Premier League: Coventry City vs Sunderland
Premier League: Coventry City vs Sunderland
The Premier League gameweek 9 will get underway with Chelsea vs Manchester United in the 12:30 kick-off on Saturday, October 31. Having brought you our first three predictions, we now bring you our picks for Coventry City vs Sunderland, Hull City vs Ipswich Town, and Manchester City vs Brighton.
Premier League GW9: Saturday Fixtures
Coventry vs Sunderland
In our next Premier League fixture, it’s a battle between the bottom two, Coventry vs Sunderland. The home team did win two in a row, but have lost to Tottenham and Fulham since. Sunderland are winless in the league since beating Fulham 1-0 in August, but did beat Brentford in midweek, in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Coventry head coach Frank Lampard has described the calf injury to Bobby Thomas as “not a terrible one,” and will make a late decision on the defender. With the doubt over Thomas, Stephen Mfuni could come in to partner Ethan Pinnock. Lampard could switch things up in attack, with his side drawing a blank at home to Fulham in the last game.
The away team will be desperate for a win and to replicate their better form in the Europa League, where they are unbeaten in three games, winning two. Regis le Bris should be able to call on Wilson Isidor, saying the striker “should be” available. Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete are both slight doubts for the Mackems. The Sunderland boss will be able to call upon Kevin Danso, who is back from suspension.
Prediction: Coventry 1-2 Sunderland
Regis Le Bris Manager of Sunderland arrives for todays game during the Sunderland v Manchester United
IMAGO / Every Second Media
Hull City vs Ipswich Town
At The MKM Stadium, Hull City will play Ipswich Town. Speaking to the press before the weekend, Sergej Jakirovic confirmed he has no fresh injury worries, with Nobel Mendy in contention after recovering from a concussion he sustained against Chelsea. On being careful with Mendy, Jakirovic said:
“I will be careful, but also we have to use him. Of course, he has this concussion against Chelsea so it was a bit unlucky he missed the Newcastle game. We are trying everything to improve his body, his core, his groin and also he’s doing a lot of hard work to improve.”
The Hull manager also revealed he will make a late decision on Jack Butland, with long-term absentee Charlie Hughes nearing a return.
Ipswich Town boss Gary O’Neil spoke to the media ahead of the weekend, where he confirmed he has a “big call” to make with Sasa Lukic available for selection. “He’s had a little bit of a groin injury that has taken some time. I’d love to have him in the starting XI for us, but we need to make the right call,” said O’Neil.
The Ipswich boss also added that the rest of the squad are all fit: “The only decisions are tactical and technical ones rather than fitness ones,” added the Ipswich Town boss.
Prediction: Hull City 1-0 Ipswich Town
Manchester City vs Brighton
Next up on our Premier League predictions is Manchester City vs Brighton at the Etihad, just three days after Manchester City won on penalties in the Carabao Cup against The Seagulls. Enzo Maresca’s team are joint top, but they lost their last league game to Aston Villa. Brighton lost 2-0 to Liverpool in their last Premier League fixture.
Maresca can call on Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson, who weren’t in the starting lineup midweek.
“They are all available, (apart from) Antoine Semenyo. The rest, they are all available,” he confirmed to the press. Despite missing Semenyo, Maresca did confirm he is progressing well in his recovery: “He is good, he is in a good mood.
“He is inside the building doing recovery sessions, all the therapy that he needs, but again it is too early now [to discuss his return].”
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler also spoke to the press ahead of the weekend game against Manchester City, where he confirmed that Chema Andres and Ferdi Kadioglu are expected to return to the matchday squad after missing the Carabao Cup fixture against City.
Hurzeler also confirmed Charalampos Kostoulas will be available after being rested midweek. Pascal Struijk is still injured but is nearing a return to the squad, having trained with the Brighton under-21 squad.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Brighton
Manchester City vs Sunderland
IMAGO / Sportimage
The Last Word
Coventry vs Sunderland is a tough one to call, with both teams struggling for points; however, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before it clicks for Regis le Bris’ team. Brian Brobbey will likely cause the Coventry defence plenty of problems, and we are backing him to get on the scoresheet and The Mackems pick up the three points.
Hull vs Ipswich is likely another close game, with both managers having plenty of their squad available to them; we are backing the home advantage to be enough for Hull.
Manchester City vs Brighton went all the way to penalties in midweek, but Maresca will be able to call on the big guns for the weekend, including Haaland, Doku, and Fernandez, and their class will prevail on Saturday.
Next Manchester United manager odds
What Chelsea Got Wrong in 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur Defeat
Chelsea vs Manchester United Predicted Lineups
Featured Image Credit:
IMAGO / NurPhoto