Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: Premier League GW13 Predictions & Analysis

Gyökeres Returning

Obviously, the shape of the team will be different. Against Spurs, they kind of played two number 10s, didn’t they, with Eze as well? You’ve got more of a focal point with him back, and you can play down those channels because he does make good runs.

So, he’s coming back at a good time, obviously, with Bayern Munich tonight. So, Arteta will want to change things just a little bit, I think, keep some freshness there. And Gyökeres coming back will give him that if he’s ready.

Title Clash Thoughts

Chelsea got a great win last night, didn’t they? And beat Burnley last time out in the league. So that’ll be an interesting one. It’ll be interesting to gauge where Chelsea are at.

I don’t see them as title contenders, but who knows? They’ll be gaining in confidence, especially after beating Barcelona. So it’d be a good one. I still see Arsenal as coming out as probably narrow winners.

Prediction

I’ve got Arsenal to win 2-1.

Chelsea 1 – 2 Arsenal

Leeds’ Tough Run

Tough games, really tough for Leeds. And also, when you think of West Ham and Nottingham Forest, they’re both improving under Nuno and Sean Dyche. You just see them easing up the table a few places, which makes it more difficult for Leeds. It’s an unforgiving league, and it was always going to be tough for them given the squad that they’ve got, and that’s how it’s turning out.

I think players like Dan James, Gnonto, coming back into it, need to cause problems. Who’s going to put the ball in the net? They haven’t got too many candidates, but they’ve just got to give it a go.

Bielsa Return Speculation

He was an icon up there, wasn’t he, for a time, with the football that he played, this 100-mile-an-hour stuff. Whether he would come back, I don’t know. And I don’t know how the Leeds hierarchy is thinking about Daniel Farke. They certainly don’t want to get detached at the bottom.

But have they got any money to spend in January? Can he be given some? Or would they think a new manager would be better suited to having the funds? They’re not detached at the moment, but they’re kind of in that pack at the bottom. But there’s always a danger coming towards Christmas that there could be more of a gap.

Prediction

Man City, you would imagine, will have far too much at home, although they’ve been conceding chances. They certainly did at Newcastle, then they got beaten at home in the week by Leverkusen. But I think Haaland had a rest. He’ll be back and anxious to get back on the score sheet. So, 3-0 to City.

Manchester City 3 – 0 Leeds

Newcastle’s Form

I think the City win can turn Newcastle’s form around. As I said, I was up there for it, and it was a brilliant atmosphere. The home form hasn’t been a problem, but I think this could kind of kick them on to better, more consistent and be better away from home because it’s been a bit of a mystery how they’ve been below standard on their travels.

I know they lost to Marseille last night, but I think they can kick on a little bit now. They’ve got the midfield functioning. They’ve got Harvey Barnes playing really well. So they’ll be hoping they can change that away form.

Harvey Barnes and England

It’s an interesting one. If he keeps on scoring, certainly Thomas Tuchel’s going to have his head turned, you’d imagine. And you look at the alternatives. Anthony Gordon, of course, is his clubmate, who has been out and not been in the greatest of form this season. Rashford, another candidate on the left.

But I don’t think he should jump into pinning his colours on the Scotland mast just yet. There might be a chance for him because Grealish looks out of the picture. So if he keeps on scoring, he might have a chance.

Sometimes you do get ahead of these tournaments, get somebody that makes a late run, don’t you? And although they haven’t been involved, all of a sudden, they’re going to the World Cup.

Ivan Toney Everton Rumours

It sounds like Toney is going to come back. I think he wants to get a place in the World Cup. I’d heard West Ham were very interested as well. So, there might be one or two wanting to get him back, probably on loan. Everton have got Beto, they’ve got Barry, who David Moyes has been trying to give a run of games to. He said before the Man United game, he wants to try and get his sharpness up and get him scoring goals.

So they’ve got a couple of centre-forwards. So whether they would want to get another one in, I don’t know. As things stand, they look okay. But certainly, Ivan Toney, watch this space for him, I think, because I think he’d probably come back to the Premier League maybe in January.

Prediction

I think we’ll probably see a turnaround in Newcastle’s away form. Fairly close game. 2-1 to Newcastle.

Everton 1 – 2 Newcastle

Mo Salah Situation

It’s a big call, isn’t it, to drop Salah? But there’s a case for it. He hasn’t got too many alternatives on the right-hand side there. You’re wondering whether Ekitike could play off the right and get him in the same team as Isak that way. Because that’s a problem. Those two expensive forwards, can you get them both playing together?

You’re just hoping Salah can come good, but there’s not much sign of it at the moment. Plus, he’ll be off to the AFCON in the middle of December. That might be an opportunity for somebody to stake a claim.

Slot’s Position

Having won the league, you’d think he’s got a lot of credit in the bank. Surprisingly, quite a few fans seem to be turning, and it’s not like Liverpool fans, but that Forest defeat seemed to tip some over the edge. And if they keep losing, the hierarchy, I suppose, will have to look at it.

I was amazed when Claudio Ranieri got dumped after Leicester won the league. So, a similar situation, I suppose, in a way. But I think he’s still got goodwill in the bank, and they’ll be looking beyond Christmas just to hope things get better.

Prediction

Nuno’s doing well at West Ham. Some points on the board. I think it might be quite tight. 1-1 I’ll go for.

West Ham 1 – 1 Liverpool

AFCON Departures

It is a blow. I suppose when you bring in these boys, you have to accept that you are going to lose them. And I was just looking at the line-up for the last game, and there were three who started, who look like going to the AFCON. There are a lot of players they’re going to lose. It’s not easy to get past that, really. But he’ll have to try.

Sunderland, you’d expect them just to gradually slip down that table, and that’s going to happen, I think. But they don’t want it to happen too quickly while those players are away.

Prediction

Sunderland’s strong at home. I’ll go 2-2. Bournemouth had a 2-2 against West Ham, didn’t they? But yeah, I’ll go 2-2.

Sunderland 2 – 2 Bournemouth

Amorim’s Progress

He’s a long way away from finding consistency, isn’t he? They’ve taken a couple of steps forward and about six back, just in one game, I thought. Because, yet again, he is inflexible in changing his system. He didn’t seem to be able to think on his feet. And the alarm bells would be ringing with that.

I think tactically, he has been found wanting at times. So that was a damaging defeat, it really was. An embarrassing one as well. And you can’t afford for that kind of performance to continue. You thought things were getting better. But that’s really set them back.

Amad and Mainoo

Amad’s a talent, and he’s kind of kept his head above water. He’s had to play in different positions, sometimes wing-back. He started more centrally the other night. So, he’s young. He’s just got to get on with it. If he can find a place in the side that’s not maybe his favourite position, he’s just got to find a performance, and I think he would.

Maybe Mainoo, his career has just stalled, and obviously, Amorim loves Fernandes and Casemiro in that central midfield. But would he let Mainoo go? I think the fans would not be happy with that. One of their own, an academy product. We’ve seen enough Man Utd players leave and do well. Scott McTominay may be one of the biggest examples.

You could see Kobbie Mainoo going somewhere and really developing quickly. So I don’t think United would want that to happen, but frustrating for the youngster.

Prediction

Palace are strong at home. I’m going to go for a 2-1 win for Palace.

Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Manchester United

Burnley’s Struggles

It’s not easy. A bit like Leeds, every game’s a tough one. They gave West Ham a decent match in their last game away. The front line looks a bit better now. Flemming’s come in, he’s added to it. But it’s going to be tough against a Brentford team that has done well under Keith Andrews.

So for Scott Parker, these fixtures now, coming into Christmas, when you get a lot of games, you just have to try and keep picking up the odd point here and there to keep morale up as well as to keep yourself in a decent position. But in terms of the result, I’m going to go for a Brentford win, 1-0 to Brentford.

Brentford 1 – 0 Burnley

Jack Hinshelwood’s England Chances

Hinshelwood was a fixture, wasn’t he, in the under-21s when they lifted the Euros in the summer. Played every minute of that final against Germany. So, he’s kind of in the system, and he’ll be on Thomas Tuchel’s radar, I think.

He is flexible, versatile, and, for tournaments, that can be handy. But he’s not been involved, so it would be a big ask, I think, for him to be brought in. Whether Tuchel would do that, I don’t know. But it’s good to see him doing well because he had that injury, and now he’s back and got a good goal the other day, didn’t he? So it’s good to see.

Brighton’s Form

I think Danny Welbeck’s the standout. He’s scored seven in his last eight; he’s never been a kind of prolific goal scorer, but he’s having an Indian summer. So that’s been brilliant for them. Minteh is always a threat. Gomez has done well on the other flank.

So they haven’t hit top gear just yet, but they’re in a great position, and that’s down to recruitment and Hürzeler doing a fine job with them.

Prediction

Forest’s going really well under Sean Dyche following that Liverpool win. There’ll be a few goals in this, but I’m going to go 3-2 to Forest.

Nottingham Forest 3 – 2 Brighton

Tottenham vs Fulham

Well, who knows with Spurs these days? I think that’ll be another close one. Maybe Spurs will just have enough 2-1, 2-1 to the home team.

Tottenham 2 – 1 Fulham

Aston Villa vs Wolves

We didn’t get a new manager bounce, so we’ve got Rob Edwards, and it’s going to be a tough old season for him. Villa are on the up, in front of their own fans, 3-0 to Villa.

Aston Villa 3 – 0 Wolves