Russell Webb, Lee Shelton. Edited by Ben Truman.

 

 

 

Last week, Russell predicted 2 of 10 Premier League outcomes correctly however failed to correctly predict the correct score in any of the games. He’s hoping for an improved performance this weekend as Lee joins the Sporting Fixture prediction game.

Fancy your chances taking on Russell or Lee next week? Tweet or mail your predictions to us and the best performers will feature in the next edition.

Lee: Aston Villa 1-2 Watford

Aston Villa are yet to win a game in the Premier League since the first game of the season and it’s not looking any better for them. They are rock bottom of the Premier League table and aren’t looking like a team that will stay in the top division.

Watford on the other hand have been playing well in their last few games and were unlucky not to get a point against Manchester United last week. I can see them getting a result at Villa Park and if Villa want to stay in the Premier League they better start fighting for their place.

Russell: Aston Villa 2-2 Watford

Aston Villa have a very poor scoring record this season but I think that Remi Garde will get a reaction out of his players after their thrashing at Everton last week. Watford were very unlucky to lose the game against Manchester United last week and will be equally looking to bounce back. I don’t think either team will get the win here, but I can see a few goals going in.

Lee: Bournemouth 0-2 Everton

Bournemouth have played well in their past few games and are bound to string in some results sooner or later if they continue to play how they are, however they come up against an Everton side in confidence after their 4-0 domination of Aston Villa last weekend. I can’t see Everton throwing this game away, I feel it will be a comfortable victory where Bournemouth will struggle to keep up with the likes of Barkley and Lukaku running the show.

Russell: Bournemouth 2-1 Everton

Bournemouth played really well against Swansea last weekend as they reminded people why they won the Championship. Unfortunately, they are quickly finding out that the Premier League is far more punishing as they let a two goal lead slip. Last time out at home they were by far the better team against Newcastle, they just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net. Everton were very impressive against a poor Aston Villa side last week. After a disappointing international break, Ross Barkley was certainly on form for his club. If he can continue this form then he can be a real driving force for the Toffees. I think that Bournemouth will finally get the good result that their play has deserved over the past few weeks.

Lee: Crystal Palace 4-0 Newcastle United

Crystal Palace fell to defeat to a well organised Sunderland team last week, but this Newcastle team are quite the opposite.

Now, this could go one of two ways, Newcastle could replicate what Sunderland did, or they could continue along their path down to the Championship. I’m going with the latter and will say that the utter pace of Palace will send them further into disarray.

Russell: Crystal Palace 3-0 Newcastle

Alan Pardew will certainly be looking to get a positive result over his former club. His Crystal Palace side are certainly playing better this season, which is reflected in the Premier League table. Palace came up against a very well organised and determined Sunderland team on Monday. When I look at Newcastle I don’t think that they will have the same resilience as their North East rivals. I can see Palace getting back to winning ways this weekend and having a clean sheet to boot.

Lee: Manchester City 2-1 Southampton

It was hard to believe what happened to City at the weekend, Liverpool went to the Etihad to get nothing other than the three points. The only positive from City’s performance was seeing Aguero back scoring and I feel he will be the real difference between these two teams.

Southampton may have lost to Stoke last weekend, but I they are a team who show great promise despite losing big players every season. This will be one of the best games of the weekend in my opinion, both teams will want to get back into winning ways and it could go either way but my gut tells me that City won’t let this one slip.

Russell: Manchester City 3-2 Southampton

It has been a disappointing week for Manuel Pellegrini and his players. The loss in Turin won’t hurt as bad because they have already qualified for the Champions League Knockout stages and were simply vying for the group’s top spot. The 4-1 defeat by Liverpool on the other hand will be a worry as they were comprehensively brushed aside. Despite playing impressive football again this season I can’t see Ronald Koeman’s men coming away from the Etihad with anything. The loss against Stoke will be difficult to take because they created some decent opportunities and managed to limit their opponents to one goal. However, with a week of football under his belt Sergio Aguero will be even sharper and in potentially devastating form.

Lee: Sunderland 0-0 Stoke City

Sunderland are starting to take shape under Sam Allardyce and they will come up against a Stoke team who are also picking up form after beating both Southampton and Chelsea in recent games. I can see this being a very defensive game with both teams going out not to lose.

Russell: Sunderland 1-1 Stoke

Monday’s game away to Crystal Palace wasn’t particularly thrilling, but they got the job done. It was a typical performance from a Sam Allardyce team. They were big, strong and resolute at the back and managed to have enough of a cutting edge up front to take the three points.

Stoke have been playing some excellent football and picking up the results as well. Mark Hughes is tactically astute and will have seen the five across the back system employed by Sunderland in their last game. I can’t see it being the most entertaining game of the weekend and a draw will suit Sunderland more than Stoke.

Lee: Leicester City 0-2 Manchester United

Leicester City have been superb this season, by now I would have thought they would have lifted their foot off the throttle, but they just keep going. It will be a huge game for Jamie Vardy who will look to beat the record of the most consecutive goals scored in the Premier League if he is to beat Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record.

United on the other hand will look to bounce back from their sloppy Champions League performance against PSV and continue their ways in the Premier League, which may not be appealing to the eye but they are grinding out results.

As much as I want to see Jamie Vardy have his party, I can’t see him getting past the Bouncers of the Premier League; up to this point United’s defence has been bang on, conceding the least amount of goals this season. If anyone has to emulate Vardys form it is Wayne Rooney. At the start of the season I expected Rooney to be aiming for the Golden Boot, but his form has been well below par. Nevertheless I still see Leicester conceding and unlike last year, United won’t.

Russell: Leicester 2-2 Manchester United

We all remember the amazing game that these two teams gave us last season – an eight goal thriller in favour of Leicester. From that point Leicester really struggled until that great run towards the end of the season. This season has picked up where the last one left off and going into this weekend they actually sit on top of the table! To top that Jamie Vardy is on the cusp of making Premier League history by breaking Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive games. It is almost poetic that, if accomplished, Vardy will break the record against the only Premier League team Van Nistelrooy played for. United aren’t playing particularly well but still seem to be winning matches which, typically, is the sign of a great team. I think that Leicester will have enough energy and creativity to get passed the United defence, but not enough nouse to win the game.

Lee: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea

This is a huge game for both teams to show their dominance. Tottenham have been fantastic in recent games and Chelsea are slowly driving away from the storm. Tottenham haven’t lost in the Premier League since the opening fixture against Manchester United and in the form they’re in, I can’t see them losing.

Chelsea are showing small glimpses of their brilliance from last year, mainly from Willian, who in my opinion has been a stand out player for them. This game, as early as it is, will speak volumes for both clubs. If Tottenham win this then there is no reason why they can’t finish in the top four and I see them beating this Chelsea side.

Russell: Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea

In the words of Mauricio Potchettino, Spurs were ‘amazing’ last week against West Ham and there are few people who can disagree with him. Harry Kane is back to scoring goals with 9 in his last 6 games in all competitions and the defence is staying relatively steadfast. Tottenham will be without Dele Alli in this match after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Chelsea have got back to winning ways in this past week with a less than convincing win over Norwich, but a more convincing victory in the Champions League (albeit against Tel Aviv). I think this will be a feisty but entertaining and attacking game that will ultimately end in a draw.

Lee: West Ham United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

I have been surprised with how well West Ham have started this season, but they are showing signs of the team I expected. West Brom on the other hand haven’t quite been the defensive side I expected them to be, however the result they got against Arsenal will give them a huge boost of confidence and I think Tony Pulis has finally drilled in his defensive mind-set to this team.

If West Ham allow Albion to break the dead lock first then they could be in trouble, however I am going for a 1-0 home win.

Russell: West Ham 3-0 West Brom

These two teams had different fortunes last week. West Ham were well beaten by Tottenham, whereas West Brom enjoyed an excellent victory against Arsenal. I think that the roles will be reversed in this fixture with West Ham enjoying a good win. Slaven Bilic will expect his players to perform much better in front of their home crowd and I don’t think they will disappoint. They failed to play to Andy Carroll’s strengths last week which was a mistake that they won’t make two weeks in a row. Tony Pulis’ teams are always physical and they will be up for the fight against the likes of Carroll. However, West Ham have added some nice approach play into their game with new additions such as Lanzini who has two goals in his last two games.

Lee: Liverpool 2-0 Swansea City

Swansea come to Anfield looking for a way out of the dangerous position they are currently in. I feel for Garry Monk and believe he is the right man for Swansea.

Liverpool played some of the best football I have seen all season against Man City, their front three (Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino) were phenomenal. Jurgen Klopp got it spot on against City and if Coutinho is given the all-clear after his injury scare during the Man City match I can see nothing other than a home victory.

Russell: Liverpool 4-1 Swansea

On the face of it, last week’s 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth does not look like a good result for Garry Monk’s side; however, when you consider they were 2-0 down it was a great comeback to take at least one point. Although there are no easy games in the Premier League, they do come easier than going to Anfield. Liverpool were fantastic against Manchester City and thoroughly deserved their win. The Reds are looking more and more like a Klopp team every time they play which is only more daunting for opposing teams. Liverpool found their cutting edge last week and I think they will keep it against a Swansea side that are not at their best.

Lee: Norwich City 1-3 Arsenal

Arsenal suffered a shock defeat to West Brom in their last fixture and will be looking to get back on track to winning ways. The Premier League is up for grabs this year and they need to show they are the team to beat.

Norwich on the other hand are fighting for the opposite, to stay up in the Premier League. This is a must win for Arsenal, but no one expects Norwich to get anything out of this game. So they have nothing to lose, this can be a dangerous opponent to any team in the Premier League.

I expect Norwich to put up a fight, but I think they will tire towards the end of the game and this is where Arsenal can strike.

Russell: Norwich 1-3 Arsenal

Norwich put up a very good fight against Chelsea last week and only a lapse in concentration saw them concede against the champions. It was always going to be a tough ask to take any points from Stamford Bridge and they have an equally difficult task this weekend. Arsenal failed to take anything from their game against West Brom despite having a penalty late on to tie the match. They had a good midweek result in the Champions League and, in Olivier Giroud, they have a striker who is right in form at the moment.

Lee’s prediction summary:

Home wins: 5 Away wins: 4 Draws: 1

Home goals: 13 Away goals: 11

Russell’s prediction summary:

Home wins: 5 Away wins: 1 Draws: 4

Home goals: 23 Away goals: 14