It's that time of the week again for me to make my Premier League predictions. With a round of midweek games it has come around very quickly, but I'll still do my best to run through all the games. Last weekend's results worked out OK for me, but no more. I got two correct scores, two correct outcomes and six wrong outcomes. It means I'm still in tenth place in my predictions league, and Stephen Bradley is still winning it. With nearly a third of the season gone, it's about time I started making up some ground on him. Here's a look at how the table stands.
Stoke v Birmingham:
Stoke RFC are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference after a very poor run recently. They are still a very difficult team to beat at home though and they will be hoping to halt their slide in this game.
Birmingham are not too far ahead of Stoke RFC as they seem to draw far too many games. They have done well to come from behind on quite a few occasions this season, and it means they cannot easily be written off in any game. I think this game will go the way of the home team, but only just.
Stoke 2-1 Birmingham
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Tottenham v Sunderland:
The Spuds have found it difficult trying to keep pace in the league as well as playing in the Champions League this season. It means that they have dropped down to seventh place in the league and they need to get some points on the board very quickly. No matter how good they may be going forward at times, they need to sort out their defence or this season's venture into the Champions League will be a one off.
Sunderland did well to get back to winning ways against Stoke RFC at the weekend, after their 5-1 defeat the week beforehand against Newcastle. A win would put them ahead of The Spuds in the table, but they will have to defend very well to get that win. I think that this game will end up all square.
Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland
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Aston Villa v Blackpool:
Aston Villa thought they had got three precious away points on Saturday, until Fulham managed a last gasp equaliser. Villa have been up and down so far this season, and they will see this as a real opportunity to get three points and move above Blackpool in the table. If they can keep their concentration and discipline they will get plenty of chances against a very leaky Blackpool defence.
Blackpool have been very good since gaining promotion, and they continue to prosper. They seem to score in almost every game they play, but their problems are in keeping the ball out at the other end. As it stands their defence is the worst in the league, and Villa have only conceded one goal at home. I can't see past Villa winning this game.
Aston Villa 2-0 Blackpool
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Chelsea v Fulham:
Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Liverpool last weekend, and they will see this as an ideal opportunity to do just that. They are the top scorers in the league, but they have gone off the boil recently with only seven points in their last five games. That has included defeats to Man City and Liverpool, and their air of invincibility has well and truly gone.
Fulham have drawn seven of their 11 league games so far, but for a few seasons they have been very poor on the road. They will have to spend a lot of this game defending, and take any chances that come their way if they are to get anything out of this game. I can't see anything other than a Chelsea victory.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
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Newcastle v Blackburn:
Newcastle are the form side in the Premier League at the moment, and they are now fifth in the table, after their victory at Arsenal last weekend. They have the best away record in the league at the moment, but they have struggled a little at home. A win here could see them move into the top four, which would be a real boos for supposedly under fire manager Chris Hughton. Their danger players are Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan, who have 13 goals between them in the league this season.
Blackburn managed to climb out of the bottom three by beating Wigan last weekend, and they will hope to remain out of the relegation zone. They don't travel particularly well, but they are never an easy team to beat. Set pieces will be crucial in this game, and whoever triumphs in them will probably have the edge. I think Newcastle will just edge it.
Newcastle 1-0 Blackburn
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West Ham v West Brom:
West Ham are rooted to the foot of the table, with only one win in 11 games so far this season. They have only scored five goals at home in five games so far this season , and they need to change that or they will find themselves in an even worse situation. They had the opportunity to turn things around last weekend, but they blew a two goal lead, and ended up drawing 2-2.
West Brom have had a great start to life back in the Premier League, but they have now lost two games in a row and they need to stabilise things before they slide down the table. They play a very attractive brand of football, and if they stick to their principles they will have a good chance in this game. I think we will see a few goals, but it will end up all square.
West Ham 2-2 West Brom
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Wigan v Liverpool:
Wigan are the up and down team of the Premier League, and after a poor start they fought their way out of the relegation zone, only to make their way back into it last week. It's hard to tell what you will get from them, but with only four goals scored in six home games they will need to improve that if they are to get anything from this game.
Liverpool were in crisis only a few weeks ago, but three league wins in a row has them in a position where the top four doesn't seem too far away. With Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in their team Liverpool are always a threat, and Chelsea found that out last weekend. I think they will continue their fine run and get even closer to the top four with a win.
Wigan 1-3 Liverpool
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Everton v Bolton:
Everton will be disappointed that they didn't beat Blackpool last weekend, as the three points would have kept them above Liverpool in the table. Their biggest problem is still that they don't have a goal scoring striker, and it means that they have only 12 goals in 11 games. They will see this as a great chance to keep their upward progress going against a Bolton team who don't travel too well.
Bolton had a great 4-2 win against The Spuds last weekend, and find themselves in the lofty position of sixth place in the table. Their manager has them playing football when they can but they still have that nasty element to them when it's needed. Kevin Davies is in good goalscoring form at the moment, and so is Johan Elmander which makes Bolton a real goal threat. I think Everton's defence will be strong enough to keep them out and get a victory.
Everton 2-0 Bolton
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Man City v Man Utd:
This is a crucial game for Man City as they look to show that they are genuine title contenders. A win for City would put them level on points with "Manure", and if they are to get it they will need to start scoring more goals than they have being doing so far. With only 15 goals scored in 11 games they are a little shy in front of goal, as the manager's conservative attitude shows through in his team selection too often. If they pick an attacking team and beat "Manure" it would send out a very positive signal, but does Roberto Mancini have the bottle to do it.
"Manure" are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League after 11 games, and although that sounds impressive they are far from being the best team in the league. Their usually tight defence has let in 13 goals already, and a lot of them have been late in games as the opposition have come from behind to gain draws. Despite missing Wayne Rooney, they are still scoring plenty of goals, and that's what's saving them so far. I think this will end up in a score draw.
Man City 2-2 Man Utd
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Wolves v Arsenal:
Wolves have a reputation for playing very hard, and that's not surprising with Karl Henry in their team. They may be in the relegation zone, but they are actually playing some very good football at the moment. They beat Man City in their last home game, and they will be looking to take another big scalp in this game.
Arsenal blew a great chance to put some real pressure on Chelsea last weekend, by losing at home to Newcastle. They need to get back on track immediately, and they need Cesc Fabregas to start playing a whole lot better if that is to happen. Their injured players are coming back at the moment, and it gives Arsene Wenger selection headaches that he should be happy to have. I think Arsenal will get their title challenge back on track with a narrow victory.
Wolves 1-2 Arsenal
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That's it for the midweek prediction, but there will be more at the weekend when the next round of games are played. Feel free to tell me where you feel I may have gone wrong, or even if you think I have things right for a change.
Until the next time.
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Stoke RFC are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference after a very poor run recently. They are still a very difficult team to beat at home though and they will be hoping to halt their slide in this game.
Birmingham are not too far ahead of Stoke RFC as they seem to draw far too many games. They have done well to come from behind on quite a few occasions this season, and it means they cannot easily be written off in any game. I think this game will go the way of the home team, but only just.
Stoke 2-1 Birmingham
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Tottenham v Sunderland:
The Spuds have found it difficult trying to keep pace in the league as well as playing in the Champions League this season. It means that they have dropped down to seventh place in the league and they need to get some points on the board very quickly. No matter how good they may be going forward at times, they need to sort out their defence or this season's venture into the Champions League will be a one off.
Sunderland did well to get back to winning ways against Stoke RFC at the weekend, after their 5-1 defeat the week beforehand against Newcastle. A win would put them ahead of The Spuds in the table, but they will have to defend very well to get that win. I think that this game will end up all square.
Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland
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Aston Villa v Blackpool:
Aston Villa thought they had got three precious away points on Saturday, until Fulham managed a last gasp equaliser. Villa have been up and down so far this season, and they will see this as a real opportunity to get three points and move above Blackpool in the table. If they can keep their concentration and discipline they will get plenty of chances against a very leaky Blackpool defence.
Blackpool have been very good since gaining promotion, and they continue to prosper. They seem to score in almost every game they play, but their problems are in keeping the ball out at the other end. As it stands their defence is the worst in the league, and Villa have only conceded one goal at home. I can't see past Villa winning this game.
Aston Villa 2-0 Blackpool
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Chelsea v Fulham:
Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Liverpool last weekend, and they will see this as an ideal opportunity to do just that. They are the top scorers in the league, but they have gone off the boil recently with only seven points in their last five games. That has included defeats to Man City and Liverpool, and their air of invincibility has well and truly gone.
Fulham have drawn seven of their 11 league games so far, but for a few seasons they have been very poor on the road. They will have to spend a lot of this game defending, and take any chances that come their way if they are to get anything out of this game. I can't see anything other than a Chelsea victory.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
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Newcastle v Blackburn:
Newcastle are the form side in the Premier League at the moment, and they are now fifth in the table, after their victory at Arsenal last weekend. They have the best away record in the league at the moment, but they have struggled a little at home. A win here could see them move into the top four, which would be a real boos for supposedly under fire manager Chris Hughton. Their danger players are Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan, who have 13 goals between them in the league this season.
Blackburn managed to climb out of the bottom three by beating Wigan last weekend, and they will hope to remain out of the relegation zone. They don't travel particularly well, but they are never an easy team to beat. Set pieces will be crucial in this game, and whoever triumphs in them will probably have the edge. I think Newcastle will just edge it.
Newcastle 1-0 Blackburn
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West Ham v West Brom:
West Ham are rooted to the foot of the table, with only one win in 11 games so far this season. They have only scored five goals at home in five games so far this season , and they need to change that or they will find themselves in an even worse situation. They had the opportunity to turn things around last weekend, but they blew a two goal lead, and ended up drawing 2-2.
West Brom have had a great start to life back in the Premier League, but they have now lost two games in a row and they need to stabilise things before they slide down the table. They play a very attractive brand of football, and if they stick to their principles they will have a good chance in this game. I think we will see a few goals, but it will end up all square.
West Ham 2-2 West Brom
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Wigan v Liverpool:
Wigan are the up and down team of the Premier League, and after a poor start they fought their way out of the relegation zone, only to make their way back into it last week. It's hard to tell what you will get from them, but with only four goals scored in six home games they will need to improve that if they are to get anything from this game.
Liverpool were in crisis only a few weeks ago, but three league wins in a row has them in a position where the top four doesn't seem too far away. With Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in their team Liverpool are always a threat, and Chelsea found that out last weekend. I think they will continue their fine run and get even closer to the top four with a win.
Wigan 1-3 Liverpool
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Everton v Bolton:
Everton will be disappointed that they didn't beat Blackpool last weekend, as the three points would have kept them above Liverpool in the table. Their biggest problem is still that they don't have a goal scoring striker, and it means that they have only 12 goals in 11 games. They will see this as a great chance to keep their upward progress going against a Bolton team who don't travel too well.
Bolton had a great 4-2 win against The Spuds last weekend, and find themselves in the lofty position of sixth place in the table. Their manager has them playing football when they can but they still have that nasty element to them when it's needed. Kevin Davies is in good goalscoring form at the moment, and so is Johan Elmander which makes Bolton a real goal threat. I think Everton's defence will be strong enough to keep them out and get a victory.
Everton 2-0 Bolton
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Man City v Man Utd:
This is a crucial game for Man City as they look to show that they are genuine title contenders. A win for City would put them level on points with "Manure", and if they are to get it they will need to start scoring more goals than they have being doing so far. With only 15 goals scored in 11 games they are a little shy in front of goal, as the manager's conservative attitude shows through in his team selection too often. If they pick an attacking team and beat "Manure" it would send out a very positive signal, but does Roberto Mancini have the bottle to do it.
"Manure" are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League after 11 games, and although that sounds impressive they are far from being the best team in the league. Their usually tight defence has let in 13 goals already, and a lot of them have been late in games as the opposition have come from behind to gain draws. Despite missing Wayne Rooney, they are still scoring plenty of goals, and that's what's saving them so far. I think this will end up in a score draw.
Man City 2-2 Man Utd
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Wolves v Arsenal:
Wolves have a reputation for playing very hard, and that's not surprising with Karl Henry in their team. They may be in the relegation zone, but they are actually playing some very good football at the moment. They beat Man City in their last home game, and they will be looking to take another big scalp in this game.
Arsenal blew a great chance to put some real pressure on Chelsea last weekend, by losing at home to Newcastle. They need to get back on track immediately, and they need Cesc Fabregas to start playing a whole lot better if that is to happen. Their injured players are coming back at the moment, and it gives Arsene Wenger selection headaches that he should be happy to have. I think Arsenal will get their title challenge back on track with a narrow victory.
Wolves 1-2 Arsenal
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That's it for the midweek prediction, but there will be more at the weekend when the next round of games are played. Feel free to tell me where you feel I may have gone wrong, or even if you think I have things right for a change.
Until the next time.
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