Michael Owen’s Premier League predictions, including Swansea City v Manchester United and Stoke City v Arsenal
Swansea v Manchester United
I was impressed with United against West Ham on Sunday but they need to back it up against a Swansea side who didn’t have a shot on target at St Mary’s on Matchday One, and may have been a shade fortunate to come away with a point.
Romelu Lukaku scored twice on his Premier League debut for Man Utd (Picture: Getty)
The Swans have never kept a clean sheet in their 12 previous Premier League games against the Red Devils and Jose Mourinho’s side were irresistible at times against the Hammers at Old Trafford. Swansea will take heart from the fact that they have lost just once in their last eight Premier League games at the Liberty Stadium, but I was not surprised to see BetVictor trim United from 7/2 to 11/4 for the title in the aftermath of the opening weekend of the campaign.
Results in the Spanish Super Cup over the last few days have put into some perspective United’s own 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in Skopje last week.
Bournemouth v Watford
All four games between these clubs in the Premier League have finished in a draw and it would be no surprise if the points were shared again at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. Watford lost their last seven away games in the Premier League last season, but that wasn’t under new coach Marco Silva and I expect the Hornets to get something from their visit to the south coast.
Burnley v West Brom
Excellent results for both sides last weekend and it must have been hard for the Clarets players to come down from what was an incredible high after their result at Stamford Bridge. West Brom have added the experience of Gareth Barry to their ranks this week and I think the Baggies, as they have done in their two previous Premier League visits to Turf Moor, will take a point.
Leicester City v Brighton
Leicester won five of their seven home games under Craig Shakespeare last season and they are a confident selection to keep all three points against a Brighton side who were outclassed by Manchester City at the Amex last weekend.
The Foxes played their part in a terrific game at the Emirates, which got the season off to a flying start, but they know this is a game they cannot afford to drop points from.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
The Eagles have won their last three at Anfield in the Premier League, but their confidence must have taken a knock following their loss to newly-promoted Huddersfield Town at Selhurst Park last Saturday. New Eagles Coach Frank De Boer must do without Wilfried Zaha through injury against the Reds and it could be a long afternoon for Palace at Anfield.
Liverpool may be without Sadio Mane this weekend (Picture: Getty)
Both sides have found the back of the net in the last 10 competitive games between the sides and I expect to see goals at Anfield this weekend – especially for the Reds.
Southampton v West Ham
Southampton had 29 shots at goal in their goalless draw against Swansea last weekend and they will be looking for better luck in front of goal against the Hammers. This is the second of four successive home games Saints have to start the new campaign, and I think they will edge what should be an entertaining game.
Stoke City v Arsenal
Arsenal needed a last minute winner to beat Leicester last weekend (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal have won four of their last five Premier League games against the Potters and I think they can add to that tally in the late kick off on Saturday. Olivier Giroud’s excellent winning goal against Leicester was his 99th in an Arsenal shirt and I think the Gunners will have too much in the attacking third for Mark Hughes’s side who posed little as an attacking threat at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United
Hard to know what to say about Jonjo Shelvey’s latest red card against Spurs last weekend other than he let himself and his teammates down. He needs to have a good hard look at himself before he puts on the famous black and white shirt again.
The Terriers could not have dreamt of a better start to their first Premier League season, but they may have to settle for a point against the Magpies who were well in the game against Spurs at St James’s Park until they went down to ten men.
Tottenham v Chelsea
The first-ever Premier League game played at Wembley Stadium and it will be impossible for Spurs to improve on their remarkable unbeaten home record last season at White Hart Lane. Indeed, Spurs have won 14 home Premier League games on the spin and will break their club record if they can beat the Champions on Sunday.
Spurs will hope to inflict more pain on Antonio Conte this weekend (Picture: Getty)
Antonio Conte will have to do without both Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas through suspension and, make no mistake, this is a huge game for both clubs even at this early stage of the season.
Spurs have only won one of their last nine games at Wembley – but I expect them to double that tally with Harry Kane taken to score his 100th goal for Spurs.
Manchester City v Everton
Wayne Rooney’s last away game for Everton in the Premier League was a 5-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium but Wayne’s headed goal against Stoke last weekend was his 199th in the Premier League. His next goal will make him only the second player behind Alan Shearer to reach the 200 landmark and that puts into some perspective what a player he has been.
Everton smashed their transfer record this summer with a stunning deal for Gylfi Sigurdsson (Picture: Everton)
The Blues were in Europa League action on Thursday and must play their second leg in Croatia only 72 hours after their trip to a City side who were not at their brilliant best when making heavy weather of breaking down Brighton on Matchday One. I expect to see a number of goals in the final game of the weekend.
I was impressed with United against West Ham on Sunday but they need to back it up against a Swansea side who didn’t have a shot on target at St Mary’s on Matchday One, and may have been a shade fortunate to come away with a point.
Romelu Lukaku scored twice on his Premier League debut for Man Utd (Picture: Getty)The Swans have never kept a clean sheet in their 12 previous Premier League games against the Red Devils and Jose Mourinho’s side were irresistible at times against the Hammers at Old Trafford. Swansea will take heart from the fact that they have lost just once in their last eight Premier League games at the Liberty Stadium, but I was not surprised to see BetVictor trim United from 7/2 to 11/4 for the title in the aftermath of the opening weekend of the campaign.
Results in the Spanish Super Cup over the last few days have put into some perspective United’s own 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in Skopje last week.
Bournemouth v Watford
All four games between these clubs in the Premier League have finished in a draw and it would be no surprise if the points were shared again at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. Watford lost their last seven away games in the Premier League last season, but that wasn’t under new coach Marco Silva and I expect the Hornets to get something from their visit to the south coast.
Burnley v West Brom
Excellent results for both sides last weekend and it must have been hard for the Clarets players to come down from what was an incredible high after their result at Stamford Bridge. West Brom have added the experience of Gareth Barry to their ranks this week and I think the Baggies, as they have done in their two previous Premier League visits to Turf Moor, will take a point.
Leicester City v Brighton
Leicester won five of their seven home games under Craig Shakespeare last season and they are a confident selection to keep all three points against a Brighton side who were outclassed by Manchester City at the Amex last weekend.
The Foxes played their part in a terrific game at the Emirates, which got the season off to a flying start, but they know this is a game they cannot afford to drop points from.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
The Eagles have won their last three at Anfield in the Premier League, but their confidence must have taken a knock following their loss to newly-promoted Huddersfield Town at Selhurst Park last Saturday. New Eagles Coach Frank De Boer must do without Wilfried Zaha through injury against the Reds and it could be a long afternoon for Palace at Anfield.
Liverpool may be without Sadio Mane this weekend (Picture: Getty)Both sides have found the back of the net in the last 10 competitive games between the sides and I expect to see goals at Anfield this weekend – especially for the Reds.
Southampton v West Ham
Southampton had 29 shots at goal in their goalless draw against Swansea last weekend and they will be looking for better luck in front of goal against the Hammers. This is the second of four successive home games Saints have to start the new campaign, and I think they will edge what should be an entertaining game.
Stoke City v Arsenal
Arsenal needed a last minute winner to beat Leicester last weekend (Picture: Getty)Arsenal have won four of their last five Premier League games against the Potters and I think they can add to that tally in the late kick off on Saturday. Olivier Giroud’s excellent winning goal against Leicester was his 99th in an Arsenal shirt and I think the Gunners will have too much in the attacking third for Mark Hughes’s side who posed little as an attacking threat at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United
Hard to know what to say about Jonjo Shelvey’s latest red card against Spurs last weekend other than he let himself and his teammates down. He needs to have a good hard look at himself before he puts on the famous black and white shirt again.
The Terriers could not have dreamt of a better start to their first Premier League season, but they may have to settle for a point against the Magpies who were well in the game against Spurs at St James’s Park until they went down to ten men.
Tottenham v Chelsea
The first-ever Premier League game played at Wembley Stadium and it will be impossible for Spurs to improve on their remarkable unbeaten home record last season at White Hart Lane. Indeed, Spurs have won 14 home Premier League games on the spin and will break their club record if they can beat the Champions on Sunday.
Spurs will hope to inflict more pain on Antonio Conte this weekend (Picture: Getty)Antonio Conte will have to do without both Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas through suspension and, make no mistake, this is a huge game for both clubs even at this early stage of the season.
Spurs have only won one of their last nine games at Wembley – but I expect them to double that tally with Harry Kane taken to score his 100th goal for Spurs.
Manchester City v Everton
Wayne Rooney’s last away game for Everton in the Premier League was a 5-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium but Wayne’s headed goal against Stoke last weekend was his 199th in the Premier League. His next goal will make him only the second player behind Alan Shearer to reach the 200 landmark and that puts into some perspective what a player he has been.
Everton smashed their transfer record this summer with a stunning deal for Gylfi Sigurdsson (Picture: Everton)The Blues were in Europa League action on Thursday and must play their second leg in Croatia only 72 hours after their trip to a City side who were not at their brilliant best when making heavy weather of breaking down Brighton on Matchday One. I expect to see a number of goals in the final game of the weekend.
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