Friday, October 27, 2023

Premier League Week 10 Preview

Tottenham Hotspur, currently top of the Premier League table, leads off this weekend’s schedule with a Friday match at Crystal Palace. Manager Ange Postecoglou has not only posted the best ever mark of a new Premier League manager after nine matches but has his new club off to its best start in more than 40 years. Crystal Palace has scored only one goal in its last four league matches, surprisingly capturing five points despite that lack of production. The Eagles got swamped 4-0, however, by Newcastle last week and are unlikely to threaten Spurs’ undefeated run.

Arsenal, the only other undefeated Premier League club, should have little problem at home against Sheffield United. The bottom of the table Blades are one of just two clubs not to have won a match this season.

Manchester City is level on points with Arsenal after getting back on track with a win over Brighton last weekend. The Citizens had lost two consecutive league matches but seem to have restored order with their win over the Seagulls being followed up by an easy midweek Champions League win. Manager Pep Guardiola’s side heads crosstown Sunday for a Manchester derby against rival Manchester United. The Red Devils have lost four times in the league already this season and are just barely in the top half of the table. A fifth loss in their 10th match of the season would be the first time that’s happened in 37 years.

Liverpool’s first ever loss in the Premier League was at Nottingham Forest in 1992. The Tricky Trees, however, haven’t won at Anfield since 1969. That’s unlikely to change on Sunday when fourth place Liverpool plays host to Forest. The home side has won all four of its league contests at Anfield this season and has only lost in the league at top of the table Tottenham Hotspur. Forest has scrapped to four draws in its last five league matches as the Trees have struggled with the injury absence of striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

Aston Villa is just a point behind Liverpool, surging with four wins in its last five Premier League matches and outscoring opponents in its last four matches across all competitions by an aggregate margin of 16-4. The Villans will be seeking a 12th consecutive Premier League home win when they host newly promoted Luton Town on Sunday.

Newcastle and Brighton are three points behind Villa. The Magpies have posted a clean sheet in four of their last five Premier League matches, winning each of those matches while drawing with West Ham during a five-match unbeaten league run. Manager Eddie Howe’s side will try to shake off a midweek Champions League loss and resume its league form when the Magpies visit Wolverhampton on Saturday. Wolverhampton, however, has also been playing well during its own four-match unbeaten run which includes an impressive win over Manchester City and a draw with Aston Villa. Six of the eight Premier League meetings at Molineux between the two clubs have ended 1-1.

Brighton will be seeking a first ever Premier League victory over Fulham when the Seagulls host the Cottagers on Sunday. The Seagulls are emerging from a brutal three match winless run where all three of their opponents are currently in the top five of the Premier League table. Fulham, meanwhile, has earned its three victories this season against lesser competition with the Cottagers prevailing over Everton, Luton Town and Sheffield United. Brighton is on a different level than those teams which should spell trouble for the Cottagers on Sunday.

These are difficult and sad times for Everton. Long time chairman Bill Kenwright passed this week. The club faces a potential points reduction for financial fair play violations. On the pitch, the club is flirting with relegation for a third consecutive season. The Toffees lost the Merseyside derby to rival Liverpool last weekend. Sunday, they travel to east London to face former Manager David Moyes and West Ham. A hammering would not be surprising.

Chelsea will try to build on a three-match league unbeaten run as the Blues seek their first home victory since August when Brentford visits Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Last week’s draw with Arsenal was both disappointing as a two-goal lead evaporated but also hopeful for the strong effort against a top club. While the draw with the Gunners was a missed opportunity, Manager Mauricio Pochettino’s side appears much more dangerous than earlier in the season. Eight goals in the three-match unbeaten run have supporters in a far more positive state of mind. Brentford, meanwhile, has been unimpressive since its opening draw with Tottenham Hotspur. The Bees’ win over relegation bound Burnley last week was only a second victory for 14th place Brentford since mid-August.

One week after losing to predecessor Gary O’Neal, now at Wolves, Bournemouth Manager Andoni Iraola resumes his quest for a first Premier League win when the Cherries host fellow relegation battler Burnley. Iraola’s side have netted a league low six goals from their nine matches to date as Iraola’s attacking philosophy has yielded little in the way of results for the Cherries. Burnley hasn’t been much better, scoring seven times while conceding more goals than any Premier League club but for fellow relegation zone occupant Sheffield United.  

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