2017/2018 English Premier League match day 2 preview and predictions.

The season kicked off on a high note. Match day 1 gave us lots of talking points and a lot of things to look out for in subsequent match days. One of the major upset last week was the defeat of Frank d'boer Crystal palace by Huddersfield Town, one of the reasons we love the EPL yeah. We start off the weekend with a lunch time kick off on Saturday at the liberty Stadium.









 




Swansea VS Manchester United.
After a solid start to their campaign, the red devils will take on the swans at the Liberty Stadium in what will be the first game of the weekend. Swansea were held to a goalless draw by Southampton in their previous fixture. The two managers José Mourinho and Swansea's Paul clement, who was an academy manager at Chelsea during Mourinho first Stamford bridge spell, will be seeking a win in this one. Expectations are high for the red devils and even though only one game has been played this season, Mourinho's side are already title favorites and their display last time out looks like the good old days are not far off. The red devils thrashed WestHam 4-0 while Swansea could only manage a 0-0 draw at St.Marys.

Start time: 12:30pm.

Predicted Swansea XI: Fabianski, Naughton, F­ernandez, Mawson, Olss­on, Britton, Fer,Carro­ll,Routledge,Ayew,Ab­raham.

Predicted Man Utd  XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, B­ailly, Blind, Matic, Po­gba, Rashford, Mkhitar­yan, Martial, Lukaku.
 
Head-to-head: Man Utd:13 wins. Swansea: 10wins. 6 draws. 







AFC Bournemouth VS Watford.
Both teams will look for their first premier league win of the season when they meet at Vitality stadium. Bournemouth will be hoping to bounce back from their opening match defeat to WestBromich Albion at the Hawthorns last week. Expectations will be high going into this game, as Eddie Howe's men hoping to impress at home given their impressive home record last season. Watford dug deep to gain an unlikely draw with Liverpool last week despite going ahead twice before going 3-2 down, only to salvage a point thanks to 90th minute Miguel Bristos equaliser. The hornets will be hoping for a win and we can look forward to a potentially high scoring side.

Start time: 3pm. Saturday

Bournemouth team news:
The cherries will be without the injured Callum Wilson, Emerson, Stanislas. Asmir Begovic and Nathan Áke are expected to start. Jermain Defoe will be hoping to make his first start.

Watford Team new
s: Troy Deeney, Younes Kabul Craig are all a doubt for this one.

Prediction: Bournemouth 3-1 Watford.


Burnley VS WestBromich Albion.
The clarets will be hoping for another good game as they pulled off a shocking win over defending champions Chelsea last week, with Vokes and Stephen Ward putting the visitors 3-0 up in the first half before holding a spirited Chelsea team off in the second. Sean Dyche will be expecting a tough game from WestBrom. Despite all their failures on the road last season, Burnley more than made up for it at Turf Moor. The have an impressive record at home. Typical Tony Pulis, Albion ground out a 1-0 win at the Hawthorns last week thanks to Ahmed Hegazi header. This sort of performers has become accustomed to the Baggies since Pulis took over. They will be seeking to pick up another positive result when they visit Turf Moor.

Start time: 3pm. Saturday.
 

Head-to-head: WestBrom have Won 2, drawn 3 and lost one of their last six meetings.

Burnley team news: The only injury worries for Burnley would be Dean Marney. Jon Walters will hope to make his first start while Jack cork will be expected to start.

WestBrom team news: Jonny Evans and James Morrison are both doubtful. Hegazi will definitely start with his current form scoring on his debut appearance.

Prediction: 1-1draw.




Leicester city VS Brighton & Hove Albion. 
 

What a game Leicester had on the first match of the season on Friday night. Leicester went to the Emirates and were defeated by the genus manager Arsene Wenger, his two substitutes scored to win the game for Arsenal. Brighton &hove Albion come into this game after losing 2-0 to Manchester City at Amex stadium. Both teams will be hoping to get their first win of the season at king Power stadium this week.

Head-to-head:Both has met 16 times with Leicester winning 5 times, Brighton 7 with 4 draws.

Start time 3pm. Satutday.

Prediction Leicester to win.






Southampton VS WestHam United.

Southampton despite creating numerous chances against Swansea, they could only manage to scrap out a goalless draw at home. The Hammers will start this game at the back off a 4-0 demolition at the hands of Manchester United. The defense and attack looked disoriented on the day, with new signer Javier Hernandez falling to test De Gea. Bilic must lift the Hammers after Manchester United collapse.

Start time:3pm. Saturday.

Predicted WestHam XI:: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, O­gbonna,Antonio,Noble­, Obiang, Cresswell, Ar­nautovic, Ayew,Hernandez.

Prediction: Southampt­on to win
.




Stoke City VS Arsenal.

Stoke City lost on the road at Goodison Park, Rooney's only goal was the difference, after defeating Leicester at home last week, Arsenal faces a tough task at Bet365 Stadium where they meet Stoke City. Arsenal completed back to back victories over Mark Hugh's side last season and would be expecting the same result this season. . .

Arsenal team news: Alexis Sanchez will not be fit for Saturday's match against Stoke. Per Mertesacker, Mustafi and Coquelin returns to the squad Santi Cazorla is still injured. Koscielny is suspended after receiving a red card against Everton towards the end of last season. Ramsey & Xhaka are set to start. Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac are expected to continue.

Stoke team news:New signing Former Real Madrid star Jesse Rodriguez could play after joining from PSG. Bruno indi could start.

Head-to-head:Arsenal­ have won four of their last five premier league games against Stoke drawing one.
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Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Stoke.

Start time:5:30pm. Saturday





Liverpool VS Crystal Palace.

Liverpool will face a tricky task at Selhurst park after conceding a late goal against Watford. The Eagles however will look to get their campaign up and running after a disappointing and embarrassing loss to Huddersfield in their last fixture. Klopp will be hoping to solidified his defense frailties while Frank d'boer will be keen to rid his team of last week nightmare when they visit Anfield. Both team will want to win this game desperately to get their season up and going properly. We expect lots of goals in this one.

Head-to-head: Liverpool has won 3 out of five previous meetings. Crystal palace 2 out of 5 meetings.



Start Time : 3pm Saturday.


Huddersfield Town VS Newcastle
Premier league newcomers go ahead to head at Kirklees Stadium. These two sides will already know that a game like this, come end of the season, could be the difference between relegation and survival. Huddersfield impressed on their EPL debut defeating Crystal Palace 3-0 at Selhurst park. Newcastle, on other hand was defeated by high flying Tottenham at St.James park, after Jonjo Shelvey was shown a straight red card for a deliberate foul on Dele Alli. Rafa Benitez men will be hoping to pip Huddersfield Town to the maximum three points.

Start time: 1:30pm. Sunday.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Huddersfield.






Tottenham VS Chelsea.

This is the first London derby of the season. Tottenham will seek to make Wembley their premier league fortress on Sunday as champions Chelsea coming visiting. A spirited performance saw Tottenham defeat Newcastle with a 2-0 win. Both Dele Alli and Davis scoring. Mauricio Pochettino is yet to add a single new face to his squad despite losing Kyle Walker to Man.City. Antonio Conte's depleted squad lost to Burnley 3-2 at Stamford Bridge. Start time: 4pm. Both manager will be seeking a win to further enhance the clubs bragging right.

Predicted Spur XI: Lloris,Vertonghen,Al­derweireld,Dier,Walk­er-Peters,Wanyama,De­mbele,Davies,Eriksen­,Alli,Kane.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Courtois,Azpilicueta­,Christensen,Rudiger­, Moses,Luiz,Kante,Alo­nso, William, Batshuayi,Morata.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea.


Start Time: 4pm, Sunday. 




Manchester City VS Everton.

Monday night football. Start Time 8:00pm

Manchester City came into this season as title favourites following another summer spending spree and got off to a soild start, winning 2-0 at Brighton. Sergio Aguero and Lewis Dunk own goal giving them the victory. Pep Guardiola may feel the need to shuffle his pack in order to satisfy other stars. Everton boss Ronald Koeman was able to splash the cash during the off-season albeit largely funded by losing star striker Romelu Lukaku and he appears to have invested wisely. Signing Jordan Pickford. Michael Keane and Cuco Martina to a well-established team. Rooney scored the only goal against Stoke city to give Everton the perfect start.

Head-to-head: in the last 6 matches, two wins for Everton,2 wins for Man.City, 2 draws.

Prediction: 2-2 draw.
 

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