Alex's Predictions

The Premier League and Championship are back after the International break, and I am here with my predictions for this weekends games in the Premier League.

Manchester United vs Arsenal - Saturday 12.30PM (Sky Sports 1)

Facts

• United have lost only one of the last ten Premier League matches vs Arsenal (W6 D3) 
• Jose has never lost against Arsenal in the Premier League winning five and drawing six
• Wayne Rooney has scored 14 goals against arsenal only Aston Vila have conceded more to the United captain (15)
• There have been SIX missed penalties out of ten in this fixture at Old Trafford that is more than any other game at any venue.

Head to Head

• Matches Played: 48
• Manchester United wins: 22 (15 Home, 7 Away)
• Arsenal Wins: 12 (9 Home, 3 Away)
• Draws: 14

W

This is a tough one to call , United and Mourinho have a good record against Arsenal especially at Old Trafford in recent years, (remember 8-2?), Wenger's men have struggled at Old Trafford and I expect that to continue this week.

My Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City - Saturday 3PM


Facts

• City have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two sides losing just won in April 2015.
• City have kept clean sheets in five of the last 6 meetings with Palace
• Conner Wickham has scored 3 in 3 vs Manchester City 
• David Silva in the thorn in Palace's side scoring in the 3 last three meetings.

Head to Head

• Matches Played: 12 
• Crystal Palace Wins: 2 (2 Home, 0 Away)
• Manchester City Wins: 7 (4 Home, 3 Away)
• Draws: 3 

Last 5 Meetings

• Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace - 16th January 2016
• Crystal Palace 0-1 Manchester City - 12th September 2015
• Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester City - 6th April 2015 
• Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace - 20th December 2014
• Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City - 27th April 2014

W

I really don't understand Palace, prior to the first international break they were on a great run but after it they lost the next four. They have had an awful 2016 just wins that is awful, that is relegation form. There is pressure building on Alan Pardew. City have been inconsistent as you can see from the results above. I don't see City slipping up here it could be a tough afternoon for Palace.

My Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-3 Manchester City 

Everton v Swansea - Saturday 3PM

Facts

• Everton have failed to win any of their last four encounters with Swansea (D3 L1)
• Swansea's win at Goodison in January ended a run of 21 games without victory against Everton  (8 L13).
• Everton are unbeaten in eight at Goodison (W5 D3)

Head to Head

• Matches Played: 10
• Everton Wins: 5 (2 Home, 3 Away)
• Swansea Wins: 1 (0 Home, 1 Away)
• Draws: 4

Last 5 Meetings

• Everton 1-2 Swansea - 24th January 2016
• Swansea 0-0 Everton - 19th September 2015
• Swansea 1-1 Everton - 11th April 2015
• Everton 0-0 Swansea - 1st November 2014
• Everton 3-2 Swansea - 22nd March 2014

Both of these two teams are going through a rough patch, however, the one Swansea are going through is dire. They have won just once so far this campaign and that win seems a very long time ago. When I look at Swansea they have ideas but they lack a goalscorer and leaders. Everton are a good side and I think they will come out of this run.

My Prediction: Everton 2-0 Swansea 

Southampton vs Liverpool - Saturday 3PM


Facts

• The Saints ended a four match winless run against Liverpool in March when they beat them 3-2.
• Southampton have dropped more points from winning positions this season (8), while no team has picked up more from losing positions than Liverpool (6)
• Couthino loves his visits to St Mary's scoring in his last 3 visits to the South Coast,
• This is Liverpool's best start to a Premier League season after 11 games since 2008-09 (also 26 points). 2002-03 is the only year they have had more points after 11 games (27).

Head to Head

• Total Matches: 34
• Southampton Wins: 10 (7 Home, 3 Away)
• Liverpool Wins: 16 (9 Home, 7 Away)
• Draws: 8 

Last 5 Meetings 

Southampton 3-2 Liverpool - 20th March 2016

Liverpool 1-1 Southampton - 25th October 2015

Southampton 0-2 Liverpool - 22nd February 2015

Liverpool 2-1 Southampton - 17th August 2014

Southampton 0-3 Liverpool - 1st March 2014 

Southampton are an interesting side, they have only won one of their last six games in the league. They got completely outplayed by Chelsea and then lost at Hull which was a big surprise but yet the games before that they got a point at City. Liverpool are on fire they are the most exciting team I have watched so far this season.

My Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

Stoke vs Bournemouth - Saturday 3PM

Facts

• Stoke won both encounters last season scoring five goals with five different goal scorers. 
• Stoke had a wonderful October picking up 11 points only Chelsea (15) and Liverpool (13) picked up more points.
• Bournemouth have lost their last two Premier League matches
• Stoke have won their last two home Premier League matches they have not won three in a row since April 2014.

Head to Head

• Matches Played: 2
• Stoke Wins: 2 (1 Home, 1 Away)
• Bournemouth Wins: 0
• Draws: 0

Last 2 Meetings

Bournemouth 1-3 Stoke - 13th February 2016

Stoke 2-1 Bournemouth - 26th September 2015

Stoke are on a good run, unbeaten in their last 5 games including three wins after that awful start they had. They have got some very good players at that club and when they all click they work very well and play very well. Bournemouth are in a bit of a pickle just one win in five games, last time out against Sunderland they were very poor. 

My Prediction: Stoke 2-0 Bournemouth 

Sunderland v Hull - Saturday 3PM

Facts

• Hull are unbeaten in their last four games against Sunderland (W3 D1)
• The next goal that Jermain Defoe scores will be his 150th goal scored in the Premier League. 
• Sunderland need one more point to pass 600 in the Premier League

Head to Head

• Matches Played: 8
• Sunderland Wins: 4
• Hul Wins: 3
• Draws: 1

Last 5 Meetings

Hull 1-1 Sunderland - 3rd March 2015

Sunderland 1-3 Hull - 26th December 2014 

Sunderland 0-2 Hull - 8th February 2014

Hull 1-0 Sunderland - 2nd November 2013

Hull 0-1 Sunderland - 24 April 2010

Sunderland I think have turned a corner, they played really well last time out against Bournemouth especially when they went down to 10 men they played really, really well. That performance I think will lead them to victory here I know Hull got the win against Southampton but the loss of Michael Keane is a big one that will hit them hard.

My Prediction: Sunderland 2-0 Hull 

Watford v Leicester - Saturday 3PM

Facts

• Watford have never beaten Leicester in the Premier League 
• Leicester have won only two of their last eight visits to Watford 
• Robert Huth will become the first German to reach 300 PL appearances if he plays in this game.

Head to Head

• Matches Played: 4
• Watford Wins: 0
• Leicester Wins: 3
• Draws 1

Last 4 Meetings

Watford 0-1 Leicester - 5th March 2016
Leicester 2-1 Watford - 7th November 2015
Watford 1-1 Leicester - 12th February 2000
Leicester 1-0 Watford - 30th August 1999

This is another tough one to call, Watford are an interesting side they are learning game by game under the Walter Mazzari. They are turning in to a team to who can grind out results, the game against Liverpool was hard, they had a bad day Liverpool had a good day. Leicester are struggling at the moment, you never know if they are going to rest players for the Champions League so I'm going for a draw.

My Prediction: Watford 1-1 Leicester

Tottenham v West Ham - Saturday 5.30 PM (BT Sport)

Facts

• West Ham have won two of their last three visits to White Hart Lane
• Despite that good record The Irons have won only one of their last 14 league visits to the Lane.
• Spurs are the only unbeaten team in the league 

Head to Head

Matches Played: 40

Tottenham Wins: 19

West Ham Wins: 13

Draws: 8 

Last 5 Meetings

West Ham 1-0 Tottenham - 6 March 2016

Tottenham 4-1 West Ham - 22 November 2015

Tottenham 2-2 West Ham - 23 February 2015

West Ham 0-1 Tottenham - 16 August 2014

West Ham 2-0 Tottenham - 3 May 2014

I know Spurs have not won for a month, in the Champions League they have been disappointing, but in the league I thought they played well at Arsenal and were unlucky not to leave with all three points. West Ham have surprised me, I thought they would be a lot higher in the table. In don't see them causing any problems here.

My Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 West Ham