Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: Premier League GW8 Predictions & Analysis

Big Money Strikers Assessment

Ekitike has impressed me the most so far. He’s got himself, what, five goals, including the Community Shield one; he has settled really quickly at Liverpool.

Not so impressed when he got sent off for taking his shirt off. But I think, probably, understandably, he had the hump that all of a sudden he’s number two behind Isak. But he’s been the best. Isak, it’s still early days, but you can see the quality in him. He’s already got on the score sheet, and I think he’s going to be a star for Liverpool.

Šeško, just warming up really, got a couple of goals after it looked a little bit worrying at the start. It looked like Manchester United was maybe too big for him. He was a bit overawed by it all, but goals can settle you down as a striker, and maybe that’ll be the case with him. But Ekitike’s the standout so far.

Florian Wirtz’s Adaptation

Liverpool fans have got to give him a good few months, I think, to both get used to the league and to the way that his new manager wants him to play. I don’t think he’ll have any problems eventually adapting. He’s come for so much money, and you expected him to hit the ground running. That doesn’t always happen. But I think Liverpool fans will be patient with him. They are with their own. And I’m sure Arne Slot will be.

He left him out of the Chelsea defeat the other week. And sometimes, to sit on the bench and have a look at things, it can help you. I’ve done that myself, and he’ll come back, and they’ll be hoping he comes back stronger.

Prediction

Man United have had a bit of an upturn, but I think Liverpool will be too much for them. I think Man United might score, but 2-1 Liverpool.

Liverpool 2 – 1 Manchester United

Jurriën Timber Assessment

In a way, he’s a bit of a throwback in terms of the first and foremost, it’s about defending. So often now, fullbacks, it’s how good are you as a winger, effectively. But his strengths are as a defender, I think that’s what Arteta likes in him.

Maybe Ben White offers you a bit more linking up with Saka on that right wing. But he’s such a strong player. And it’s great that he’s available and staying fit. So definitely one of, if not the best, right backs at the moment.

Zubimendi – Signing of the Summer?

He’s done really well. He’s one of those players, doesn’t always catch the eye, but moves the ball on smoothly, keeps things ticking over. And I think tactically, he’s very astute. Eze’s another one that’s done ever so well, but Zubimendi’s played more games and he’s turning into a really good signing.

So maybe Liverpool would be looking at it and wishing they could have got hold of him. I don’t know the reasons for the way that didn’t turn out, but for Arsenal, it looks really solid signing.

Gabriel Jesus’s Future

If Havertz and Gyökeres stay fit, I don’t think Jesus has much chance at all. I would imagine Arsenal would be trying to get some money for him. He’s just a bit below the standard you want at Arsenal. He came back from injury last season and scored a little flurry of goals.

So he can be a dangerous player, but I don’t think he would want to sit third in the pecking order, and Arsenal have spent a lot of money, so it might be that they do need to generate some cash in terms of PSR and all that, so it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him go out the door.

Pressure on Arteta

I think there will definitely be questions asked if he doesn’t win anything this season. It just depends on how things pan out, doesn’t it? But given the strength of that squad, I think they stand at the head of the queue in terms of favourites to win the title.

We’ll see how Arteta approaches things. Does he become more adventurous in his team selections and team tactics, because that has been a criticism levelled at him, but it’s early on in the season? So it’s a big one for him, a big one for Arsenal. He knows the pressure; everybody’s looking at him to see if he can get the team over the line.

Prediction

I’m going 2-0 the Gunners.

Fulham 0 – 2 Arsenal

Brighton’s New Centre-Backs

It takes some players more time than others to adapt. Hürzeler probably needs to start freshening things up at the back. Lewis Dunk’s, what, 33. So, coming towards the end and it’s a player that Hürzeler inherited. So he wants to probably build his own defence.

Coppola’s only a young lad, I think, 21. So he’s got time on his side, but he and Boscagli have both played in the Carabao now. So I would expect them to feature a little bit more as this season wears on, give them experience.

Newcastle and Minteh

It’s one of those, isn’t it? He’s still young. He’s only 21. So, they signed him when he was around 19. They made a really tidy profit on him by the look of it.

So financially, it was a good bit of business. But he’s flying for Brighton. Yes, these things happen, don’t they? They’ll look and think, Oh, why did and how did we let him go? But that’s Brighton’s gain.

Newcastle’s Director of Football Appointment

The Isak situation created a bit of a vacuum in many ways. It was such a distraction. So you don’t know how much money you’re going to bring in for him, if indeed you’re going to bring anything in and how much you can spend, restricted by PSR.

So that maybe held them back. But the fact that they took a fair bit of time to get a new director of football probably didn’t help. Eddie Howe wanted somebody in sooner, perhaps than they got him, but they have got Ross Wilson now, so it’d be interesting to see if anything happens in January.

Prediction

Not an easy one this, but maybe Brighton at home will just edge it 2-1.

Brighton 2 – 1 Newcastle

Must-Win for Burnley?

Probably too early to be a ‘must-win’, but it’s a big game for Burnley. I remember before they played Sunderland at home and we said, well, if they lose that against one of the fellow promoted clubs, that sends out a really negative message. So to beat one of the other promoted clubs would be a big one for them.

The other two promoted teams are looking better than them at the moment, aren’t they, giving their fans more hope than Scott Parker can at Burnley at the moment. So it’s a big one, and it is for the fans as much as anything to show that they can pick up points and they can be as good as Sunderland and Leeds, the promoted teams.

Prediction

1-1 here.

Burnley 1 – 1 Leeds

Promoted Sides Assessment

The table tells you that Sunderland has impressed the most. They’re in a very healthy position, and Leeds haven’t done badly either. Burnley are probably the third of those three. Sunderland getting up through the playoffs. You’re thinking maybe they’re the least likely to do okay, but at the moment, they’re a tough proposition. It’s great to see that up in the northeast that they can make a mark. A long way to go, of course, but it’s been a great start for them.

Prediction

Wolves are obviously having a tough time. I’m just waiting for them to pick up a little bit. It might be this weekend. I’m going to go for a 1-0 away win, 1-0 to Wolves.

Sunderland 0 – 1 Wolves

Grealish Under Guardiola

Under Pep, you’re a bit of a piece in the jigsaw, aren’t you? You’ve got to fit in and do what the coach says, and if it’s Pep Guardiola barking the orders, you’re going to do that. And maybe that took away a little bit from Grealish’s game, the free-flowing, flair, instinctive type of style that he’s got.

So the way he’s playing at Everton speaks volumes. He’s found a new lease of life, which players sometimes need in their careers. So he’s loving it. Whether he’d want to go back to City, I don’t know, but Everton fans are profiting from that.

Prediction

I’ve gone 3-1 to City.

Manchester City 3 – 1 Everton

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

Another one, a tough one, really. Spurs only drew at home last home game against Wolves when they were pretty poor. Villa are perking up a little bit, but I don’t think there’ll be much between them. 1-1.

Tottenham 1 – 1 Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea

I see Big Ange’s nightmare continuing, really, and Chelsea buoyed by that win over Liverpool. 2-0 to the visitors.

Nottingham Forest 0 – 2 Chelsea

West Ham vs Brentford

It won’t be the prettiest of games. Nuno’s trying to steady things down, shut up shop at the back. 1-1.

West Ham 1 – 1 Brentford

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth

Palace ended that unbeaten record. Bournemouth, you never know, they’re such a dangerous team. But again, not much between them. 1-1.

Crystal Palace 1 – 1 Bournemouth