Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: Premier League GW24 Predictions & Analysis

Elland Road Task

Leeds are capable of upsetting Arsenal further here; they’ve had some good results at Elland Road, and it will really be buzzing there. They played well against Everton, in the first half particularly, but Arsenal really need to bounce back here, so they might need to dig in here and do a bit of defending and take their chances when they create them. It won’t be easy.

Arsenal Won’t Bottle It

Players like Declan Rice and Gabriel, at the back, even though he doesn’t wear the armband, he acts like a captain. There’s lots of experience in there, Zubimendi, maybe not somebody in the shape of Patrick Vieira in terms of his character, but I think they’re okay in that direction.

I’m hoping they don’t bottle it. I don’t think they will. But the next two games are big ones against Leeds and Sunderland.

Open Play Goals Concern

I think you’ve got to be concerned by the lack of goals from open play. When you look at the players that they’ve got, you’d think they would be able to create. Obviously, teams are well aware of Arsenal’s attack, and they do defend deep and in numbers. But it’s just not clicking at the moment in terms of chances created. They’re having to scrap for things.

It’ll be interesting to see what team he picks. They’ve got a game tonight, but he can afford to rest a lot in the Champions League. At the weekend, maybe time to give Odegaard a rest. Eze has been a bit of a disappointment. He hasn’t done what we hoped he would, but maybe getting him in the number 10 position and seeing if he can make a difference.

Julian Alvarez Transfer

He’s a goalscorer with a very decent record. I don’t know what’s happened at Atletico Madrid, but if he did come in, Gyökeres, it wouldn’t be great news for him, and there’d be every possibility of him leaving perhaps, but he is struggling.

At the moment, he’s got the odd goal, but we’ll see. The fact that the top scorer in the team at the top of the Premier League is five goals doesn’t bode well but you can still win the title with everybody chipping in, but ideally, you’d like somebody who can get close to 20 league goals.

Prediction

I think the Gunners will bounce back. I think it’ll be 2-0 to Arsenal.

Leeds 0 – 2 Arsenal

Top Four Achievable

Top four is definitely achievable. You look at the way Carrick’s changed things around. Square pegs in square holes, and people enjoying the football and coming out like Kobbie Mainoo now. He’s looking like the player he was before when he was in the England team. Dorgu, unfortunately, looks like he’s got an injury, but he’s been flying, whereas before, his manager said he looked a bit nervous.

They’re probably competing with Liverpool and Chelsea, aren’t they, for that fourth place? And it might go to five for the Champions League. But I think they’ve got every chance of getting it. Listen, going on Carrick’s first two games, they’ve got every chance of getting that fourth spot.

Marco Silva’s Potential Utd Move

It’s one of those that you don’t know until they’re actually in that position. I think you can do all the analysis of a manager as they do with players, but you can never predict how they’re going to feel with the extra scrutiny and pressure.

Thomas Frank hasn’t stepped up to the mark, it looks like. Would Marco Silva? You don’t know. He’s been at Everton, but obviously, this is a whole new ball game at Manchester United. So, that’s going to be fascinating to see who United do pick.

Prediction

I think United will carry on the winning ways 2-0.

Manchester United 2 – 0 Fulham

Florian Wirtz and Xabi Alonso

I think Wirtz has looked better lately. He’s scored a couple of really good goals. But the fact that the team’s not functioning is not going to help him. If the team was playing a lot better, if he’d have gone into that side, that title-winning side from last year, then I think his form would have been much better.

Can a former manager make him better? I think he’s got it in him to do it under Arne Slot. But certainly Liverpool have got to get themselves sorted out. But Xabi Alonso, if Liverpool continue underperforming, he’s always going to be there, isn’t he? As a possible replacement.

Newcastle’s Summer Business

Elanga obviously has been a disappointment. Ramsey, I think he’s a good player, but he hasn’t really had an extended run. Wissa, I think, will be OK. He’s got a couple of goals, doesn’t he? Woltemade is going through a bit of a spell. So, they’re in a tricky spot, Newcastle, aren’t they? There’s no real momentum there.

Once or twice, they’ve generated that excitement, but then it goes a little bit flat, as it did against Aston Villa. So, it’s going to be a tough second half of the season, I think, for Eddie Howe.

Prediction

I think Newcastle will go to Anfield and get something. I think it’ll be 1-1.

Liverpool 1 – 1 Newcastle

Joel Veltman Rotation

It’s difficult to answer why he is being rotated so much. I don’t know what Hurzeler is thinking. Whether he’s managing him with his fitness, whether there’s an underlying little niggle, I don’t know. He does come on, doesn’t he? And sometimes when he starts, he comes off. Kadıoğlu played at right back last game. So he’s got one or two choices there, Hurzeler. But I don’t think he’s discarding Veltman because of the experience he’s got.

Breaking Down Low-Block Teams

Everton have got some great results away from home. I think when you’re playing against that kind of defensive shape, the wide men are always important, and Brighton have got really good wide men, Mitoma and Minteh. It’d be interesting if they both play and really keep the width on the pitch there to try and stretch Everton. So, I would say that’s a key aspect of it.

Brighton’s Players Performances

Kostoulas has impressed me, particularly in the game against Bournemouth with that overhead kick right at the end. He’s an 18-year-old talent, and that was great news for him and his team to grab a point. So he would be the one at the moment. Danny Welbeck continues to play really well and grab goals, which is great for him, enjoying an Indian summer in his career.

Thierno Barry Scoring Goals

Barry is gradually getting used to the level of football, and his confidence is increasing. And that goal, again, I mentioned before, that clever little dink against Villa. The one against Leeds was equally good in terms of getting across the defender at the near post.

That shows he’s got the sharpness now and also the anticipation to judge when to make his run. So that’s brilliant news. Brilliant news because they certainly need that figure through the middle. Especially with Calvert-Lewin doing well at Leeds, Everton needs a firing centre forward. And Barry, he’s still got plenty of improving to do, but he’s a threat for them now.

Prediction

1-0 to Brighton, I’m going, 1-0.

Brighton 1 – 0 Everton

Sunderland’s Brilliant Season

I don’t think anybody saw this coming. Really, the brilliant season that Sunderland are enjoying. I think you look at the signings, don’t you? They made so many, and we all wondered whether there were too many and whether they could be accommodated in a starting 11. The likes of Mukiele and Granit Xhaka have done really well, and perhaps Burnley’s haven’t done quite so well.

But also Sunderland’s approach, really attacking positively, maybe Scott Parker is a little bit more cautious, and they haven’t been able to build that momentum. They’ve been really competitive lately, but they’ve had too many draws, really, to give themselves any hope, I think, of clawing themselves up the table.

Prediction

Sunderland, unbeaten at home, aren’t they? I think they’ll win 2-1.

Sunderland 2 – 1 Burnley

Tottenham vs Manchester City

It seems that Thomas Frank is, they’re almost waiting for him to get the sack. But I think City will go there and win 3-1.

Tottenham 1 – 3 Manchester City

Wolves vs Bournemouth

Wolves are harder to beat these days, but obviously they’re going down. Bournemouth, I think, might just nick a win. 2-1 to the away team.

Wolves 1 – 2 Bournemouth

Chelsea vs West Ham

Great win at Palace for Liam Rosenior. 2-0, I think, to Chelsea.

Chelsea 2 – 0 West Ham

Aston Villa vs Brentford

Villa. Another great win at Newcastle. Flying high, despite what their manager says. They’re really going for it. And I think in front of their own fans, they’ll win 2-1.

Aston Villa 2 – 1 Brentford

Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace

Well, it’s not so hard to predict these days because Palace are really in a slump. There’s not a great atmosphere within the club. Players wanting to leave. Great win for Forest at Brentford, so I think Forest might win this about 3-1. I think they might score a few goals.

Nottingham Forest 3 – 1 Crystal Palace