⛅️ Friday Forecast: A London derby, tricky for Liverpool, easy W for City? | OneFootball

After we were treated to a round of midweek action, the games keep coming thick and fast in the Premier League this weekend.

It’s time for some predictions.

Game of the weekend 💪

West Ham v Chelsea

If you stopped people on the streets of England’s capital and asked them to name their favourite London derby, the so-called ‘District Line derby’ between West Ham and Chelsea probably wouldn’t be top of many lists.

But Saturday’s early kick-off at the London Stadium has the potential to be a very interesting game.

Thomas Tuchel admitted Chelsea were fortunate to win away at Watford in midweek and he will know that if they phone it in again this weekend, they might not be so lucky.

West Ham’s win over Liverpool before the international break prompted excitable talk of an unexpected title challenge in some quarters, but defeats to Wolves and Manchester City and Wednesday’s draw with Brighton have brought those giddy goats back into earth’s orbit.

David Moyes will be telling his side to show no fear against Chelsea this weekend though, and it is a derby after all.

📊 Fun fact: Chelsea have won their last seven away London derbies in the Premier League, an all-time record in the top four tiers of English football.

🔮 Our prediction: West Ham 2-2 Chelsea

Potential upset 😨

Wolves v Liverpool

For all of Everton’s woes, Liverpool were nothing short of sensational in their Merseyside derby demolition on Wednesday and they are very strong contenders in what is becoming a fascinating title race.

But a trip to Molineux is never the easiest of assignments and Wolves are defending pretty flawlessly at the moment, having kept three clean sheets in their last three matches.

The problem for Bruno Lage’s side is that they aren’t scoring many goals though, and goalless draws with Norwich and Burnley in their last two games mean Liverpool should be confident about their chances of getting something here.

Wolves will probably look to soak up pressure and pounce on the break, and it might just work.

📊 Fun fact: Wolves have beaten Liverpool just once in 14 Premier League meetings, and it came at Anfield.

🔮 Our prediction: Wolves 2-1 Liverpool

Big favourites 👍

Watford v Manchester City

When the fixtures came out in the summer, Watford fans will have earmarked their run of games against Arsenal, Manchester United, Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester City as a storm they would do well to weather.

They’ve so far taken three points from a possible 12 and have arguably the toughest test of them all still to come when they welcome the champions to Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Claudio Ranieri’s side weren’t bad against Chelsea in midweek and Emmanuel Dennis has emerged as one of the season’s surprise packages in recent weeks.

But unless City are feeling leggy after their hard-fought win at Villa Park in midweek, this should really be another W for Pep Guardiola’s men.

📊 Fun fact: Watford have never beaten City in the Premier League, losing their last 10 against them by an aggregate score of 37-4.

🔮 Our prediction: Watford 1-3 Manchester City

Too close to call 🤔

Newcastle v Burnley

Tuesday’s game against Norwich was billed as a must-win for Newcastle but Ciaran Clark’s early red card meant they did well to come out with a draw in the end.

There are undoubtedly some very small signs of progress being shown under Eddie Howe but it will count for nothing if they don’t start winning soon, and splashing the cash in January might be difficult the further they sink into the relegation mire.

This weekend’s meeting with Burnley at St James’ Park has to be viewed as a good opportunity for the Magpies to get their first win of the season, but the Clarets are no pushovers and Sean Dyche will no doubt relish the opportunity to pile more misery on the locals.

📊 Fun fact: Newcastle are winless in their last 15 games in all competitions – only once have they ever had a longer run without a win in their history, going 23 barren matches between January and August 1978.

🔮 Our prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Burnley

🔥 Your Fantasy Football captain should be …

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

For no other reason than the goal he scored at Villa Park the other night was exactly the type of goal we’ve long fantasised about scoring, Bernardo deserves the armband in your FPL team this weekend. He won’t let you down.

Other predictions