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

Noni Madueke and Saka Rotation

Madueke did play instead of Saka a few games ago, and I think they will use him when Saka needs a rest, but I think that would be it really. I was up at Everton the other day watching Saka, he’s so consistent, and he was brilliant that night. I think there have been times previously in previous seasons where he’s got a little bit tired and he’s been off it, but this is when you can bring Madueke in, who offers something a little bit different.

I don’t think Saka’s predictable. Nobody can find a way to stop him usually, but Madueke’s a great option as well. He can play on the left as well, can’t he? But Saka’s still number one.

Carlos Baleba Future

Brighton do buy and sell really well. It’d be interesting, actually, with Baleba because he was very sought after, but that’s not guaranteed to remain, and his form has dropped off. Clubs may start to look elsewhere. I noticed he got subbed at Liverpool the other day, and now he’s gone off to the AFCON, hasn’t he? So, we’ll see on that one.

I don’t think it’s a given that they would get a sizable transfer fee for him. He’s still young, but he has dropped off in terms of performance. So, we’ll see what Brighton does with that. If they get a decent offer, they might sell.

Prediction

I’m going to go 2-0 to Arsenal.

Arsenal 2 – 0 Brighton

Arsenal Fans’ Chants

I don’t know if the club have said anything, but it would help, I think, if they did. Nobody wants to hear that from their own fans. There’s been a lot of publicity about it, so hopefully it won’t happen next time.

Saliba and Barry Penalty Incident

When you see the replays, you think, well, he’s kicked his foot. I always think that with those bouncing balls, there should be a bit more leniency because both players are kicking up into it, and one’s a fraction of a second later than the other.

So he kicks the boot. I think it’s a bit different to something that happens on the deck. It was one of those 50-50s. But I think Arsenal could count themselves lucky that it wasn’t given as a pen.

Burnley’s Fight

The point against Bournemouth is a good point; they are still seven points adrift, so that’s going to be difficult. They remain fairly competitive, which is a plus point for Scott Parker. I don’t think they’ve got enough ultimately to stay up, but they’ve just got to keep going.

Broja got a goal, and I always thought there’s a player in there somewhere, if they could just bring it out and keep him fit, that would help a bit more potency in attack. And they’ve just got to hang in there.

Prediction

I think tight, win or draw, 1-1.

Burnley 1 – 1 Everton

Alexander Isak Transfer

I think in terms of value for money, he obviously cost a fortune. So bang for your buck, he has been a poor signing, I suppose, from that point of view. And I feel for him, in a way, but he put himself in this situation in terms of not having a pre-season, and that’s not helped him at all.

But I like to see good players, good forwards, especially, prosper and do well. And having scored that goal, if van de Ven hadn’t had to make the challenge, then maybe we’d see him kick on in the Liverpool shirt. As it is, it’s turning into a bit of a nightmare first-season thing. But that can happen as a footballer. It’s a shame.

Prediction

I’m going to go 2-0 to Liverpool.

Liverpool 2 – 0 Wolves

Dominic Calvert-Lewin Turnaround

It’s difficult to say, really, how much influence Daniel Farke has had on him. I think the main thing is Calvert-Lewin staying fit and not just staying fit, having that run of games, so you’ve got that proper match sharpness. I know what it’s like as a striker.

Sometimes you need four or five games to get up to full tilt, and putting the goals away certainly helps confidence. So maybe the managers had something to do with it, and the change of system, having a strike partner has obviously helped. But he’s really sniffing out goals well, as we saw against Palace the other night. So that’s been a real plus point for Leeds.

Home Form

Sunderland from day one, really, it’s been a tough place to go, hasn’t it? And Leeds, I always felt as a player going up there, it was one of the loudest arenas. I enjoyed playing up there, but they really get behind the team, and now they’ve got something to get behind.

But for Sunderland, it’ll be a test now, isn’t it, losing all those players to AFCON. We’ll see whether they can be quite such a force at home. Leeds will be hoping they can continue that. But home form for these teams is always vital.

Prediction

I’m going to go 1-1 for that.

Sunderland 1 – 1 Leeds

Bruno Fernandes Absence

Man Utd are going to miss Bruno badly, I would imagine, because he’s just been the fulcrum of everything that they do going forward. He’s so consistent, he leads from the front. Expects high standards – doesn’t always get them – but he demands them. So that’s going to be a big loss.

When you look at all the teams and players they could lose, I think for Man United, this will hit the hardest. So now the onus is on people like Mount and Matthias Cunha to step forward; they’ve got to do it. Šeško up top is still not playing as well as he would like, but you can’t be reliant on one player. They’ve spent a lot of money at Man United. So, as I said, players like Cunha have to step forward and fill the gap.

Anthony Gordon England Spot

I think the left wing spot is up for grabs for England. Rashford’s played there recently, and then you could have kind of inverted left-sided players, the likes of Foden, Eze, and Morgan Rogers. But Gordon is more of a bona fide left winger, somebody who can hold his width and take on players with pace.

So if he carries on playing as he is now, because it has been a slow start, then he’s got every chance of starting for England again.

Prediction

1-1.

Manchester United 1 – 1 Newcastle

Morgan Rogers Performances

In terms of an attacking midfielder, four goals in his last two games, he’s looking very polished, really confident. So he’s been a real boon for Villa, looking super.

Prediction

I’m going to go another 2-2.

Chelsea 2 – 2 Aston Villa

Erling Haaland Future Legacy

He could become one of the best strikers the Premier League has ever had in terms of numbers, I think, if he overtakes Shearer. But if you’re looking at all-around players, totally different. Thierry Henry, I thought, was in a different league, and I still do to a certain extent. Harry Kane is such a polished centre-forward. Wayne Rooney, all-rounder.

So, I think he doesn’t measure up to those in terms of being a pure footballer, but strikers are there to score goals and every chance he could overtake Shearer.

Prediction

I think City’s winning run continues, 3-1 to City.

Nottingham Forest 1 – 3 Manchester City

Brentford vs Bournemouth

Well, Bournemouth are on a real bad run now. Brentford have got really good home form, but they drew with Leeds last time out. I’m going to go for the same scoreline as that one. I’m going to go 1-1.

Brentford 1 – 1 Bournemouth

West Ham vs Fulham

Could be a bit of a grind, this. West Ham desperate for a win. 1-0 to the Hammers.

West Ham 1 – 0 Fulham

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham

Palace have had a couple of heavy defeats. I think they might just bounce back against the Spurs team a bit in disarray. 2-1 to Palace.

Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Tottenham