Manchester clubs into winning stride

Man City 2 West Ham 0
Great coaches improve their players exponentially. That is certainly happening at City where Pep Guardiola’s tutelage is transforming Raheem Sterling into a world beater. I expect the speedy Englishman to continue tormenting rival defenders. Home win.

Hull City 0 Man Utd 2

Bedraggled, without manager and short of funds to make forays into the transfer market, the Tigers find themselves in a Champions League place ahead of United’s visit. Mike Phelan’s boys will make it difficult for the Devils before being overcome by mercurial pair Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibracadabra

West Brom 1 Boro 1
Aitor Katinka’s immense knowledge of European football is helping him create a relegation proof outfit. Christian Stuani, the two goal hero from last weekend has Champions League experience, as does Alvaro Negredo. This, combined with a good English core, has helped Boro settle in. Stalemate!

Chelsea 2 Burnley 1

How many clean sheets have Chelsea kept in 2016? I will only start believing in their cause when they start shutting out opponents. Antonio Conte must also address the Diego Costa question. If the frontman continues operating on such thin margins, he will get sent off, to the team’s detriment. But, I expect the Londoners to emerge unscathed.

Spurs 1 Liverpool 1

It is about time for Jurgen Klopp to expunge his team of the Jekyll and Hyde element that sees them intersperse great results with lacklustre displays. Otherwise, as things stand, they stand accused of being giant killers. Spurs have a slight advantage since they are at home but I cannot see Liverpool losing two on the bounce.

Southampton 1 Sunderland 0

Claude Puel must be a coach to reckon with. I was impressed by how quickly he has rebuilt his side following another summer of mass departures. They really moved the ball well at Old Trafford despite falling 0-2. A repeat performance will propel them past a Sunderland side gifted with perspiration but short of inspiration.

Watford 1 Arsenal 2

The annual Arsene Wenger inquisition is ongoing. Fans are livid about the club’s inability to land a 20-goals-a- season striker. Nevertheless, they should win points at a ground where they traditionally thrive lest the Gunners season degenerates into a crisis.

Leicester City 1 Swansea 0

Swans took a mighty kick to the teeth when they fell 0-2 at home to Hull City. I can see them losing their second in a row if Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri shows more belief by starting Ahmed Musa along with Shinji Okazaki and Jamie Vardy. Three non-stop strikers should prove too hot to handle.

Crystal Palace 1 Bournemouth 1

I fully expect Alan Pardew to deploy his 30m pound record signing Christian Benteke. With the league’s best crosser also on their books, Palace should cause problems. However, Bournemouth have already lost two games without necessarily being the inferior team. They are due a point.

Everton 2 Stoke City 1

Romelu Lukaku’s decision to commit his immediate future to Everton has lifted a veil of uncertainty that had been dogging the club. Ronald Koeman’s Toffees are playing with a gusto unseen in the dying embers of Roberto Martinez’s tenure. I am tipping them.

EXTRA HEFT
Paul Pogba made his second Man Utd debut in last Friday’s 2-0 win over Southampton following his world-record 89 million pounds return from Juventus, catching the eye with his purposeful running and shooting. With the rangy Pogba, the gangly Marouane Fellaini, the strapping Eric Bailly and towering striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic - who scored twice - also in the starting XI, United look a more physically imposing team than they have for some time.