Matchweek 08 of the Premier League Season is here, and we once again try and take down the $50,000 prize by playing Premier League Pick Em’ on the NBC Sports Predictor App. NBC Sports Predictor is a sports app that gives you a chance to win huge cash prizes by simply making predictions on the games. This article is a guide to help you think about each match. This week we navigate through Matchday 08 of 38.
Wolves vs. Manchester City (Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET)
Wolves host Manchester City this week, but I wouldn’t imagine they get much from the Cityzens. City have European play; however, even if they rotate, they will still have a solid defensive side. Wolves biggest problem this season has been their lack of scoring threat in the final third. They have scored just three goals this season, which has them hanging closer to the bottom of the table than the top. The worst part for them is that they are underperforming their xG. Only having three goals on an xG of 5.7 means that they are due goals. Now, will those goals come against City? Highly unlikely. Wolves were able to bang one goal in their last two games but still had a combined xG of 0.69. The goal they scored was a bit lucky.
Defensively they are sound. They generally own the lion’s share of possession. However, that will change against City this week. City lead the PL in 72.5% of the possession per game. As you probably guessed, they also lead the PL in attacking possession in the final third. It doesn’t make much of a difference if they play Erling Haaland or Julian Alverez. This will be a one-sided affair, despite Wolves being defensively sound and only conceding four goals on the season.
Prediction: Wolves 0, Manchester City 3
Newcastle vs. Bournemouth (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET)
Newcastle’s newfound confidence has been evident this season, picking up a massive draw against Manchester City and having Liverpool on the ropes for much of their match. Unfortunately, they have just one win on the season. They will be happy to host Bournemouth. A club who desperately want to stay up after earning promotion last season.
Even though Bournemouth are the league’s new boys, they have picked up two wins this season. Their biggest issue has been in defense. They conceded the most PL goals this season and have an xGA to match.
They will need to score in this game if they want to come away with anything. Despite Newcastle’s defensive woes, they have done well to find the back of the net at home. They are averaging 1.67 goals scored in the home matches they have played so far this season.
Prediction: Newcastle 2, Bournemouth 2
Tottenham vs. Leicester City (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET)
Tottenham went to Portugal, started a strong side, and lost 2-nil. Antonio Conte might have to go back to the drawing board regarding his squad selection. Richarlison is a proper footballer. I don’t think he fits yet. If and when he fits will determine how far this Spurs team can go. When watching them play, I feel he makes Harry Kane play too far back and doesn’t service Son or any other players making runs into the box fast enough. I could be alone in that sentiment; however, since his arrival, Tottenham haven’t looked all that fluid in attack. It took a red card for them to score against Marseille, and they were shut out against Sporting.
Luckily for the Spurs this week, they are the better side. The Leicester City team they play seems like a team on a one-way track to relegation. Only two teams in the PL have yet to win a match: Leicester City and Everton. The bottom of the table is probably not what Brendan Rodgers saw in his future, but he’s living it now. It’s rumored the chairman of Leicester City is considering sacking the Northern Irishman.
Only one club has allowed more goals than Leicester this season, and that club is Bournemouth. The dreams of winning another PL championship seem to have faded. That team that won the championship is vastly different from this. Many of those on that squad are no longer on this team. It feels like the players on the pitch no longer want to be there.
I like Tottenham to win and score two goals. It isn’t easy to trust Leicester on the road. If you’re betting this, I’d imagine you should probably play Tottenham to win and over 1.5 goals. I think we see 2-1 or 3-0.
Prediction: Tottenham 2, Leicester City 1
Brentford vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 7 a.m. ET)
The Bees have been buzzing this season. They picked up a big draw on the road against Crystal Palace, then parlayed that momentum with a 5-2 win over Leeds United. Brentford are eighth on the table but just three points away from European qualification. This week they host the league leaders in Arsenal. They might be in trouble this weekend. Arsenal are third in xGA, only behind Liverpool and Manchester City.
Arsenal have possessed the ball well against opponents and have had quality looks in the process. With 14 goals on the season, they look like a side who can seriously challenge for the Premier League title. Again, it isn’t easy to play at Brentford. However, I think Arsenal get a few here. Brentford have one of the league’s highest xGAs at 1.78.
This could turn into a track meet with Arsenal’s midweek European fixture being postponed due to the queen’s passing.
Prediction: Brentford 1, Arsenal 3
Everton vs. West Ham (Sunday, 9:15 a.m. ET)
Everton have surprisingly yet to pick up a win this season. They look better than they did last season, but they don’t have the quality to compete. Frank Lampard knows that his team needs to survive until either the January transfer window or the end of the season. The name of the game for them is staying up. They know they don’t have the players to make a serious run up the table. However, they are Everton and consistently trying to build the talent on their roster.
West Ham might have been the season’s biggest surprise thus far. They had a solid season last year but look like a team without any ideas. 19th on the table is not where David Moyes wanted his club six games into the season. They have lacked the creativity in front of net and are averaging just 0.5 goals per contest. Even their xG thinks they aren’t getting themselves quality looks.
This game reeks of a snoozefest. Moyes wants the win but knows how important getting a point on the road will be, and Lampard will try and keep their shape and pick up whatever is offered from West Ham.
Prediction: Everton 1, West Ham 1