Premier League Predictions, Week 9/10

Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! After my worst outing of the season, I bounced back last time out with a good, not great, showing. I did, as it turns out, get too bold thinking Brighton and Everton would take points off Tottenham and Manchester United. However, my Manchester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle wins all panned out, and the latter even featured the 6 goals scored that I predicted would come! That gave me a 3.5/5 week, bringing my season total to 16/30, slightly above .500.

But hey, the games are already kicking back off, so no time for finding silver linings. Here are your 5 for what is Week 9 for some, Week 10 for others!

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton

In an interesting scheduling quirk, Tottenham are the only team in the Top 8 to play on Saturday. Anyways- Frank Lampard's men have shown gradual improvement, but allowing a Man United comeback at home last week showed they're not quite ready to hang with the big boys yet. Spurs are in good form, and I expect will put this one away somewhat easily.

The Pick: Tottenham, 3-1

Aston Villa vs. Chelsea

This is a matchup between two teams sneakily improving; both sides are unbeaten in their last four matches. There still exists a big gap in their standing in the Premier League table, though, as Chelsea have won all of those, while Aston Villa have mostly drawn. However, Villa showed a month ago that they can successfully punch above their weight in an unexpected draw with Manchester City, and I think the relegation zone being in sight will spur them to another spirited performance.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Leeds United vs. Arsenal

Arsenal's win over Liverpool may have come against a team in raggedy form, and owe no small amount of thanks to questionable VARfficiating, but the result was no fluke and validated the claim: these Gunners are for real. Leeds, however, will not be an easy rebound match. Winless in their last five, the Peacocks are better than they've played recently, and I think their desperation for a result plus a raucous home crowd will see them steal a precious point from the league leaders.

The Pick: Draw, 2-2

Manchester United vs. Newcastle United

United's comeback win on the road last week, immediately following the dressing-down their crosstown rivals gave them the week before, exhibited a kind of mental strength this club has rarely shown in the post-Alex Ferguson era. They'll be favored to take this tie at home in Old Trafford, but Newcastle quietly have the look of a side coming into their own, and I expect will be a tough out at home.

The Pick: Draw, 1-1

Liverpool vs. Manchester City

It may just be mere months, but Liverpool and City's two takes of the thrilling 2-2 Premier League clashes feel like a lifetime ago, given the wildly different starts to the two clubs' seasons. It still seems unthinkable that the Reds would be beaten in a big match at Anfield-- at least with fans present --which hasn't happened since April 2017. But I just can't look at the players available for this match, and more importantly, at the form and mindset of the two clubs right now and envision anything other than a City victory, complete with Erling Haaland bagging a couple goals.

The Pick: Man City, 3-2