Weekend Football Preview

I don’t want the International break. 

Premier League MW 8

Brighton vs. West Ham

Brighton are 15th and only have one win this season as they entertain West Ham who have hit a bright patch of form as they sit 14th. Brighton always pose a threat at home but West Ham are flying high and having got four points against Chelsea and United they should win this game as well. 

Burnley vs. Huddersfield

Burnley beat Cardiff last weekend as they sit 12th in the table and entertain a winless bottom of the table Huddersfield side. Huddersfield have no confidence at the moment and an away game is not a great opportunity to gain any. Burnley should get their third win of the season. 

Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton

Palace have stagnated in recent weeks as they sit 13th in the league while Wolves have been flying high as they moved up to 9th. Palace and Wolves both play good football on their day but Wolves are the team in better form and could make it a fourth win of the season. Palace have the home advantage and if they do not sit back and defend they could make a difference. 

Leicester vs. Everton

Leicester and Everton both got good wins last weekend as they sit 8th and 11th respectively. They both play good football and this could be a fiery match up with both teams wanting to climb up the table. An exciting game to watch. 

Tottenham vs. Cardiff

Tottenham lost midweek to Barcelona after a Messi masterclass and they sit 4th in league going into this game. Cardiff are still without a win this season as they sit 19th and playing Tottenham at Wembley is not the easiest of tests. Tottenham will want to go into the International break with a good result and while Cardiff play decent football Spurs should add another three points. 

Watford vs. Bournemouth

6th and 7th face off against each other as Bournemouth visit London to play Watford. Watford started the season brilliantly but have stagnated of late while Bournemouth have kept up a decent run of results. This should be a game to watch as both teams will want to create a gap between each other. 

Man United vs. Newcastle

United lost to West Ham last weekend and sit 10th in the league they also only managed to draw against Valencia. Newcastle are winless this season as they sit 18th in the league. United are not great at the moment but Old Trafford is still a good place to end any poor start to the season. If Newcastle were to win their first game of the season then it would be great way to head into the International Break. United need the win as anything less than that would mean that Mourinho and United endure a tough 14 days until their next game. 

Fulham vs. Arsenal

Fulham are 17th as they seek to end their poor run of form against an Arsenal side that is flying high at the moment. Arsenal have climbed up to 5th in the table but have looked shaky during their games although they always seem to end the game with three points. Fulham need to be strong at the back and if they can score a goal or two they could force Arsenal to drop points. 

Liverpool vs. Man City 

Liverpool not won in three and were clearly second best against Napoli in the Champions League. Man City have been brilliant in the league as they sit top of the table but their form in Europe has been suspect. Liverpool dominated City in three games played at the latter stages of last season and while City must have learned from those fixtures Liverpool will hope to inflict a similar result. Either way one of these teams will most likely end their unbeaten start to the season. 

La Liga MW 8 

Real Madrid travel to Alaves seeking a win after three goalless results, Atletico play Real Betis in Madrid while Barcelona travel to Valencia for the standout fixture. Barca did well to end their poor run against Tottenham but Real lost to CSKA and need a win while Atletico will hope that the rest do not gain points. 

Serie A MW 8

Some tough fixtures in Italy as unbeaten Juventus travel to Udinese, Roma travel to Empoli, Milan entertain Chievo, Napoli welcome Sassuolo, and Inter play SPAL away. All eyes are on Juventus who have started the season brilliantly and have already opened an 6 point gap in the table. 

Bundesliga MW 7 

Schalke travel to Dusseldorf, high flying Dortmund entertain Augsburg, struggling Bayern welcome Monchengladbach, Hoffenheim play Frankfurt, and Leipzig welcome Nurnberg. The Bundesliga is going through an uncharacteristically interesting season as Bayern struggle and Dortmund dominate. 

Ligue 1 MW 9 

Marseille welcome Caen, struggling Monaco entertain Rennes and the standout fixture of the French weekend consists of Lyon who travel to Paris to play PSG. PSG have an 8 point gap at the top of the table and Lyon need to beat them to give the rest of the teams any hope of usurping the Parisien team. 

 

 

Advertisement

Weekend Football Review

Exciting weekend of football!

Premier League MW 7

West Ham 3 vs. 1 Man United

United seem to be suffering from Mourinho’s third season syndrome as they suffered a defeat in London to West Ham. Felipe Anderson opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a brilliant back heel tap in although Zabaleta seemed offside when the pass was made. Yarmolenko then shot at goal in the 43rd minute and it took a massive deflection off Lindelof to make it 2 goals for the hammers. Rashford did give United a goal back in the 71st minute but Arnautovic soon restored parity with a goal in the 74th minute. West Ham move up to 14th in the table while United continue to drop as they are now 10th.

Arsenal 2 vs. 0 Watford

Arsenal were poor throughout the game but held on to the very end to make it 5 wins in a row for the Gunners. A Cathcart own goal broke the deadlock in the 81st minute and Ozil added a second two minutes later to give Arsenal three points. Watford were decent throughout the game but see themselves drop out of the top four as they are now 6th. Arsenal climb up to 5th with the win. 

Everton 3 vs. 0 Fulham

Everton ended their winless run with a resounding win at Goodison Park against Fulham. After a balanced first half Sigurdsson gave Everton the lead in the 56th minute and Tosun added a second 10 minutes later. Sigurdsson sealed the deal in the 89th minute to move Everton up to 11th. Fulham drop down to 17th with the loss. 

Huddersfield 0 vs. 2 Tottenham

Two goals from Kane in the first half were enough to guide Tottenham into the top four against Huddersfield. The first came in the 25th minute via Keiran Trippier and the second was a penalty in the 34th minute. Huddersfield remain 20th with no wins yet while Tottenham are 4th although they are only above Arsenal on goal difference. 

Man City 2 vs. 0 Brighton

Man City continued their winning streak with a comfortable win at home against Brighton. Sterling opened the scoring in the 29th minute while Aguero sealed the deal in the 65th minute. Man City sit 1st now on goal difference while Brighton are 15th.

Newcastle 0 vs. 2 Leicester

Newcastle suffered yet another defeat this time at home against Leicester. Vardy opened the scoring via the penalty spot in the 30th minute and Maguire added a second in the 73rd minute. Newcastle are 18th while Leicester move up to 8th with the win. 

Wolverhampton 2 vs. 0 Southampton

In what was a very balanced game the final 10 minutes saw Wolverhampton seal three points. Cavaleiro scored in the 79th minute to gain the lead and Jonny doubled it in the 87th minute. Wolves continue to climb the table as they move into 9th while Southampton drop down to 16th.

Cardiff 1 vs. 2 Burnley

Cardiff were better in the first half but all the action came in the second as Burnley sealed three points in Wales. Gudmundsson opened the scoring in the 51st minute but Murphy restored parity in the 60th minute. Vokes then sealed the three points for Burnley in the 70th minute. Cardiff are 19th while they remain one of three teams along with Newcastle and Huddersfield who have not won a game. Burnley move up to 12th with the win. 

Bournemouth 2 vs. 1 Crystal Palace

Bournemouth continued their decent start to the season with a hard fought win against Palace on Monday. David Brooks opened the scoring in the 5th minute and held on to the lead going into the second half. Van Aanholt scored in the 55th minute to restore parity but Stanislas scored a penalty in the 87th minute to seal the three points. Bournemouth are 7th with the win while Palace are now 13th. 

La Liga MW 7 

A boring weekend in La Liga as Barcelona drew against Bilbao to extend their winless run to three while Sevilla beat Eibar 1-3. Valencia beat Real Sociedad, and the Madrid derby ended in a goalless draw. Barcelona and Real Madrid sit top of La Liga with 14 points while Sevilla and Atletico sit third and fourth in the league.

Serie A MW 7 

Roma beat Lazio 3-1, Inter beat Cagliari 2-0, Milan beat Sassuolo 1-4, and Juventus beat Napoli 3-1 in the top of the table clash. The results mean that Juventus open up a six point lead at the top of the table while Napoli, Fiorentina, and Inter follow. 

Bundesliga MW 6 

An exciting weekend of German football as Bayern lost to Hertha Berlin 2-0, Wolfsburg and Monchengladbach drew 2-2, Stuttgart beat Werder Bremen 2-1, Schalke beat Mainz by a goal to nil, Leipzig beat Hoffenheim 2-1, Dortmund thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-2, and Frankfurt beat Hannover 4-1. The results mean that Dortmund move top of the table with the win while Bayern drop down to second. Hertha are level on points with Bayern in third. 

Ligue 1 MW 8 

St.Etienne beat Monaco 2-0, PSG beat Nice 0-3, Lyon drew with Nantes 1-1, and Lille beat Marseille 3-0. PSG sit 8 points clear of Lille who are second while Montpellier and St.Etienne follow. 

 

Weekend Football Preview

Another amazing week of football!

Premier League MW 7

West Ham vs. Man United

West Ham seemed to have found their mojo in the last few weeks as they drew against Chelsea last week and destroyed Macclesfield Town 8-0 in the League Cup. United have fallen back into a lapse in form as they drew against Wolves last week and were knocked out by Derby on penalties in the League Cup. Pogba and Mourinho seemed to have reached another level of playground antics which will not be helping the squad in any way. The odds are that West Ham could cause an upset and beat United or at least get a point from the game. 

Arsenal vs. Watford

Arsenal have not dropped points since gameweek 2 and have the opportunity of entering the top four with a win against Watford. Arsenal sit 6th and beat Brentford 3-1 in the League Cup midweek. Watford have been top performers this year and sit 4th in the league and win would ensure that they stay in the top four for the week. Watford drew with Fulham last weekend and lost on penalties to Tottenham in the League cup. This should be an interesting game and while Arsenal’s attack is blistering their defence is very weak and Watford could make the game very exciting. The result could go either way. 

Everton vs. Fulham

Everton have not won in three weeks and face a tough test against a Fulham side who beat Millwall 3-1 in the League Cup midweek. The team philosophies are similar as they will both look to attack each others half. This game should be a fun one and the team with the better defence will get the points. 

Huddersfield vs. Tottenham

Huddersfield sit bottom of the table having not won a game this season and they probably will not end that run this weekend as Tottenham visit them. Tottenham have had a mixed few weeks and will hope to build on their League Cup progression by a convincing win at Huddersfield. Huddersfield are a tough defence to break down when they are in good form but a Spurs win is the most likely scenario. 

Man City vs. Brighton

Man city thrashed Cardiff last weekend and beat Oxford United 3-0 midweek going into this weekends game, they sit 2nd in the league on goal difference. Brighton narrowly lost to Tottenham last weekend and while they might make it a close game the most probable outcome is three points for Man City. 

Newcastle vs. Leicester

Newcastle remain one of the three teams who have not won a single game this season, they did manage to draw against Palace last week in what was their second point of the season. Leicester beat Huddersfield last weekend and progressed in the League Cup by beating Wolves on penalties at the weekend. Leicester have been all over the place this season and Newcastle might just get a point or more this weekend. 

Wolverhampton vs. Southampton

Wolves did well to get a point at Old Trafford last weekend and only lost on penalties against Leicester in the League Cup. Southampton were comprehensively beaten by Liverpool last weekend but they have otherwise done well in the league to sit 14th. This should be a close game although Wolves might edge it based on the fact that they are at home. 

Cardiff vs. Burnley

Cardiff were thrashed by Man City last weekend as they face a Burnley side that have been suspect this weekend. Burnley got an emphatic win against Bournemouth last weekend but followed that up with a loss against Burton in the League Cup. Cardiff have played well in some of their games and this could be an interesting fixture for them to get their first win in. 

Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace

Bournemouth beat Blackburn in the League Cup midweek as Palace beat West Brom. The teams have had decent starts to their seasons and it should be an interesting game between two well-balanced teams. 

La Liga MW 7

MW 6 in La Liga was played out midweek as some shocking results occurred. Leganes beat Barcelona 2-1, and Sevilla beat Real Madrid 3-0, although Atletico beat Huesca 3-0. The losses to both Barcelona, and Real have made the League table interesting once more as this week also brings some top fixtures. Barcelona entertain Bilbao, Sevilla travel to Eibar, while Valencia visit Real Sociedad. The standout fixture is the Madrid derby as Real host Atletico. 

Serie A MW 7

MW 6 was played out midweek in Italy as Inter beat Fiorentina 2-1, Juventus beat Bologna 2-0, Napoli beat Parma 3-0, Roma beat Frosinone 4-0, and Milan drew with Empoli. This weekend sees fixtures that could make the table very interesting as Roma take on Lazio, Inter Milan entertain Cagliari, Milan travel to Sassuolo, and in the top fixture Juventus entertain Napoli. 

Bundesliga MW 6

MW 5 was played in Germany midweek as Bayern drew with Augsburg 1-1, Leverkusen beat Dusseldorf, Dortmund thrashed Nurnberg 7-0, Leipzig beat Stuttgart, and Monchengladbach beat Frankfurt. The draw to Bayern has opened up the table once more going into the weekend. Bayern travel to Berlin to play Hertha, Monchengladbach play Wolfsburg, Stuttgart play Werder Bremen, Schalke entertain Mainz, Hoffenheim play Leipzig, Dortmund travel to Leverkusen, while Frankfurt play Hannover 96 in an interesting weekend of German football.

Ligue 1 MW 8

MW 7 was played in France midweek as Angers beat Monaco, Marseille beat Strasbourg, Lyon beat Dijon, and PSG beat Reims. PSG remain unbeaten in the league as they have an 8 point game between them and second placed Lyon. This weekend sees Monaco travel to St-Etienne, PSG travel to Nice, Lyon entertain Nantes, and Marseille travel to Lille. 

 

Weekend Football Review

Mixed weekend of football. 

Premier League MW 6

Fulham 1 vs. 1 Watford

The first game of the weekend came in the form of London derby as Fulham took on Watford. Gray opened the scoring for Watford in the second minute as Watford dominated the first half. Watford could have scored more but Bettinelli made some brilliant saves. Fulham came out a different team for the second half and dominated the play. Mitrovic was especially bright and equalised for Fulham in the 78th minute. Fulham had several chances towards the end including hitting the post but Watford rode out their luck. Fulham remain 15th while Watford remain 4th. 

Burnley 4 vs. 0 Bournemouth

Burnley achieved their first win of the season with a thumping of Bournemouth at home. Bournemouth had the better chances at the start of the game but it was Vydra who gave Burnley the lead in the 39th minute. Lennon then added a second in the 41st minute to send Burnley into half time with a two goal cushion. Bournemouth tried to fight back in the second half but Ashley Barnes scored a late brace in the final ten minute to seal the three points for Bournemouth. Burnley now move to 16th after having been bottom of the table while Bournemouth move down to 8th. 

Cardiff City 0 vs. 5 Man City

Man City continued their resurgence of sorts with the hammering of Cardiff City in Wales. Aguero started of proceedings in the 32nd minute and Bernardo Silva scored in the 35th to double the lead. Gundogan then added a third right before half time. Mahrez scored his first goal in a Manchester City shirt with a brace in the second half to seal the three points for the champions. Cardiff move to 19th while City move 2nd above Chelsea on goal difference.

Crystal Palace 0 vs. 0 Newcastle

Palace were perhaps unlucky to not win against Newcastle at the weekend. Sakho missed a glaring chance during the game and the post was hit a couple of times as well. Newcastle posed no real threat and would have been the happier of the two teams. Palace move up to 11th while Newcastle are 18th. 

Leicester 3 vs. 1 Huddersfield

Huddersfield took the lead in the 5th minute after Zanka scored via header but the goal just woke Leicester up. Iheanacho equalised for Leicester in the 19th minute for what was his first goal of the season. Leicester continued their upward momentum in the second half and James Maddison scored a brilliant free kick in the 66th minute to give Leicester the lead. Vardy then sealed things of in the 75th minute. The win moves Leicester to 9th while Huddersfield move to the bottom of the table. 

Liverpool 3 vs. 0 Southampton

Liverpool continued their winning start to the season to remain the only team with a 100% start. Hoedt gave the reds the lead in the 10th minute via an own goal, and Matip added a second in the 21st minute. Salah then scored right before half time and Liverpool rode out the second half to seal the points. Liverpool sit pretty at the top of the table with 18 points but face their hardest tests yet with Chelsea and City next in the league. Southampton are 14th. 

Man United 1 vs. 1 Wolverhampton

Sir Alex Ferguson returned to Old Trafford to the delight of the football universe as he continues his return to 100% health. United though faced a tougher task on the pitch but still gained the lead in the 18th minute after Fred scored his first goal for the club. Wolves seemed to rise to the challenge and Moutinho scored a brilliant shot to equalise in the 53rd minute. Wolves had the better chances towards the end but could not capitalise. United move to 7th with the draw while Wolves drop to 10th. 

Brighton 1 vs. 2 Tottenham

Tottenham ended their three game losing run with a win against Brighton. Kane gave Spurs the lead in the 42nd minute via the penalty spot, Brighton came out the better side in the second half but it was Lamela who doubled Spurs lead in the 76th minute. Knockaert did get a goal back in the 93rd minute but Tottenham got over the line. Brighton move up to 13th while Tottenham move up to 5th. 

Arsenal 2 vs. 0 Everton

Arsenal were shamble in the first half as all the credit must be given to Cech for keeping them in the game going into half time. The game started slowly in the second half as well but Lacazette curled in a brilliant effort to give the gunners the lead. Aubameyang then scored in the 59th minute to double Arsenal’s lead and seal the three points. Arsenal achieved their first clean sheet of the season and move to 6th while Everton drop to 12th. 

La Liga MW 5

Atletico beat Getafe 2-0 away thanks to an own goal from Soria and Lemar’s first goal in La Liga, the win moved them to 5th in the table. Real Madrid beat Espanyol 1-0 at home thanks to a goal from Asensio to keep them second level on points with Barcelona who drew 2-2 against Girona. 

Serie A MW 5

Inter sealed three points in the final second’s of the game as they beat Sampdoria 0-1 to move to 9th in the table. Napoli beat Torino 1-3 to remain 2nd in the league. Bologna beat Roma 2-0 in a shocking result which sees Roma drop down to 14th, while Juventus beat Frosinone 0-2 to maintain their winning start to the season, Ronaldo also happened to score. Milan drew with Atlanta 2-2 which sees them remain 12th. 

Bundesliga MW 4

Hertha Berlin beat Monchengladbach 4-2 to remain 2nd in the table, while Hoffenheim drew 1-1 with Dortmund at home. Schalke lost to Bayern 0-2 which saw Bayern continue their winning start while Frankfurt drew against Leipzig 1-1. Leverkusen beat Mainz 1-0 to move to 15th. 

Ligue 1 MW 6

Monaco drew with Nimes 1-1 which saw them remain a shocking 16th in the table. PSG beat Rennes 1-3 to continue their winning start in Ligue 1. Lyon beat Marseille 4-2 to move to 10th and continue their ascendancy in the table. 

Weekend Football Preview

The football continues non-stop.

Premier League MW 6

Fulham vs. Watford

Fulham were comprehensively beaten by City last week while Watford narrowly lost to United, both teams will look to bounce back with a win an exciting London Derby. Fulham sit 15th while Watford sit 4th. Fulham play an exciting brand of football but are poor at the back while Watford have been brilliant all over the pitch. This should be an exciting game and based on current form Watford could notch another win. 

Burnley vs. Bournemouth

Burnley sit bottom of the league with no wins this season, last weekend was also poor although they only lost by one goal to Wolves. Bournemouth have had a brilliant start to the season as they sit 5th, they beat Leicester by four goals to two last weekend. At the moment Bournemouth should be favourites to add another win to their season. 

Cardiff City vs. Man City 

Cardiff have had a shaky start to the season not having won a game and having been thrashed by Chelsea away last weekend. Things do not get easier for them this weekend as City visit Wales. Man City have returned to winning ways in recent weeks when it comes to he Premier League but suffered their first defeat of the season midweek to Lyon. Cardiff have played well in their games but the gulf in class has been apparent and while it would be great if they got a point or more against City the most likely scenario is that it should be another win for Man City. 

Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle

Crystal Palace returned to winning ways last weekend with a win away at Huddersfield the win moved them to 12th in the league. Newcastle have been poor in the last games and have not won a single match this season. Their start has been a tough one and this should be the type of game in which they start gaining points. A tough game to call which could go either way.

Leicester vs. Huddersfield

Leicester were thrashed lat weekend while Huddersfield narrowly lost to Palace. Leicester have still managed to win a couple of games and sit 11th while Huddersfield are 18th. This should be a cagey game but Huddersfield could win away at the weekend. 

Liverpool vs. Southampton

Liverpool have stormed to a winning start this season while receiving all the plaudits, but sitting second in the table. They beat PSG midweek in the Champions League and should be raring to go at Anfield again. Southampton sit 13th in the table and have played well in recent weeks although they drew against Brighton last weekend due to a self imploding second half. A cagey game but Liverpool should make it 6 out of 6.

Man United vs. Wolverhampton

United have bounced back with two wins since their defeat to Spurs, they now sit 8th in the table. Wolves have also begun to climb the table at a slow pace and sit 9th. A win for Wolves would move them above United on points. It is a case of conservative against attacking football and it would be great if Wolves could beat United. A cagey game but one to watch. 

Brighton vs. Tottenham

Brighton fought back to draw last weekend and sit 14th in the table, while Tottenham made it three defeats in a row midweek and sit 6th. Brighton away is always a tough fixture and having already beaten United Brighton should be encouraged to take another top 6 scalp. Tottenham on the other hand will be hoping to bounce back with a win. A close game that Brighton could win. 

Arsenal vs. Everton

In what is probably the showpiece fixture of the weekend a high flying Arsenal take on an Everton side that lost their first game of the season last weekend. Arsenal sit 7th after three wins in three while Everton are 10th. Arsenal won midweek in the Europa League and having found their scoring boots in recent games this could be another Arsenal win although it will be a close game in which they will concede.

La Liga MW 5

La Liga returns this weekend with Atletico traveling to Getafe having won midweek in Monaco. Real Madrid entertain Espanyol having thrashed Roma in the Champions League while Barcelona welcome Girona. It should be comfortable wins for Barcelona and Real Madrid while Atletico should also get a win of their own. 

Serie A MW 5

Another interesting weekend of Italian football as Inter travel to Sampdoria having won against Tottenham in their Champions League return. Napoli travel to Torino in a difficult game of football. Roma travel to Bologna, while Juventus travel to Frosinone. Milan entertain Atlanta at the San Siro. Cagey games across the board with results that could go either way although Juventus should win. 

Bundesliga MW 4

Hertha Berlin play Monchengladbach at home, Hoffenheim play Dortmund at home, Schalke play Bayern at home, Frankfurt play Leipzig at home, while Leverkusen entertain Mainz. It’s safe to say that German football is the most exciting of the weekend with tough fixtures all over the place. 

Ligue 1 MW 6

Monaco play Nimes at home, PSG travel to Rennes, and Lyon play Marseille in the standout fixture. Easy wins expected for Monaco, and PSG while Lyon should be buoyed by their win in Manchester midweek.  

 

 

 

Weekend Football Review

Straightforward week of football. 

Premier League 

Tottenham 1 vs. 2 Liverpool

Liverpool continued to be only the second team with an unbeaten record as they beat Tottenham at Wembley. Liverpool dominated the first half of the game and were rewarded for it as they gained the lead in the 39th minute via Georginio Wijnaldum whose header just about crossed the line. Tottenham played better in the second half but Firmino doubled the lead for Liverpool in the 54th minute. Lamela managed to get a consolation goal in the 93rd minute as Spurs were beginning to dominate but it was too little too late. Spurs having now suffered two defeats in a row sit 6th while while Liverpool sit second on goal difference. 

Bournemouth 4 vs. 2 Leicester

Bournemouth thrashed Leicester at home in what was an entertaining game. Fraser opened the scoring for Leicester in the 19th minute and added a second in the 37th minute. King added a third from the penalty spot in the 41st minute. Leicester improved in the second half but Morgan was sent off in the 69th minute for a second yellow, as Bournemouth added their fourth via Smith in the 81st minute. Maddison scored a penalty in the 88th minute and Albrighton added a second in the 89th minute as the game finished. The win leaves Bournemouth 5th in the table while Leicester sit 11th. 

Huddersfield 0 vs. 1 Crystal Palace

Zaha gave Crystal Palace the win in the 38th minute via a brilliant solo goal to give them their second win of the season. Huddersfield remain without a win this season as they sit 18th while Crystal Palace move to 12th.

Man City 3 vs. 0 Fulham

Sané, David Silva, and Sterling gave City a comprehensive win as they continue to recover from their draw against Wolves. Fulham avoided a bigger loss thanks to Bettinelli as they failed to add to their improvement over the last few weeks. City move to 3rd while Fulham are 15th. 

Newcastle 1 vs. 2 Arsenal

Arsenal made it three successive wins as they comfortably got three points away at Newcastle. After a nervy first half a brilliant Xhaka free-kick and an Ozil goal proved enough for the Gunners. Clark added a consolation goal for Newcastle but its now four losses and no wins for Benitez’s side. The only positive remains that Newcastle have restricted the goal difference as they look to finally start their season in a week’s time. 

Watford 1 vs. 2 Man United

Lukaku and Smalling scored two goals in three minutes during the first half to give United a nervy win away at Watford. Watford grew into the game and managed to notch a goal back via Gray in the 65th minute but United held on as Matic was sent off in extra time. Watford drop their first points of the season as they sit 4th while United recover to move up to 8th. 

Wolverhampton 1 vs. 0 Burnley

A Jimenez goal in the 61st minute was enough for Wolves as they continued their climb up the table against a defensive Burnley side. Wolves move up to 9th while Burnley move to the bottom of the table with a solitary point this season.

Everton 1 vs. 3 West Ham

West Ham got their first points of the season and their first win of the season as they beat Everton away on Sunday. Yarmolenko scored for the Hammers in the 11th and 31st minute as West Ham dominated the first half but Everton gave themselves hope as Sigurdsson got one back in extra time. Arnautovic scored in the 61st minute to seal three points for Pellegrini. Everton drop down to 10th while West Ham move to 16th with the win. 

Southampton 2 vs. 2 Brighton

Brighton fought back from two nil down to gain a point away at Southampton in thrilling fashion. Hodjberg gave Southampton the lead in the 35th minute and Ings added a second in the 65th minute via a penalty. Southampton seemed to be heading for three points but Duffy scored in the 67th minute to give the Seagulls hope before Murray scored in extra time to seal the point. Southampton move to 13th while Brighton are 14th.

La Liga 

A less than decent week in La Liga as Atletico drew against Eiber, and Madrid also managed a point against Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona won against Real Sociedad while Valencia also only managed to draw against Betis. Sevilla shockingly lost to Getafe at home. Barcelona move clear at the top of the table while the rest begin to play catch up to them. 

Serie A

An interesting weekend in Italy as Parma beat Inter away from home while Napoli beat Fiorentina at home. Roma drew against Chievo in an interesting 2-2 draw while Juventus also beat Sassuolo 2-1 at home. Ronaldo scored his first and second goal in Serie A while Douglas Costa was sent off for spitting in a players face. Juventus continue their winning start to the season while the rest continue to drop points on occasion. 

Bundesliga

Some great results were witnessed in the Bundesliga at the weekend as Dortmund beat Frankfurt 3-1 at home. Bayern beat Leverkusen 3-1 at home as well while Monchengladbach beat Schalke 2-1. Leipzig beat Hannover 3-2 in an interesting game to end the weekend. Bayern continue to dominate the league as five teams follow with seven points.

Ligue 1

Nice beat Rennes 2-1, PSG thrashed St.Ettienne by four goals, Lyon only managed a point against Caen, and Marseille thrashed Guingamp by four goals as well. PSG remain the clear leaders at the top of the table with what looks like the season is already over. 

Weekend Football Preview

Thank god league football is back!

Premier League

Tottenham vs. Liverpool

After an interesting International break, Prem football returns with vengeance as Liverpool travel to London to play Spurs. It was thought that Spurs would inaugurate their new stadium with this fixture but in classic Spurs fashion the Stadium is far from completion. Spurs lost in the last gameweek to Watford and will hope to bounce back with a point or more. Liverpool have thundered into the lead at the beginning of the seasons but Spurs is their first major test. Spurs will be without Dele Alli who is injured and Kane looks a little jaded and in need of a rest. It will be an interesting game and while a draw or a loss for Liverpool would be preferred, Mane, Salah, and Firmino should edge Liverpool into a victory. 

Bournemouth vs. Leicester

Bournemouth and Leicester have both enjoyed decent starts to the season as they sit 6th and 8th respectively. Bournemouth lost last gameweek to Chelsea but put in a strong defensive performance up till the last 20 minutes. Leicester lost to Liverpool but played well for parts of the game and fell short by the odd goal. Bournemouth have found goals this season to add to their defensive strength while Leicester should have Vardy back from suspension. This should be an interesting game that could go either way. 

Huddersfield vs. Crystal Palace

Huddersfield had a tough start to the season and have still not managed to win a game this season but they have shown improvement in the last few weeks having managed to draw their last two games. Crystal Palace had a brilliant start to the season but have lost their last three and go to Huddersfield in need of a win or at least a point. Huddersfield are strong defensively and if they can hold on and manage to score they could see their first win. Palace should have Zaha back and the international break may have been important in helping Hodgson work with his team. An interesting game which could go Palace’s way. 

Man City vs. Fulham

Man City got back to winning ways two weeks ago as they beat Newcastle although just by the solitary goal. Fulham had a slow start to their season but have won one and drawn one in the last two gameweeks. Fulham have a similar philosophy to Wolves and if they play without fear as Wolves did then they could cause problems to Man City. City are home and on paper they should add another three points but I have a feeling they could drop points in what would be a major boost to Fulham. With players like Mitrovic, Schurrle, Seri this should be a very interesting game. 

Newcastle vs. Arsenal

Newcastle have not won a game this season and sit 17th as Arsenal visit them this gameweek. Arsenal had a tough start to the season with two defeats but have won their last two and their are signs that Emery’s philosophy is finally beginning to gel with the team. Newcastle need the win and Benitez having had the international break to prepare could cause Arsenal problems. The most likely scenario though will be that Newcastle will set up to play on the counter. Arsenal have been brilliant going forward but lack solidity in defence and that is where Newcastle’s pace could be a cause for concern. A game in all honesty that could go either way although Arsenal might edge it. 

Watford vs. Man United

Saturday night ends with a spicy game as high flyers Watford meet a struggling United side, a sentence I thought I would never say. Watford have started the season with four wins out of four and while the first three were against equal opponents their win against Spurs last gameweek seems to have increased their credibility. Man United have struggled to start off with the same pace and sit 10th in the table. They did manage to win against Burnley last time out but the Burnley side was one that had played just three days ago. On paper this should be a win for United but with classic third season vibes emanating from Old Trafford I fancy a win for Watford. 

Wolverhampton vs. Burnley

Wolves have started of slowly but they seem to be gaining momentum as they get used to the Premier League. Their draw against City at home boosted the whole fan base and they did it playing attacking football and sticking to what they knew. Burnley are still searching for their first win of the season and sit 19th in the table. With Europa League out of the way and an International Break in between their season should start this weekend. This should be a game of attack vs. defence and one that could end up in a draw or a win for Wolves. 

Everton vs. West Ham

A tale of two managers, on one side you have Marcos Silva who has started the season of undefeated as Everton sit 7th while on the the other side their is Pellegrini who has last all four games and sits bottom. Everton seem a new team and up for the challenge with players like Richarlison adding a much needed goal scoring threat while their have been improvements in defence and the midfield. West Ham brought in a league winning manager, and purchased several star players but the team has not gelled and Pellegrini will be hoping that the International break brings him new fortune. Based on form this should be a win for Everton and on paper this should be an interesting game to watch. 

Southampton vs. Brighton

Southampton were expected to struggle this season but they have had a decent start as they sit 12th with played like Ings fitting right into the team. Brighton have also had a decent start to the season and sit 14th. Southampton are usually strong at home while Brighton tend to struggle away from home, this should be an open game that could go either way.

La Liga

La Liga returns for GW 4 with tough games for most teams concerned. Atletico face Eibar at home in what should be a simple win for the Madrid side. Barcelona travel to Real Sociedad for a tricky fixture, Valencia face off against Real Betis, Real travel to Bilbao in another tricky fixture while Sevilla entertain Getafe. Atletico should get three points while Real and Barcelona should struggle for their wins. 

Serie A

GW 4 in Italy sees a mixture of tough and simple fixtures. Inter entertain Parma in an interesting game while Napoli entertain Fiorentina. Roma play host to Chievo in what should be a simple win while Juventus welcome Sassuolo as Ronaldo aims to score his first goal for the home team. Milan travel to Cagliari in what on paper should be three points for the team. 

Bundesliga

A brilliant weekend in Germany as Dortmund face off against Frankfurt in an interesting game. Bayern Munich play against Leverkusen in a tough game for the table topping side. Monchengladbach play host to Schalke while Leipzig welcome Hannover 96. Several interesting games in the Bundesliga which could go either way. 

Ligue 1

Simple wins in France should be expected as Nice entertain Rennes, PSG welcome St.Etienne, Lyon travel to Caen, and Marseille entertain Guingamp. PSG are run away leaders at the moment and all teams concerned need to win their games to keep up pace with the Parisien side. 

 

Weekend Football Review

3 winners remain!

Premier League

Leicester 1 vs. 2 Liverpool

Liverpool maintained their lead at the top of the table with their win against Leicester, although they conceded their first goal of the season. Mane scored in the 10th minute and Firmino added the second at the start of the second half. Leicester did play better in the second half and managed to get a goal back after Alisson was dispossessed by Iheanacho who allowed Ghezzal to tap in for his first goal in the Premier League. Liverpool made it four wins out of four while Leicester sit 8th. 

Brighton 2 vs. 2 Fulham

Fulham’s defence continued to be their demise as they allowed Brighton to come back and draw against them. Fulham started the better team and got the lead in the 43rd minute via Schürrle. Fulham continued to their bright play after the break as Mitrovic added a second in the 62nd minute. Murray though scored his first in the 67th minute and then a hand ball in the box allowed him to score his second in the 84th minute to earn the Seagulls a point. Brighton are 14th while Fulham are 13th. 

Crystal Palace 0 vs. 2 Southampton

In a shocking result of sorts Southampton scored two to get their first win of the season away at Palace. After a goalless first half the deadlock was broken by Ings who scored in the 47th minute. Austin had a chance to double the lead mid way through the second half but was denied from the spot by Hart. Southampton held on and added a second in the 92nd minute via Hojbjerg. Palace are 15th while Southampton move to 12th. 

Everton 1 vs. 1 Huddersfield

Billing gave Huddersfield the lead in the 34th minute but Calvert-Lewin equalised 2 minutes later for Everton. The scoreline remained the same for the rest of the game as both teams shared a point each. Everton are now 7th while Huddersfield are 17th. 

West Ham 0 vs. 1 Wolverhampton

West Ham continued to be the only team without a point as they lost their fourth game in stoppage time. Most of the game was played in the balance as both teams had good chances to gain the lead but were denied by the heroics of their goalkeepers and on a occasion poor finishing. Traoré finally broke the deadlock in the 93rd minute to give Wolves all three points. West Ham remain bottom of the table while Wolves move to 11th. 

Man City 2 vs. 1 Newcastle

Newcastle were perhaps unlucky to not at least manage a point from the game as they lost to City. Sterling gave City the lead in the 8th minute but Yedlin restored parity between the two sides in the 30th minute. The 52nd minute saw a brilliant long range effort from Walker give City the lead and they managed to hold on to it to get back to winning ways. City move into 4th while Newcastle are 18th. 

Cardiff 2 vs. 3 Arsenal

A thrilling match that saw five goals scored as Arsenal edged Cardiff for the win. Mustafi gave the Gunners the lead in the 11th minute but Cardiff responded well as they began to grow into the game. Camarasa equalised right before half-time to encourage the home crowd. Aubameyang finished well to gain the lead for Arsenal once more but Ward scored 8 minutes later to bring Arsenal back to square one. Finally Lacazette combined well with Torreira to gain Arsenal three points in the 81st minute. Cardiff are 16th while Arsenal move up to 9th.

Burnley 0 vs. 2 Man United

Mourinho earned himself a lifeline as United returned to winning ways against a Burnley side who had only played 2 days ago. A first half double from Lukaku was enough although the second half contained much of the drama. Pogba had a penalty saved by Hart and Rashford was sent off in the 71st minute for what was an attempted headbutt on Bardsley. Burnley sit 19th while United move into 10th. 

Watford 2 vs. 1 Tottenham

Tottenham seemed to have won the league after they beat United at Old Trafford last weekend but they were brought crashing down to earth by Watford who maintained their winning run. The first half was a balanced one with no side really taking advantage of the chances they created. A Doucouré own goal saw Spurs take the lead in the 53rd minute after Moura saw his cross deflect into the net. The goal only seemed to give Watford the encouragement for the win as Deeney scored in the 69th minute and Cathcart in the 76th minute to make it four out of four for the Hornets. Watford are third while Spurs are now 5th. 

La Liga

Real Madrid put four past Leganes and Barcelona put a massive 8 past Huesca to give both teams three points. Celta Vigo managed a two nil win against Atletico who now will have to play catchup to Madrid and Barca. Valencia and Levante managed a draw. Barca and Madrid sit at the top with three wins out of three as the rest play catch up. 

Serie A

Milan beat Roma to open the weekend of football while Inter won away at Bologna by 3 goals to nil. Juventus had a tough game away Parma but managed the three points. Sampdoria thrashed Napoli three nil. Juventus sit top of Serie A with three wins out of three while the rest play catch up. 

Bundesliga

Hannover and Dortmund played a scoreless draw, Hoffenheim beat Freiburg 3-1, Frankfurt lost to Bremen, Leverkusen lost to Wolfsburg, Bayern beat Stuttgart 3-0, Leipzig drew with Dusseldorf, and Schalke lost to Hertha Berlin. Bayern sit at the top along with Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin. 

Ligue 1

Lyon lost away at Nice, while Monaco and Marseille played out a brilliant five goal thriller which Marseille edged 2-3. PSG continued to dominate as they beat Nimes 2-4. PSG have four wins out of four as the rest of the league play catch up to them. 

 

Weekend Football Preview

Gameweek 4!

Premier League

Leicester vs. Liverpool

Leicester have won 2 and lost 1 going into this game and will hope to at least add a point to their tally. Liverpool sit top of the table having won all their games and not having conceded a goal till now. Leicester have played some decent football in their games although Liverpool carry the same attacking danger of last season with an added solidity in defence. Liverpool would need to let their guard down for Leicester to get more than a point but if Leicester stay solid in defence a draw could be possible. 

Brighton vs. Fulham

Brighton narrowly lost to Liverpool last weekend while Fulham got their first win of the season in attacking filled performance. Brighton are stronger at home than they are away as has been showcased by their win against Man United. Fulham have shown plenty of attacking threat in their games but lack a solidity in defence. This should be an interesting game and either team could get three points. 

Crystal Palace vs. Southampton

After their opening day victory Palace have lost two successive games in the league while Southampton still seek their first win of the season. Southampton have added a goal threat in Ings but their defence seems to have holes in it. Palace have had decent games but have been unlucky at times this season. This game should be a second win for Palace and Zaha might shine. 

Everton vs. Huddersfield 

Everton have had a decent start to the season not having lost a game a yet while Huddersfield just managed their first point with a draw against Cardiff last weekend. If past matches are to be taken into account then this should be another three points in the bag for Everton although Huddersfield will probably make it difficult by sitting tight in defence. A hard fought victory for Everton. 

West Ham vs. Wolverhampton

West Ham remain the only team without any points this season as they hope to finally manage one or more at home against Wolves. Wolves have not managed to win a game yet but they have been unlucky to lose and fought well to draw against City last weekend. West Ham need to be defensively solid to get any points out of this game as Wolves have plenty of attacking talent in which should be a first win for Santos and his men. 

Man City vs. Newcastle

Man City were perhaps shocked last weekend as they drew against Wolves and dropped points in the table and will hope that they can thrash Newcastle at home. Newcastle defended for 75 points and were perhaps unlucky in their loss against Chelsea although if you do not create any chances you cannot really be lucky. Newcastle defended well for large parts of the game and will probably need to do the same in this one as well. A loss is on the cards for Newcastle and a point or more would be an amazing achievement.

Cardiff vs. Arsenal

Cardiff managed their first point of the season last weekend while Arsenal also managed the same with their win against West Ham. Cardiff have a proper crowd at home and the atmosphere will be exciting once more as Arsenal come to town. Arsenal were a disaster away from home last season and will hope to finally put that to bed this season. An interesting game that on paper should go to Arsenal but Cardiff have nothing to lose. 

Burnley vs. Man United

Burnley started the season with a draw but have lost two on the trot and have also been knocked out of the Europa League this week. United are suffering third season syndrome under Mourinho and were thrashed by Spurs last weekend. It is a must win game for Mourinho as it is the last one before international break and anything other than three points would put even darker clouds over his future at the club. Burnley know the pressure is on United and should feel encouraged at their chance of a point or more. A game to keep an eye on. 

Watford vs. Tottenham

Watford have done extremely well this season winning three of three along with Spurs who have also won three of three. The teams have shown great attacking talent with a solidity in defence and this game should be a very interesting one. Tottenham on paper should get three points but from what we have seen on the pitch if Watford show up for this game then the points could go either way. 

La Liga

Routine wins on the cards for Barcelona and Real Madrid who play at home against Huesca and Leganes respectively, but Atletico face a tricky fixture away at Celta Vigo. Valencia play Levante away. 

Serie A

Some great football on show in Serie A as Milan play Roma in their second game of the season. Parma back in the top flight play league champions Juventus. Inter are away at Bologna and Sampdoria entertain Napoli in a couple of tricky fixtures. 

Bundesliga

Hannover 96 entertain Dortmund, Hoffenheim entertain Freiburg, Frankfurt entertain Bremen, Leverkusen play Wolfsburg at home, Bayern travel to Stuttgart, Leipzig welcome Fortuna Dusseldorf, and Schalke play Hertha Berlin at home. Several tricky fixtures in the Bundesliga this weekend. 

Ligue 1

Top teams face off against each other in France this weekend as Lyon welcome Nice, and Monaco play Marseille at home. PSG travel to Nimes in what should be another comfortable three points for the Parisien side. 

 

Weekend Football Review

Not a great weekend for Manchester.

Premier League

Wolverhampton 1 vs. 1 Man City

The weekend started with Wolves holding on to draw against City at home in what was a surprising result. Teams outside the top 6 and some teams inside the top 6 usually set up to play against City on the counter but Wolves decided that they would not change their ways and they took the game to City. The game was evenly matched during the first half although City came close to opening the scoreline on a couple of occasions only for Patricio to make some stunning saves. Boly gave Wolves the lead in the 57th minute from what looked like a header but close inspection showed it was handball but since there is no VAR the goal remained. Laporte rocketed in a header of his own in the 69th minute to level the scoreline. Aguero hit the crossbar once more but Wolves held on and became the first team to take points off City this season. Wolves are 14th while City are now 5th. 

Arsenal 3 vs. 1 West Ham

A cagey first half saw Arnautovic give West Ham the lead in the 25th minute as he hammered in a shot from outside the box. Monreal equalised in the 30th to restore parity. Arsenal came out the better team in the second half as Lacazette and Torreira were brought on. A Diop own goal in the 70th minute and a Welbeck strike in the 92nd minute sealed a first win and first points for Unai Emery. West Ham now remain the only team without points this season. Arsenal move up to 9th with the win and West Ham remain bottom of the table. 

Bournemouth 2 vs. 2 Everton

A stunning game that saw red cards and comebacks as Bournemouth drew at home to Everton. The first half remained level as Richarlison was sent off at the 41st minute for what looked like an attempted head butt. The game blew up in the second half as Walcott gave Everton the lead in the 56th minute and Keane doubled that lead 10 minutes later. Everton seemed to be flying high as Adam Smith was also sent off for Bournemouth in the 61st minute. Bournemouth had other plans in mind as King converted a penalty in the 75th minute and Ake scored via a corner in the 79th minute to earn Bournemouth a point. Bournemouth are now 6th while Everton are 8th. 

Huddersfield 0 vs. 0 Cardiff

Huddersfield achieved their first point of the season in what was a cagey affair against Cardiff. Chances were hard to come by in the first half but Huddersfield forced Ethridge to make some good saves in the second. Matters became harder when Hogg was sent off for Huddersfield in the 63rd minute. Huddersfield held on as Cardiff applied the pressure as both teams settled for a draw. Huddersfield are off the mark but remain 19th while Cardiff are 15th. 

Southampton 1 vs. 2 Leicester

Southampton started the game as the better teams as they created several chances but failed to capitalise any of them. The second half started off in similar fashion and a brilliant long range strike by Bertrand gave Southampton the lead in the 52nd minute. Gray equalised for Leicester in the 56th minute and Hodjberg was sent off for Southampton in the 77th minute to leave Southampton fighting for the point. Maguire had other plans though and his long range strike in the 92nd minute gave Leicester all three points. Southampton are 17th while Leicester are 7th. 

Liverpool 1 vs. 0 Brighton

Salah scored in the 23rd minute as it proved enough to get three points for Liverpool. Liverpool dominated the game but Brighton’s defence stayed strong. Liverpool seemed to have plugged their holes in defence and goal as they remain the only team to not have conceded a goal this season. The win leaves Liverpool top of the table while Brighton are 12th. 

Watford 2 vs. 1 Crystal Palace

The game saw an entertaining first half but both sides remained goalless going into the second half. Pereyra opened the scoring as he curled in a brilliant shot to give Watford the lead in the 53rd minute. Holebas doubled the lead in the 71st minute as his attempted cross curled into the top corner. Zaha gave Palace some hope as he got one back in the 78th minute but Watford held on to maintain their 100 percent winning start to the season. Watford are 4th while Palace are 10th. 

Fulham 4 vs. 2 Burnley

An amazing game saw 5 goals in the first half as Fulham won their first game and first points of the season. Seri gave Fulham the lead in the 4th minute from a brilliant long range strike but Hendrick equalised in the 10th minute. Mitrovic then scored 2 headers in two minute to add two more to Fulham but Tarkowski scrambled in from close range in the 41st minute to keep the scoreline at 3-2. Fulham maintained the lead in the second half and Schurrle sealed the three points after he scored in the 83rd minute. With their first win Fulham move to 11th while Burnley are 18th.

Man United 0 vs. 3 Tottenham

Tottenham thrashed United at Old Trafford in what was a game of two halves. United dominated the first half while playing good football in what was refreshing from Mourinho but the players and specifically Lukaku missed several chances to give United the lead. For all the domination the teams went into half time level. United did not show up for the second half and Spurs capitalised as Kane opened the scoring in the 50th minute and Moura doubled the lead four minutes later. Moura added his second and sealed the the game in the 84th minute as United succumbed to their second defeat of the season. Some say Rio Ferdinand and the United pundits are re-thinking their predictions for the season as United sit at 13th while Spurs move to 2nd.

La Liga

Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico all won their games but Sevilla were held to a goalless draw against Villareal and Valencia lost to Espanyol 2-0. The results mean that Real Madrid lead the table while Barcelona, and Sevilla follow while Atletico sit 9th and Valencia 15th.

Serie A

An entertaining weekend of action in Italy saw plenty of goals from all teams. Juventus won their game against Lazio 2-0 although Ronaldo still seeks his first goal. Napoli came from 2-0 down to beat Milan 3-2, while Inter and Torino drew 2-2 and Roma and Atlanta drew 3-3. Juventus and Napoli sit first and second while Roma sit 5th, Inter are 11th while Milan are 17th. 

Bundesliga

Bayern opened the season with a 3-1 win over Hoffenheim while the weekend saw Wolfsburg beat Schalke 2-1, Monchengladbach beat Leverkusen 2-0, and Dortmund came from behind to beat Leipzig 4-1. Dortmund, Bayern, and Frankfurt sit at the top three of the table. 

Ligue 1

PSG continued their winning start with a 3-1 win against Angers, Lyon beat Strasbourg 2-0, Bordeaux beat Monaco 2-1, and Marseille drew against Rennes 2-2. PSG sit at the top while Lyon move up to 4th, Monaco are 9th and Marseille are 11th.