Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and having an excellent week, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things sports. This midweek round of fixtures sees only 9 fixtures as Arsenal and Manchester City has been postponed. This is due to Arsenal needing to complete their Europa League fixture with PSV, which was postponed when the Queen died. The big games from the rest include United playing Spurs, Liverpool against West Ham, and Newcastle welcome Everton.

Fixtures - Times are shown as U.K. Time

This weeks round of fixtures will see the games kicking off on Tuesday evening and finishing on Thursday evening.

Tuesday 18th October 2022

Brighton - Nottingham 7.30pm KO (Kick Off)

Crystal Palace - Wolves 8.15pm KO

Wednesday 19th October 2022

Bournemouth - Southampton 7.30pm KO 

Brentford - Chelsea 7.30pm KO

Liverpool - West Ham 7.30pm KO

Newcastle - Everton - 7.30pm KO

Manchester United - Tottenham 8.15pm KO

Thursday 20th October 2022

Fulham - Aston Villa 7.30pm KO

Leicester - Leeds 8.15pm KO

Predictions

Now for the most exciting part, as I go through the latest info regarding each team to make an attempt at predicting the results for this weekends matches. Remember this is just my fun analysis and should not be taken as advice or a guarantee. 

Brighton - Nottingham

Both these teams suffered defeats during the weekends matches, with De Zebri still looking for his first win as Brighton manager. With Brighton slipping down to 7th, they would be expecting a good result against bottom side Forest. Brighton have managed just one point from the last nine on offer, and their seven-game Premier League unbeaten run at the Amex Stadium was ended by Spurs. They have also began shipping goals, as Brighton have conceded ten in their last five matches. Forest manager Cooper has struggled to get his side scoring away from home so far this season, with only one goal scored on the road so far. Cooper's side failed from the spot against Wolves and conceded a penalty of their own, meaning its now six defeats and a draw in their last seven league games. They are already four points from safety and wont want to wider that gap any further. Brighton will be without Moder, Mitoma, and Mwepu who has been forced to retire from football. Forest meanwhile will be without Richards, Colback, and Niakhate, while O'Brien is being assessed. This fixture could not have arrived at a better time for De Zebri, who will be condident of his side getting back to winning ways here. Forest cannot score away from home and Brighton are strong at the Amex, meaning a 3-0 home win is on the cards.

Crystal Palace - Wolves

These sides will be looking to put on a better performance than their weekend showing, without only a single goal scored between the two sides. Palace sit in 13th position but are only a single point clear of 17th placed Wolves. The Eagles inconsistent run so far this season has seen them languishing near the bottom of the table, with just one win from their last six league fixtures. They have also only managed to score three times in their previous four matches. The biggest concern for Vieira will be their lack of clean sheets at home, having conceded at least once in all of their games at Selhurst Park so far this season. Wolves meanwhile are struggling at the opposite end of the field, with their distinct lack of goals a real cause for concern. Bruno Lage has been dismissed and no replacement found as of yet, and it will be a tough task as Wolves have failed to win any of their last nine away league games. Palace will be without Clyne, Richards, Butland, and McArthur, while Ferguson and Hughes need to be assessed. Wolves meanwhile will travel without Tavares Oliveira, Collins, Raul Jimenez, Kalajdzic, and Pedro Neto. Neither of these sides are lighting up the league of late, with Wolves really struggling to get a goal from open play. Pair this with Palace's lack of clean sheets and I would expect both sides to score here. I will go for a 1-1 draw as the final result.

Bournemouth - Southampton

The Cherries have found themselves in 10th position as they welcome 18th place Southampton the the Vitality Stadium. They have excelled under O'Neil so far, after he led the Cherries to a sixth game in a row without defeat in the league. They could do what many considered unthinkable back in the summer, and match their longest-ever unbeaten run in the Premier League of seven games. They have done so well of late that they sit a mere point off seventh placed Brighton and the European places, although Brighton do have a game in hand. The Cherries fans would be satisfied to remain in the league and on current form many would back them to do just that. Southampton meanwhile have struggled of late, as Hasenhutel's side are now winless in five league games. They have scored only twice and conceded nine in their last 450 minutes of top-flight football, managing to go sixteen league games without a clean sheet. They have also conceded in each of their previous nineteen away games. This south coast battle will have huge implications for both sides with a massive three points on the line. Bournemouth will be without Brooks and Kelly, with Pearson also a doubt. The Saints will be missing Livramento, while Lavia and Bella-Kotchap are also expected to miss this one. While most would have thought Southampton would be favourites for this game back when the fixtures were released, its Bournemouth who look the stronger side. Given the struggles the Saints have had on the road this season, the Cherries are bound to score here. Therefore I am going to back a 2-1 home win.

Brentford - Chelsea

Chelsea will be looking to record their sixth win of the month as the 4th placed team travel to 9th place Brentford. Frank witnessed his side end a three-game winless streak in which they only claimed one point from a possible nine with their win over Brighton on the weekend, but this will be an altogether different task. They are just about still in the top half, and if they lose this match it will be the first time in the clubs history where they lose a Premier League midweek match. They have been strong at home, taking ten from a possible fifteen so far at the Brentford Community Stadium. Potter meanwhile has overseen  five wins on the trot in all competitions after their victory over Villa on the weekend. They have also managed a clean sheet in their last four, as Kepa has shone in goal. They could really cement themselves in the top four with a win here, and have a game in hand on the three teams above them. Brentford will be without Strakosha, Hickey, and Norgaard, with Jansson a doubt. Chelsea will travel without Fofana, James, and Kante, with Silva and Ziyech needing assessment. While Chelsea have done well to record four clean sheets, they have faced less that stromng opposition. Brentford will test them here, and I expect them to breach the Chelsea backline. A close game, but overall the Blues should manage a 1-3 away win.

Liverpool - West Ham

After their triumph against Man City over the weekend, 8th place Liverpool welcome 12th place West Ham to Anfield for this one. The Reds put in the performance of the season to beat Man City on Sunday thanks to Salah scoring a lovely breakaway gaol. In a match where they allowed City to dominate the ball, they were the first side to beat City and keep Haaland quiet. The Reds have been a mixed bag so far this season, and while Klopp got sent off in the tense atmosphere, if Liverpool can bring that passion to their upcoming game the opposition should be worried. Amazingly, van Djik kept his record of never losing a league match at Anfield intact, while the win gave his side a much needed confidence boost. Moyes on the other hand has had a slow start to the season with West Ham, as they have excelled in Europe but taken time to get going in the league. Recent results have seen them collect seven points from the last nine available, but a trip to Anfield against a Liverpool side with their tails up is never easy. Liverpool will be without Diaz, Jota, Matip, Arthur, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, and possibly Konate. West Ham meanwhile will be missing Aguerd while Cornet, Dawson, and Zouma are doubts. Depending on what Liverpool turn up, and in many ways what West Ham arrive, this could be a close match. The crowd will still be ecstatic from the weekend and should use that to spur on the team, as they look to get their season back on track. Although the injuries are never ending for Liverpool, I still fancy them for this one. After a 7-1 win away to Rangers and then beating Man City, expect Salah to add more goals to his account with Nunez also expected to start. I will go for a 2-0 home win here.

Newcastle - Everton

Sixth placed Newcastle welcome 14th place Everton to St. James park this week. Newcastle got a point at Old Trafford last time out, but will be hoping to return to the goal gluts their previous fixtures gave, having won 4-1 and 5-1 against Fulham and Brentford respectively. In fact Newcastle have only lost once so far this season, away to Liverpool. Their home record is impressive, having lost only one of their last 15 top-flight matches at St James' Park. They have however drawn six times already this season and Howe will be hoping for a return to winning ways. As for Lampard, his side side had put together a seven-game unbeaten league run before their two recent defeats against United and Spurs. They are two points above the relegation zone but their away form will leave them worried as they have lost 15 times on the road since the start of last season, more than any other side. Newcastle will be without Isak, Krafth, Ritchie and likely also Saint-Maximin. Lampard will travel to the North East without Godfrey, Townsend, Patterson, and Mina. Gordon will be back after his suspension. Calvert-Lewin has made progress since his return from injury, with two substitute appearances so far, but is expected to start on the bench once more. With Newcastle in form and at home, while Everton struggle so much away from home, it seems likely there will only be one winner. Therefore I am backing Newcastle to win this by a result of  2-0.

Manchester United - Tottenham

This match sees 3rd place Spurs visit 5th place United for the big match of the week. Ten Hag had to settle for a point at home to Newcastle last time out, and another tough opponent in Spurs will really test his side. Their three-game winning run came to an end, they will need to reorganise to mount a top four challenge with United now three points off Chelsea in 4th position. They had scored in eight games in a row at Old Trafford in the league before the weekend, and although they have been winning, it has been by the narrowest of margins every time. Spurs manager Conte oversaw his side win against Everton last time out, as they made it three wins in a row in all competitions. On the road however they have only won two of their seven matches in all competitions, with only three goals scored in their last five away games. Conte as a manager could be in line to lose his fourth consecutive match as a manager at Old Trafford, a record he will not want to reach. United will be missing McTominay, Dubravka, van de Beek, Williams, and Wan-Bissaka, while Eriksen, Maguire and Martial need to be assessed. Spurs will travel to the North-West without Tanganga, Richarlison, and Emerson, while Kulusevski is a doubt. This should be a close encounter, with Ten Hag and Conte both determined not to lose out here. With Spurs trying to mount a title challenge and United a push for Champions League, I can see this being a tight match. A 2-2 draw should be the outcome of this one.

Fulham - Aston Villa

With Fulham sitting in 11th place and Villa sitting in 16th, only three points separate the sides heading into this one. Fulham were buoyened by the return of Mitrovic last weekend, as they ended a run of two defeats in the league by drawing with Bournemouth. They have been punching above their weight so far this season and will be looking to the Serbian to keep carrying them forward. With a tough run ahead before the World Cup break, they will be looking to make the most against their confidence stricken opponents. Aston Villa fell to their fifth defeat of the season as Gerrard oversaw his sides defeat to Chelsea. The rumours have been swirling that Pochettino is set to replace him at Villa Park. They are the joint lowest scorers in the league this season after high hopes of pushing for a European place before the campaign kicked off. The boos from the stands cannot last much longer if Gerrard wishes to retain his position in the dugout. Fulham will be missing Kurzawa and Chalobah, while Solomon needs to be assessed. Villa meanwhile will be without Kamara, Digne, Augustinsson, and Diego Carlos for their trip to London. Mings and Archer are also doubts. With a lot of pressure on both teams, for different reasons, it will be difficult to see how this one goes. Fulham will wont to add a win after their recent slump, while Gerrard will be hoping playing away from home could benefit his sides lack of confidence. I think it will therefore be a very close match, with the likely winner only being by a single goal. I will back a 1-1 draw here though as I think they will cancel each other out.

Leicester - Leeds

The Foxes, sitting in 19th position, welcome a Leeds side currently sitting 15th in the table. For how awful Leicester started the season, and how well Leeds did, only four points separate the sides. Leicester drew 0-0 last time out with Palace, but in registering five shots compared to their opponents one, they will feel hard done not to have won. Rodgers side have only won once so far this season and he is certainly being backed for the sack, although many will point to the lack of activity in the summer as a key reason given their lack of depth in the squad. Leeds meanwhile started so well under Marsch this season, but have lost four and drawn two of their previous six league games. Their recent form has certainly been a cause for concern, but both sides are struggling right now heading into this one. Leicester will be without Maddison, Bertrand, Ndidi, and Pereira, while Evans needs to be assessed. As for Leeds, they will be missing Dallas, Forshaw, and Fuhr Hjelde. Gray will also be a doubt for this one. With Leicester so down and out of late, and Leeds on a bad run of their own, its difficult to pick a winner in this. Similar to the previous game, I can only see a narrow win, if one at all, for either side. At a push I think Leeds will have just enough about them to secure the win, therefore I will back a 0-1 for the away side.

Check out my 2022/23 Season Preview and Predictions here: Premier League 2022/23 Prediction

Also check out my review of the group draw and prediction of the Champions League for this season here: Champions League 2022/23 Prediction

Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the matches and get to see the games during the week. 

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

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