EPL Matchweek 3: Insights and Predictions

Arpan Sharma
Aug 26, 2017 · 6 min read
Everton’s Wayne Rooney leaps in celebration after scoring against Manchester City. Credit: Sky Sports

This has been one heck of a busy week for English football fans. Matchweek 2 brought its share of thrills and spills, including draws for the Carabao Cup and the Champions League as well as news breaking of Wayne Rooney’s retirement from international football. The storylines have left us all desperately catching our breath. However, with Matchweek 3 on the horizon, relief is nowhere to be seen as Liverpool host Arsenal and Rooney’s Everton travel to Stamford Bridge. Without further adieu, here are our predictions for the upcoming set of matches in the Premier League.

Bournemouth v. Manchester City

The Citizens travel to the south of England to face Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth in what should be a walk in the park for Pep Guardiola’s men. Bournemouth are currently 16th in the table, opening the season with two losses and are one of five teams to have not even scored a single goal. Guardiola has a plethora of attacking options available to him and expect Aguero and Jesus braces knocking down the Cherries in their own stadium, 4–0.

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth are yet to score a single goal in the league this season. Credit: The Independent

Crystal Palace v. Swansea City

Crystal Palace only lost 1–0 at the hands of Liverpool last weekend, but don’t think that this was a close match. The Eagles were outshot by 19 and had only 28% of the ball in what was truly a dismal showing. Their opponents were equally miserable, as Manchester United absolutely whacked Swansea 4–0 at the Liberty Stadium. Clearly, neither of these teams are doing very well as both combined for a whopping nine shots last week. Expect this to fizzle out into a boring 0–0 draw.

Watford v. Brighton

Watford have started off well, with a draw against Liverpool followed by a 2–0 win over Bournemouth last Saturday.

New boy Richarlison wheels away after scoring against Bournemouth. Credit: Mirror

Brighton, meanwhile, lost 2–0 at the hands of Leicester City and expect them to do the same here as well. Watford have decent attacking options in Andre Gray, Richarlison and new England International, Nathaniel Chalobah. Overall, Brighton simply do not have much to offer and Watford will dominate, with Chalobah and Gray scoring their first goals for Watford in a 2–0 home win.

Huddersfield v. Southampton

Believe it or not, but Huddersfield are in second place. An Aaron Mooy goal sent the Kirklees Stadium into raptures in a 1–0 win over fellow promoted side Newcastle last Sunday. Southampton also emerged 3–2 winners over a ten-man West Ham side in an absolute classic. Additionally, Redmond and Gabbiadini both hit the post in what was truly a clinical attacking display from Mauricio Pellegrino’s men. Huddersfield have certainly been the surprise package throughout the first two weeks of this season, but their run is surely coming to an end against a strong Southampton side. Southampton win 2–1 through goals from Tadic and Gabbiadini.

Newcastle v. West Ham

A battle between two clubs whose seasons have not exactly started off well. Both teams have lost their first two games with Newcastle downed 1–0 by Huddersfield and a ten-man West Ham losing 3–2 despite a Chicharito hat trick.

Chicharito celebrates putting West Ham level at the bet365 stadium, they would end up losing 3–2. Credit: West Ham United

West Ham improved greatly from their massacre at Old Trafford (Arnautovic red card aside), while Newcastle managed to regress from their 2–0 loss to Spurs in week one. In the end, a Chicharito penalty and a Lanzini goal give West Ham a 2–0 win.

Manchester United vs. Leicester City

Manchester United are top of the table, and rightly so. They currently have a goal difference of +8 as well as the league’s top scorer in Romelu Lukaku (3) and the top assister in Henrikh Mkhitaryan (4). Leicester City will have their work cut out for them and will rely heavily on Harry Maguire after receiving his first international call up.

Jamie Vardy battles for possession against Davy Propper of Brighton. Expect him to get on the scoresheet vs. the Red Devils. Credit: LCFC

Overall, Manchester United have too much in attack to be threatened too much by Leicester. Expect Lukaku and Mkhitaryan scoring with a Vardy consolation goal in a 2–1 win for Mourinho’s men.

West Brom vs. Stoke City

A ten man West Brom downed Burnley in typical Tony Pulis fashion last weekend. They defended stoutly, conceding 20 shots but allowing none (!!!) to hit the target. Meanwhile, Stoke are coming off a shock 1–0 victory against Arsenal. Arsenal were completely unable to finish their chances which led to a Jese’s 47th minute debut goal sealing all three points for the Potters at home.

Stoke aren’t that bad of a team, yet they are winless in their last five against The Baggies, with four of those matches resulting in losses. I think Pulis does it again and West Brom squeak by through a Phillips goal, 1–0.

Chelsea vs. Everton

Chelsea host Everton in what should be a close encounter at Stamford Bridge. Wayne Rooney will be playing in his first game after becoming only the second player to join the 200 goal club last weekend:

Rooney joins the legendary Alan Shearer as members of the Premier League’s “200 club.”

Chelsea are coming off a 2–1 win against Tottenham which will surely have the Blues in high spirts against the Toffees come Sunday. Everton are coming off a draw at Manchester City which, by no means a bad result, simply does not give Everton the same mental confidence that a win over a team like Tottenham can give a side. Chelsea take this one rather easily, 3–1 with goals from Rooney, Pedro and a Morata double.

Btw check this goal:

Tottenham vs. Burnley

This fixture will be very intriguing for American viewers as it showcases the first big club being televised on NBC’s very controversial subscription service, NBC Sports Gold. Last week, Tottenham endured a tough 2–1 defeat to defending champions Chelsea. In a match where they dominated the shot count and held the lion’s share of possession, manager Mauricio Pochettino will tell his men in no uncertain terms to find the back of the net. Expect them to hit the net a lot. Burnley are a team that are by no means defensively sound, yet stability in midifeld could yet help Sean Dyche’s men if they want to get anything from this match. Jack Cork and Steven Defour are a very underrated duo who could look to capitalize on any space Spurs give them in the middle of the park. However, Burnley simply cannot defend against a team boasting Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and the most stingy defense in the league two years running. Kane finally gets a goal in August, then grabs another two as a hat trick from the probable England captain pushes Spurs on 3–0.

Liverpool vs. Arsenal

The marquee matchup of the weekend sees The Gunners travel to Anfield. Liverpool are coming off a 1–0 win where despite the scoreline, they played Crystal Palace off the pitch. Additionally, Liverpool added an impressive 4–2 win over Hoffenheim in Champions League qualifying. Arsenal, however, are coming off an underwhelming performance against Stoke where they simply couldn’t finish anything. On the bright side, they created chances but expect the number of chances created to dwindle in light of Klopp’s intense press. Expect Mané to get on the scoresheet and down Arsenal, 1–0.

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Arpan Sharma

Written by

The Great Zamboni- Writer and Editor

The Great Zamboni

Modern Sports Commentary From Everyday Fans, For Everyday Fans

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