Sparks to fly in Premiership on Super Sunday

Chelsea 1 Man United 0

A clip from last season’s reverse fixture showing Ander Herrera following Eden Hazard like a stalker is a pointer to the kind of fixture we shall witness. United will keep it tight and try to man mark Hazard out of the game. I am backing Chelsea to edge the game on account of their strong head-to-head record over Man United at Stamford Bridge.

Man City 2 Arsenal 1

Pep Guardiola is delivering the kind of football his vaunted reputation promised when Sheikh Mansoor prized him away from Bayern Munich. Manchester City should extend their barnstorming start to the campaign because they have so many players on form. Any of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero can settle this fixture.

Swansea 1 Brighton 0

Paul Clement was understandably enthused by his team’s display at the Emirates despite falling 1-2. If Tammy Abraham and Jordan Ayew continue hustling with similar gusto, they should edge this battle. Brighton are certain to make it difficult for a Swansea team that doesn’t shoot on goal.

West Ham 2 Liverpool 2

Slaven Bilic’s beleaguered Hammers played their best football in a while in taking a 2-0 lead at Selhurst Park, only to be let down by farcical defending. If Andre Ayew and Javier Hernández are in similar form against a hesitant Liverpool back four, we are in for an interesting afternoon. Since both teams are careless about defending, I can see a goals-filled thriller.

Stoke City 1 Leicester 1

New Foxes boss Claude Puel yielded dividends from deploying English pace demon Demerai Gray to devastating effect. Gray showed all and sundry the power dribbling at pace in central parts of the pitch can bring. Stoke are decent but not strong enough to upstage a Leicester City side also benefiting from the bounce of having a good manager. A draw is the most likely outcome.

Huddersfield 1 West Brom 1

Huddersfield Town ambushed Man Utd in their last home game but I can’t see lightning striking twice against West Bromwich. Tony Pulis’ Brummies find themselves in a spot of bother after an indifferent run of form, so they will try to make amends. Having twice punctured title favourites Manchester City’s form, they should take a result of some description from this fixture.

Southampton 1 Burnley 0

Turf Moor faithfuls must be praying incessant transfer speculation about Everton’s approach for Sean Dyche doesn’t affect their club’s form. Unfortunately, I think it will prey on the players’ happen. Southampton will edge a tight affair against a team that travels very well by playing a suffocating defensive game.

Everton 2 Watford 1

Caretaker Everton boss David Unsworth must prove he has the tactical nous beyond simply stuffing his starting lined up with his compatriots. He started eight Englishmen at Leicester and still got stuffed 2-0. My worry for Everton is the limited recovery time after Thursday’s Europa League match.

Tottenham 2 C. Palace 1

Mauricio Pochettino may have berated Pep Guardiola for referring to his Spurs side as ‘the Harry Kane team’ but there is no escaping his influence on the North Londoners. His return from injury should provide a cutting edge that was missing in the 0-1 loss to Man United.

Newcastle 2 Bournemouth 1

Eddie Howe’s Cherries have lost the oomph with which they played last season. With confidence at an all time low, even the goals have dried up. You don’t want to travel up north in such a poor state of mind as Newcastle are in fine fettle. I am backing Rafa Benitez’s resurgent Magpies to gobble up the Cherries.

LASt WEEKEND, ALLAN ssekamatte got SEVEN RIGHT WITH TWO PERFECT SCOREs OUT OF 10 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES.