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When fixtures come thick and fast in the Premier League, we always expect surprises and upsets. That is exactly what happened during midweek. Chelsea were the victims this time as they suffered a shock 3-1 loss away from home to Leeds United. I don't know if you remember, but in last week's column, I clearly stated how Leeds will be up for this game and would make life difficult for Chelsea at Elland Road. And boy, Leeds suffocated the life out of Chelsea in that game!
Arsenal got an important win, while Manchester City crumbled and almost gave away a four-goal advantage during their thrilling 5-4 win against Fulham. We're yet to see what happens when Manchester United host West Ham later tonight, but all the other teams have shifted focus to the upcoming gameweek this weekend and we follow suit.
Without further ado, here are my predictions for gameweek 15 in the Premier League.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
The outcome of this game depends on Arsenal's injuries. Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice limped off with knocks in the win over Brentford. Arsenal are playing a team that is one of the most in-form sides in this league. Aston Villa have won eight of their last nine games. Unai Emery's men also produced a great comeback away from home against Brighton to win 4-3 in their last outing.
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If Rice isn't fit for this game, I don't see Arsenal winning! Villa have been outstanding and will be confident after their win over Brighton. But are they title contenders if they get a result against Arsenal this weekend? I don't think so. Top four will be the aim for Villa. With all due respect to the run Villa have enjoyed recently, some of the teams they faced were in the bottom half of the table. It's still incredible considering how poorly Villa started this season. However, calling them title contenders isn't right.
Mikel Merino scored for Arsenal after starting as the center-forward against Brentford. I like him, he's a decent player and scores in big games. But you won't win the league if you play him as the center-forward every week. So a few games here and there is fine, but Arsenal can't use him in that role for the entire season.
This is a hard game for Arsenal. They lost at this ground in the season before the last one, despite dominating Villa. I'm going for an Arsenal win in the hope that Rice is fit, but 1-1 draw if he is unavailable!
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
Everton vs Nottingham Forest
I just can't seem to figure out what kind of a team Everton are at the moment. They draw against Sunderland, beat Fulham at home, win with 10 men away from home to Manchester United, then get destroyed by Newcastle at home and now go to Bournemouth and win! Three points were well deserved for Everton against Bournemouth, but the run suggests you just don't know what you will get from them in games.
This game will also be Sean Dyche going up against his former club. He has done well since taking over as manager at Nottingham Forest. Except for the game against Brighton last Sunday, Forest have been decent under him. They beat a very poor Wolves team in midweek as well. That win puts Wolves in deep trouble and I don't think they have a chance to avoid relegation now, which makes it one less team to worry about, if you're Forest.
This will be a really tight game, but I believe Everton will secure a narrow win.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United vs Burnley
I can't see anything but a Newcastle win. Burnley away and Wolves anywhere are the two teams you want to play at the moment. Newcastle are moving steady in the league, and even though they are 12th on the table, just five points separate them from Chelsea in fourth.
Newcastle are a team that can beat anyone on their day. The only thing they're lacking is consistency. I think they will finish in the top four if they can be consistent, certainly have the players to do it. Let's not forget, it's a big week coming up for Newcastle. After the trip to Burnley, they face Leverkusen in the Champions League in a clash that can help them move closer to the knockout stages, if they win. And then, it's the big derby against Sunderland next weekend! So it's important they set the right momentum by beating Burnley.
If Newcastle turn up with the same tempo they set when facing big teams, they will win this game comfortably. If they are complacent, Burnley can hurt them.
Prediction: Burnley 0-3 Newcastle United
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Sunderland will definitely score in this game. It's about how many Manchester City will score and that will decide the contest! I have been so impressed with Sunderland. It's unbelievable and mind-blowing what they are doing in the Premier League. They almost beat Liverpool as well in midweek!
I was watching Manchester City against Fulham with my boy and they looked great till 5-1. When Fulham made it 5-2, my boy asked, 'what do you reckon now? City drop points?' I was like, 'nah, no way'. And they almost did! After watching them let in three goals like that when they're 5-1 up, I don't see City as a threat to Arsenal.
On the bright side for Manchester City, Phil Foden is back among the goals again. This gives Thomas Tuchel a big headache now. Cole Palmer is fit again, Foden is scoring goals and Morgan Rogers is also moving fine. You have to remember that the World Cup is only happening in June next year, so there's still a lot of football left to be played. Foden has to keep scoring goals and perform the same way in March to be guaranteed a spot in the England team. Palmer and Rogers will also push him for that place. No one will remember these goals if he can't keep it up.
Few years ago, I would have backed City to win this game 4-0. But they are a shadow of that team now. I think they will still have enough to edge this game, even though it's a tricky one.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford
I think Thomas Frank is in trouble, severe trouble. And it has nothing to do with the results. They are Tottenham and they are always up and down like this. But what he said about Spurs fans not being 'real' because they booed Guglielmo Vicario isn't something that will go down well with the club's supporters.
It will be a hostile atmosphere when Tottenham host Frank's former club Brentford on Saturday. It's a sell out crowd at Spurs' ground every weekend, 60 odd thousand people turn up for their home games. When your biggest rivals are ripping it apart in the league and your manager accuses you of not being 'real', it can quickly become a toxic environment. That comment will be unacceptable for any Spurs fan.
Brentford rested some key players for the Arsenal game. But the problem for them is that they can't win a game away from home! I think Tottenham will need Micky van de Ven to step up in this game because Brentford have pace to burn and that can hurt Spurs. Anything less than a win would put more pressure on Frank and I think Tottenham will fail to secure three points.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Brentford
Bournemouth vs Chelsea
We always talked about how good a team Bournemouth have become and what a good manager they have in Andoni Iraola. But now they've lost four of the last five games in a row and the pattern is quite alarming. 3-1 loss to City after finding the equaliser, 4-0 hammering at Aston Villa, letting a two-goal lead slip at Sunderland and now losing to Everton at home, where they are considered strong. They are clearly on a downward spiral.
But we need to talk about Chelsea here. I don't know what Enzo Maresca was doing with his team selection in the defeat to Leeds. I'm not picking on Trevoh Chalobah, but he's not a right-back so why would you play him there? I understand that Reece James needs rest, but why have him on the bench if you want him ready for the weekend? Traveling all the way to Leeds and sitting on the bench while it's freezing cold isn't called 'rest'. He could have just played Malo Gusto from the start!
Another one is Estevao. Don't get me wrong, he's a brilliant player and could become one of the best in the world. But Leeds away from home in midweek isn't the fixture you play him in. Why put the kid in for a game like this where it's going to be all blood and thunder with the home fans in full voice? As soon as I saw the line-up, I knew Chelsea weren't going to win the game.
Chelsea fans who are my age will know how important it is to win against Leeds. After Tottenham, this is the biggest game of the season for the older generation. But I don't think this game was treated with that kind of seriousness. As a Chelsea fan, that performance frustrated me so much.
Honestly, I ain't got a clue abou who's winning this game! Bournemouth have been shocking recently and Chelsea were brushed aside by Leeds after that incredible performance against Arsenal. I'm expecting goals in it, could be an entertaining draw.
Prediction: Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea
Leeds United vs Liverpool
Leeds United have done well in recent games. That was a massive result against Chelsea and even against Manchester City last weekend, I thought they were very unlucky to not walk away with at least a point after that comeback in the second half. If Leeds can get Elland Road going like they did in the win over Chelsea, they have a chance in this game.
You know what surprised me during Liverpool's draw against Sunderland? It was 1-1, they were chasing the winner and Arne Slot decided to take Alexander Isak off. I know Federico Chiesa came on as his replacement and produced a great clearance to deny Sunderland the winner, but I find that substitution quite strange. Your main signing, the man you paid the record transfer fee for, taken off when your team needs a goal. I just can't get my head around it!
Florian Wirtz is slowly showing signs of improvement at Liverpool. I've always said that he needs more games. This is a hard league and you need time to get used to it. The German league is quite open and gives players like him the space to operate effectively. Here, every game is hard. If you look at the Leeds team for example, most of the players in that line-up would be full internationals. You don't see that in a team battling relegation in the Bundesliga. That is the difference. Liverpool need to trust him with more minutes now.
I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool won this game 2-0 or even 3-0. But it's a free swing for Leeds at Elland Road and that makes them dangerous. I'm going for a draw, but if I was forced to pick a team, I'd choose Liverpool.
Prediction: Leeds United 1-1 Liverpool
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United
West Ham face Manchester United later tonight, but I don't see them winning that game. They are in a little bit of trouble in my opinion. After Brighton this weekend, West Ham next face Aston Villa and Manchester City just ahead of the busy festive period.
The fixtures coming up around Christmas and New Year is massive for West Ham. They face Fulham on Boxing Day, then Brighton again, and Wolves after the New Year. That run is West Ham's season in a nutshell and it will decide how the season ends for them!
Brighton lost to Villa last time out. They score too many goals for a team like West Ham and I can't see them losing this game at home.
Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 West Ham United
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Fulham were brilliant after going 5-1 down against Manchester City. But since they were already trailing by four goals, taking off the shackles and playing that way became easy. Crystal Palace have looked tired in the last couple of games. It seems to me like their squad is being stretched so hard by the demands of playing in Europe.
After the game against Fulham, they face Shelbourne in the Europa Conference League and go up against Manchester City in the next gameweek. This tight schedule has taken a toll on them. Palace got a good result against Burnley on Wednesday but look like a shadow of the team they were last season.
Fulham will take some high off the goals they scored in the 5-4 loss to City and I expect them to win here. I'm not saying Palace are a bad team, but they just look too tired to get a result in this game.
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Crystal Palace
Wolves vs Manchester United
I don't see where Wolves are going to win a game this season! Like I said last week, they needed 10 points from the next four home games and they have already lost to Nottingham Forest. After watching Wolves got destroyed in that 1-0 loss against Forest, I don't fancy them to get even a point in the next three home games against Manchester United, Brentford and West Ham. In between these games they face Arsenal, Liverpool and United away as well!
I actually thought Wolves would come out and have a go at Forest. They are bottom of the league and need results. But Wolves had just one shot on target in that game, a shocking performance.
Nothing but a Manchester United win here. The only problem with United is that one minute they are really good, and in the next, they are shocking. United were so bad in the first half against Crystal Palace last weekend, decided to change it up and won the game in the second half. I'm backing them to beat West Ham later tonight and follow it up with a win over Wolves on Monday. These two wins will put them back in contention for a top four finish.
Prediction: Wolves 0-3 Manchester United
