Premier League Predictions, Week 6
Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! European football made its return this week, with the group stages of the Champions League and the far superior Europa League kicking off. But tomorrow, it's back to English action we go.
In my first prediction slate of the season, I neither exploded nor stumbled out of the gate, really. It was a perfectly decent Week 1 for me; whiffs on Liverpool's and Brighton's victories (both very pleasant surprises) were offset by correct win projections for Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester City. Furthermore, in the case of the latter, I was dead on with my 3-1 scoreline prediction, which is good enough for a 3.5/5 week. Look, it's not gonna set the world on fire, but at this rate a 70% tally would mark a significant improvement from the last couple seasons!
Now, the matches are less than 24 hours from kicking off, so let's not waste any more time with deceptive numbers. Here are your 5 for Week 6!
Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest
Will City lose at all this season? It's a not-totally-insane question, but West Ham last weekend did at least make the Cityzens sweat for a while, which is more than most teams can say. I expect proceedings will be much more routine against Nottingham, who have had a fairly bright start to the season but lack the firepower still to truly hang with the champions. American hero Matt Turner can only save so many shots in one game, you know?
The Pick: Man City, 2-0
Chelsea vs. Aston Villa
So much has been made of Manchester United's terrible, no-good start to the season-- and don't get me wrong, I love it. I'm eating it up. But it does baffle me how much quieter by comparison the noise has been surrounding Chelsea; the Blues' start has actually been even worse! And this after spending literal billions of dollars on new players and a new coach! Can Pochettino and co. finally get win #2 tomorrow? Aston Villa are far from the ideal opponent to jumpstart a winning streak against; Unai Emery's men have largely picked up where they left off down the stretch of last season, winning 3 matches already and sitting in 7th place. That said, I'm going to go out on a limb and say Chelsea finally comes good tomorrow. Home advantage will aid them, and in Villa's two matches against teams with real depth and talent this season (Newcastle and Liverpool), they've lost by an aggregate score of 8-1.
The Pick: Chelsea, 2-1
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Bournemouth
As if Roberto De Zerbi hadn't already proven enough in his impressive start to his young Brighton tenure, there were still doubters who though Manchester United would beat the Gulls last weekend. (It's me. I'm "doubters.") Instead, Brighton embarrassed their hosts 3-1, and laid to rest any lingering doubts that they would be up for a Top 4 charge this season. Their opponents this weekend are fellow south coast-ers Bournemouth; the Cherries were the 2nd-most popular relegation pick preseason, and in that way have "overacheived" thus far by staying above the drop line. The problem? Despite only losing once, they still haven't won a match. I can't see that changing this weekend against one of the best teams they've played so far.
The Pick: Brighton, 3-2
Liverpool vs. West Ham United
At halftime of their respective matches last Saturday, West Ham led league leaders Manchester City 1-0 at halftime, while Liverpool trailed cellar-dwellars Wolves 0-1 at the break. Naturally, the Reds proceeded to win 3-1 while the Hammers lost 1-3. It's still been a very bright start for West Ham regardless, the competitive loss to City their first blemish this season. And given the current state of Chelsea and Newcastle, they also might represent the most difficult opponent Liverpool have faced yet. That said, I think last weekend's win at Wolverhampton, in a match that so frequently has been the exact scenario wherein they faltered in the past, was a big sign of a turnaround for the now-hosts. West Ham will make it interesting, as they seemingly always do, but it's hard for me to see the Reds dropping this one at home.
The Pick: Liverpool, 4-2
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Speaking as a neutral, this is the most I've looked forward to a North London Derby in quite some time. Arsenal's form hasn't been consistent game-to-game, as evidenced by their ugly win last weekend at Everton, but they've dropped points only once this season, and just smoked a good PSV side in the Champions League in the midweek. But the defending runners-up's title challenge was to be expected; their rivals Tottenham sitting in 2nd place was not supposed to happen. Spurs lost their talismanic star Harry Kane, broke in a new manager in Ange Posteclogou, and had to settle for a draw at home in the opener vs. Brentford. And yet, they've only gone on won their next 4 matches, most of them comfortably, and all of a sudden, look as if they might be ready to pip their rivals in the Top 4 race this year. Arsenal are the better team on paper still, are in good form and are at home. But I don't know... I'm a believer in the Big Ange magic. I think spoils will be shared at the Emirates.
The Pick: Draw, 2-2
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