Last week:

Overall ended up with the same number of correct predictions, only non of my score thoughts were correct. I got 5/10 winners/draws correct but 0/10 final scores. Writing this in Brooklyn this week, sooooo how will that change the results.

Southampton v Manchester United

Southampton came out and got a result. Brighton went down to 10 men in the 30th minute, but Southampton still needed to make the man advantage count. The goals came in the second half after a tactile change, so they should come into this weekend with some confidence. Nathan Redmond showed his quality throughout the match bagging himself the second goal in stoppage time. Southampton will need him and the rest of the side to bring the same intensity this week. Manchester United laid a duck last week. Loosing to Palace for the first time in the history of the premier league is not going to do them any favors after what was seen as a collapse towards the end of last campaign. They continued to have penalty spot issues in the league. While away at Southampton has been a reliable place for good results in the past, you are not quite sure which United show up. I do think they come out with vengeance as that loss was a rough one. Final score 2-1 United.

Chelsea v Sheffield United

Chelsea got off the duck against Norwich last week, in possibly the most entertaining game of week three. Mason Mount continues to look a proper player to the start of this season and I don’t see any reason he wont have another stand out performance against Sheffield. Pulisic looks close to finding the back of the net and Abraham rounding out a very solid three part attack all 21 and under, this could be a very interesting season for Chelsea going forward. The problems with the defense are still there but with Rudiger getting another 90 under his belt with the U-23 side today and Kante not going on international duty with France, you could see an almost fully fit Chelsea side in two weeks. Sheffield continue to impress early in the season and have the potential to make life somewhat difficult for Chelsea. Their rotating CB may cause some confusion in marking going forward for Chelsea as they do tend to push around the wing backs so that will be interesting to see how they adapt. Lampard does have some experience agaisnt them from last year so I am going with a 3-1 Chelsea victory.

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

Both clubs are coming into this weekend following outstanding performances from the previous weekend. Palace’s result over United was a historical one for them but the reality is they did get a bit lucky. Rashford’s missed penalty brings that back down to a draw and Gary Cahill could have seen red but survived. He stabilized the back line and should be a key player for the rest of the season. Palace need Zaha to continue to round into form as he has yet to look fully match sharp this season. Villa had a much better result against Everton, completely surprising this American. They will hope that they can continue this form against a club they should be able to get at. Wesley looked up for it and got off the mark against Everton and will look to continue his form this week. Putting 6 by Crewe in the Carabao Cup should do loads for their confidence. I think they will share the points at 1-1

Leicester v Bournemouth

Leicester continued their good run of form with another victory last week. Vardy continues to be prolific and combined with Madison’s form to start this season I would expect at least one of them to get goal. The backline has also had a very good start to the season. Everyone expected loosing Harry Maguire would hinder their defensive resolve this year, but they seem to have found another gem of a defender in Sőyűncű (may have used the wrong accents). He has led the line well and should keep the form going. Bournemouth continues to confuse me. Bournemouth has a very experienced team and a good manager in Eddie Howe but they have yet to look as convincing as past years. The Sheffield result was poor and going up in the first 12 minutes against Villa was good, but they never looked fully in control of that match. A 3-1 loss to City is not a bad result, but even with full changes Forest Green took them to penalties in the Carabao Cup. They will be bringing full force against Leicester but I feel like Vardy will play well against a back three. Final score 2-1 Leicester.

Manchester City v Brighton and Hove Albion

Manchester City have looked very much looked up for another title defense this season. The points dropped against Spurs come back from a new rule. Brighton feel like they will be another chopping block and a march to either 1st or 2nd come May. Kevin de Bruyne looks like a man on a mission to prove the injury issues he had last year were a fluke, and cementing his place as one of the best creative midfielders in the premiership. Against this Brighton side I expect him to have multiple assists and maybe even chip in with a goal. Brighton, have started well, but last week hot tempers caused them to go down to ten men early combined with the Cup tie in the middle of the week could cause them to be a bit leggy in this affair. If there is ever a game you do not want to be tired going into, it isManchester City because they maybe chasing shadows within the first 30 minutes. Big win for City, 4-0

Newcastle v Watford

Newcastle won at Spurs last week. Perhaps they have turned a corner, or perhaps they just got up for a big game and held out against Spurs. This week will be a telling performance from them. They could have the attack to get at Watford but the question is will they. The first two weeks they looked sloppy and all over the place. I still do not believe in Steve Bruce as a premiership manager, and until he shows me otherwise I feel he needs another result, especially at St. James Park to keep the fans on his side. Watford, in the premiership, look dead in the water at the moment. They went back to a conventional 4-4-2 in the Carabao Cup at Coventry and got a much needed win. The big questions for them, is are the going to revert back to a back 3 or stick with what worked. Coventry is not Newcastle so one never knows but they looked a better side. This could be a tie between two squads that get relegated this season. Going for 1-1 draw.

West Ham v Norwich

West Ham’s 3-1 win over Watford comes with a very large caveat. Watford have not been impressive during the opening 3 weeks of the 2019/20 season. The three they put up on Watford was not bad. They came out strong and responded well when Watford got themselves back to honors even.e y need to keep that intensity to have a chance against Norwich. Norwich continue to impress me both going forward and with some of their defense. They do need to get more solid at the back but they should continue be the darlings of the premier league this season. Teemu Pukki has stated the season amazingly and as he has scored the most goes in the EFL in the past two years I see no reason this trend does not continue. He also may have the most fun name and chant in the EPL this year. 2-1 Norwich, another goal for Pukki.

Burnley v Liverpool

Burnley come into this weekend following s couple of rough results. Loosing to Manchester City 3-1 is not bad but a heavily rotated side then laid a duck in the Carabao Cup. They will need Ashley Barnes to show up in a big way today if they have a chance at getting anything from the match. Sean Dyche will be hoping for a turn around from his squad. Liverpool had a week to remember. They carved Arsenal open and ran out 3-1 victors in the first early season measuring stick match. It puts them in a good position going forward as they are the only team to not drop points through the first three weeks of the season. The front three keep the momentum going and it finishes 3-1 Liverpool.

Everton v Wolves

Everton will need to respond after what was a poor result against Villa. They have looked up for the fight for top 8 to start the season and this is a credential tester. The Carabao Cup tie mid week was a rough for them, needing to use some of their starting premier league squad to get through the 90 so hopefully they are not leggy. Their summer buys and incoming loans look to be settling nicely, so that bodes well for them for this season. Wolves were the surprise side of last season yet have yet to really reach the same heights. The draw against United was followed up with a draw at Burnley so they are still looking for their first victory of the season. The draw at Burnley was a very lucky one, needing a late penalty to get the result. Their attack has yet to really find it’s legs this year. They need Jimenez to start firing for them to really push teams again. Think this game ends 1-1.

Arsenal v Spurs

Arsenal did not really show up last week. The loss to Liverpool was tough to take. I do not get why Emery did not start Lacazette but he is paid very well to do his job so who am I to say it was a poor decision. Pepe looks a solid buy and if the front three have the link up play like they did in the ned of the Liverpool game they become one of the best attacking talents in the premiership. Their defense is still suspect. David Luiz is a stop gap measure but they are still missing Tierney who should help stabilize the backline once healthy. Spurs need a result. Pochetino and Erikson both look disinterested in the club at times against Newcastle. A London derby should be an occasion that everyone gets up for, they just need to actually get there. If not there actually might be a hot seat for Pochetino. He needs to motivate this squad and if they don’t know he is 100% committed this could get ugly. Arsenal 2-1