'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Life moves on quite quickly in the Premier League. But I can't believe the amount of stick Mohamed Salah is getting for his comments. Let's not forget that he could have walked away on a free transfer last summer, but he chose to stay with Liverpool. He hasn't refused to play football, he just wants to play more often!
I know maybe he could have gone about expressing his concerns in a different way. But we're all human and it happens at times. I play Sunday morning football with my mates. People go mental if they get subbed in them games. So why can't Salah be unhappy with his situation at Liverpool? There are other players in that team who haven't been good enough but none of them were dropped like Salah.
Trending
Some people accuse Salah of not tracking back during games. He didn't do that last season either. Salah is just a human being who has come out and been honest about his situation. He's 33 and signed a two-year contract with Liverpool because he wanted to play football. I know he's on a £400,000 per week contract but he could have got that or more if he decided to go to Saudi Arabia. So it's not about the money here.
I've seen players refusing to play for their clubs and none of them ever received this much stick. It's not entirely his fault. Alright then, now that we have that out of our way, let us dive straight into my predictions for gameweek 16 in the Premier League.
Chelsea vs Everton
This is a huge game for Enzo Maresca. If Chelsea don't win this football match, they could be out of the top six. After beating Barcelona and producing a spirited display against Arsenal, Chelsea have failed to kick on. They have lost two out of their last three games in all competitions and are under huge pressure.
It's not long ago that they were still within touching distance of Arsenal, but look at them now. If they lose this game, Everton will go above them in the points table. There are at least five teams who can move ahead of Chelsea, if they fail to win this weekend.
Everton have looked good in recent weeks, apart from that shocking loss at home to Newcastle United. They went to Bournemouth and won quite comfortably - something Chelsea failed to do in their last league game. If Maresca wins this game, he can play his fringe players in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff City on Tuesday. But if he doesn't, he will be forced to play his strongest team in that game.
Moises Caicedo is unavailable for this match. I'm still going to back Chelsea for the win. But I must admit that I went with Chelsea mainly because I support them. This will be a tight game.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion
This is another dodgy game to predict. On paper, Liverpool should win this. But if you've watched them closely this season, you wouldn't be surprised if they struggled again. Liverpool must turn the corner soon though. The fact that they haven't done it yet is a huge problem.
Brighton are a team that can cause problems to any team in this division. These are the games you want to be winning if you want to retain your title at the end of the season, but I don't think Liverpool are looking that far ahead at the moment.
Will the game against Brighton be the final time we see Mohamed Salah in a Liverpool shirt? I think it all depends on what has happened behind the scenes. If Liverpool think Salah will be gone in January, they will give him five minutes against Brighton to say goodbye to the fans at Anfield. If they are not keen on selling him, I doubt he will get a start on Saturday.
I don't really buy the fact that Liverpool aren't good defensively because of Salah. He would have had a look at the fixtures he was dropped for and thought he could have made a difference in them. To be fair on Salah, apart from Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike, no other Liverpool player has produced good performances.
Salah did not do a Trent Alexander-Arnold by leaving the club and now everyone is slaughtering him. Nobody would've seen this coming at Liverpool. If Salah ends up staying, I think he will eventually get back into this team.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Burnley vs Fulham
This is a must win game for Burnley. If they don't win, they are relegated! It's as simple as that now. Burnley are already five points off safety and have lost their last six games on the trot. West Ham, who sit above them in 18th place, have also started getting some results, which only adds to the pressure.
Burnley are a team that works hard. But they need more than just hard work to avoid relegation from the Premier League. It's hard to win football matches when you're on a six-game losing streak. I have a strange feeling they will get three points in this game.
Prediction: Burnley 1-0 Fulham
Arsenal vs Wolves
4-0 to Arsenal? 5-0? Honestly, it can be anything! I don't know from where Wolves can find a win this season. This is the perfect game for Arsenal after that loss to Aston Villa and a midweek trip away from home to face Club Brugge in the Champions League.
When Arsenal get on top of teams, they really dominate and I can see Wolves struggling in this game. I thought Mikel Arteta got it wrong when he used Mikel Merino as the centre-forward in the game against Villa. I know Merino scores a lot of important goals but Villa were bang in form and they needed someone like Viktor Gyokeres in that line-up to unsettle the opponents.
You pay all that money for the 'missing link' and he sits on the bench for three straight games. If he had fitness issues, why is he on the bench? I don't understand it. I've said this before and I'll say it again, Arsenal won't win the league if they keep playing Merino as their centre-forward.
Only thing I liked about Arteta last week is the fact that he had a go. I like that positivity from him. Arsenal have also had to deal with quite a few injuries in recent weeks, so Arteta hasn't been able to pick his best XI for certain games. I expect them to return to winning ways.
Prediction: Arsenal 4-0 Wolves
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Crystal Palace are the kind of team that rarely lets you down when you watch them. Even with key players missing, they produced a good win over Fulham last weekend. It all depends on which Palace team turn up against Manchester City this Sunday.
Is it going to be the team that dominated the first half against Manchester United? Or will it be the team that struggled so bad in the second half of the same match? Selhurst Park is a tough place to visit and I think Palace can get something from this game.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has to get back to his best soon. He has been missing too many chances lately and I have a feeling that this will be the game where he returns to form. We all know he's a handful and can give the City defenders a real run for their money.
This will be a good contest between both sets of players. Arsenal will look at this game and think Palace can do them a huge favour. If City end up winning this game, Arsenal will be under serious pressure next week.
Arsenal face Everton away from home only after City host West Ham next week and a win for Pep Guardiola's team will put them above the Gunners in the table. If that happens, Arsenal will be thinking, 'how did this happen? We were seven points ahead not long ago', before their game.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester City
Sunderland vs Newcastle United
What a game. The big derby returns to the Premier League! We say this every week but Sunderland have been unbelievable, haven't they? No matter how many times we say it, this performance on their return to the top-flight never loses its shine.
Newcastle are scoring goals, but they just can't keep a clean sheet. The last time they prevented a team from scoring was seven games ago against Athletic Club in the Champions League. If you go player for player on paper, it's a Newcastle win. But I can assure you that this game can never be won on paper! The Stadium of Light will be absolutely rocking and Sunderland will put up a strong fight.
I hate doing it but I'm going to have to sit on the fence here. Draw for me.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur
Nottingham Forest have become a bit inconsistent now. After that impressive win against Liverpool, Sean Dyche's men have lost two out of their next three league games.
Tottenham, on the other hand, have had consecutive wins at home. It's a good sign if you're a Spurs fan because they have struggled to get results on home turf this season.
If they don't get a result against Forest, Tottenham could end up staying in the bottom half of the table. But if they win and Chelsea lose, they have the chance to go above the Blues. That's how tight it is in the points table now, madness when you think of it!
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa have been outstanding. In all honesty, even West Ham looked decent against Brighton and Manchester United. But this is a tough game for them with Villa flying so high in form.
What an incredible tunaround it has been for Unai Emery after that worrying start to the season. He's a coach who makes players better. That's what he does best and Villa are benefitting so much.
Emiliano Buendia is now fulfilling the potential he first showed at Norwich City. It was a tough start for him at Villa, but he has gotten better and better. If he keeps playing like this, he won't be far from the plane that takes the Argentina squad to the 2026 World Cup. All the other teams should be worried if Buendia fails to make the Argentina squad after keeping up his form because that would mean the reigning world champions have such an unbelievable squad!
Villa have won nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions, it's a dream run for the team and I expect it to continue against West Ham.
Prediction: West Ham United 1-3 Aston Villa
Brentford vs Leeds United
If Brentford win this game, they will stop worrying about relegation. But they are under so much pressure to win games at home because of their terrible form on their travels.
Leeds have shown great improvement in recent weeks. Both teams will match up against each other the same way, but I just feel Brentford have the edge. At home, Keith Andrews' men are a different team. Even though Leeds have done extremely well to get four points against Chelsea and Liverpool in their last two games, I expect them to come up short here.
Prediction: Brentford 3-1 Leeds United
Manchester United vs Bournemouth
I thought Manchester United looked good the other day. It was only against Wolves but I must say it looked good on the eye. Mason Mount was outstanding in that game too.
Consistency is the main problem for Manchester United. They lost to 10-man Everton, initially struggled to get going in the win over Crystal Palace and draw against West Ham.
Fortunately for Manchester United, Bournemouth are not the team they once were. They deserved to win against Chelsea last week but we've seen Bournemouth play much, much better in the past. I just think they are really struggling at the moment and this is the best time for Manchester United to face them at home.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Bournemouth
