The race for the Premier League title took a twist in midweek after Liverpool dropped points in midweek and Arsenal capitalised by winning the north London derby.
Arne Slot’s men have been given another tough away assignment this weekend at Brentford, but Arsenal won’t have everything their own way against an Aston Villa side who cost them the title with a win at the Emirates during the run-in last season.
As ever, Betfair Ambassador Alan Shearer previews the action for Metro.co.uk…
Newcastle v Bournemouth
This one has got the potential to be a banana skin because you’ve got to admire Bournemouth this season with the way they’re going. They’ve got some really good players and particularly really good players in in forward positions. Newcastle are at home and with the form they’re in, I’m going to have to go for a home win. Prediction: Newcastle win
West Ham v Crystal Palace
Graham Potter’s gone in there at West Ham and he got his first home win which he’ll have been pleased to get early on. Crystal Palace are also going well, they beat Leicester away from home, which was really good but I think West Ham may just edge this one. Prediction: West Ham win
Brentford v Liverpool
Brentford drew with City, coming back and scoring two late goals and getting the draw, and they could have, perhaps should have nicked with a chance they had, so they’re a tough side to beat at home. Liverpool came up against a solid defence against Forrest, and a really good inform goalkeeper, drawing another game away from home. In this one though I think Liverpool will have too much for Brentford. I know they’ve got a Champions League game on Tuesday, but they can’t afford to think about that. Prediction: Liverpool win
Leicester v Fulham
Ruud van Nistelrooy has gone in there and he’s finding it tough, they had another defeat at home last time out. I think Fulham are having a really decent season, and I think they will have too much for Leicester in this one and it will be another home defeat for the Foxes. Prediction: Fulham win
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Arsenal were much better against Spurs, that being said they still missed chances and I’m still not convinced that they’re in a good place up top and I won’t be until they get a top class forward in there. This will be a tougher test for them, and I’m going to say this one will be a draw. Prediction: Draw
Nottingham Forest v Southampton
I can’t see anything but a Forest home win. I think Southampton know they’re down, with the number of points they have, they are on track to have maybe have the lowest ever number of points. Prediction: Nottingham Forest win
Everton v Spurs
This is a big game for both clubs. Everton are at home and they have to improve again. They can’t have another home defeat. On the flip side of that, with Tottenham, they are on a dreadful run of form and I’m not convinced with them at all. I know they’ve got injuries with the centre backs and the goalkeeper, but Postecoglou came out after their last game and said the first half performance was not acceptable, which was a big surprise because going into a local derby against your biggest rivals and not being ready for it and up for it was somewhat surprising. I think both teams might take a point here. Prediction: Draw.
Man United v Brighton
I’m not sure Man United can afford to sit deep against Brighton at home. Brighton are a good team, albeit they’ve not had the results like they did early on, but I think they’ll go and get a draw there. I think they’ll have enough to get something out of the game, because I’m not convinced United’s system will work against Brighton. Prediction: Draw
Ipswich v Man City
Man City come into this one on the back of another poor result. They looked absolutely knackered in the last 10 or 15 minutes of that Brentford game. I looked at some of the players and they were dead on their feet, which is surprising really. Having said that, I still think they will have enough to beat Ipswich. Liam Delap will go into this game and fancy his chances. The atmosphere down there will be brilliant, so everyone will be up for it, including him of course, coming up against his former team. But I think it will be a though ask and I can see City taking all three points. Prediction: Man City win
Chelsea v Wolves
The 3-0 scoreline perhaps didn’t give Wolves enough credit last time out against Newcastle because they missed some really good chances, and obviously that is going to be an issue for them. I think Chelsea will get back to winning ways in this one, and they need to. Prediction: Chelsea win
For more from Betfair Ambassador, Alan Shearer head to https://betting.betfair.com/football/alan-shearer/
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