Matchweek 14 has only just finished, and already it’s time for The Big Kick Off to bring you our Premier League match predictions for week 15.
The Premier League welcomes another new manager this weekend as Ralf Rangnick finally takes his place in the Old Trafford dugout this weekend.
The experienced German has been handed a slightly better card than he must have originally been expecting, as United have picked up 4 points from their last two matches.
The much-improved performances are testimony to the good work carried out by Michael Carrick, and it’s a shame the former United player didn’t stay on at the club and continue his good work.
No change at Top of Premier League Table
It’s as you were at the top of the Premier League with all of the three title contenders winning.
Liverpool was by far the most impressive midweek winners of the top 3. They simply blew Everton away in the first 20 minutes of the match, and at that stage, it threatened to be a complete demolition derby…… pardon the pun!
A lot might think that their 4-1 win over Everton was large enough. But I honestly think Everton got off lightly.
If the match had carried on in the same manner as it started after that first 20 minutes, we would have been looking more at a repeat of the Southampton v Leicester 9-0 match from a couple of years back…… and that would have been curtains for Rafa!
Elsewhere, by all accounts, Chelsea was lucky to leave Vicarage Road with all 3 points. And Man City had to hold off a brave Aston Villa fight back to leave the West Midlands with all 3 points.
So how does that impact the latest football betting to win the Premier League?
- Man City 4/6 (1.66)
- Chelsea 11/4 (3.75)
- Liverpool 7/2 (4.50)
- Man Utd 125/1 (126.0)
- Arsenal 200/1 (201.0)
- Spurs 250/1 (251.0)
- West Ham 500/1 (501.0)
Well, starting with City and they have slightly drifted from 4/7 (1.57) to 4/6 (1.66).
Also drifting slightly are Chelsea, who have gone from 13/5 (3.60) to 11/4 (3.75).
And the season for these drifts in the betting? Simple – Liverpool. Klopp’s Reds have been cut, resulting in the other two team’s odds drifting.
Liverpool went into the Derby at 4/1 (5.0), and they have now been slashed in to 7/2 (4.5).
Right, now let’s look at the fixtures for Matchweek 15.
Matchweek 15 Premier League Predictions
West Ham v Chelsea – Sat 12.30pm
The opening weekend fixture is a feisty-looking London Derby with both teams slightly off the boil of late.
In the case of West Ham, they are more than slightly off the boil, they haven’t won in their last three matches now.
As for Chelsea, they dropped points at home to Manchester United last Sunday and then struggled to beat Watford on Wednesday.
I’m going for the Blues to ensure it’s four without a win for the Hammers, as I think Tuchel’s men will edge this match.
- Verdict – CHELSEA WIN
Newcastle v Burnley – Sat 3pm
I’m now sick of predicting Newcastle wins, this probably goes some way to explaining why I get half of these predictions wrong most weeks!
Is this the day that they finally win?
The Toon did do extremely well to get a draw on Tuesday having to play over 80 minutes with just 10 men, but it’s ultimately got to go down as another 2 points dropped.
As for Burnley, they are now five unbeaten in the Premier League.
Their problem seems to be converting draws into wins though. Dyche’s team has drawn four of the five matches they’re unbeaten in.
I can see this being another draw.
- Verdict – DRAW
Southampton v Brighton – Sat 3pm
The Saints are another side who are hard to predict.
At home, they’ve only lost once this season, and that seems to be a fact often overlooked.
On Saturday they host Brighton, who are fast becoming draw specialists.
Stats are funny and can sometimes be presented in a way that suits your argument.
On one hand, Graham Potter’s team has only lost two of their last eleven Premier League matches. Impressive? I think so.
On the flip side, the Seagulls haven’t won any of their last nine. A winless run that dates back to the 19th of September.
I think this may be another draw as well.
- Verdict – DRAW
Wolves v Liverpool – 3pm Sat
I have sung the praises of Wolves quite a bit recently, but they now have just one win in their last four. Those bloody stats again!
Included in that run are successive draws against Burnley and Norwich.
With Liverpool on the horizon, I think you need to be winning at least one of those.
I don’t expect to see the Reds running riot again this weekend, but I still can’t see anything other than a Liverpool win.
Albeit, a lot more difficult than Wednesday’s 3 points!
- Verdict – LIVERPOOL WIN
Watford v Man City – Sat 5.30pm
Any regular readers will know I might have stuck the boot in Watford a touch lately, and with good reason, I believe.
They did impress me against Chelsea on Wednesday night though.
Claudio Ranieri seems to have got them playing a bit, and they have now given both Man Utd and Chelsea a game in recent weeks.
But can they really raise their game again? And this time against Man City!!!
I don’t think they can, and I expect City to be comfortable winners on Saturday.
- Verdict – MAN CITY WIN
Leeds v Brentford – Sun 2pm
An exceptional chance for Leeds to register back-to-back wins for the first time this season. It’s also a great chance for Leeds to put real daylight between themselves and the bottom three.
Can they do it though?
Even though Brentford hasn’t been bad this season, they are now finding out the Premier League can be a very unrewarding place.
The Bees weren’t bad against Spurs on Thursday but still left empty-handed.
It will happen to them again this season.
I’m far from convinced by Leeds this season, but with Raphinha on their side, they always have a chance.
- Verdict – LEEDS WIN
Man Utd v Crystal Palace – Sun 2pm
We’ve already seen an improvement in United’s performances since the sacking of Ole.
And I suspect that with Ralf Rangnick finally in the dugout, the players will be keen to up their games further.
Palace has had a slight dip in form since the international break. They’ve not won in three now, and that’s in matches against Burnley, Villa, and Leeds.
I suspect it will be four matches without a win by Sunday evening.
- Verdict – MAN UTD WIN
Tottenham v Norwich – Sun 2pm
Hasn’t the fixture list been kind to Spurs lately! First, Leeds at home, then Brentford at home, and now Norwich at home.
They were even helped by the weather when their tricky looking away trip to Burnley got called off last Sunday!
Sometimes you need a bit of luck, and Spurs are certainly having it.
Norwich is now four unbeaten and probably would have taken a point at St James’ Park, if offered pre-kick-off.
But after the events of the night, the 1-1 draw must now feel like 2 points dropped.
I expect their little unbeaten run to come to an end on Sunday.
- Verdict – SPURS WIN
Aston Villa v Leicester – Sun 4.30pm
The final match on Sunday is a bit of a Liverpool reunion.
Gerrard’s Villa takes on Rodgers’ Leicester, in an intriguing clash at Villa Park.
Villa’s little winning run under Gerrard was brought to a halt by Man City on Wednesday. Although, Villa did push Pep’s men all the way.
As for Leicester, I’m sure they will see Wednesday’s 2-2 draw away to Southampton as 2 points dropped. Especially, given Jamie Vardy’s miss late on.
Hard one to call this, and I feel both managers will be happy with a point each.
- Verdict – DRAW
Everton v Arsenal – Mon 8pm
The final fixture of the weekend is on Monday night this week, and it’s Rafa’s struggling Everton against Arteta’s stuttering Gunners.
I say stuttering Gunners, as they’ve lost two of their last three.
You might say they were away to Liverpool and Man Utd, so it’s harsh to criticise.
But this is Arsenal, they’re not supposed to get hammered by Liverpool and routinely beaten by United… and most of the top four or five sides in general.
They can get themselves back to winning ways at Goodison Park though.
Yes, Everton rallied and mounted a bit of a comeback against Liverpool on Wednesday. But the truth is, they were lucky to just lose 4-1.
If the crowd is behind the team on Monday, I can see them causing Everton problems.
The issue is that the situation seems to have now already turned toxic. In hindsight, the 1-0 defeat to Brentford was probably the day Rafa’s fate was sealed.
A defeat to Liverpool was a given, losing to Brentford certainly wasn’t in the script.
- Verdict – ARSENAL WIN
This article is written by Dean Etheridge, you contact him on LinkedIn, or see more of his work on his football betting website.