Premier League Picks Of The Week 9

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 9

The ninth week of the Premier League action saw:

35 goals - most by Chelsea = 4
243 shots - most by Arsenal = 30!
92 on target - most by Arsenal = 14!
103 corners - most by West Ham = 10
209 fouls - most by Stoke = 17
31 yellow cards - most by Huddersfield & Newcastle = 4 each
1 red card - Idrissa Gueye for Everton (second yellow)
3 penalties - 3 scored (Glenn Murray for Brighton, Sergio Agüero for Man City, Junior Stanislas for Bournemouth)

I'm staying SOBER FOR OCTOBER - please click here to help and sponsor me and MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT! Thanks in advance! Every little helps! #Cheers #ToHealth #ToLife

What a game! Chelsea and Watford shared six goals between each other and it could have been more. The Blues were lucky the result swung their way, 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in the end thanks to Michy Batshuayi's double and a César Azpilicueta header. Pedro's opener was a smacker, curled across into the top corner, unstoppable. Both goals by the visitors in reply to that, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Roberto Pereyra either side of the interval, were also top quality. Marco Silva will have felt the score as very harsh on his side, the Hornets showing what they are made of and that they can more than compete against top sides, they could have scored four or five themselves. They will have kicked themselves for all the misses and then giving the game away late on. Antonio Conte's reaction showed how much the win meant to them, especially after losing to Crystal Palace last week and not playing very convincingly again this time round.

What a team! The promoted sides marked their worth and place in the top league this weekend! Huddersfield downed Manchester United to their first defeat of the season thanks to the first-half goals from former City man Aaron Mooy and Lauren Depoitre. Their German boss David Wagner celebrated wilth the fans and correctly called it "nearly perfect" after the match. The Red Devils never looked in or near it despite almost 80% possession and even after Marcus Rashford's goal, serving the Terriers their first win against them in 65 years to end their unbeaten start to the season. Newcastle left it late against Palace, substitute Mikel Merino grabbing the winner in the 86th minute and helping the Magpies to their best Premier League start since 2011-12. Eagle Yohan Cabaye was a very lucky man not to receive a straight red for his scissor tackle! More to Brighton's great win below. Meanwhile, two goals in 133 seconds stunned Stoke City as they lost 1-2 against Bournemouth, sucking them too close to the relegation zone, just goal difference separating them, whilst the Cherries avoided the unwanted record of the worst start to a league campaign. And managerless Leicester impressed winning 1-2 at Swansea. All my predictions went out the window, but it was great to watch. The unpredictable Premier League never fails to surprise and entertain!

What a man! Sergio Agüero was lucky to get the spot kick but definitely deserves his name in Manchester City's history books equalling their all-time goalscoring record with his 177th for the club, levelling up with Eric Brook. The Citizens "only" won 3-0 this weekend, proving Burnley aren't an easy opposition to break. It's only the second time in the league this season they have conceded two or more, Nicolás Otamendi and Leroy Sané adding two more in two second-half minutes (73'/75') sealing City's 11th straight win, equalling another club record. Sean Dyche was right to criticise the soft penalty, I loved his dig at Bernardo Silva for making the most of keeper Nick Pope's approach. But the Clarets' boss also rightly pointed out Pep Guardiola's men are a top-class side. Can anyone stop them?!

What a goal! Brighton's second! Record-signing José Izquierdo's right-footed diagonal smacker from the edge of the box, West Ham keeper Joe Hart full stretch, could only glove it in. This beauty came between Glenn Murray's headed opener and penalty through the middle. The Seagulls rode the waves with great organisation and hit back with some top-class moves, being lethal sealing a fine 0-3 win. Top-quality football, watching them it's hard to believe they were the promoted side and the visitors at London Road, and it's their first top-flight away win since 1983! The Hammers were nowhere near, awful, Slaven Bilić looked baffled and clueless. The ground emptied very quickly. His clock is ticking very loud. Tick. Tock. No matter how loud they turn up the music, the boos and "bye bye Bilić" chants still echo around! Southampton's winner against West Brom was a great individual run and goal by substitute Sofiane Boufal and lit up an otherwise boring game.

What the hell?! I don't think I've ever seen or heard Mister José Mourinho be so honest, to the point and bang on! His side were poor and deserved to lose. The best team won. For all those who already crowned them champions, ha! That is all I will say to that.  There were 12 goals in the two Super Sunday clashes, the two London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham thrashing their Scouser opponents 9-3 on aggregate, Everton 2-5 and 4-1 Liverpool at Goodison Park and Wembley respectively. Can't keep up?! Neither could I! The Gunners banged in 30 shots, 14 on target after Wayne Rooney gave the Toffees the lead which proved to be a very false dawn! Bon anniversaire Monsieur Wenger! Tot ziens Ronald Koeman! Can't say I was too surprised... The Reds were just overrun by Spurs, their lethal attack proving deadly from the start. Click here for my full LFC match report. The defeat dragged Everton down into the relegation zone, dangling in 18th on eight points but just goal difference separating them from safety, whilst Jürgen Klopp's side slumber in ninth on 13 points, trailing the top by 12 points.

My Predictions - Actual Results
West Ham 2:1 Brighton - 0:3
Chelsea 1:2 Watford - 4:2
Huddersfield 0:1 Man United - 2:1
Man City 4:2 Burnley - 3:0
Newcastle 2:1 Crystal Palace - 1:0
Stoke City 2:1 Bournemouth - 1:2
Swansea 2:2 Leicester - 1:2
Southampton 2:1 West Brom - 1:0
Everton 0:1 Arsenal - 2:5
Tottenham 1:1 Liverpool - 4:1 or click here for my LFC match report

Click here for my last Picks Of The Week.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, MOTD, Twitter and SFR live match coverages.

Premier League Picks Of The Week 20

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 20

The 20th week of the Premier League action saw:

240 shots - most by Liverpool = 21
29 goals - most by Bournemouth, Arsenal, Everton & West Brom = 3 each
192 fouls - most by Watford = 15
40 bookings - most by Man City = 5
3 red cards - Francis for Bournemouth, Fernandinho for Man City & Feghouli for West Ham
4 penalties - 4 scored (Wilson for Bournemouth, Baines for Everton & Defoe for Sunderland x 2!!!)

What a game! Tottenham's 2-0 win against league leaders Chelsea thanks to Dele Alli's double at White Hart Lane was, as Mauricio Pocchetino put it, massive! Massive for them, massive for everyone! The Blues' first defeat in over three months means three points dropped, and the game is still on in the title race. The season is not over as too many had already ticked it off. Antonio Conte's side is not perfect, stopped from recording their 14th consecutive win and making Premier League history. Spurs meanwhile are unbeaten at home this season, beware of the overlooked sneaking up.

What a team! It was the first time Arsenal came back from three goals down, Bournemouth the victims. Olivier Giroud was the hero once again with an injury-time winner after being involved in the other two goals, too, to make it 3-3 at Dean Court.The dramatic comeback was helped by Simon Francis being sent off for a challenge on Aaron Ramsey, Cherries boss Eddie Howe felt it was "harsh". Harsh but true, the Gunners' stubbornness payed off, hitting and hurting the home side hard.

What a man! Everton manager Ronald Koeman enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win against his former side Southampton, thanks to Enner Valencia (73'), Leighton Baines (81' pen) and Romelu Lukaku (89), taking the latter's league tally to 54. Only Harry Kane (59) and Sergio Agüero (77) have scored more Premier League goals since the Belgian forward's debut in September 2013. Everton did leave it late, but it was worth it for them, leaving Saints down and dire in 10th after three consecutive defeats.

What a goal! New Swansea boss Paul Clement can be more than happy with his winning start moving his side off the bottom of the Premier League table. Spanish right back Àngel Rangel found the winner at Crystal Palace in the 88th minute, crucial and crushing for Sam Allardyce in his first home game with the Eagles, who are now hovering just one place and one point above the relegation zone. It was the first time ever the former England boss has lost his opening home Premier League match, having previously won four and drawn one.

What the hell?! Leicester, oh Leicester. 21 points from 20 Premier League games is the worst return by reigning league champions and there is nothing much else to report from their dull 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough. Meanwhile at the Stadium of Light, Jürgen Klopp was left shaking his head in disbelief (with a sarcastic smile on his face) after his side gave the lead away, twice, handing two spot kicks to non-other than Jermain Defoe. After beating Manchester City last week, Liverpool will be gutted to have dropped two points against the struggling Black Cats. The happier and more grateful and relieved David Moyes will be after two defeats in a row.

My Predictions - Actual Results
Middlesbrough 2:1 Leicester - 0:0
Everton 2:1 Southampton - 3:0
Man City 1:1 Burnley - 2:1
Sunderland 1:4 Liverpool - 2:2
West Brom 1:1 Hull City - 3:1
West Ham 1:2 Man United - 0:2
Bournemouth 1:3 Arsenal - 3:3
Crystal Palace 1:0 Swansea - 1:2
Stoke City 3:2 Watford - 2:0
Tottenham 3:3 Chelsea - 2:0

Click her for last week's Premier League Picks.

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report.

Premier League Picks Of The Week 10

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 10

The 10th week of the Premier League action saw:

295 shots - most by Man United = 38

28 goals - most by Liverpool, Arsenal & Man City = 4 each!

233 fouls - most by Leicester = 20

42 bookings - most by West Brom, Leicester & Sunderland = 4 each

1 red card - Herrera for Man United

2 penalties - 2 scored (Janssen for Spurs & Defoe for Sunderland)

What a game! What a mad first half it was at Palace - five goals with the first three netted in under six minutes (5:45 minutes to be exact). Liverpool ended up on top, 2:4, at the end of the cracking encounter at Selhurst Park. Defending champions Leicester won their first away point at White Hart Lane, Spurs keeping their unbeaten record intact. And Everton ended their sequence of five games without a win with a scrappy home win against West Ham. Much needed to say the least.

What a team! Lots of sides are on a very dire run at the moment. West Brom are without a win in five games after getting thrashed 0-4 by Man City, whilst Hull City suffered their sixth straight league defeat, 1-0 at Watford, with no win since 20th August. Sunderland are still rockbottom without a win after Arsenal inflicted them with a painful 1-4 home defeat, David Moyes' men taking just two points from ten games. And Swansea, just one place and three points above Sunderland, are without a win since the opening day! Much in contrast to them, Chelsea are flying high in fourth place with double the points total they had after ten games last season (José Mourinho 11-22 Antonio Conte).

What a man! Talking about runs, Man City boss Pep Guardiola will be glad to have the monkey off his back, ending his worst run of no win in six games, and in style netting four goals against sorry Baggies at the Hawthorns. Clarets keeper Tom Heaton had a stunner of a game, keeping a clean sheet and grab a point at Old Trafford! Legendary display for Burnley, frustration for the Red Devils.

What a goal! Gastón Ramírez deserves a shoutout for his great individual goal an run for Boro. Arsenal's three goals in seven minutes stunned and battered the Black Cats, super-sub Olivier Giroud starting the perfect comeback. And Wilfried Bony will be more than relieved to finally be back on the scoreboard with two goals for Stoke against his former side Swansea.

What the hell?! The Hammers' struggle continues. Slaven Bilić's men are slumping deep in 17th place on ten points out of ten games after suffering their sixth defeat of the season at Goodison Park. The media are always quick to blame the new ground, but even away the London club looked no competition to the Toffees who are flying high in sixth and on form with 18 points much to Ronald Koeman's delight.

My Predictions - Actual Results
Sunderland 0:2 Arsenal - 1:4
Man United 3:1 Burnley - 0:0
Middlesbrough 1:2 Bournemouth - 2:0
Tottenham 2:2 Leicester - 1:1
Watford 0:0 Hull City - 1:0
West Brom 1:3 Man City - 0:4
Crystal Palace 2:3 Liverpool - 2:4
Everton 2:1 West Ham - 2:0
Southampton 1:2 Chelsea - 0:2
Stoke 0:0 Swansea - 3:1

Click here to read last week's Premier League Picks

All pictures taken from the BBC match reports

LET THE NEW SEASON BEGIN...

Sports - Football - Premier League

Well, well, well. The new season is upon us. I don't know about you, but I still can't quite believe what happened last season! I'm still reliving, digesting and trying to make sense of it, pinching myself to check it did really happen, and loving the fact that it did! Unpredictable! Unforgettable!

So, if you go by last season, then the title favourites this campaign would be Burnley! Or Sunderland! Better: Bournemouth! No, but seriously, I will put a cheeky pound on each of them. After last season, you just don't know! 

I hate the fact that everyone is writing off Leicester's chances (AGAIN!)! It will be difficult to repeat last season's surprise heroics, but that doesn't mean we're back to the old and obvious top picks. Just because they spend most, does not mean they will do most nor best, far from it! That was more than proven last season! 

Anyways, enough of my thoughts and takes, here is a good overview of the main changes, stats and facts, a good appetiser to what awaits us in the Premier League 2016/17...

New Bosses: 

Big names, big clashes, big results, the challenge, show and pressure are all ooooon! With lots of hoo and plenty of ha! Who will last the season? Who will see Christmas? Who is overrated and will flop? Who is king and will be top? Only time will tell...

Antonio Conte at Chelsea: The temperamental Italian was very entertaining to watch during Euro2016 and is expected to make a great impact. That's what he was chosen for, to drag the Blues back up. (Win% 55.66)

Ronald Koeman at Everton: His departure from Southampton surprised many after he frowned upon those who leave their clubs mid-contract time. Interesting season ahead, especially against his former club.(Win% 54.88)

Caretaker Mike Phelan at Hull: A tough (temporary) job on his hands with the club in turmoil after his ex-United team mate Steve Bruce's departure. Nothing to envy. (Win% N/A)

Pep Guardiola at Man City: The Barcelona legend will not be remembered for much at Bayern and has a point to prove in his first Premier League job. (Win% 72.87)

Jose Mourinho at Man United: And the Special One is back, with more than a point to prove after leaving Chelsea in the bottom half of the table last season. (Win% 66.1)

Claude Puel at Southampton: The one-club-man Monaco legend has a lot to learn and prove in his first job outside of France. (Win% 42.49)

David Moyes at Sunderland: The former Everton and Man United manager is happy to be back, back with a vengeance I am sure. (Win% 43.79)

Walter Mazzarri at Watford: The 12th boss at Vicarage Road in the last decade, the Italian will know this job is not an easy but usually short and bumpy ride. (Win% 40.03)

Old Bosses:

Déjà vu? Under pressure? Who? Where? Never! These ones have been there, done that and are back on their old seats for more. Or maybe less. Hanging in there. We will see...

Arsene Wenger at Arsenal since 1996: In his 21st season at the club and final year of his contract, there is a more sick and tired feel to the Gunners. (Win% 54.1)

Eddie Howe at Bournemouth since 2012: The Football League Manager of The Decade is certainly enjoying his second stint with the Cherries in the top flight. (Win% 46.7)

Sean Dyche at Burnley since 2012: Winning promotion to the Premier League for the second time in three years, he will hope the spell will last longer this time. (Win% 40.6)

Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace since 2015: Never without some controversy and will be under pressure after a disappointing end to last season. (Win% 42.5)

Claudio Ranieri at Leicester since 2015: The charming Italian will have to prove all the doubters wrong again after the sublime last season, no one seeing a repeat possible. (Win% 46.37)

Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool since 2015: The Normal One won over the Red hearts very quickly last season, now the question is whether he can win enough points, and trophies. (Win% 48.6)

Aitor Karanka at Middlesbrough since 2013: The Spaniard has had his ups and downs and crises with the club but has not looked back since his return and Boro's promotion. (Win% 52.5)

Mark Hughes at Stoke since 2013: Finishing 9th the last three seasons, the Potters will feel too comfortable for their own good. (Win% 39.7)

Francesco Guidolin at Swansea since 2016: Taking the job in January with the Swans just two points from the drop, the Italian has taught the Swans how to win and smile again. (Win% 43.8)

Mauricio Pocchetino at Tottenham since 2014: Had made Spurs title contenders last season but left disappointed losing the edge at the end and no trophies. This season will be crunch time for the Argentine. (Win% 39.6)

Tony Pulis at West Brom since 2015: The former Stoke and Crystal Palace manager certainly knows how to spoil the show for the big boys, so, never to be underestimated! (Win% 36.4%)

Slaven Bilic at West Ham since 2015: The Croatian has lead the Hammers to their best finish in the Premier League era, breaking plenty of records and wetting the appetite for the fans this season. (Win% 52.17)

Ins and Outs: 

Numbers of signings and exits per club (on date compiled = 11/08/2016), West Ham and Middlesbrough topping the shopping list with 9 new names each, whilst Liverpool have cleared out most with 15 players shown the door.

Arsenal: 4 & 8

Bournemouth: 8 & 7

Burnley: 4 & 5

Chelsea: 2 & 8

Crystal Palace: 3 & 9

Everton: 5 & 5

Hull City: 1 & 3

Leicester: 6 & 10

Liverpool: 6 & 15

Man City: 8 & 4

Man Utd: 4 & 9

Middlesbrough: 9 & 4

Southampton: 4 & 9

Stoke City: 3 & 2

Sunderland: 3 & 8

Swansea: 7 & 10

Tottenham: 2 & 4

Watford: 5 & 7

West Brom: 1 & 3

West Ham: 9 & 3

Big spenders this summer:

Not many surprises there (again, amounts correct on date compiled = 11/08/2016). Will this be the Premier League table come May 2017? Sad if so... I may put a £5er on it though...

1. Man City £161.59m
2. Man Utd £157.25m
3. Liverpool £67.92m
4. Chelsea £63.58m
5. Arsenal £44.2m
6. Leicester £40.38m
7. West Ham £39.27m
8. Tottenham £31.03m
9. Bournemouth £29.84m
10. Swansea £27.4m
11. Southampton £24.23m
12. Crystal Palace £23.21m
13. Watford £21.72m
14. Everton £19.98m
15. Middlesbrough £19.3m
16. Stoke City £17.67m
17. Sunderland £14.08m
18. West Brom £5.53m
19. Burnley £3.66m
20. Hull City: £0

Total spending: £811.84

My predictions:

I will pick Tottenham as my favourites because they are the only fully settled side without any major changes nor reshuffles. 

It will be interesting to see how Sunderland will do without Big Sam, I think they will struggle, even with Moyes in charge. I name them on my relegation list with newbies Hull City, post-Steve-Bruce. Last but not least, hm... Difficult to say, but sorry, have to pick another promoted side, Burnley, but hope to be proven wrong by the Championship winners.

A little fact to back them up: Of the 71 promoted teams to play in the Premier League, 44% of them = 31 have been immediately relegated, meaning more than half stay up, the average finishing position being 15th. Thanks to the BBC for that little fact. And for MOTD. I cannot wait to see Gary Lineker in his underpants!!! 😂🙆😂🙆😂

Expect the unexpected! Let the season begin... ⚽😍⚽😘⚽😍⚽

All pictures thanks to Bing, stats and facts thanks to Wikipedia, BBC, Sky Sports and talkSPORT.