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Dan’s EPL Predictions Week 9: Arsenal Draw at Liverpool as Man City Edge Brighton

Dan's EPL Predictions

Another weekend of Premier League football is upon us, with Arsenal travelling to Anfield, Manchester City hosting Brighton and plenty of interesting fixtures elsewhere.

Dan Smith returns with his Week 9 predictions, including his thoughts on Manchester United’s managerial situation, the title race and whether Arsenal can respond to their midweek humiliation at the hands of Fleetwood Town FC.

Saturday’s Premier League Predictions

Chelsea 2-1 Man United

Credit to the fans last weekend at Old Trafford.

Even though they were disappointed, they wanted to make it clear to Michael Carrick what he means to them, a club legend being let down by a group of players not close to those standards.

If you need a goal or creativity, though, maybe leaving Bruno Fernandes on the bench is cutting your nose off to spite your face?

I’m not actually surprised that Man United don’t have a Plan B in terms of a new manager. I think when they made Carrick full-time boss, the plan was to be patient over a long-term period. After all, they can’t keep changing who’s in the dugout. They’ve got to get out of that loop.

The issue is, once your employers are considering your position every game, it’s a case of when and not if.

Cherries 1-0 Leeds

I was at Dean Court when I was younger, watching League Two fixtures while collection buckets went round the stadium to help the Cherries with their financial issues.

If you’d said one day Bournemouth would, in the same week, be beating AC Milan and Man United 3-0, I would never have believed you.

Brentford 2-2 Forest

Starting to write the same thing about Forest every week. I don’t think Oliver Glasner will be concerned about the performance levels and will assume, by the law of averages, that eventually they will translate into a win.

Might have to accept a point this weekend, though.

Coventry 0-1 Sunderland

Recent fixtures and the league table suggest this will be a tight game.

Coventry were struggling for creativity even before Brandon Thomas went off injured last weekend. He was Frank Lampard’s main outlet.

Brobbey, meanwhile, was able to play an hour last Sunday, so on paper at least, the Black Cats should have slightly more end product than the hosts.

Hull 1-1 Ipswich

This, of course, was a Championship fixture last season.

Both would have bitten your hand off to have double points by November. Because of that, I think both would take a draw on Saturday.

If the game is level with 10 minutes to go, will either team push for a winner?

Man City 2-1 Brighton

The second time this week these two face each other at the Etihad, although both starting line-ups will be different to Wednesday.

The difference in the title race is that defensively, no one else in the division can do what the Champions can do, but offensively, Arsenal don’t have the match-winners City do.

I should worry that a home win sends us to Anfield three points off top, but this could all be irrelevant if the league leaders’ appeal does not go well.

Spurs 3-0 Palace

To be a big club, you need to at least try and act like one.

I understand, of course, winning at the Bridge is a massive deal to a Spurs fan, and I’m not trying to be the fun police.

Yet boasting about being 14th in the table at the end of October? Where is your pride?

How would they act if they were in the top half?

Either way, there will be a feel-good factor at their stadium which they haven’t had for a while.

Aston Villa 3-0 Fulham

A lot of managers can learn from Unai Emery in terms of how he’s approached building a new team at Villa Park.

Where others would have sulked, the Spaniard has embraced replacing the core of the side that qualified for the Champions League.

I know he’s got a small squad and needs to juggle the European schedule, but if I was a Villa fan, I would have wanted him to have taken the Carabao Cup more seriously in midweek.

(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Sunday’s Arsenal Clash and the Remaining Fixtures

Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal

Midweek showed why, unless the Champions dramatically improve their attack in January, they won’t have enough in Europe this season.

In a marathon like a title race, your defence can get you over the line, but in a one-off cup tie, success or failure is decided by the smallest details. A lack of quality in the final third could cost you everything.

If the Gunners couldn’t find any end product Tuesday night against League Two opponents, what makes you think they will at Anfield?

Does an Eze or Madueke have the personality on Sunday, with 15 minutes to go, to do something special?

Alternatively, they might need a moment like that to find that self-belief.

Unless Man City are deducted points, the winter transfer window might decide if we retain the Premiership.

Newcastle 1-0 Everton

David Moyes keeps mentioning that the manner of the goals the Toffees are conceding is not characteristic, which would be a worry, as setting up a team that’s hard to score against is his strength.

Not a lot between these two teams, but under the floodlights on a Monday night, you can expect a decent atmosphere at St James’ Park.

In a tight game, the Magpies have more match-winners.

Dan Smith

Do you think Arsenal can get a result at Anfield?

Let us know your predictions for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures in the comments below.

Just Arsenal Predictions League Standings

The top 36 qualify for the Just Arsenal European Cup.

Tblaze 61

GB 60

Okobino 57

Biggest A 57

IGL 56

Sue 56

Alfie G 56

Ackshay 54

ric ionta 53

Gunnerstew 52

Dave 51

EJS 50

Akeem 50

Cynthia 50

Wale Akinlatun 49

Michelle 49

Chronicles 49

Dan Kit 49

Me 49

Kendrick Ohis 48

Amba 47

Obuche Achiel 46

Terrah 46

MTG 46

I 45

Sue P 45

waal2waal 45

Stephanie 45

Sagie 44

Jo-Gunz 44

Ayan 44

Joe Gunner 43

Mena93- 42

Kenya001 42

Gunsmoke 42

Antivirus 42

JRA 41

Matthew 40

Ladi 38

Adeski 37

NT Gunnerz 36

Timothy Adegbola 36

Achizzy 34

Enzo W 33

Famochi 32

The Shoba Reality Show 31

Teteu 30

Ayan 28

Solwills 28

Onyango 23

Buchi 19

Samson 14

MOSES HILLARY Akuno 13

Shaw 12

Bacuna 12

YY 11

Kobin 7

Q.B 6

Emperor Augustus 5

Uzi Ozil 5

Drayton 5

Uzezi 4

Gyokeres 4

Jimmymac 60 2

John Rambo 2

Emma123@arsenal 1

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