Dan’s EPL Predictions Week 4: Arsenal to Edge Sunderland and Manchester Derby Drama

Another Premier League weekend is upon us, and Dan Smith is back with his latest round of predictions. There are some intriguing fixtures across the weekend, with Arsenal travelling to Sunderland, a Manchester derby at Old Trafford and several clubs already looking for an important response after difficult starts.

Here’s how Dan sees this weekend playing out…

Villa 1-1 Forest

Villa fans have empathy that Unai Emery has had to deal with a huge squad turnover and accept there is a transition at Villa Park.

Yet it’s important to have standards and not tolerate when you fall below them.

With all due respect to Hull, if you’re being outplayed for long periods against a team that finished 6th in the Championship last season, that’s not okay.

There needs to be a response this Saturday.

Cherries 1-1 Brentford

I was surprised last Saturday how easily it was to bully the Bees, not that that is Bournemouth’s style.

All of the Prem goals the Cherries have conceded so far under… have come after the 85th minute.

Law of averages says that can’t keep happening.

Or can it?

Chelsea 3-0 Hull

What odds would you have got for the Tigers to be the last team standing in terms of not conceding a goal yet in the Premier League?

I expect them to lose that record this weekend.

Chelsea showed at the Emirates why they can challenge for the title but ultimately won’t have enough to get over the line.

As a whole unit, they are not good enough defensively to be champions.

While Martinez is an upgrade on Sanchez, he’s still not quite the level required.

Maybe a few years ago, but not now.

Crystal Palace 1-0 Ipswich

I know it was early in the season, but you sense already last Saturday was a massive win for Sage.

At the Cottage, it was a game between two new managers without a point, and at 2-1 down, the Eagles boss was the one on course for an unsettling week where he’s being questioned.

While it is not what he wants, heading into a banana skin.

I say that because fans will rock up at Selhurst Park expecting a win against a newly promoted side, but the Tractor Boys do make chances.

Palace just need to get through this period until they can get Sarr and Mateta back on the pitch.

Liverpool 3-0 Fulham

Liverpool can really hurt one of their former players on Saturday.

I worried in pre-season if Arbeloa had enough leaders.

Decent technical players, yes, but who rolls up their sleeves at Anfield if they concede an early goal, for example?

Spurs 1-0 Everton

You can understand spending lots of money and new faces needing to adjust.

What can’t be excused is spending so much but not looking likely to score in three league fixtures.

If that happens on Saturday, the pressure will grow. De Zerbi said the positive aspect of not being in Europe is supposed to be that it gives him the whole week to prepare for the Premiership.

Do I sense a disconnect at Everton?

The owner says the Toffees underachieved by not qualifying for European football, yet in the transfer window they failed to replace Beto with a striker.

David Moyes won’t tolerate too much of that talk.

Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal

Sunderland tried to bully Brentford last Saturday, so you can imagine they will attempt to do the same against the Champions.

We know Arsenal can battle and grind out a result if that’s what is required.

What I liked, though, last Sunday v Chelsea was the Gunners played like a squad who, having gotten over the line, no longer have a fear of failure and can now enjoy themselves.

Mikel Arteta just needs to keep blocking out the outside noise.

Gooners and pundits can say we will go unbeaten in the Prem (we won’t), but as long as the players don’t start to believe their own hype.

Coventry 2-1 Brighton

Coventry haven’t got a point yet, but two of those games were at the Emirates and the Etihad, so no need to panic.

Frank Lampard will be reminding his team they have, on paper, got their two hardest fixtures out of the way.

I think there will be an atmosphere on Sunday of, ‘our season starts now.’

Brighton do give up chances.

Man United 3-1 Man City

I know for a while many have been intrigued by how Michael Carrick handles more than one game a week, but that’s why I think this derby has come at the right time because the occasion takes everything else away.

After 4 points from their opening Premiership games, United need a game to capture fans’ imaginations.

They often deliver their best in this fixture, while City in the past have been guilty of not showing up.

Leeds 1-0 Newcastle

Monday night, Elland Road, under the floodlights…

This is where we will learn more about Newcastle under their new regime.

Dan Smith

Do you agree with Dan’s predictions this weekend? Get your predictions in below and let us know where you think he’s got it right – or very wrong!?

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