(Kickoff times are in AEST)
Manchester City v Sunderland
Kickoff: 9.45pm Saturday October 6th at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City just doesn’t look like the same side that stole the Premier League title last season. It’s strange, because in the scheme of things they didn’t add that much in the summer to become so disjointed. They scraped over the line against Fulham last weekend and were outplayed by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League midweek, so this Saturday could be a real test for them.
Sunderland will make the trip to the Etihad coming off their first win of the season. A solitary goal from (you guessed it) Steven Fletcher gave them the points at home last weekend. They’re unbeaten from five games to start the season and look the goods in Martin O’Neill’s first season in charge.
City may be struggling, but they’re always incredibly hard to beat at home. I think they’ll just edge Sunderland in this one.
Manchester City 1-0 Sunderland
Wigan v Everton
Kickoff: 12.00am Sunday October 7th at the DW Stadium
Wigan’s bumpy start to the season continued last weekend with a 0-1 loss away to Sunderland. It saw them drop to 16th on the table with just one win from their first six games. Roberto Martinez will be desperate to get some points on the board, however faces an extremely tough test this week.
Everton make the short trip to Wigan in rampant form. Their 3-1 win over Southampton put them second on the table, just three points from leaders Chelsea. They’re in great scoring form, and have netted eight goals in their last three matches, holding them in good stead for the remainder of the season.
The DW Stadium is a tough place to play the free flowing football David Moyes’ side is enjoying, but I can’t see it derailing Everton’s good start to the season.
Wigan 1-2 Everton
Swansea v Reading
Kickoff: 12.00am Sunday October 7th at the Liberty Stadium
After their fine start to the season, things have started to go pear-shaped for Swansea City. They’ve lost their last three games and have fallen to 11th on the table. Another poor result this weekend and fans of the Welsh side could have real reason to panic.
Reading still await their first win in their return to the Premier League, however can take positives from their 2-2 draw with Newcastle last weekend. They twice took the lead, and looked the better side for large periods of the match. They still sit in the relegation zone, but will be hoping a good result against a struggling side this weekend could lift them out of the bottom three.
Swansea aren’t looking good, but back at home they should do enough to get themselves back on the winners list.
Swansea 2-0 Reading
West Bromwich Albion v QPR
Kickoff: 12.00am Sunday October 7th at the Hawthorns
West Brom has made a solid start to the season under new manager Steve Clarke. The former Liverpool assistant helped Albion hold Aston Villa to a draw in the recent Midlands derby. They now go into this clash in sixth position on the table with a healthy 11 points from their opening six games.
QPR are struggling, and Mark Hughes is in real trouble. A 1-2 loss at home to West Ham last weekend saw them fall to rock bottom on the Premier League table, still without a win. Hughes signed 12 new players in the off-season, all of which are yet to fire, which has seen him become favourite in the betting market for first manager to be sacked this season.
West Brom is in good form, and QPR are ripe for the picking. Albion could enjoy a day out this weekend.
West Bromwich Albion 3-0 QPR
Chelsea v Norwich
Kickoff: 12.00am Sunday October 7th at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea cemented their spot on top of the Premier League table with a convincing 2-1 win over Arsenal last weekend. Fernando Torres struck a magnificent goal, while Juan Mata is reaping the benefits of an early season rest.
Norwich, on the other hand, is facing an uphill battle for survival. They dropped into the relegation zone when they were thrashed by Liverpool last weekend. Chris Houghton has his work cut out to keep the Canaries up, but unfortunately with Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two matches, it could be difficult.
Chelsea look good and they should maintain an unblemished start to the season.
Chelsea 3-0 Norwich
West Ham v Arsenal
Kickoff: 3.30am Sunday October 7th at Upton Park
West Ham has enjoyed a good return to the Premier League, and a 2-1 win over QPR last week continued their solid run of form. This week they welcome Arsenal to East London, and will relish the chance to get one over their old rivals. Andy Carroll came off the bench last match, and could be fit to start this weekend.
Chelsea put Arsenal’s solid run of form to a holt last weekend. The Blues outplayed the Gunners and deserved the win. Arsene Wenger’s side hit back with a Champions League victory over Greek side Olympiacos midweek, but will be focusing their attentions to a gritty Hammers side this weekend.
West Ham has always loved playing Arsenal, and in an intimidating Upton Park atmosphere, I can see them frustrating the Gunners this weekend.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
Southampton v Fulham
Kickoff: 11.30pm Sunday October 7th at St Mary’s Stadium
Despite losing five of their first six matches this season, there are a lot of positives for Southampton to take from their return to the Premier League. Apart from the result against Arsenal, they’ve been competitive in every loss and have looked like they could take points. Another defeat at Everton last weekend could seem bad for Nigel Adkins, but things can only get better from here on in.
Fulham must be credited with their good start to the season. They pushed both Manchester City and Manchester United right to the final minutes, and have got deserved wins over Wigan, West Brom and Norwich. Their summer signings, most notably Dimitar Berbatov and Mladen Petric, have enjoyed fine starts to their Craven Cottage careers.
Back at home; I can see Southampton doing everything they can to get at least a point this weekend. Even though Fulham are in good form, I think they’ll do it.
Southampton 1-1 Fulham
Tottenham v Aston Villa
Kickoff: 1.00am Monday October 8th at White Hart Lane
Tottenham’s form to start the season had never been convincing – until last week. A 3-2 victory away from home at Manchester United dispelled all of the doubts that they were struggling under Andre Villas Boas. They were fantastic, and broke a 23-year hoodoo at Old Trafford. Prior to the win against United, they weren’t in the best form, but they were still getting results. That’s the hallmark of a good team, and their win over United could kick start their efforts for a legitimate top four run.
I’m not quite sure where Aston Villa is at at the moment. A draw with West Brom last week followed a poor result at Southampton, but that was after a very good result against Swansea the week before. I think Villa fans can prepare themselves for yet another inconsistent season.
Tottenham’s win at Manchester United will ignite their season, and they should get a decent result at home to Aston Villa.
Tottenham 2-0 Aston Villa
Liverpool v Stoke
Kickoff: 1.00am Monday October 8th at Anfield
Brendan Rodgers finally got his first win as Liverpool boss when they defeated Norwich 5-2 last weekend. The Reds completely outplayed the Canaries with Luis Suarez netting a clinical hat trick. The question mark remains over whether they can get over the crippling inconsistencies that have plagued previous seasons. Defeating Stoke this weekend could be the first step to doing that.
Stoke also managed their first Premier League win of the season last weekend when they defeated Swansea 2-0. Peter Crouch scored a double, which added to the goal he’d scored against Manchester City a few weeks earlier. They’re finally starting to click into gear, and they’ve a good record at Anfield in previous seasons.
Stoke will attempt to frustrate the Reds, but it’s important Liverpool get over the line this weekend. A win could see them rocket back up the table.
Liverpool 2-0 Stoke
Newcastle v Manchester United
Kickoff: 2.00am Monday October 8th at St James’ Park
A clinical Demba Ba double saved Newcastle from embarrassment at Reading last weekend. Ba has now scored six goals in as many games, which is worrying for Newcastle as he seems to be on his way out of the club in the next transfer window. Papiss Cisse is yet to rediscover his goal scoring form from last season, but has the perfect opportunity on the biggest stage this weekend.
Manchester United suffered their second defeat last week at home to Tottenham, and they’ll find no respite this weekend. They were defeated 0-3 by Newcastle in this game last season. Robin van Persie scored a classy double midweek in the Champions League. They’ll be hoping he can replicate that sort of form again this weekend.
Alan Pardew’s side thrives on games such as this one, and with some luck they should do enough to grab at least a point.
Newcastle 1-1 Manchester United
Riley Beveridge is a first-year Bachelor of Sports Journalism student at La Trobe University. You can follow his Premier League views at his Twitter account: @RileyBev.
