Premier League: Saturday's Football Preview

After an international break which went on for what seemed like an eternity, Premier League football returns on Saturday with four games across almost 10 hours of televised action.

Top flight football is back with a bang as one of Jose Mourinho’s many personal feuds comes to a head in Saturday’s main game as Tottenham take on Pep Guardiola’s Man City.

Meanwhile, in the late game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United will be looking to record their first home victory since July against winless West Brom.

This week we’ve asked Jonny from The Shoreham View for his views on the fixtures, as well as a prediction for each game.

Newcastle v Chelsea 12:30

Newcastle have a good recent home record against Chelsea, boasting five wins and a draw from their last seven St. James’ Park league meetings with Isaac Hayden’s 90th-minute winner in a 1-0 win last season keeping that run going.

And the Magpies recent comfortable victory over Everton showed they are more than capable of causing visitors problems by soaking up pressure and hitting them on the break.

But Frank Lampard’s side are the highest scorers in the Premier League this season with 20 goals, and David McGoldrick’s strike for Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago the the only goal the Blues have conceded in their last six matches.

Jonny’s View: “Chelsea are really starting to look like a force and with Ziyech resembling a world beater I can see a truly torrid time awaiting Newcastle and, as well as the hosts have started, I don’t see Bruce and co getting anything.”

Jonny’s Prediction: Chelsea win

NEWCSTLE WIN: 6.75
DRAW: 4.60
CHELSEA WIN: 1.48

Aston Villa v Brighton 15:00

In seven league games this season, Aston Villa have won five and scored 18, though in recent weeks they have been on the receiving end of home humblings against Leeds and Southampton.

But their 3-0 hammering of Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last time out eased the worries of Villa Fans, who this time last season were bracing themselves for the relegation scrap which was to follow.

The Seagulls are six league games without a win, but if Graham Potter is looking for positives ahead of this tricky looking trip – his side have collected 12 of their last 15 points away from home.

Jonny’s View: “I can see Villa coming unstuck here, they have raised a lot of eyebrows with good performances against some of the divisions top teams, but I know when they played us they didn’t seem like a team capable of sticking 7 past the champions. Graham Potter will be urging his team to play to the potential shown at times for a full 90 minutes and I think a trip to Villa park will be where they click.”

Jonny’s Prediction: Brighton Win

ASTON VILLA WIN: 2.25
DRAW: 3.55
BRIGHTON WIN: 3.20

Tottenham v Man City 17:30

Spurs have recorded an astonishing 17 points from the 21 available since their last league defeat – a run that has put them right back into contention at the top of the table.

And with City currently 11th in the table, having won just three of their seven games so far this season and averaging 1.42 goals per game, Jose will be confident of getting one over his old rival.

Pep Guardiola will be hoping for good news regarding the injured trio of Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho and particularly Sergio Aguero, who has 11 goals in 16 games against Spurs.

Jonny’s View: “Jose versus Pep, a tale as old as time. I don’t know why, I can’t put this one down to anything other than a gut feeling, but I see City having a stinker in the capital.”

Jonny’s Prediction: Spurs win

SPURS WIN: 4.15
DRAW: 4.05
MAN CITY WIN: 1.80

Man United v West Brom 20:00

Manchester United haven’t won a league game at Old Trafford since beating Bournemouth way back on July 4th and since then have lost three, drawn three, and scored just five.

To make matters worse, the visitors on Saturday, West Brom, have a pretty decent record at Old Trafford over the last few years with three wins and a draw in the last five meetings in Manchester.

That said; West Brom are in the bottom three, without a win all season and having scored just one in their last five Premier League games.

Jonny’s view: “A boring home win with Ole being saved for another week, it’s written in the stars as it always is at Old Trafford. The circus will then reset and be ready for the finale by the New Year, only to start again after another boring home win at the end.”

Jonny’s Prediction: Man Utd win

MAN UTD WIN: 1.31
DRAW: 5.75
WEST BROM WIN: 10.00