PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW – PURVIS PREDICTS
It’s that time of the week again. Carl Purvis looks ahead to this weekend’s Premier League action…
Norwich v Everton (Sat 12:45)
Surprise wins for both Newcastle and Bournemouth last week means that only goal difference is keeping Norwich out of the relegation zone. Everton’s entertaining draw with Palace on Monday night leaves them five games unbeaten, and Roberto Martinez has arranged his side into a prolific goal threat.
Everton will have too much for a side that has lost six of their last eight.
Prediction: 1-3
Crystal Palace v Southampton (Sat 15:00)
Only two points separate Palace and Southampton, but such is the congested nature of the table, Ronald Koeman’s team find themselves six places behind tomorrow’s opponents in 12th. Both sides have been very easy on the eye this season, and tomorrow’s fixture will be a good one to watch.
Palace hit five in their last home game, and Southampton come into the game off the back of a couple of disappointing results. It will be a close one, but Palace should win here.
Prediction: 2-1
Man City v Swansea (Sat 15:00)
Swansea come into the match without a manager and with only one win in their last 11 league games. After a very promising start in the early weeks of the season, they now find themselves just a point above the relegation places and in freefall. Man City were comprehensively outplayed by Stoke in every department last week, and were lucky that the 2-0 scoreline wasn’t more severe.
Man City need to be ruthless here. If they are, they will bounce back from last week and pile more misery onto the Swans.
Prediction: 2-0
Sunderland v Watford (Sat 15:00)
Sunderland have been much improved in recent weeks, and were very unlucky not to have taken something back from The Emirates last time out. Sam Allardyce has organised their defensive unit well, and his players are buying into the new, containing system. Watford picked up a comfortable win against Norwich last week, and continue to impress under Quique Flores.
Both teams will struggle to break each other down, and chances will be few and far between.
Prediction: 0-0
West Ham v Stoke (Sat 15:00)
The Hammers are without a win in four but still find themselves in 7th positon, level on points with Palace in 6th. Stoke were fantastic against Man City last week and thoroughly deserved their comfortable win. Their three-pronged attack of Bojan, Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri was simply far too good for City to handle.
West Ham seem to have hit a bit of a brick wall with an ever-expanding injury list. It’s also worth noting that Stoke haven’t conceded a goal with skipper Ryan Shawcross on the field this season.
Prediction: 0-2
Bournemouth v Man Utd (Sat 17:30)
It was the stuff of dreams for the Cherries last week, leaving the home of the Champions with all three points. Man Utd are unbeaten in seven league games, but chalked up yet another 0-0 last week against a depleted West Ham side. With their midweek disappointment in Europe still raw, and doubts over the fitness of their season’s leading light Chris Smalling, this will be a very tough fixture for United.
Bournemouth come into the game off the back of two superb results, and will be confident of nicking something.
Prediction: 1-1
Aston Villa v Arsenal (Sun 13:30)
Villa picked up a good point at Southampton last week, but Villa need wins if they are to get out of their predicament. They look devoid of confidence and quality, and are being cast further adrift at the bottom by the week. Arsenal were superb in Greece on Wednesday night, and if they are as clinical and as focused as that in the Premier League every week, it would be very hard to see past them for the title.
Villa look like a lost cause, and if Arsenal turn up, it will be a formality.
Prediction: 0-2
Liverpool v West Brom (Sun 16:00)
Liverpool were soundly beaten by a baffling Newcastle side last week, and Jurgen Klopp will expect a much improved performance this week. His fluid, pressing style has worked superbly against the bigger sides thus far, but has failed to overwhelm the sides that will set out to contain them. Tony Pulis will do just that, and I fancy West Brom to maintain their run of good results.
Klopp will find a way to put away the weaker sides, but not just yet.
Prediction: 1-1
Tottenham v Newcastle (Sun 16:00)
No one saw Newcastle’s win against Liverpool coming last week. They remain a side that once in a while can beat anyone on their day, but one that always has a shocking performance not too far away. Spurs are now 14 league games unbeaten, and dispatched Monaco in the Europa League last night. They should have enough to comfortably beat Newcastle, and Mauricio Pochettino’s sides are rarely complacent.
Spurs looked a bit jaded at West Brom last week, but were able to rest players last night and win comfortably. They will be too good for Newcastle.
Prediction: 2-0
Leicester v Chelsea (Mon 20:00)
Chelsea’s win over Porto secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League in midweek, and will have gone some way towards stitching up the wounds of last week’s home defeat to Bournemouth. Leicester continue to dumbfound at the opposite end of the spectrum to Monday’s opponents. They have only tasted defeat once in the league this season, and have fired themselves to the top of the league.
Leicester will be firing on all cylinders on Monday night, but maybe stopping the league leaders will be the turning point in Chelsea’s season.
Prediction: 1-1
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 07825 711978. Or you can email john.gill@derrynews.net at any time.