Premier League Weekend Predictions – Matchday 9

Premier League action resumes on Saturday following Arsenal’s commanding 3-1 home win over Aston Villa on Friday night.

Let’s take a look at the three most exciting Premier League match-ups to watch out for on Saturday.

Chelsea to ease past Norwich

Saturday’s Premier League action kicks off at Stamford Bridge as league leaders Chelsea take on basement boys Norwich City in a seemingly routine task.

Despite losing Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to injuries, Thomas Tuchel’s side dismantled Malmo 4-0 in midweek Champions League action and will take the field in high spirits.

Sitting top of the Premier League standings ahead of this round, the Blues have conceded a league joint-low three goals this season, which could be vital in this fixture.

Norwich head into this encounter as the only side yet to find the net away from home in the Premier League this term, while they remain winless in their last 16 top-flight matches on the road (D3, L13). 

Additionally, the Canaries have lost ten of their last 12 Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D2), drawing a blank in three consecutive top-flight visits to Stamford Bridge (D1, L2).

The Londoners are unlikely to face a better opportunity to stretch their winning Premier League to three straight matches as they look to stay at the top of the table.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Norwich City

Everton to get back to winning ways

Everton’s efforts to get back to winning ways in the Premier League face a prime opportunity as out-of-sorts Watford arrive at Goodison Park.

The Toffees have slipped to eighth in the standings following a run of two consecutive Premier League matches without a victory (D1, L1), including a 1-0 home loss to West Ham United last time out.

That defeat has brought Rafael Benitez’s 100% Premier League record at Goodison to a halt (W3), seeing the Merseyside giants fail to score in a league home match for the first time since mid-May.

However, Everton will be confident of bouncing back immediately as they meet a Watford side they have never lost to at home soil in any competition (W13, D2). 

The Hornets, who fell to a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool last time out, have lost all but one of their previous ten Premier League games on the road (D1). 

A lack of firepower up top has seen Watford fail to trouble the scoreboard seven times across their last ten Premier League trips, which could give Claudio Ranieri plenty of cause for concern.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison struggling with injuries, Everton will need to keep their defensive composure to improve their chances of winning here.

Prediction: Everton 2-0 Watford

Manchester City to bring Brighton back to the ground

Fresh from a 5-1 thumping victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League, Manchester City will be looking to translate that momentum to the Premier League when they meet Brighton & Hove Albion.

Despite their imperious historical top-flight H2H record (W7, L1), a trip to the Amex Stadium may not be a walk in the park for the Cityzens, given the Seagulls’ impressive league form this season.

After losing just one of their eight Premier League fixtures so far (W4, D3), Graham Potters’ men sit just two points adrift of third-placed Man City.

However, Brighton have drawn each of their last three league outings, which ties in with their ‘stalemate kings’ reputation in England’s top-flight.

Since earning Premier League promotion in 2017, they have drawn more top-flight matches (53) than any other side in the competition.

A draw would be a success for Brighton here, especially considering Pep Guardiola’s players have not lost any of their last three league away games (W2, D1).

But anything but City’s win here would be a surprise.

Prediction: Brighton 1-2 Manchester City

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