Premier League predictions: Manchester duo go winless but joy for Arsenal and Liverpool

The final round of Premier League fixtures before yet another international break is almost upon us, and there are some fantastic games at the top and bottom of the table to look forward to.

The top four go head to head while several teams expected to struggle have the chance to claim much-needed points against relegation rivals.

Here are the fixtures and what we expect to happen.

SATURDAY

Tottenham v Man United (12.30pm)
What a game to start the weekend. It was all doom and gloom at Spurs following last weekend’s home defeat to Chelsea, a game in which they mustered a paltry 0.1xG. That was followed by the unseemly sight of two international defenders – Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence – snubbing their own head coach.
The trio swiftly made up and there seemed little discord in the camp during the 4-0 hammering of FC Copenhagen in midweek. The Danes were poor, though, and United will present a much sterner test.
Ruben Amorim has steadied the ship at Old Trafford for now and they will head south with three wins and a draw from their last four Premier League outings.
A note of caution, however: United are winless in their last seven meetings with Tottenham in all competitions, losing each of the last four.
Prediction: Spurs 1-1 Man United

Everton v Fulham (3pm)
Everton produced a performance of two halves at Sunderland on Monday: brilliant for half an hour, distinctly average for the last 60-odd minutes. It does seem unlikely, though, that the Toffees will be dragged into their annual relegation struggle this season. It won’t always be pretty under David Moyes but they should finish comfortably in lower mid-table.
For that to happen, they need to win games like this.
Fulham have a decent record against Everton but the hosts will be desperate to bounce back from losing their first game at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Fulham

West Ham v Burnley (3pm)
Third bottom hosts fourth bottom. Too soon to describe it as a six-pointer? Probably not.
West Ham were very good against Newcastle last Sunday and a repeat of that performance could be enough to see off the Clarets. The problem is can they repeat it? The Hammers haven’t won back-to-back Premier League games since February.
Prior to running into Arsenal last weekend, Burnley were in good form with wins against Wolves and Leeds.
This could go either way, so we may sit on the fence…
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Burnley

Sunderland v Arsenal (5.30pm)
Ten consecutive wins in all competitions, eight consecutive clean sheets. The Arsenal juggernaut is in overdrive and cruising at the top of the table. The Gunners’ summer recruitment appears to have solved their problem with squad depth and they look unstoppable right now. They hold a six-point lead heading into this weekend and it would take a brave person to bet against them clinching their first title since 2004.
Not even the most ardent Sunderland fan would have envisaged their club being part of this weekend’s top-four tussle. Monday’s draw with Everton was a gentle reminder that they have to be at their best in every game if they want to compete at this level but they still showed enough in the second half to win the game. Regis Le Bris has built a strong, physical side and they shouldn’t be overpowered by the set-piece specialists.
Sunderland haven’t beaten Arsenal since 2009. They couldn’t could they? No, probably not, but they may end the run of clean sheets.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-3 Arsenal

Chelsea v Wolves (8pm)
The visitors are in a mess. Vitor Pereira departed after last weekend’s miserable defeat at Fulham and Gary O’Neil was expected to return until a last-minute U-turn. Rob Edwards is now favourite to take over but it seems unlikely he will be in the dugout at Stamford Bridge.
It is, therefore, difficult to see Wolves adding to their two-point tally.
Chelsea did have to make the long trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in the Champions League in midweek but the depth of Enzo Maresca’s squad means it ought not be a huge issue.
Expect the leggy hosts to get the job done but without much sparkle.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Wolves

SUNDAY

Aston Villa v Bournemouth (2pm)
Bournemouth’s defeat at Manchester City last weekend was a setback but should not detract from what has been a fine start to the season. And with Villa in Europa League action in midweek, a trip to the Midlands offers up an opportunity for Andoni Iraola’s men to get back on track.
Villa are the model of inconsistency with defeats to the Go Ahead Eagles and Liverpool either side of an excellent win over City.
But they remain strong at home, having lost just one of their last 23 Premier League games at Villa Park.
Prediction: Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

Brentford v Newcastle (2pm)
This will be a decent gauge of where Newcastle sit this season. Abject at West Ham last weekend, they bounced back nicely in midweek, albeit against an Athletic Bilbao side shorn of their best players.
Brentford are another side who appear too good to be dragged into a relegation dogfight and they will see this as a winnable game.
Expect goals, their last eight meetings have produced 33.
Prediction: Brentford 3-1 Newcastle

Crystal Palace v Brighton (2pm)
The M23 derby won’t be for the faint-hearted. It may not be the most obvious of rivalries but it does not lack passion. The teams start the weekend in ninth and 10th respectively with European football seemingly the objective for both.
Palace did the double over the Seagulls last season and Fabian Hurzeler’s men will be desperate for revenge. And with Palace playing in midweek, we think they might just get it.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-1 Brighton

Nottingham Forest v Leeds (2pm)
Another crunch game towards the bottom of the table. Forest are expected to stabilise under Sean Dyche but he would like to get a Premier League win under his best ASAP after one point from his first two games. Bournemouth away and Manchester United at home were never going to be easy fixtures but there is definitely greater expectation around this one.
Leeds haven’t won at the City Ground in the top flight since 1971 and a draw here would be a decent point if they can get it.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Leeds

Manchester City v Liverpool (4.30pm)
The weekend finishes, as it started, with a cracking game.
So often in recent years, this has amounted to a near title-decider. Arsenal’s form means that may not be the case this year but it may determine which of the two will be the Gunners’ biggest threat.
Liverpool appear to have shrugged off their poor form with the midweek performance over Real Madrid arguably their best of the season.
They won’t be overawed by the prospect of the short trip to the Etihad to face a City team seemingly getting closer to the finished article.
The battle between Erling Haaland and Virgil van Dijk will be key.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool