace last time out, they also need a response.
Speaking of Palace, steady growth is happening to the Eagles and no one seems to notice it.
They go about doing their businesses without issues, low profile kept and big results recorded.
They are away at Watford next and one can be sure of a strong showing, they went a man down against Bournemouth on Tuesday and stood their ground till the end and even conjured a fine goal, Roy Hodgson deserves plaudits.
Watford wouldn’t want to lose their next, without a manager at the moment with the sack of Quique Flores Sanchez in midweek following yet another loss in the hands of Leicester.
Leicester may be gunning for the title and they seemingly have brighter chances of landing the big one than even Manchester City.
Their manager remains hot on Arsenal’s wish list and he probably wants the job too but the timing is not as friendly as both parties would have hoped, yet another win over the course of the week and a trip to Aston Villa next.
There’s no better time to be a fan of the Foxes than now at least since their title-winning season of 2015.
Aston Villa aren’t particularly doing badly at the moment, they’re being carried aloft by their captain Jack Grealish and their strong showing at Stamford Bridge in midweek even in a loss shows growth and real improvements but will they be strong enough to stop Leicester?
Chelsea have Tammy Abraham back in due time, the England forward returned to the fold to lead the Blues with a goal and an assist to beat Aston Villa.
And with troubled Everton up next for Frank Lampard, one can expect them to exploit the situations at Goodison Park and record yet another win on the road.
Everton are piss poor and news broke out on Thursday evening that the Toffees have parted ways with Marco Silva.
Long overdue by all standards and whoever comes in wouldn’t be short of materials but he will have it all to do with confidence and motivation.
Premier League predictions are next, the big question would be around the Manchester Derby, a game that would very well tell of the fate of City as a title contender and Manchester United on their top-four hopes.
Thoughts down the ladder too for Arsenal, a team on a downward spiral and West Ham, another with a spineless appeal, we go again and we reiterate… Gamble responsibly.
|
Fixtures
|
Verdict
|
Player to watch
|
|
Everton vs Chelsea
|
Chelsea to win or draw
|
Tammy Abraham
|
|
Bournemouth vs Liverpool
|
Liverpool to win
|
Sadio Mane
|
|
Spurs vs Burnley
|
Spurs to win
|
Heung Min Son
|
|
Watford vs Crystal Palace
|
Palace to win or draw
|
Wilfred Zaha
|
|
City vs United
|
Straight win City
|
Bernado Silva
|
|
Villa vs Leicester
|
Leicester to win or draw
|
Youri Tielemans
|
|
Newcastle vs Southampton
|
Over 7.5 corners
|
Danny Ings
|
|
Norwich vs Sheffield
|
Over 7.5 corners
|
Teamu Pukki
|
|
Brighton vs Wolves
|
Brighton to win or draw
|
Aaron Connolly
|
|
West Ham vs Arsenal
|
Both teams to score
|
Andriy Yarmolenko
|
Strictly the writer’s opinion
