Manchester City remain team to beam
Man Utd 3 Stoke City 1
Let’s stop beating about the bush. Mark Hughes is in the midst of a serious crisis. His Potters can’t keep a clean sheet whereas his strikers have developed cold feet. United found the right balance with Andre Herera, Paul Pogba and Juan Mata pulling strings in midfield. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also due a goal. Home banker.
Everton 2 Palace 1
Ronald Koeman’s Toffees surprisingly fell 0-1 to Bournemouth without a fight. Palace are enjoying a rich vein of form, having scrapped past Sunderland with a late Christian Benteke winner. Everton will ask Palace’s defense even tougher questions. I can see a high scoring thriller at Goodison Park.
Spurs 1 Man City 1
All good things come to an end. No? After registering eleven straight victories in all competitions, City are due a draw. That is the natural order of things. Truth be told, Pep Guardiola’s moneybags are operating in a league of their own.
Swansea 1 Liverpool 2
Swansea boss Francisco Guidolin is visibly stressed. The 60-year-old Italian is feeling the pressure after an indifferent start to the campaign. Liverpool are running faster and longer, pressing harder and scoring more than all comers. Swansea won’t be able to cope with a team finally playing Jurgen Klopp football. Away win.
Burnley 1 Arsenal 2
Perennial challengers Arsenal played scintillating football in dismantling Chelsea. If they can maintain the same intensity throughout the campaign, I see no reason for them not to push City for the ultimate prize. Burnley did not sufficiently recruit to cope with the barrage of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and a rejuvenated Theo Walcott.
Watford 1 Bournemouth 0
Walter Mazzari is molding Watford into a very competitive, physical outfit. I was impressed by how well the Cherries did in getting the better of Everton. Question is whether they can do it on the road. Although Eddie Howe’s players are more technically gifted, I think they will be subdued by the power of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney.
Sunderland 1 West Brom 1
Jermaine Defoe must be feeling out of place at the Stadium of Light. It is mighty frustrating to score two go ahead goals and still end up on the losing side. West Brom will picked up a late point at Stoke, and I fancy them to deny David Moyes a first victory. Shared spoils.
West Ham 2 Boro 2
What is wrong with West Ham United. It is a measure of how poor they were at home to Southampton that I think the 0-3 scoreline flattered them. They have now lost four in a row to put manager Slaven Bilic’s job in jeopardy. I am resisting the temptation to call a reaction win because the Hammers simply can’t defend. Draw.
Hull 1 Chelsea 2
I have read some ridiculous press reports suggesting Antonio Conte’s job is in jeopardy. What hogwash! Gary Cahill must get a grip if the wealthy Londoners are to arrest the rot. Hull City have developed an uncanny ability to self destruct, so I am tipping Diego Costa to help Chelsea stem the rot. This will be a difficult away win.
Leicester 1 Southampton 0
Claude Puel’s visitors have shocked me by quickly adapting a very compact, yet fluid counter attacking style. They should have scored 8 against West Ham last Sunday. I however feel Leicester City are due some home joy. I am therefore backing the champion to overcome Southampton with a late winner.
