'%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)
Liverpool seem to have turned it around, haven't they? They got a good away win in the Premier League against Aston Villa and followed it up with another victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
But it's another massive, massive game coming up for them this weekend. If Arsenal get the win at Sunderland on Saturday, anything less than three points at the Etihad would be a serious blow for Liverpool. The same goes for Manchester City too. Both these teams cannot afford to lose this weekend if Arsenal maintain their winning run.
Except for the West Ham game, which was a shock result, I think I got all my predictions right in gameweek 10. If that continues, there will be a lot of surprises this time around too. On that note, let us dive straight into my predictions for gameweek 11 in the Premier League.
Trending
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United
We don't know what we're going to get with Tottenham. Against Chelsea, I thought they were bordering on atrocious! In that big local derby, everything they did was wrong. I couldn't believe what I was watching and it was one of Spurs' worst performances in a long time.
Manchester United got a good result last week. I know they had to settle for a point at Nottingham Forest, but it's definitely better than a loss. Chelsea could have won 4-0 or 5-0 against Tottenham last weekend. Manchester United's forwards are better than what Chelsea have and I think they can really punish Spurs in this game.
What do I think about Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence refusing to acknowledge the fans and greet Thomas Frank after the loss to Chelsea? Well, Frank has to do a better job at reading the stadium. He's not at Brentford anymore! Spurs have ambitions this season and it was a bad performance. I don't blame the players. Nobody in that stadium is expecting them to do a lap of honour every time they lose a game.
Manchester United have shown signs of promise in attack over the last few weeks and I'm backing them to win since they're more consistent than Spurs.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester United
Everton vs Fulham
Big result for Fulham last week. Even though West Ham also won, that win takes huge pressure off them. As we speak, four points separate Aston Villa in 11th and Fulham, who are 15th in the table. Defeat against Everton would put seven points between Fulham and the closest team to the top half of the table. And Everton sit just one point above Fulham, so there's a lot riding on this for both teams.
Whoever wins this game is looking at a top half finish and the team that loses, they are expected to hover around the bottom three this season. Everton have one win in their last eight games, which is a worrying run of form. I know they've had some tough fixtures during the time, but that draw at home to West Ham has put some pressure on them. If they don't win soon, this run will start eating up their confidence.
Personally, I think, for any player who is not part of the England squad during the international break in November, it will be tough to make the cut for the squad at the World Cup next year. Thomas Tuchel will have his squad set in stone by the end of this break and it will be interesting to see if Jack Grealish gets the call-up.
I've got to go with Everton here. They desperately need a win and I expect them to get the job done against Fulham.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Fulham
West Ham United vs Burnley
How quickly football changes! West Ham beat Newcastle last weekend and another win over Burnley here will get them out of the relegation zone. I said it before, West Ham weren't going to get relegated. Look at that front-line, they have so much quality going forward. West Ham only have to shut the back door and stop conceding goals in silly fashion to stay up. It was a bad performance from Newcastle, but West Ham deserve credit for that win.
We talk about how Burnley and Leeds United have done well so far, which is true. But both of them are still 17th and 16th in the league table. That just shows how tough the Premier League really is for newly-promoted sides.
Whoever loses this game, could be cut adrift off the teams above them. It's a cup final for West and even though I know they don't keep clean sheets at all, I'm expecting them to secure a win and not let Burnley score here.
Prediction: West Ham United 2-0 Burnley
Sunderland vs Arsenal
This is a difficult game for Arsenal. Sunderland had more shots and more possession than Everton in their draw last weekend. I like Sunderland, they have been amazing so far. They can make life difficult for their opponents and I'm really looking forward to how Arsenal deal with this challenge.
I watched Arsenal against Burnley last weekend and it did not look like Burnley would even have a shot on goal! It wasn't due to a lack of effort from Burnley, Arsenal are just that good. They don't look like conceding a shot at the minute.
So what is the best way to play against this Arsenal team? I think 5-4-1 works best against them, and if I were a manger, I would definitely stick to that formation. Arsenal are a well-oiled machine with a lot of unbelievable talent. It's not just players working hard for them, it's also the incredible quality all of them have.
Sunderland must play this game in blocks of 15 minutes and keep things tight at the back. As the game progresses, the pressure to win will mount on Arsenal and that will open the game up a lot more. Arsenal will panic if it stays 0-0 for too long. But if they score first, it's game over for Sunderland.
This game will also be a reunion for Granit Xhaka with his old club Arsenal. He has been excellent since joining Arsenal. But you also have to appreciate the work done by Bertrand Traore and Noah Sadiki either side of him in midfield. Regis Le Bris deserves building the team in that fashion. If you take Sadiki off that field, I don't think Xhaka is the same player we see now!
Prediction: Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal
Chelsea vs Wolves
I can't believe Chelsea didn't win 5-0 or 4-0 against Tottenham last weekend! It's ridiculous, they dominated that game. But then Chelsea go to Qarabag, which is a long trip away from London, and made some questionable decisions with his squad selection. You either play a strong team or you rotate heavy and rest your main players. You can't be caught in between!
Chelsea fought against Nottingham Forest till the final day of last season to be in the Champions League. It's Wolves coming up next, not Arsenal. Why are you resting everyone then? You want to get into the top eight in the Champions League and now all of a sudden, you are under pressure after the draw with Qarabag. Chelsea have some tough games against Barcelona and Napoli coming up in the Champions League. So you just go to Qarabag and play a team that can win you the game? You won't win the Premier League, so why don't you have a go in the Champions League?
Having said that, I expect Chelsea to beat Wolves. You don't sack your manager and wait this long to appoint a new one. Wolves are trying to stay up in the Premier League, they should have brought someone in by now. They have some tough games coming up after the international break as well. Ideally, the new manager should have joined before this game. Now he'll be here during the international break when some of their players are away and that's a shambles.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Wolves
Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Crystal Palace have got back on track now after that blip they had. After a run of three losses in four games from the start of last month, they have now recovered to notch up three straight wins in all competitions.
I don't think there will be a lot to separate these teams in the points table at the end of the season. They should both focus on the FA Cup in my opinion. We know how Palace won it last time and now they are in Europe. I believe Oliver Glasner and Palace should try to go all in and win the Europa Conference League. They have the quality to do it, but that would mean them sacrificing some league games in the process.
Brighton haven't been bad away from home, but they have lost each of their last two games on the road. I expect that to continue here.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Aston Villa vs Bournemouth
What a game this is! Both teams are capable of playing some really good football. Bournemouth are fifth and Aston Villa are 11th, yet there are only three points between them!
Every time you watch Bournemouth play, they deploy a high defensive line and are open to conceding goals. We saw them play the same way in the loss to Manchester City. If it suits their players, and it got them to fifth in the table, there's no reason to change it. But if you're going to play that way away from home, you need to be able to pick the right pass at the end of it. I don't think they did that at City and I expect another entertaining loss here.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-2 Bournemouth
Brentford vs Newcastle United
It was a terrible result for Newcastle against West Ham last weekend. They kept the ball but never looked like scoring too many times. It's a shame because I thought they were starting to find some rhythm and then that loss has now set them back.
Brentford away is one of the toughest fixtures in this league. Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all played Brentford away and only City won. This is bread and butter for Brentford and Newcastle's away form is actually quite woeful. I'm backing the hosts for a win.
Prediction: Brentford 2-1 Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
This is a huge game. If Nottingham Forest win, they are just two points behind Leeds United and one behind Burnley. When you look at it that way, you'd have to start worrying about the two newly-promoted teams. Leeds haven't been good away from home, except for that win against Wolves. I know they have had to play some tough fixtures on the road, but still.
Sean Dyche will play his football only one way and that could actually be the best possible thing for Forest. Defensively, we know how strong they were last season. Dyche is proven, he won't listen to the crowd and he will get the job done. The big advantage for him in this job is that he just got there two games ago. Considering how the eight games before that went, you only have to keep Forest up to be called successful! At the start of the season, their fans would have been expecting another push for the Champions League but now it has changed and that makes this the best job in the world for Dyche.
I don't see any problem with Forest here. Fully expect them to win and draw everyone else back into a hotly-contested relegation battle.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Leeds United
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Before this game kicks off, Manchester City could be nine and Liverpool could be 10 points behind Arsenal. If Liverpool finish the weekend 10 points behind Arsenal, I don't care who you are and what you've got, you are not catching them in the title race!
Manchester City are on a roll at the Etihad, where they have won five games on the trot. Liverpool, meanwhile, have had four losses in their last five matches away from home. If you look at form, there's only one winner here and that's City but I'm not going to look at it that way.
Virgil van Dijk will be up against Erling Haaland and I think he will win that battle against the City striker. If you look at individual center-backs, Van Dijk is the Rolls-Royce and I believe he can handle Haaland. If Conor Bradley had Vinicius Jr in his back pocket, he won't be worried about facing Jeremy Doku or Savinho either.
Liverpool will also have too much for City to handle when they go forward. I don't think City are great defensively, even in that win over Bournemouth, they were far from convincing at the back. Don't get me wrong, City are bang in form but not just the team they were three or four years ago.
If Liverpool lose this game, they are out of the title race. So basically, this is their biggest game of the season. If you buy a player for £115 million or around that mark, you have to play him in your biggest match. Whether he is firing or not, he has to be there! You brought him in for these games and to beat City, you need someone that can pick the right pass. Florian Wirtz is that type of player.
When you're a Liverpool player, you aren't going to get too many games where the opposition will have a go at you. But this game will be different, City will try to take the game to Liverpool and that could open up space for Wirtz to be his best self. We saw that against Real Madrid and that is why he should be in the starting XI ahead of Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool have found some confidence now. Arne Slot has also gone back to his best full-back pairing and midfield combination. When you have Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as your three in midfield against City, you have got to be the favourites.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-3 Liverpool
