Mourinho must re-invent Chelsea

Tottenham 2 C. Palace 1

This is a tricky game for punters as you can never tell which Spurs team will show up. Palace are a dangerous counter-attacking team that thrives on away grounds. I am still tipping Spurs to prevail because I fancy key Spurs players Christian Eriksen, Ryan Mason and Nacer Chadli to turn up. Harry Kane should finally end his goal drought.

Man City 2 West Ham 0
They may be occupying the summit but Man City were once again found wanting in Europe by Juventus. West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is well schooled in European arts but he is not equipped with the playing personnel or experience that Juventus took to the Etihad. Dmitri Payet and Diafra Sakho will star for the Hammers in a losing effort.

Bournemouth 1 Sunderland 1
Bournemouth will have earmarked this game as a must win six-pointer against likely relegation rivals. So will Dick Advocaat’s Sunderland. Despite their late loss to Tottenham, I saw enough fight in the Black Cats last weekend that should hold them in good stead.

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 1
Not having to worry about opponents is usually the privilege of champions. Chelsea is the exception. Jose Mourinho’s side have been decidedly off-colour, he must start changing his starting line-ups and team formation on a weekly basis until they rediscover their form. The champions have a great head to head record with Arsenal but I can’t see them winning this tie.

Liverpool 2 Norwich 1
Norwich are relieved to be visiting Anfield in the absence of Luis Suarez. On their last visit, the Uruguayan put them to the sword with four goals in a memorable night. Liverpool will need the creativity of Philippe Coutinho to augment the visible attacking threat of Christian Benteke. Liverpool supremo Brendan Rodgers needs this win to assuage the pressure.

Southampton 1 Man Utd 1
Despite the huge summer cash outlay, Louis van Gaal’s Man Utd remain a team in transition. Their frailties were mercilessly exposed by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. Van Gaal confronts compatriot Ronald Koeman aware that the Saints are capable of providing another tactical examination. The Chris Smalling - Graziano Pellè duel will be key to the outcome.

Aston Villa 2 West Brom 1
Tim Sherwood’s Villains are coping with last summer’s player exodus better than I expected. Villa are playing a fluid, speedy counter-attacking game that is bound to deliver dividends. The speed of Scott Sinclair and Gabriel Agbonlahor, combined with invention of Jack Grealish and Carlos Gill will see them through against West Brom.

Swansea 2 Everton 1
For all their good football, Swansea retain a Jerkyll and Hyde element about them. The loss to Watford came after great displays against Chelsea and Man Utd. I am backing Gary Monks’ Swans to bounce back when Everton visit Wales. The Merseyside club are in fine fettle but are not good travelers.

Stoke City 2 Leicester 2
This is not the start Mark Hughes envisaged when he splashed the cash on established internationals last summer. Pricey imports Ibrahim Affellay, Xherdan Shaqiri and Bojan Krkic ought to start punching their weight to lift the Potters out of the relegation zone. Riyad Mahrez, will trouble the hosts.

Newcastle 1 Watford 0

Magpies coach Steve McLaren said the defeat at West Ham was a wake up call. You have to hope his players were listening. It is now or never for the black and whites, who find themselves rock bottom after five rounds. Quinque Flores’ Hornets are hard nuts but there are simply no two ways about it. Newcastle must win to lift the gloom.