Predictions: Chelsea, City should win

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0
Both teams come into this tie extended by their European exertions. Liverpool had to travel to Southern Russia to face Anzhi while Chelsea faced powerful Shakhtar Donesk. The one thing going for the European champions is their ability to score goals. It is an attribute Liverpool are lacking.

Stoke 0 QPR 0
QPR cannot afford to lose any more games before winning any. Mark Hughes is odds on favourite to face the sack as his summer spending splurge has not resulted into any improvement. Stoke City used to be formidable at home but are struggling to win as well.

Arsenal 1 Fulham 0
This is a good time to travel to the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal are in the middle of their worst start to a Premiership campaign. The Gunners are a shell of the team that used to create chances with almost reckless abandon. Fulham, though, are notoriously fickle on the road.

Everton 2 Sunderland 0
Martin O’Neill is spending sleepless nights over his side’s continued failure to score goals. If Steven Fletcher doesn’t score, no one else does. You do not like to be in such a situation when facing powerful Everton. Kevin Mirallas, Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic will destroy the Black Cats.

Reading 2 Norwich 2
Championship winners Reading confounded pundits by matching Queen’s Park Rangers toe to toe in their relegation slugfest. That should hold them in good stead as they face a resurgent Norwich which has been buoyed by victories over Arsenal and Stoke City. This is a cast-iron stalemate at the Madejski.

Newcastle 2 West Ham 1
Fabrizio Coloccini’s suspension denies Alan Pardew useful defensive ammunition against the aerial onslaught from Andy Caroll. West Ham should thus be good for a goal but I can’t see them returning to London with a share of the spoils as Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye are once again in the form of their lives.

Man City 2 Spurs 1
The champions’ form has been patchy at best, but their Ettihad Stadium fortress almost always guarantees three points. It is about time for Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero to stand up and be counted. Fireworks are to be expected as Spurs will be hoping to stem the rot.

Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 2
Paul Lambert ‘s Villains shocked Sunderland last time out but they are up against a United outfit firing on all cylinders. If he can improve on his reflexes in high pressure situations, Christian Benteke will prove good value for money. But I can’t fathom anything other than a Red Devils victory.

Wigan 1 West Brom 1
Wigan Athletic are an archetypal punters’ nightmare. They win when they are not supposed to and lose games you fancy them to win. Victory at White Hart Lane gives them the impetus to handle the tricky opposition that is Steven Clarke’s West Brom. Arouna Kone was a prudent signing.

Southampton 1 Swansea 1
Southampton would have beaten Swansea if this fixture had been played in the opening month of the season. The Saints were full of confidence then while Michael Laudrup’s Swans were leaking goals. Swansea have now plugged the gaps, and play a tight counter-attacking game which leaves no room for error.

Last week, Ssekamatte got five right with three perfect scores.

assekamatte@gmail.com