PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS: WEEK 8

With the top of the Premier League changing numerous times last weekend, how does Andrew Corns think the teams will do this weekend?

BRIGHTON V. WEST HAM

Brighton have struggled in recent weeks and West Ham are really starting to come into their own under Pellegrini.

Both teams will play on the front foot believing that all three points are there for the taking.

West Ham might be the better side, but Brighton will use the home crowd to their advantage. Points get split in this one.

Prediction: 1-1 Draw

BURNLEY V. HUDDERSFIELD

Burnley endured a disastrous start to their year but are returning to the form we came to expect from them last season. Huddersfield are a team on the ropes trying to grab a point any way then can to hopefully create a sense of optimism. This won’t be the day or the away ground that those points arrive. Burnley will physically overpower the match and ultimately be too much for David Wagner’s side.

Prediction: 2-1 Burnley

CRYSTAL PALACE V. WOLVES

There aren’t many teams in the league that are more enjoyable to watch from a neutral standpoint than Wolves.

It’s easy to sound like a broken record, but their midfield is playing stellar football with their control and creativity.

I see Crystal Palace giving Wolves a back and forth, free scoring match until being undone late by a piece of magic from a set piece. Wolves grab an impressive three points at Selhurst Park.

Prediction: 3-2 Wolves

WATFORD V. BOURNEMOUTH

We’ve seen Watford’s blistering start to the season slow steadily while Eddie Howe’s men continue to play at a consistent level that will easily assure them a finish in the top half of the table.

Both teams can produce in the final third and this will be an open match from the first whistle.

Prediction: 2-2 Draw

LEICESTER CITY V. EVERTON

Did Everton turn up their performance level last week or was that more an indictment on Fulham underachieving?

I’m going with the latter. Leicester keep chugging on even after losing the dynamic Riyad Mahrez in the offseason.

They’ll rely on their home support to see them brush aside a fragile Everton behind a brace from Jamie Vardy.

Prediction: 3-1 Leicester City

TOTTENAM V. CARDIFF CITY

Tottenham may have lost soundly on Wednesday home to Barcelona, but that will only serve as fuel to motivate them here.

Cardiff don’t have the resources to keep up with Spurs for a full ninety minutes and while they might start off strong, Kane, Moura and co. will wear them down and have the game out of reach by halftime.

Prediction: 2-0 Spurs

MANCHESTER UNITED V. NEWCASTLE

Here we are again with a Manchester United side that’s damn near impossible to read.

At home against a side as weak as Newcastle look currently, this is a match where United should comfortably score three or four goals without even breaking a sweat. Fortunately for Newcastle, it’s just not in this Manchester United’s nature to pounce once they get the lead.

This will be cagier than it should and once United does score their goal, Jose will pack it in and put his team into an unnecessary defensive shell as they try narrowly eek out a victory.

Prediction: 1-0 Manchester United

FULHAM V. ARSENAL

The more I watch Arsenal this season under Unai Emery, the more I find myself impressed with their poise in managing games.

Gone are the days of caring about style over results. Fulham have been the most disappointing side for me this season and it may be a case that too many signings in a short period of time caused more problems than it solved.

They do have talent and can keep it competitive, but the attacking options the Gunners can use will eventually break down Fulham and secure Arsenal the win.

Prediction: 2-1 Arsenal

SOUTHAMPTON V. CHELSEA

Even though every Chelsea supporter would like to see their side playing in Champions League matches during the mid-week, the lack of competing for Europe’s top prize has allowed them to focus almost exclusively on pushing Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League crown.

They presently have the most in form player in the league in Eden Hazard and even though Giroud and Morata aren’t producing goals, they’ve been just fine.

They’ll employ their pass heavy, possession-based offense here to devastating effect as they dominate Southampton in every facet of the game. This will be the least competitive match of the weekend.

Prediction: 4-1 Chelsea

LIVERPOOL V. MANCHESTER CITY

What a fixture! If last season is anything to go off, we’ll be left with a breathtaking display of offensive football sprinkled with a controversial call or two giving pundits plenty to talk about.

I don’t think these sides can play a boring match against one another and I don’t expect any different here.

Manchester City come in the deeper, more in form side and should feel they can walk away with at least a point.

There’s something about the Anfield crowd in huge matches like this that sees the atmosphere and intensity turned up to levels hard to deal with.

Liverpool will ride that wave of energy to a crucial victory and one we will surely look back on in May if the Reds finally end their drought and claim the Premier League trophy.

Prediction: 3-2 Liverpool