Week 5. 17th, October 2020
Every week I will be providing you all with my personal opinions on the next matches along with my predicted results. These opinions can change dramatically the closer we get to kick-off, but its a great place to start.
If you don´t agree with my predictions or you have heard news which may change my opinion then please let me know in the comments section, I'm always willing to listen to other people’s opinions and predictions to improve the potential return on my accumulators.
TEAM NEWS
Everton are monitoring the fitness of Lucas Digne, who suffered a minor knee injury on international duty.
Seamus Coleman, Allan, and Andre Gomes all returned to training this week and are under consideration but Mason Holgate continues to be absent.
Liverpool remain without goalkeeper Alisson so Adrian will again deputise.
Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara are set to return after self-isolating because
of positive coronavirus tests, while Joel Matip is back in training.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
·
Liverpool are on a club-record run of 22 unbeaten matches in all competitions
versus Everton (W11, D11).
·
Seven of the past eight league derbies at Goodison Park have ended in
draws. Liverpool won the other match.
·
The last three derbies hosted by Everton have finished goalless.
·
Everton are without a home league goal against their Merseyside
neighbors in six hours and 45 minutes.
· Liverpool are on a club-record run of 22 unbeaten matches in all competitions versus Everton (W11, D11).
· Seven of the past eight league derbies at Goodison Park have ended in draws. Liverpool won the other match.
· The last three derbies hosted by Everton have finished goalless.
·
Everton are without a home league goal against their Merseyside
neighbors in six hours and 45 minutes.
Everton
·
This is the first Merseyside league derby with Everton starting top of
the table since September 1989.
·
Everton are looking to win their opening five league games for the first
time since 1938-39. They beat reigning top-flight champions Arsenal in their
fifth match that season.
·
A league-high 13 goals have been scored in just two games at Goodison
Park this term.
·
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored nine goals in six appearances for
Everton in all competitions this season.
·
No player in Europe's elite five divisions has scored more.
·
Teams managed by Carlo Ancelotti have kept a clean sheet in five of
their six competitive home matches against Liverpool (W4, D1, L1).
Liverpool
·
Liverpool have lost four of their past eight away league games, as many
as in their previous 46 away fixtures.
·
The Reds could suffer consecutive league defeats for the first time
since September 2015.
·
Liverpool have conceded 23 goals since June's Premier League resumption.
Only Crystal Palace (25) and Brighton (24) have let in more over this period.
·
Mohamed Salah has scored 99 goals in 158 games for Liverpool in all
competitions and is looking to become the 17th player to reach a century of
goals for the club.
·
Klopp is unbeaten in his 11 Merseyside derbies as Liverpool manager in
all competitions (W7, D4).
Everton
· This is the first Merseyside league derby with Everton starting top of the table since September 1989.
· Everton are looking to win their opening five league games for the first time since 1938-39. They beat reigning top-flight champions Arsenal in their fifth match that season.
·
A league-high 13 goals have been scored in just two games at Goodison
Park this term.
· Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored nine goals in six appearances for Everton in all competitions this season.
· No player in Europe's elite five divisions has scored more.
· Teams managed by Carlo Ancelotti have kept a clean sheet in five of their six competitive home matches against Liverpool (W4, D1, L1).
Liverpool
· Liverpool have lost four of their past eight away league games, as many as in their previous 46 away fixtures.
·
The Reds could suffer consecutive league defeats for the first time
since September 2015.
· Liverpool have conceded 23 goals since June's Premier League resumption. Only Crystal Palace (25) and Brighton (24) have let in more over this period.
· Mohamed Salah has scored 99 goals in 158 games for Liverpool in all competitions and is looking to become the 17th player to reach a century of goals for the club.
· Klopp is unbeaten in his 11 Merseyside derbies as Liverpool manager in all competitions (W7, D4).
Prediction
I don't think I have ever seen so much anticipation for a Merseyside derby in my 40years of watching. True Everton have got off to an absolute flyer this year whereas the previously unbeatable Liverpool have stumbled at the block in what Klopp has called a useful defeat.
I believe that on occasions like this it's easy to overthink the outcome so I´m going to draw from these clubs' long history and predict the most common outcome for a derby.
My Prediction 1-1
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea will be sweating over their two summer signings Mendy (thigh) and Chilwell (foot) both picked up whilst away on international duty.
Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech are both available after injury, but will they get a place on the team? In fact, Lampard seems to have the problem that every manager dreams of, good quality players all fighting for a place on the pitch.
Southampton by contrast are going to have to do some rearranging, with Stuart Armstrong testing positive for Covid it looks like Theo Walcott could take his place having arrived on deadline day.
Ings
is fit and Nathan Redmond looks set to start his first game of the season.
Prediction
I've got a feeling there will be goals involved in this one.
Although Southampton have been tight at the back in their last couple of games
and Chelsea were relieved to keep a clean sheet in there last, after the three
they let in against West Brom.
Both sides have the firepower and the keepers to make this one tasty
My Prediction 3-1
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal could hand a debut to deadline day purchase Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a slight injury last week but was pictured in training this week, so could fixture.
Kieran Tierney, has had to self-isolate after coming into close contact with a COVID-positive teammate on international duty.
Man City will be missing the usual suspects from this season:
Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero, and Oleksandr
Zinchenko with possible additions of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne
who will be fitting to be fit all the way to the whistle.
Prediction
This is another great game this weekend, we really are spoilt. Arsenal have had a good start and will be hard for City to breakdown, but going forward I don´t feel Arsenal have enough options to stretch the City defense.
My Prediction 2-0
TEAM NEWS
Newcastle's
Jamal Lewis is fit despite missing Northern Ireland's last game.
Manchester
United are without the suspended Anthony Martial, while Harry Maguire is doubtful
after suffering a minor injury on England duty or he’s being rested?.
Edinson Cavani is in quarantine after his move to
England and is unavailable.
Fellow deadline-day signing Alex Telles is in
contention for his debut, while Donny van de Beek could start his first Premier
League game since joining from Ajax.
Prediction
Newcastle are playing well and will make life very tough for United. Even thou ManU have been shipping goals left right and center they have been free-flowing at the other end.
As the story has been since the start of the season I believe we are going to see plenty of goals.
My Prediction 2-3
|
SATURDAY |
Result |
Prediction |
|
|
Everton v Liverpool |
2-2 |
1-1 |
|
|
Chelsea v Southampton |
3-3 |
3-1 |
|
|
Man City v Arsenal |
1-0 |
2-0 |
|
|
Newcastle v Man
Utd |
1-4 |
2-3 |
