Premier League predictions – United to heap more pressure on Rafa?

He would hate to see Rafa suffering!

Saturday 24th October

Steve Bruce takes his Sunderland team back to one of his old clubs and must be feeling pretty happy about where he is now. He has taken his side to seventh place after a great draw at Old Trafford and a win over Liverpool at the Stadium of Light.

Birmingham, meanwhile, may have a new owner, but it is a new striker that they desperately need. Just six goals in nine games tells a sorry story and points towards a season of real struggle. I don’t expect Brucie to cheer anyone up at St Andrews.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-2

Here’s a game to get the juices flowing and the excitement levels rising. Oh no, sorry, wrong game. Burnley v Wigan has got a real feel of a game in the old Division Four, played on a cold, wet and windy day in front of one man and his dog.

That is terribly unfair on both clubs who have done incredibly well to get where they are. Both currently sit proudly and deservedly in a mid-table position in the Premier League.

Burnley are much better at home than they are away and they will fancy their chances in this one. I think reality might hit home for them when Wigan become the first team this season to leave Turf Moor with the points.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2

Blackburn are a decent hard-working side and they will still be on a high after their derby day win over Burnley last week.

Chelsea have had a couple of poor results but their demolition of Atletico Madrid in midweek showed that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

I expect Chelsea to blow big Sam and his men away.

SoccerNews prediction: 3-0

If there can be such a thing as a ‘six-pointer’ this early in the season then this is one. Hull are currently third from bottom and Portsmouth are bottom. Last time out they both lost, but in differing fashions. Hull were dreadful at Fulham and never looked like getting anything from the game. Portsmouth were pretty good against Tottenham and were a little unfortunate to lose.

That is the story of these two teams. Portsmouth play well and lose. Hull play badly and lose. The trouble is, they can’t both lose this one so I’ll have to go for a draw.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

Tottenham are sitting pretty in third place and Stoke are sitting comfortably in mid-table. Both teams will be delighted by where they are.

Stoke haven’t won away yet and Tottenham have lost only once at home. I don’t expect either of those statistics to change after this game.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

Wolves are showing some fighting qualities and they play some decent football at times, but they are definitely short of the class required to make it at the top level. They will give it their best shot, but fourth from bottom would be a magnificent season for them.

Aston Villa are still a serious threat to the top four as their wins at Liverpool and last week at home to Chelsea have shown. If they really are a threat then they have to win games like this one. I think they will.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-1

Sunday 25th October

Bolton find themselves in their usual position of being just outside the relegation places. I would think they might remain roughly where they are all season.

Everton are in mid-table and are a little bit lower than they would have hoped and expected at this stage of the season.

In the circumstances I would think both managers would settle for a point from this game.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

I suppose this one might just be the biggest game of the weekend! United will no doubt have all the players who couldn’t possibly play in Moscow in midweek back fit enough to play here.

Liverpool are likely to have Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson back although Steve Gerrard is still doubtful.

This really is a crucial game for Liverpool and Rafa Benitez. If they lose this one they will be ten points behind United after just ten games. Put that together with their European problems and you are not far away from crisis point.

I’m sure Sir Alex wouldn’t want to add to Rafa’s misery! I think he will.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-2

They were flying, but successive draws at Aston Villa and Wigan have just slowed Manchester City down a little. Neither were bad results, but some of the euphoria has just been tempered a little.

Fulham got a crucial three points against Hull on Monday to open up a three point gap on the bottom three. They will be OK.

I think City will get back to winning ways here.

SoccerNews prediction: 2-0

Whilst all the talk at the bottom of the table is about the likes of Portsmouth, Hull, Blackburn and Birmingham, West Ham have slipped almost unnoticed into second from bottom place. With just one win and two draws in their opening eight games they have had a truly awful start and could find themselves in deep trouble.

Arsenal are going along nicely in fourth place with just the two unfortunate accidents, or defeats, in Manchester to blot their record.

I can’t see anything other than an away win here.

SoccerNews prediction: 0-2