⛅️ Friday Forecast: Pressure as Man Utd host Liverpool, upset for Chelsea? | OneFootball

It’s nearly time for round three of the 2022/23 Premier League season, and you should be very excited.

But first, it’s predictions time.

💪 Game of the weekend

Manchester United v Liverpool

We have to wait all the way until Monday night for biggest game of the weekend, but good things come to those who wait.

The two biggest clubs in English football will thrash it out under the lights at Old Trafford, and both will be aiming to get their disappointing starts to the season on track.

Manchester United fans probably thought they’d hit rock bottom with that opening weekend defeat to Brighton, but somehow Erik ten Hag’s new side dug themselves even deeper into the mire in last weekend’s jaw-dropping defeat at Brentford.

Many fear another bloodbath when Liverpool’s high press comes to town, but Jürgen Klopp’s men are yet to find their biting point this season having begun with disappointing draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace.

The visitors will be without the suspended Darwin Núñez, but they haven’t done too badly without him in the past and will pose a huge test for United as pressure builds on Ten Hag to show what he’s made of.

📊 Fun fact: Manchester United have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Liverpool and are winless in eight since a 2-1 win in March 2018.

🔮 Our prediction: Manchester United 1-3 Liverpool

😨 Potential upset

Leeds v Chelsea

Everything was going wonderfully for Chelsea until they conceded a 96th-minute equaliser against Tottenham last weekend, then all hell broke loose.

Whether you agree with Thomas Tuchel’s criticism of some questionable refereeing is a matter of opinion, but there’s no doubt the Blues boss’s spat with Antonio Conte stemmed from frustration at what was so nearly a very good three points.

It was a similar story for Leeds last weekend, although, unlike against Wolves the week before, Jesse Marsch managed to avoid getting into a touchline tiff with his opposite number.

The Whites were 2-0 up at Southampton and cruising towards a 100% start to the season, only to concede two goals in the last 20 minutes and throw two points away.

But Marsch’s men have shown some encouraging signs so far and buoyed by their home support, they could cause Chelsea plenty of problems on Sunday.

📊 Fun fact: Chelsea won 3-0 at Elland Road last season but have never won consecutive away league visits to Leeds in their entire history.

🔮 Our prediction: Leeds 2-1 Chelsea

👍 Big favourites

Bournemouth v Arsenal

Cast your mind back to this time last year and the mood around Arsenal was remarkably different.

Having begun last season with defeats to Brentford and Chelsea, the club was in disarray with fans calling for manager Mikel Arteta to go, and those calls got even louder when they were beaten 5-0 by Manchester City on matchday three.

But two wins at the start of this season have caused quite the buzz around N5 and it’s not just the results making Gunners fans dream again.

Gabriel Jesus was particularly excellent against Leicester last weekend and the players around him are performing at a really high level too, they will be aiming to take that momentum into Saturday’s trip to the Vitality Stadium.

Hosts Bournemouth began their season with a good win over Aston Villa but looked understandably overawed when facing Manchester City last week, and their biggest hope this weekend is that home advantage helps level the playing field.

It could be another afternoon of perspiration for Cherries boss Scott Parker, especially if he wears that cardigan again.

📊 Fun fact: Arsenal are looking to win all of their opening three Premier League fixtures for the first time since 2004/05.

🔮 Our prediction: Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal

🤔 Too close to call

Newcastle v Manchester City

Two wins, six goals scored and none conceded would suggest business as usual for Manchester City, but they have a potentially tricky game coming their way this weekend.

Having done some solid business in the summer transfer window, Newcastle have started this season how they finished the last one: playing well and picking up points.

On Sunday they welcome the champions to St James’ Park, and it’s a free hit. Few people will be expecting them to win, but with the Toon Army roaring them on, it’s a good chance to take a big scalp and send out a message to the rest of the league.

Bournemouth restricted City striker Erling Haaland to just eight touches last weekend and the Magpies will be hoping for similar.

But focus too much on the big man at your peril because as they showed in that game, City’s other stars can and will hurt you.

📊 Fun fact: Manchester City have scored in each of their last 27 Premier League games against Newcastle – the longest scoring streak one team has had against another in the history of the competition.

🔮 Our prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City

🔥 Your Fantasy Football captain should be …

Harry Kane (Tottenham v Wolves)

He didn’t score in Tottenham’s opening day victory against Southampton and had a poor game by his standards against Chelsea last weekend, but it was the England captain who popped up with the late equaliser at Stamford Bridge.

That goal means Kane doesn’t have to worry about a return to the days when he couldn’t score goals in August and when scores one, more goals tend to follow.

He only needs one more to move past Sergio Agüero and up to fourth on the Premier League’s all-time top scorers list, and we’re backing him to get it when Spurs host Wolves in Saturday’s early kick-off.

📊 Fun fact: Tottenham have scored 999 home Premier League goals and could become the fifth team to score 1,000 on home soil, after Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

🔮 Our prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Wolves

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