Week 8 Premier League analysis and predictions

Chelsea vs. Leicester City

Chelsea will open up week eight of the Premier League standing in 7th position with 13 points in seven games played so far but, with sad news of the loss of Willians mother who has already travelled back to England and ready to face Leicester.

Chelsea are yet to deliver their best performance but, they are ahead of their opponents who also are last seasons’ champions who are yet to live up to expectations this season.

Leicester City travel to Stamford Bridge early on Saturday afternoon with only eight points in seven games and with a deficit of three goals, both teams for me are still trying to find their best this season which makes it hard to predict a winner for Saturdays early kick off, but, I am pushed to favor Leicester in this with their key front men all available.

I believe in the abilities of 23 year old Nigerian Ahmed Musa but, he is yet to get a goal to his name in the King Power shirt. New signing Islam Slimani scored his first goal for the club in Champions League against Porto.

Jamie Vardy’s hunger for goals keeps on increasing as he has only scored twice this season, Premier League player of the season 2015/2016, 25 year old Algerian international Riyad Mahrez has scored once but, has been so influential in their Champions League start.

Chelsea will remember Okazaki more having met last month in the League Cup and it took the Japanese international’s 17 minutes to score against the Blues and 17 minutes later, he scored his second goal in the game but, Leicester could not hold on to their two goal lead.

Chelsea came from behind to score twice that earned them a draw in 90 minutes before Fabregas scored twice in the extra time to knock out Leicester’s 10 men after the Poland international Wasilewski was shown a second yellow in the 89th minute.

I think Leicester can revenge well as this history is still fresh but, I was disappointed by their visit to Old Trafford three weeks ago where they went four goals behind just at half time, Chelsea can easily be contained with their defense still putting things together.

Diego Costa is fit and had no international engagements, Eden Hazard, Willian and Victor Moses have been Conte’s favorites lately and are likely to start again as Chelsea hosts Leicester, I am tempted to predict a Leicester win but, I have some respect for the Blues mostly at home but, I cannot give them a win either, I will go for a draw of Chelsea 2-2 Leicester.

Liverpool vs. Manchester United

What is special about this Monday Night Football? It will be marking one year since Jürgen Klopp took over as Liverpool manager and his first time to meet Jose Mourinho with Manchester United in Premier League.

Liverpool have been shining and scoring goals since the beginning of the season and they are very hard to deal with if you are any defender, you don’t know who will score next with this Liverpool force of Brazilian dual of Firmino and Coutinho with three goals each so far this season.

Former Southampton player Sadio Mane has also proved to be Liverpool main lead man upfront with Sturridge and Origi still fighting for their form to be regained, Liverpool are yet to confirm whether Adam Lallana will be fit for the game but, Sturridge or Origi may be lucky to start the game if Lallana fails the late fitness test.

James Milner will also be lined up again to start in the left back and has made it look a very easy position to settle in, my interest now is not in whether Liverpool can score, you can be sure goals will come for the Kops, my interest in this Liverpool game is whether they can keep a clean sheet, Liverpool have conceded at least a goal in all their Premier League games played this season and over 70% of the goals Liverpool have conceded are set pieces.

With opponents like Ibrahimović and Pogba you have to improve your set piece defending tactics if you are to win the game, Lovren is 50/50 fit but, most likely to play, Matip and Clyne are fully fit for this encounter. Liverpool has another blow of their midfield Wijnaldum who is still in doubt after picking up an injury in the World Cup qualifier game between France and Netherlands early this week.

Emre Can has been lined up already to take up the position if Wijnaldum is ruled out. Liverpool team has a few issues but, not to be worried about, on the other side, Jose Mourinho comes into this game with frustration from his last game against Stoke City that saw him settle for a draw of 1-1 at home.

Manchester United has been on and off several times this season, they appear to be flowing well in their game of play but, somehow do not get the results, they played so very well against Leicester and managed to score 4 goals before half time three weeks ago but, have since then struggled to score goals. Ibrahimović is a good striker but, also age is catching up on him, he will give you goals but, you have to play to what he knows best, he surely cannot deliver with the physical temple required to fight for balls with defenders but, equally his runs cannot match some of the young Premier League defenders.

He can score goals if you understand how to use him and just supply him with enough balls around the box because, his finishing ability is unquestionable. Manchester United will be complicated if they choose to start Herrera with Pogba instead of Fellaini.

Matta has also been consistent but, it looks like Mourinho is not comfortable playing him 90 minutes. Anthony Martial will be available but, has not been convincing this season - same as Rooney.

Rashford may be given a starting position against Liverpool and the 18 year old has proved to be more reliable upfront with three goals so far this season, but, my respect in this Manchester team is in one man, the 25 year old Spanish international goal keeper De Gea.

His form is not seasonal and you can’t count how many points he has secured for the Red Devils, Liverpool will find it hard to break De Gea but, also it will depend on the game Mourinho will choose to deploy. We will see some good football if the visitors choose to attack at Anfield. It’s possible that Manchester United may be humiliated on Monday by Liverpool but, this will depend on whether Liverpool defense can be disciplined enough to read their opponents feet for 90 minutes, I predict a Liverpool win but, United will score a goal. Liverpool 4-1 Manchester United.

Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United

Crystal Palace have stabilized lately with their previous game being the trip to Everton that saw them secure a draw and they had beaten Sunderland in the prior game.

You want to think that former Liverpool man Christian Benteke has given them something new in their attacking force and his ability to win aerial balls suits perfectly Alan Pardew’s system of play. I predict Crystal Palace will be more stubborn this season and it begins this weekend.

Crystal palace has some big and experienced football names with the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Flamini, Puncheon, Zaha, Tomkins and Townsend, it’s possible for Pardew to use this kind of team and get results against a struggling team like West Ham.

West Ham finished 7th last season on top of big teams like Liverpool and qualified for Europa League but, this season has been too bad for them, West Ham stand in 18th position with only four points out of 7 games played so far and they have conceded 9 goals more than what they have scored.

They travel to Crystal Palace which is rather on form but, West Ham will want to leave the relegation position but, I doubt if the can beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park with injuries of Andy Carol, Ayew, Sakho and Cresswell still out. I will go for a home win in this, Crystal Palace 2-0 West Ham.

West Bromwich vs. Tottenham Hotspur

West Bromwich has been impressing with Chadli scoring three goals out four appearances and from his playing style and it looks like he is not going to stop. West Bromwich have a test of their season this weekend when they host Tottenham who are in 2nd position on the table with just one point behind the table leaders Manchester City.

Tottenham will be playing away but, they know what is at stake, they could be on top of the table this week end if Manchester City fails to get maximum points at Etihad Stadium against Everton. Spurs were by far the best team in their last game against Manchester City and West Bromwich will be no exception with Wanyama, Alli, Lamela and Kane all available for this game.

I predict West Bromwich 1-3 Tottenham.

Manchester City vs. Everton

City lost their first game of the season last weekend before the international break to Tottenham but, they are still table leaders by only one point.

They are playing at home against Everton who can be stubborn most times against such big teams and I see Manchester City falling victim this weekend as well. Everton’s front force of Lukaku and Bolasie can be terrorizing sometimes and if you find them on a good day it would be good football to watch.

They lost two points to Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in their last game and they will want at least to get a point from this, Manchester City has class but, am not giving them this, I predict Manchester City 2-2 Everton.

Arsenal vs. Swansea City

Fabianski will be returning to his former club this Saturday in the opposite goal post against Arsenal and most times, it always goes well on the side of OB’s in such games.

Arsenal had to wait for the last 5 seconds of the game to score the only goal in their last game against Burnley, I had predicted a draw for them but, they got that one controversial goal to secure the three points. It doesn’t happen all the time that you will get that lucky, Arsenal has relatively improved and can look threatening sometimes but, they host Swansea who have not won any game in the last five games.

I have seen them come too close but, have been unlucky sometimes, they travel to Arsenal who sometimes lose concentration in their defense and with Swansea’s hunger to get points under their new manager, Montero, Fer and Britton will be so dangerous and Arsenal is likely to find this game hard, it’s unusual but, am going for Swansea to win this. Arsenal 1-2 Swansea.

AFC Bournemouth vs. Hull City

Bournemouth is very enterprising in the way they play, every time you expect them to go down they always have a way of showing up, they played Watford last weekend and had two chances to win the game but, they could not.

Watford had to come from behind twice to get a point out of this game but, all credit goes to this inventive young team. Hull City on the other side is also in dilemma, they have six players ruled out due to injuries and they are just three points away from the relegation zone, but, the likes Snodgrass and Mbokani can get a point for Hull City on their visit at Vitality Stadium home of Bournemouth if it’s their lucky day.

I will go for a draw between these two, Bournemouth 1-1 Hull City.

Stoke City vs. Sunderland

Stoke City has no win in the last five games and they are 2nd last on the table with only 3 points in 7 games, they host Sunderland who are last on the table with 2 points from 7 games and they are yet to win their first game of the season.

Stoke City displayed high level of resistance in their last game away to Manchester United and they managed to snub a point with the help of former Liverpool man Joe Allen’s 82nd goal.

They Host Sunderland who are still trying to get their first win this season but, they look promising, Sunderland has real worked hard and I think they have just been unlucky several times, if they are lucky tomorrow could be their day but, am not sure they can stop Stoke from scoring.

I will go for a draw in this. Stoke City 1-1 Sunderland

Middlesbrough vs. Watford

Middlesbrough host Watford on Sunday afternoon and only two points separate the two teams, Watford stands in 11th position on the table with 8 points and Middlesbrough with 6 points in 16th position, both teams drew their last games.

Middlesbrough drew 1-1 away to West Ham and Watford at home to Bournemouth 2-2. I see an open game in this with a slight advantage of the home team, I will go for Middlesbrough win in this. Middlesbrough 2-1 Watford

Southampton vs. Burnley

Burnley is still nursing wounds from the Arsenal game last weekend where they conceded a late goal in the dying seconds of the game.

They are travelling to Southampton who are in 10th Position on the table and managed to secure an away goal less draw last weekend against Leicester. The home team has not lost any game in the last five games with three wins and two draws.

Southampton is good at defending therefore, their opponents Burnley have to work hard to break them down but, I think Southampton at home has an upper hand with more convincing players going forward but, Burnley will want to use their chances as well.

I see a draw of 1-1