Matchday 3 of the English Premier League, EPL kicks off as Tottenham hosts Wolves on Saturday by 12:30. An encounter everyone would not want to miss is the match between Man Utd and Liverpool on Monday night.
Both Reds are yet to register a win since the opening weekend of the EPL campaign, although everyone is rooting for Liverpool as the favourite to triumph in the tie.
Fixtures for 20th of August, 2022.
Tottenham vs Wolves(12:30): Conte became the latest Spurs manager to have lost at home to upcoming opponents Wolves (0-2), who have now won three of their last four English Premier League (EPL) visits to Tottenham. Thus, Spurs’ second home outing of the new season is another opportunity to demonstrate their progress ahead of their impending return to the Champions League. Wolves boasted by far the best record of the previous PL season as travelling outsiders (W7, D2, L8), so their opening round loss away to the nearly relegated Leeds United (1-2) was as rude a shock, as was the scoreless draw with Fulham that followed. Bruno Lage’s side are now lamenting their longest PL winless streak.
Prediction: 3-1
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa(15:00): After losing the opening game of the season against Arsenal, Palace bounced back to take a point from perennial title challengers Liverpool on their own turf. Satisfied with his side’s response, Boss Patrick Vieira highlighted that work rate, determination, and courage are the ‘ingredients’ that his Eagles side. Villa also lost on the opening day but turned it around by settling the ‘Gerrard vs Lampard’ debate with a 2-1 win at Villa Park last time out.
Prediction: 2-3
Everton vs Nottingham(15:00): Everton are looking to avoid their worst ever start to a Premier League (PL) season as they host a Nottingham Forest side they last met at this level in 1999 in a 0-1 home defeat. The Toffees have not lost their opening three games in the top flight since 1990/91. Steve Cooper’s Forest side has had a better start to the season than Everton, beating West Ham last weekend to register their first PL win in 23 years, in what Cooper described as a victory which gave their fans that moment of “yeah, we are here”, after their promotion last season.
Prediction: 2-0
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Leicester vs Southampton(15:00): Leicester fans are already predicting a relegation battle after the Foxes picked up one point from their first two English Premier League (EPL) matches (D1, L1). Yet manager Brendan Rodgers says he has no plans to sign any new players. Visitors Southampton fought back to claim a 2-2 draw with Leeds United last time out, with manager Ralph Hasenhüttl describing their recovery as “phenomenal”. He’s a man under pressure though after the Saints started the season in the same way as their hosts (D1, L1) with fans growing increasingly frustrated with the Austrian and cries for a managerial change.
Prediction: 1-1
Fulham vs Brentford(15:00): Fulham’s opener against Liverpool just wasn’t there last time out against Wolves, but manager Marco Silva and the fans will still have been relatively pleased with the result, despite a late penalty miss. Brentford will be coming off the highest of highs after an incredible 4-0 thumping of Manchester United last weekend, a result that marked their biggest top-flight win since 1938 and which left boss Thomas Frank “speechless”.
Prediction: 1-2
Bournemouth vs Arsenal(17:30): Cherries were drubbed 4-0. A return to the Vitality Stadium should be welcome for Scott Parker’s side, but the visit of an Arsenal side Bournemouth have beaten just once in their history (W1, D2, L9) undoubtedly dampens that enthusiasm. Arsenal’s season couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start, with the Gunners one of just two sides to boast a 100% winning record after two games.
Prediction: 0-1
Fixtures for Sunday 21st of August, 2022.
Leeds vs Chelsea(14:00): Leeds United were on their way to starting a league season with two successive wins for only the fourth time since 2003/04, leading 2-0 against Southampton last time out, until a late capitulation eventually saw them share the spoils (2-2). Coach Jesse Marsch must therefore address his side’s defensive problems that started before his time at the helm. Chelsea also failed to consolidate their opening matchday victory, with tempers flaring on and off the pitch after twice surrendering the lead in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham last time out. Manager Thomas Tuchel not only saw red metaphorically but also received a red card.
Prediction: 0-2
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Westham vs Brighton(14:00): Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at promoted Nottingham Forest saw West Ham both lose and fail to score after their two opening Premier League (PL) matches for the first time since 1993/94! Manager David Moyes – whose side are currently winless in four PL home games (D2, L2) – stated that the Hammers ‘’are still finding their way’’. Despite the departures of star players Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma, Graham Potter’s Brighton are enjoying an unbeaten start to their campaign (W1, D1). The Seagulls finished ninth last season – their highest-ever PL placing – and boast an impressive recent record against last season’s PL top seven.
Prediction: 1-0
Newcastle vs Man City(16:30): Goalkeeper Nick Pope’s heroics in last Saturday’s 0-0 stalemate away to Brighton means Eddie Howe’s invigorated Newcastle United side are one of just two clubs not to have conceded a goal after two game weeks. Guardiola claimed his tactics helped his players “express their talent more often” in that win, and whilst a trip to St James’ Park should be a trickier fixture, the last time Manchester City lost a EPL game on the road was incredibly the first game week of last season!
Prediction: 0-3
Fixture for Monday 22nd of August, 2022.
Man Utd vs Liverpool(20:00): Man Utd’s start to the English Premier League (EPL) season has been utterly abysmal, with two shock losses meaning they’re bottom of the table for the first time since the inaugural PL season, while Erik ten Hag became the first United manager to start his tenure with two defeats in over a century. The Red Devils could compile more notorious records as they face old foes, Liverpool, considering they’re at risk of losing their first three league games for only the fourth time in their illustrious history.
Prediction: 1-3
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