The highlight games for this weekend’s action are Liverpool versus West Ham and Man Utd versus Arsenal. Our feature columnist, John Newsome previews these as well as all game-week 7 EPL matches, with his unique and insightful commentary. You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday.
Please note all prices quoted below were correct at time of publication.
WOLVES v CRYSTAL PALACE
Friday 30th
Friday Night Football live on the BT Box Office channel for an additional cost of £14.95 starting at 20.00 in England.
Wolves were their usual efficient selves against Newcastle on Sunday and despite being in control it took Nuno’s Gold and Blacks 80-minutes to score the opener.
Raul Jimenez gave Wolves the lead but after so much dominance over Newcastle without adding some goals, Newcastle equalised late on and Wolves came away with just a point instead of 3.
Nuno’s men have 10-points in total and are in a cluster of 4-teams along with today’s opponents Crystal Palace, Southampton and Leeds that have the 10-points on the board from the opening 6-games.
Crystal Palace got a great victory across London on Saturday beating Fulham by a comfortable 2-1 scoreline.
Roy Hodgson continued to pick Scott Parker when Roy was the England manager as Roy must have seen something the rest of the country didn’t.
Scott was an average player who worked hard but to throw him straight into an England Euro championship is beyond comprehension. It’s a surprise England didn’t win anything.
Wilfried Zaha had a great game against Fulham assisting in the 1st-goal for Jairo Riedewald, then scoring the 2nd after the break.
Although Palace conceded late on in truth Roy’s Boys were in control and got the London bragging rights.
The 3-points lifts Palace into the top 6 of the Premier League and with the way the league is developing at the moment Palace are not in a false position.
This fixture last season was the penultimate game of the protracted term taking place in July with Wolves getting a 2-0 victory.
Daniel Podence scored just before the break to give Wolves a half-time lead.
Jonny (we’re Sorry!) scored the 2nd midway through the 2nd-half for a Gold and Black win.
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SHEFFIELD UNITED v MAN CITY
Saturday 31st
Early Saturday Afternoon start with this game kicking-off at 12.30 PM in England live on BT Sport.
For 25-minutes on Saturday night Sheffield United competed with the Premier League champions Liverpool even taking the lead through Sander Berge when the Blades were awarded a penalty.
Little Jim the ex-Barnsley fan was excited as he had visions of his new love Sheffield United getting the much-needed victory over Jurgen’s Reds.
Half an hour later James and the rest of the Blunts were left wondering when Liverpool showed their Premier League class and scored twice to inflict a 2-1 defeat on smiling Chris Wilder and his Blades.
James just went back to his PlayStation playing Fortnight but as to constantly ask his lovely girlfriend,
‘how many weeks is a Fortnight?’
The defeat leaves Sheffield United with just 1-point and in the drop-zone which is a complete contrast to last seasons start.
Chris will need to get his Blades going pretty soon as not to be caught in a relegation battle.
Pep’s boys are not doing much better than Chris at the moment with City’s latest outing being a 1-1 draw away at West Ham.
Prior to the victory, there was a stat knocking about that Pep has a winning average against West Ham of 37-2, yet from the outset, on Saturday it didn’t look that way.
West Ham scored in the 1st-half from a dubious goal which looked like it could have been ruled out for handball but the referees of various forms all missed Thomas Soucek thinking he was Le-Bron James.
Pep Guardiola introduced Phil Foden at half-time who did make a difference and scored City’s equaliser and with no more goals, the game against West Ham finished in a 1-1 draw.
Kevin De Bruyne saw 20-minutes game time but couldn’t produce any openings for City who are just off their usual standard at the moment and it appears teams have worked out how to set up against Pep’s boys which basically means getting 11-men behind the ball and making it difficult for City to break down.
Pep’s Blues head to France before this fixture against Sheffield United to take on Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
When Pep’s Blues had their night out in Sheffield this was a pre-lockdown game in January with actual fans in the stadium that saw City beat the Blades by a single Sergio Aguero goal scored in the 2nd-half.
Gabriel Jesus did actually miss a penalty earlier in the game.
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BURNLEY v CHELSEA
Saturday 31st
A rare 15.00 kick-off in England on BT Box Office Pay Per View at an extra charge of £14.95.
Burnley suffered a 1-0 defeat on Monday Night Football against Tottenham.
After matching Spurs for most of the game a lack of concentration from a cross allowed Tottenham to score and with not much time remaining, Burnley failed to equalise and lost their 4th out of the 5-games played so far with just a point in the board.
Sean Dyche will feel his Clarets are competing and are a game behind everyone else following their opening weekend break but do need to start performing and getting points on board as not to get dragged into a relegation battle.
Chelsea finally plugged the gap against Manchester United on Saturday, the gap being in the defence that is.
After conceding 9-goals this season already, Frank made sure his Blues were tight against United at Old Trafford and with the excellent Edouard Mendy and Thiago Silva in the backline, easily kept Ole’s Wheels at bay.
In the 1st-half Harry Maguire man handled Cesar Azpilicueta, which the dreaded VAR refused to get involved in, that should have resulted in a penalty for Chelsea which no one really could have complained about.
Other than that the game really equalled itself out and a point apiece was probably the right call.
Frank’s Blues have 9-points from the 6-games so far but will feel their fixtures have been harder with Chelsea already playing Liverpool and Manchester United.
Chelsea head to Russia midweek to take on Krasnodar in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
At Turf Moor last term this fixture was played almost 12-months ago to the day.
Christian Pulisic scored 2 in the 1st-half then completed his hat-trick after the break.
Willian then made it 4-0 with still half-hour to play but instead of adding to the goals, Chelsea conceded twice to make it a nervy finish.
Jay Rodriguez and Dwight McNeil with the Burnley replies but time ran out with Frank’s Blues getting the 4-2 victory.
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LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM
Saturday 31st
Late Saturday Afternoon football live on Sky Sports with this fixture starting at 17.30 in England.
Liverpool started off slow in the late Saturday evening game against Sheffield United last week conceding an early penalty.
That did kick Jurgen’s Boys into life with Roberto Firmino tapping home a simple chance just before the break to calm the Scouse nerves.
A lot has been made of the horrendous challenge made by Jordan Pickford on Virgil Van Dijk last weekend that as ruled Big Virgil out for the remainder of the season.
No one can say Jordan intentionally meant to injure Virgil but the reality is Virgil is injured and the challenge was reckless yet there hasn’t been any retrospective punishment for Jordan.
The problem now arises when the reverse fixture takes place at Anfield, young Jordan might just be targeted by one or two Reds.
Diogo Jota headed the winner midway through the 2nd-half against Sheffield United to give Liverpool the 2-1 victory and lifts them to 13-points.
Liverpool entertain Midtiylland in the Champions League on Tuesday before the visit of the Hammers.
West Ham got a great if not fortuitous draw against Man City on Saturday.
Michail Antonio scored a superb overhead kick after great work from Thomas Soucek but in truth, Thomas should have had a foul given against him for handball in the build-up to the goal.
Still, nothing should be taken away from Michail’s strike.
West Ham conceded an equaliser early in the 2nd-half to share the points with Pep’s Low Flying City.
The Hammers have 8-points for the season so far which although is not many, they did lose their opening 2-fixtures so are getting into some sort of rhythm.
This fixture last term was played just before the suspension of football with a crowd at Anfield watching their Reds get a 3-2 victory against West Ham.
Georgi Wijnaldum scoring the opener for Jurgen’s Boys.
Issa Diop replied for the Hammers before the break then Pablo Fornals surprised the watching faithful by putting West Ham in front early in the 2nd-half.
Mo Salah levelled for Liverpool then Sadio Mane gave the Reds the lead and with time running out held on for a victory by a narrow 3-2 scoreline.
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ASTON VILLA v SOUTHAMPTON
Sunday 1st November
Sunday Football with this being a 12.00 kick-off in England on Pay Per View.
Aston Villa ended their unbeaten run on Friday night succumbing to a defeat against Leeds United at Villa Park.
After a great start to the season and a goalless 1st-half, Villa conceded 3, 2nd-half goals to end up losing the game by a 3-0 scoreline.
Despite the defeat Villa should be proud of the start they have had and losing to Leeds isn’t too bad a thing as a lot will lose against Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites.
Dean Smith just needs to dust his boys down and move on to this fixture against Southampton.
Southampton ended Everton’s unbeaten run on Sunday getting arguably the result of the weekend with a 2-0 victory over the Toffees.
Exactly 12-months ago to the day, Wreck-It Ralph and his Saints were on their knees succumbing to an embarrassing 9-0 home defeat against Leicester in front of the Southampton faithful that could in effect, have seen the end of Ralph Hasenhuttl.
The board kept the faith and cut to 12-month later, the Saints earn a great victory against the current Premier League leaders.
James Ward-Prowse smashed the ball past Jordan Pickford to open the scoring in the 1st-half.
Che Adams, who is becoming a pivotal part of Southampton’s team added a 2nd before the break and with no more goals, Wreck-It’s boys took their tally to 10-points for the season so far from the opening 6-games and leave them in the company of Wolves, Crystal Palace and Leeds United.
This was a pre-Christmas game last term taking place on the 21st of December with Southampton running out winners by a 3-1 scoreline.
Danny Ings and Jack Stephens gave the Saints a lead at the break with Danny adding his 2nd and Southampton’s 3rd just after the restart.
Jack Grealish got a consolation goal for Villa midway through the 2nd-half but the game finished in favour of the away side.
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NEWCASTLE v EVERTON
Sunday 1st November
Early Sunday Afternoon football with this game kicking-off at 14.00 in England live on Sky Sports.
Newcastle could consider themselves lucky to come away from Molineux on Sunday with a point after being outplayed for most of the 90-odd minutes.
What Steve Bruce will say is that they defended extremely well to prevent Wolves from running away with the game.
After being under the cosh for 80-minutes, the Magpies conceded a Wolves goal that looked like would result in a loss for Big Brucey.
However, when Newcastle were awarded a free-kick in the 88th-minute, Jacob Murphy surprised everyone and sneaked the ball into the Wolves net to earn a great point from a 1-1 scoreline.
Although not a convincing display, Newcastle never stopped and in the end, deserved the point.
Jonjo Shelvey is undergoing an operation on his groin this week that will leave the lad out for a couple of games and Jonjo is a big loss to the Magpies.
Hopefully, Big Andy Carroll will get more than the 5-minutes game time he got against Wolves for this visit from the current Premier League leaders.
After 5-straight victories, Everton has only 1-point from their last 2-fixtures following Sunday’s away-day 2-0 defeat against Southampton.
Under fire Toffees ‘keeper, Jordan Pickford failed to stop a shot from James Ward-Prowse to concede the 1st-against the Saints, then Southampton quickly added a 2nd before half-time.
With no more goals, Everton succumbed to a 2-0 defeat that also saw their left-back Lucas Digne being shown a straight Red Card that will see him miss this trip to St James Park.
Carlo Ancelotti is experienced enough to know that there will be bumps in the road throughout the season but still see his boys sat at the summit of the Premier League table albeit on the same 13-points as their Red rivals from across the City who are breathing down the blue necks.
Last seasons fixture at St James Park took place just after Christmas with Everton coming away with the belated presents from a 2-1 away day victory.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the opener in the 1st-half and added his and the Toffees 2nd after Fabian Schar had equalised for Newcastle.
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MANCHESTER UNITED v ARSENAL
Sunday 1st November
Late Sunday Afternoon football with a 16.30 start time in England live on Sky Sports.
Manchester United played in an entertaining 0-0 draw against Chelsea on Saturday evening.
Entertaining in the fact that it’s amazing to see just what Ole sees in Fred, Scott McTominay and Dan James.
Maybe in training, these are the boys but on match days it’s simply unfathomable to see what the 3-bring to the Old Trafford party.
Take 3-players out of any team and it limits the performance.
United secured a point against a good Chelsea side yet effectively played with 8-men.
Maybe a slight exaggeration but what do Fred, Scott and Dan bring to the table.
Last season Andreas Pereira was constantly picked to try and show the United faithful that he was good enough but in truth, he wasn’t and ultimately time proved that Andreas wasn’t a United player and is now gone.
Fred, Scott and Dan are just the same, not good enough and the faithful will find out when Ole’s Wheels finish 8th in the table.
What must Donny Van Der Beek be thinking sat on the bench in the rain, watching Fred?
There must be something a miss with Donny and Ole as he just doesn’t seem to be given a chance.
United won’t achieve anything with Fred, Scott McTominay and Dan James in the starting eleven.
Edinson Cavani got 32-minutes game time against Chelsea and should feature against the Gunners.
The Uruguayan had a lively start to his United career and was probably just unlucky that he came up against his old mate Thiago Silva who made the switch to the Premier League after both the greats left Paris Saint Germain.
Thiago matched Edinson all the way and wasn’t going to let his pal score on his debut but EC’s movement was enough to show the cardboard Devil’s that there is life in the old striker yet.
The Red Devil’s entertain RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday night before this game against Arsenal.
The Gunners suffered a rare home defeat late on Sunday evening losing by a 1-0 scoreline against Leicester.
At the minute it appears that Arsenal can only beat the lower end of the Premier League after suffering defeats against Liverpool, Man City and now Leicester, with the added indignity that the Foxes loss being in front of the cardboard Gooners.
Mikel Arteta has brought in Thomas Partey who looks a strong midfielder and could be just what Arsenal need to progress.
The Gunners themselves play in Europe, before the trip to Manchester, entertaining the mighty Dundalk from Ireland at the Emirates on Thursday night football.
At Old Trafford last season this was an early game along time before the Coronavirus had destroyed the world. Scott McTominay gave United the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised in the 2nd-half to give both a share of the points from a 1-1 scoreline.
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TOTTENHAM v BRIGHTON
Sunday 1st November
Early Sunday Evening football kicking-off at 19.15 live on Pay Per View.
Tottenham got a professional 1-0 victory on Monday Night Football with Son Heung-Min getting the solitary goal midway through the 2nd-half to give Dracula the 3-points.
Jose Mourinho left Gareth Bale on the bench against Burnley as there were rumours Gareth was at fault for the 3-3 draw against West Ham when Spurs were 3-0 up with 8-minutes to play.
It wasn’t Gareth’s fault but from the outside, it appears the Welshman took the blame.
The victory lifts Tottenham to 5th, with 11-points, just 2-less than the Merseyside clubs at the top of the table.
Jose is once again working his magic, however, how long does the magic really last when Dracula is at a club, for the time being. Spurs are a credible force in the Premier League and with Harry and Son have 2-World Class players in their ranks who any team would envy.
Tottenham head over the North Sea to Belgium on Thursday, to take on Antwerp in the Europa League before their visit from the Seagulls.
Brighton went in front in the early Monday night game against West Brom with the goal credited as an own goal.
With time running out, Graham Potter’s Seagulls conceded an equaliser that leaves Brighton with 5-points from their opening 6-games.
Ex-Manchester United and Arsenal star Danny Welbeck have joined Brighton on the South Coast but although named as a substitute, didn’t see game time so will be wanting a run-out especially with this being against Tottenham.
Last seasons fixture at the Chas and Dave Memorial Stadium took place on Boxing Day with Tottenham getting the late presents from a 2-1 victory.
Adam Webster had put the Seagulls in front before the break.
Then goals from Harry Kane and Dele Alli in the 2nd-half earned Jose and Tottenham the victory.
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FULHAM v WEST BROM
Monday 2nd
Early Monday night football with this fixture kicking-off at 17.30 in England as Pay Per View fixture.
Fulham suffered another defeat on Saturday against Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage with the pressure starting to take its toll on Scott Parker.
Fulham conceded 2-goals against Palace and although pulled a goal back late on through Tom Cairney, which was a superb strike, it only proved to be a late consolation goal.
Fulham had seen Aboubakar Kamara sent off for a bit of a reckless challenge that initially saw a Yellow Card but was upgraded to a Red when Graham Scott was advised by the VAR to have another look on his pitch-side monitor.
Scott is relying on his possession-based football and its admirable that he sticks to his beliefs, however, beliefs will only get someone so far and to continue may just see Scott take his beliefs to the Job Centre.
West Brom scored late to earn a draw on Monday night football away against Brighton with Karlan Ahearne-Grant getting the equaliser with 7-minutes to go.
The Baggies had scored an own goal in the 1st-half with the unfortunate Jake Livermore turning past his own ‘keeper.
Slaven Bilic’s men are slowly putting points in the board and are out of the drop-zone with 3-points from 3-draws up to now.
It was September 2019 the last time these two met up at Craven Cottage however, that was a Championship game before both were promoted.
Semi Ajayi cancelled out an Anthony Knockaert strike both scored in the 2nd-half to give both a share of the points from a 1-1 draw.
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LEEDS UNITED v LEICESTER
Monday 2nd
Monday Night Football live on Sky Sports with a 20.00 kick-off in England.
It seems an age since Leeds United beat Aston Villa on Friday Night football that started off a great Game Week-6.
After a goalless 1st-half at Villa Park, Patrick Bamford shocked everyone, by scoring a superb hat-trick to give Leeds a great 3-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Villa.
Probably the only person that wasn’t shocked was Marcelo Bielsa who has constantly believed in Patrick when the lad was under fire in the Championship for not being able to hit a barn door.
In the Premier League, however, Pat is excelling with the 3-goals, all superbly taken, adding to the 3-already scored giving the ex-Chelsea boy, 6 for the season so far, in the same company as Mo Salah and Jamie Vardy and 1-behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Son Heung-Min.
Leeds United currently sit 6th in the Premier League table on 10-points, the same as Southampton, Crystal Palace and Wolves and just 3-points from the summit.
One of the teams currently above Leeds is Leicester who probably got the result of Game Week-6 (Southampton will argue!) by taking all 3-points from the trip to the Emirates late on Sunday evening.
Sheffield Superstar Jamie Vardy had missed the previous game through a calf-injury and was on the bench against Arsenal, introduced by Brendan Rodgers on the hour mark.
It didn’t take Jimmy V long to get back to his goal-scoring ways getting the Foxes solitary goal, 20-minutes after his introduction and with no more goals, Leicester ran out winners by a 1-0 scoreline.
The victory gives Brendan’s Wonderful Human Beings 12-points for the season, the same as Aston Villa, 1-point behind both the Merseyside clubs and 2-points more than today’s host.
Rod Stewart wasn’t happy, not only did he watch Leicester beat Arsenal but earlier Big Stew had watched his beloved Celtic draw away at Aberdeen in the SPL (Scottish Pub League!)
Celtic were losing, then drawing, then winning and with time entering the final minutes, looked to be heading for the victory but conceded a last-minute penalty to ultimately come away from the North of Scotland with just a point.
Rod’s displeasure was compounded later when the arch-rivals Rangers won their game and went 6-points above the Green and White hoops.
When Jamie Vardy scored the winner against Arsenal, Rod’s dog Lennon, scarpered pretty lively as he knew what was coming.
He’s Celtic, United but Brendan has decided that Leicester is the best place to be.
Leicester head to Greece in the Europa League on Thursday to take on AEK of Athens so it might be a bit jet-lagged before the short journey up the M1 to West Yorkshire.
There’s been plenty of games between these two great English sides over the years but all have been played in the Championship.
It’s April 2004 the last time these met at Elland Rd in the Premier League with Leeds getting the narrow victory from a 3-2, scoreline.
Michael Duberry and Mark Viduka with 2-first half goals to give Leeds an early lead.
Paul Dickov and Muzzy Izzet replied for the Foxes after the break.
Alan Smith got the Whites winner with time running out but Mark Viduka soured the victory by getting a late Red Card to beat his mates into the bath.
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