Premier League Predictions: Week Two
Raj Ramanathan
Welcome to the Premier League by the week. Come here every week to understand and get an in-depth analysis of this week's games. For those who don’t know, the Premier League is a soccer league based in the UK. This league is the biggest throughout all 250 and has the best players throughout the world. I’m Raj Ramanathan, your favorite Premier League sports writer. Let's get into it.
The past 11 weeks in the Premier League have been nothing but surprises. Especially the last one, with upset victories coming from all around the league. Let's see if this week will be the same.
The Game of the Week
Chelsea(6-1-2) v Manchester United(5-1-3)
Chelsea: I see this being a battle of the giants. Both of these clubs have seen success recently. However, both are still criticized for their purchases that have exceeded 100 million euros but have yet to be paid off. We see Manchester United in hot water because they have signed key players but are forced to bench veterans who bring the squad together. Seeing as how well Chelsea has done last week I expect to see them succeed.
Nottingham Forest(1-3-7) v Liverpool(3-4-2)
Liverpool: Liverpool came out from the gutters and succeeded even with the challenges that have been presented to them. They present a resilient squad without any holes, especially after beating Manchester City and handing them their first loss. After being looked at as an underperforming team in the beginning, they proved all the haters wrong. I expect this to be a simple game for Liverpool. Although Nottingham Forest just stepped up from being relegated, they cannot compete with a tyrant like Liverpool.
Newcastle(3-6-1) v Tottenham(7-2-1)
Tottenham: I see this being a tough game, however, after winning an important game against Everton, the Tottenham squad seems rejuvenated. Especially because Kane has stepped in as a leader in the squad recently. He has single-handedly scored nine goals and has become a leader to the young players. Newcastle had a stagnant defense through the first few weeks and I expect no better this week. The Tottenham squad has made little to no mistakes which is why I see them winning this game.
Manchester City(7-2-1) v Brighton(4-3-3)
Manchester City: The Blue Devils have the obvious upper hand in this game, due to their skill and class on the ball. Although they have come off a disheartening loss against Liverpool, they are still championship contenders. Brighton started strong through the first five weeks, but they have been on a losing streak ever since. Unless Manchester City makes a surplus of mistakes, I see them winning this game without a second thought.
Wolves(2-3-6) v Leicester City(1-2-7)
Draw: I see this as a scrap fest without a victory for either team. This is because both teams are reliant on the luck of the attackers. From the beginning of this season up until now, both teams' victories have been decided by one goal. Also, both are bottom-tier teams who are fighting to stay away from relegation. This game has no clear victory.
Southampton(2-2-6) v Arsenal(9-0-1)
Arsenal: Arsenal has been on fire recently, due to them regaining first place in the standings. While Southampton has been a relentless squad they are too small of a club to compete with the brains and the brawns of Nicholas Arteta. While some may say that Arsenal lacks experience, I believe that they have the perfect balance with players like Xhaka and Jesus to lead the team. Without any hesitation, this game will easily go in Arsenal’s favor.
Everton(2-4-4) v Crystal Palace(3-4-3)
Everton: I see this match as a game of experience and patience; Everton comprehends both of these concepts better. I predict that not only is this game going to be close, but this game will be scoreless for a while. Both teams have just come off of a draw. This means both teams will be fighting it out for a win this week. I see Everton winning the fight this time around.
Aston Villa(2-3-5) v Brentford(3-4-3)
Brentford: This game will be close, but closer to halftime I predict that Brentford will pull away. I see them using possession as a tactic to hold off a lacking Aston Villa squad. Not only has Aston Villa been losing, but they also have been suffering injuries. They have lost a key part of their game in Tyrone Mings. This is why I see Brentford taking it away for this week.
Fulham(3-3-4) v Leeds(2-3-4)
Draw: I see this being a fun game to watch but not a pretty one. Both teams have been recently put in the spotlight after a small amount of time in the lower leagues. They both consist of younger players, but they are teams that have not established an identity. This game is a battle of experience which neither team has a surplus of. I see this game going toward a draw.
West Ham(3-2-5) v Bournemouth(3-4-3)
West Ham: Both teams are promising with talented players, but as a squad both are inconsistent. West Ham has Rice, Souček, and Paqueta. Solely based on the midfield of West Ham, I believe they will win as they check all the boxes with a defensive, attacking, and central midfielder. West Ham will be put to the test to see if they can produce week after week. This will be a scrap fest; I see West Ham squeaking by with a victory this week.
