Premier League Predictions, Week 7

Welcome back to your weekly Premier League predictions! The season has been fairly bonkers 6 matches in. Liverpool and Manchester City being 1st and 2nd in the League isn't, of course, all that bizarre, but the fact that the latter has lost to a shorthanded Norwich City team is. And elsewhere, HALF of the "Big Six"-- Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Chelsea -- are all outside of the top 6 in the table.

Speaking of wacky results, my good start to the prediction season took a sharp step back last week, as I went 2.5 for 5 on the whole. Although I only saw Leicester drawing Tottenham, and not beating them, I'm giving myself half credit for predicting the 'upset' result. However, I whiffed badly on the Manchester United-West Ham result, and foresaw Chelsea and Liverpool drawing. Shame on me for not having faith in my Reds. That brings my yearly total to 6.5 for 10, or more plainly, 65%. Yikes.

Now, the matches are less than 12 hours away from starting, so let's not waste any time groveling. Here are your 5 for Week 7!

Sheffield United vs. Liverpool

Liverpool dug deep to hold on to a crucial road victory at Chelsea last week, but they'd be wise to not get caught between celebrating that win and looking ahead to their 2nd Champions League clash next week. Sheffield United have proved their mettle in the Premier League, and have one of the most respected managers in the game in Chris Wilder. I think the Reds get all 3 points tomorrow, but I anticipate it being more difficult than most would expect.

The Pick: Liverpool, 2-1

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Southampton

It's hard to overstate just how poor Tottenham have been in Premier League play since the end of last season. Their midweek loss to Colchester in the League Cup may be insignificant in terms of the trophies they are chasing, but it's an indicator of just how out of sync the defending Champions League runners-up are at the moment. Hosting a middling Southampton side provides the perfect opportunity to right the course...lose or draw this one, and it may not be too early to dismiss Spurs from the race for the Top 4.

The Pick: Tottenham, 3-0

Everton vs. Manchester City

Everton have carved out a space as being one of the "best of the rest" over the last decade or so in the Premier League, but if the first 6 matches are any indication, it will be tough for the Toffees to match even that feat this year. The typically attack-minded side have averaged less than a goal a game this season, and though a hampered City line offers opportunity to get on the right foot, a City attack at full strength is about the last thing Everton needs right now.

The Pick: Manchester City, 4-1

Leicester City vs. Newcastle

Is it 2015 all over again? We're approaching October and Leicester still sit in 3rd place, with matches against Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in their rear-view mirror. Newcastle have struggled to find much of an identity in the young post-Benitez era, and with Sunday's match at the King Power Stadium, you have to imagine this is a great opportunity for the Foxes to remain in the Top 4.

The Pick: Leicester City, 2-0

Manchester United vs. Arsenal

On paper, this was supposed to be a blockbuster. As it happens, it's a fascinating matchup between two teams who have to be wondering just how long the way back is to the top for them. United have teetered on disarray, with inexplicable draws and losses sprinkled amidst the occasional dominant performance. Arsenal, conversely, seem to be forging an identity and playing positive football, but every time a corner seems to be turned, their shambolic defending does them in in some fashion. I genuinely have no clue what is going to happen in this one; just about any result would make sense to me, based on this season. So I'll take the safe route and predict a scoring draw.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2

Premier League Predictions, Week 7

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