Premier League Predictions – Chelsea to put City pretenders in their place?

Too strong for City?

Arsenal have lost three in a row and their high hopes for glory this season have hit something of a stumbling block. The loss of Robin van Persie is starting to look like a serious blow. After the fuss around the lack of the Wenger handshake he could be tested again here as he has not always been a big fan of Stoke’s tactics.

Stoke are still looking good in mid-table but they are unlikely to be able to live with Arsenal’s free-flowing football.

I fully expect Arsenal to get back to winning ways.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

Three or four weeks ago this would have been easy to predict. In fact, at that time all Hull games were easy to predict as there was more than a fair chance that they would lose. The change of ownership at the club and the threatened departure of manager Phil Brown seem to have totally galvanized the team and they suddenly look like a Premier League outfit for the first time in over a year.

Villa are still going OK and will be in the fight for European places come the end of the season.

Despite Hull’s resurgence I expect Villa to take the points.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-1

Liverpool steadied the ship a little with their 2-0 derby day win at Everton last week. Having said that, they didn’t play well for a majority of that game and a pretty poor Everton were a little unlucky.

Blackburn have battled their way out of trouble and a fit again Big Sam has made them a difficult side to beat.

Big Sam will be happier than Rafa when the points are shared.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

City brought their long run of draws to an end when they beat Arsenal reserves on Wednesday evening. They need to do more than that to convince me that they are the real deal. What better chance to do that than to beat the Champions elect?

Chelsea are getting stronger and stronger and it is difficult to see who can stop them in the league. I’m pretty sure it won’t be City.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2

Pompey’s mini revival only lasted for one game and they are in deep trouble on and off the pitch. They are adrift at the bottom of the league and their players haven’t been paid again despite yet another change of owner. They cannot afford to lose this one.

Burnley are doing better than they could have hoped for although their away form is poor with just one point and conceding goals for fun.

I have a feeling that Burnley will get their first away win in the big league and even more doom and gloom will descend on Fratton Park.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-2

A draw at Hull and a win against Burnley have lifted West Ham out of the bottom three. Having said that, they have conceded six goals in those two games and that is a real worry for them.

United are still stumbling along but remain better than any team in the country with the probable exception of Chelsea. If they do start to play well then someone will get a hiding.

It could be West Ham.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-3

Wigan redeemed themselves somewhat last week when they beat Sunderland after their humiliation at Tottenham. They are a strange team capable of beating Chelsea yet also capable of conceding nine goals at Tottenham.

Birmingham are climbing the table and beginning to master the skill of the 1-0 win. I fancy they might do that again here.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

Second from bottom plays third from bottom in a relegation six pointer between two poor sides. Both of them have flattered to deceive this season and they now find themselves where they probably deserve to be. A defeat for either side would be a disaster.

Having said that, I don’t suppose either side will be too thrilled with a point.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-0

Sunday 6th December

Everton are in a bit of trouble in the league and David Moyes is talking about a relegation fight. They will have been cheered up a little by their win in Athens in midweek and they must know that they haven’t just become a bad team.

Tottenham are playing some great stuff at the moment and deserve their place in the top four. I think they will probably out play Everton.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2

Fulham are looking a bit more like the team of last season now and they should start to consolidate their mid-table position.

Sunderland are still in eighth place in the table but I fear they may be on a bit of a slide. They have too many good players to struggle but they lose to too many poor sides.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-0