Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: Premier League GW18 Predictions & Analysis

Revenge Mission

It seems like Unai Emery has had a bit of an advantage, not in the Indian sign, but tactically. But I think with Arsenal, they have got the players that can change the shape of their team and their attacks. So you would expect them to be able to do that and for it not to be a problem.

A bit of revenge in the air for Arsenal after getting beaten at Villa Park. So it’d be a good game, but I’m just thinking Arsenal might shade it.

Prediction

I think 2-1 to Arsenal.

Arsenal 2 – 1 Aston Villa

Florian Wirtz Form

Wirtz is getting there. Relief for him getting his first goal the other day, which always makes a big difference. And aside from that, he looks sharper now and playing off the left, mainly, gives him a little bit more freedom just to drift inside and maybe find space.

So he’ll be pleased. Certainly, Liverpool and Slot will be pleased now. And if he can offer a goal threat regularly, which he did in Germany, so there’s no reason I don’t think he can’t here, then that would be a boost for Liverpool.

Isak Injury Impact

Liverpool has gone from having too many strikers to not enough, perhaps. But Ekitike is a very good striker, so they’d obviously want to keep him fit. Mo Salah is coming back in a couple of weeks, then that gives them another option. I know that for Egypt, he is playing more centrally, I think, in the AFCON. So that could be something going forward.

But they’ll just hope that they don’t get any more injuries. As I said, Wirtz is in there, and Ekitike has done so well since arriving at Liverpool, so they’ll just hope that they can keep everyone fit now.

Liverpool Transfer Window

I don’t think Slot would want to buy in terms of attacking players because there are too many. When Isak came in, you thought, how’s that going to work with Ekitike? So, even with PSR, they’ve spent a fortune last summer.

So whether they’ve got any headroom or more, I’d be surprised. They might buy players in different positions, but certainly not in the attacking slots, I don’t think.

Curtis Jones World Cup Chances

Jones has been a good player for Liverpool for a long time. He’s never really established himself in the starting eleven. He’s been in and out, and sometimes that happens when you’re an academy product. But he’s an experienced boy now, and his versatility is really handy. So he’s a good lad to have. He could have a chance for England.

I was just looking at the last squad, and Alex Scott was in there, Adam Wharton. For tournaments, that versatility is quite often valued by managers. And I think Lee Carsley gave him his debut. He’s got about six caps. So he certainly might be one Thomas Tuchel would look at.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin World Cup Outsider

Well, if you keep scoring goals, you can’t ignore somebody like that. I still think it’s an outside shot. Much depends on how many central strikers he’s going to take, Kane. And then Ollie Watkins. Talk about players in form. The way he came on against Chelsea the other day. He would be next in line. I think he’s ahead of Calvert-Lewin, put it that way.

So, you never know. But I still see him as an outside shout. I’m really pleased to see him coming back to form and scoring goals as a centre forward myself. I know what it’s like, and it’s been a tough few years with him injury-wise. So, he’s loving his football at the moment. It’s good to see.

Prediction

I’ll go 2-0 to Liverpool.

Liverpool 2 – 0 Leeds

Sunderland European Chances

I still think it’s a big ask to qualify for Europe, even maybe if they’d kept all those players over this period, the AFCON lads. But they’re in seventh position, and it was a bit of a barnstorming game against Leeds. Brilliant goal by Adingra.

I would say that they’re going to fall short of Europe; survival is still the order of the day, even though they’ve been right up the top there. To survive in the Premier League would be a great achievement, which they will.

They’ll gradually get players back from the AFCON now as their respective countries go out. And they did a great job without them against Leeds the other day. So, we’ll see where they end up finishing. But it’s been a great, great success story.

Prediction

I’m going to go 2-1 to City.

Sunderland 1 – 2 Manchester City

Burnley’s Transfer Needs

They are six points adrift still. It’s always difficult with teams like that. Financially, you go out on a limb and take a big gamble and then get into trouble if you do get relegated. Quite often it can be loan signings that you try to bring in just for the few months until the end. So for Scott Parker, that’s something that needs to be looked at. But wins are hard to come by.

They’ve got Broja back in attack. He got a goal at Bournemouth the other day. They’ll be hoping he can get a few more. But I wouldn’t think that they’re going to bring in loads in January. There might be one or two, but I can’t see a lot happening.

Newcastle Goalkeeper Situation

It’s an unusual situation, really, in that Newcastle have got two top-class keepers, haven’t they, really? Normally, one’s a bit down from the automatic choice or the first choice. So, nice problem for Eddie Howe to have.

If Ramsdale keeps playing well, there’s no reason for him to be dropped so that will be his goal to keep on going but that competition between the two is great, pushing each other so we’ll see on that but Pope’s got the experience for Newcastle but Ramsdale’s got it with Arsenal so there’s not much to choose really, just see who ends up.

Prediction

2-2. I think that would be a good game, that.

Burnley 2 – 2 Newcastle

Brighton’s Striker Situation

They’ll be pleased to get Welbeck back. He came on the other day. Rutter has certainly struggled in terms of goals. I noticed he got the goal at home against West Ham a few weeks ago, the late equaliser. So he’ll be hoping to follow that up.

They’ve got good quality in wide positions. But through the middle, Welbeck has carried it, really. So now he’s back fit. I think for Hürzeler, it might give him a shout back in there. Rutter has played in the ten a number of times. But hasn’t managed to convince as a centre forward.

Prediction

West Ham are struggling badly, but a bit of a grind, a 1-1.

West Ham 1 – 1 Brighton

Maresca to Man City Rumours

It might be Maresca’s agent starting the rumours. I don’t know. I’m sure he’d love to go to City. He’s got questions to be answered at Chelsea. Quite a lot of fans are unhappy with the way things are going under him, feeling he’s a bit too negative, hasn’t got a plan B and all the rest of it. But I’d be surprised if he did end up there.

We don’t know about Pep, do we? How long he’s going to go on for. He seems to be enjoying it, and he’s built another team that’s going to be able to challenge for the title again, which will give him a great buzz, to bring in these new players and see how they’re adapting.

But no, I’d be amazed if it was Maresca that was the next man. But it could be five years down the line, and things look a lot different then.

Prediction

Bournemouth’s struggling, aren’t they? No wins in nine. They’ve had quite a few draws. They might get one at Stamford Bridge? I’ll go 1-1.

Chelsea 1 – 1 Bournemouth

Ivan Toney Rumours

I’d be amazed if Toney went to United, because what kind of message does that send out to Šeško, who is struggling a little bit and is trying to find his way at Old Trafford? So I don’t think United would be a destination for him.

There’d be a few clubs interested, I think. I’d heard that West Ham were looking at him as a temporary thing until the end of the season. They certainly need more oomph up front. And from Toney’s point of view, I think he’d love to go to the World Cup, so he might fancy coming back on loan. But not United, I don’t think, because they’re looking a bit more settled and I don’t think they’d go for something like that.

It’d be interesting, though, because so many clubs need goals, and they need more in attack, and maybe Toney could provide that.

Prediction

2-0 to United.

Manchester United 2 – 0 Wolves

Nottingham Forest vs Everton

I think maybe revenge for Forest after getting bumped up at Merseyside, 1-0.

Nottingham Forest 1 – 0 Everton

Brentford vs Tottenham

Brentford very good. Spurs did okay yesterday. 1-1.

Brentford 1 – 1 Tottenham

Crystal Palace vs Fulham

I’m going to go 0-0 for this. I think it might be my first 0-0. It could be not one for the purists, that one.

Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Fulham