After an incredible first weekend of Premier League action, it is time to double down for the second week and our Premier League Predictions Matchday 2.
If you didn’t catch up with our first installment of Premier League predictions, each week we offer up some Premier League predictions, some based on a stat or far fetched premise, or a recent news event, some based on our own thoughts.
This week’s alternative tipping method is based on the distance each team is from Nyonoksa, the Russian town where there was an explosion with a nuclear missile test.
We also include just enough quick and barely interesting stats to help you decide a winner.
Enjoy the long Premier League Predictions Matchday 2 and preview.
BLATANT PLUG – OTHER STUFF YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
MATCH DIFFICULTY RATINGS – MATCHDAY 2
MATCH BETTING GUIDE – MATCHDAY 2
OUR 2019-20 PREMIER SEASON PREDICTIONS
ADOPT AN EPL SIDE PERSONALITY QUIZ
FANTASY FOOTBALL BIG QUESTIONS
FANTASY FOOTBALL DIFFERENTIALS
Premier League Predictions Matchday 2 2019-20 – Distance from Nyonoksa, Russia
Distance in km from Nyonoksa in brackets.
ARSENAL (2662) to beat Burnley (2582)
BOURNEMOUTH (2817) to beat Aston Villa (2668)
BRIGHTON (2729) to beat West Ham (2661)
WATFORD (2672) to beat Everton (2648)
NORWICH (2468) to beat Newcastle (2511)
SOUTHAMPTON (2776) to beat Liverpool (2648)
SPURS (2662) to beat Man City (2607)
CRYSTAL PALACE (2673) to beat Sheffield Utd (2581)
CHELSEA (2670) to beat Leicester (2626)
WOLVES (2677) to beat Man Utd (2607)
TIPS BACKGROUND: Given the incident from Nyonoksa in Russia and the hype around the recent Chernobyl show, we thought the further away from Nyonoksa the better, in case there is any nuclear fallout. We feel the further away the people are, the happier they are, and so will cheer louder, and their team plays better.
2019-20 Premier League Predictions Matchday 2 – GAME BY GAME PREVIEW
Here’s our match by match review and our own Premier League Predictions Matchday 2. With loads of stats as below. But keep in mind the following…
All stats are based on the last 10 years of Premier Leagues fixtures,except where stated.
The match rating is our thoughts on how exciting a neutral should get about the game. We rank it by if it is a great rivalry, whether at least one of the teams are in good form, whether they play decent football or dross, and general interest. Whether the team has a star player, crazy manager, give away lots of red cards, or have a Rene Higuita style goalkeeper. We wish anyway. Each field is rated out of five and the grand total out of 20.
Last 5 matches are Premier League fixtures only.
The barely interesting fact is just that, barely interesting.
ARSENAL v BURNLEY
SATURDAY 12:30PM
OUR MATCH RATING
Not much in terms of rivalry, or anything really. Arsenal shoudl at least play decent football, and hard to argue against a team who score three goals the previous week.
MATCH STATS
Just the one draw for Burnley out of this fixture, and as such an Arsenal victory looks a formality. Although that 3-0 win last weekend raises a small doubt at Arsenal’s ability to stop at least one goal.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Arsenal did the job against Newcastle, but 1-0 against a relegation favourite is a solid not spectacular start, unlike a few of their top six rivals.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened his account for the season, and that is good news for FPL players, as he is one of the very few premium striking options.
Pepe got a few minutes, but will hopefully get more this weekend.
Burnley surprised a few with their opening 3-0 win over Southampton. The under-rated Ashley Barnes grabbing two goals.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Burnley last won at Arsenal in 1974. They have scored three goals in seven games since.
OUR FINAL SAY
Arsenal 2 Burnley 0
BEST BET
Arsenal -1.0 Handicap @ $1.91
or
Aubameyang to score and Arsenal win @ $3.25
ASTON VILLA v BOURNEMOUTH
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
These teams may be table rivals later in the season, but for now come into the game with decent form and style. The novelty still hasn’t worn of Villa just yet, hence the three for interest.
MATCH STATS
Only the two games in the Premier League between the sides, both going with the away team.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Bournemouth’s away form last season ended up quite bad, if you take away results from November to the end of the season, Bournemouth were third last away from home. Will there be an improvement this season?
Aston Villa were not too bad against Spurs last weekend, so weaker opposition than Spurs could see them get their first win since promotion.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
These teams have met 7 times, but across four different competitions. 1st, 2nd, 3rd tiers and FA Cup. The away team has won three of the last four too.
OUR FINAL SAY
Aston Villa 2 Bournemouth 0
BEST BET
Aston Villa win – scoring 1 or 2 goals @ $5.50
BRIGHTON v WEST HAM
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
Brighton bring some form into the game after beating Watford away, and West Ham weren’t quite as bad as their scoreline against Man City suggests.
MATCH STATS
Not many games between the sides in the Premier League, but there’s no claret for West Ham in the above. All coming up Brighton so far.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Can Brighton surprise again? It was the best performance of the weekend for the teams favoured for relegation. All with the same players, just a change in manager. Perhaps Graham Potter is a coaching genius,
There were signs of life from Sebastien Haller in the opening exchanges for West Ham last weekend against Man City, so it will be interesting to see him against a less dominant team.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
West Ham have only won at Bournemouth twice in 11 games since 1926 – in 2011 and 1978.
OUR FINAL SAY
Brighton 1 West Ham 1
BEST BET
Haller to score anytime @ $3.00
EVERTON v WATFORD
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
A decent rivalry involving Everton’s manager, who was sacked at Watford for losing the plot after Everton wanted to hire him. There’s stil lplenty of interest in the new Everton players. Both teams were reasonably disappointing last weekend.
MATCH STATS
Everton’s home record show them unbeaten, however looking at Saturday games, and those that land in August, Watford are equally undefeated.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Marco Silva
Moises Kean gets another week to show why he’s going to be the biggest thing since the last potential wunderkind came to the Premier League.
How do Watford bounce back from their shock 3-0 home loss from the first weekend.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Marco Silva has never beaten either Watford or Everton when he has been manager of the other. 3 Games – 2 losses 1 Draw.
OUR FINAL SAY
Everton 2 Watford 0
BEST BET
Under 2.5 Goals (Match) @ $2.06
NORWICH v NEWCASTLE
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
A typical Saturday 3pm kick off these days, that will be lost in the hype of the big teams. Although, there was plenty to like about Norwich v Liverpool, so who knows, Norwich could come out and spank Newcastle.
MATCH STATS
Advantage Newcastle overall, but that diminishes with Norwich at home and Saturdays.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Teemu Pukki. Scored loads of goals in the Championship last season, and it is often remarked that Newcastle is a Championship level side. Pukki looked sharp against Liverpool, and deserved his goal.
An FPL bargain Marco Stiepermann had some wild shots, but we feel he is one to watch, or have in your Fantasy Premier League side.
Newcastle have their own scorer who has loads of goals in another division in Joelinton from the Bundesliga.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
The last four games between these sides in all competitions has produced 24 goals. Newcastle last won at Norwich in 1994.
OUR FINAL SAY
Norwich 3 Newcastle 1
BEST BET
Pukki to score / Norwich to win @ $3.50
or
Stiepermann to score / Norwich to win @ $6.50
SOUTHAMPTON v LIVERPOOL
SATURDAY 3:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
A decent contest awaits, if only to see what Liverpool can do next after blowing Norwich away in the first half last weekend. The 5 for style is mainly down to Liverpool, but Southampton are capable too. The rivalry could be higher, but Liverpool have pinched enough Southampton players over the years.
MATCH STATS
Mainly Liverpool dominated stats, especially at Southampton.
POINTS OF INTEREST
More Mo Salah.
Will Sadio Mane start?
Will the midweek Supercup take any toll on Liverpool.
How new goalkeeper Adrian will go.
A hard game for Southampton after last weekend’s 3-0 loss. Opponents rarely come more difficult too.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
In 2016-17 Southampton were undefeated against Liverpool in the four games they played that season in all comps (2 Wins 2 Draws). Since then Liverpool are on a run of four wins.
OUR FINAL SAY
Southampton 0 Liverpool 3
BEST BET
Over 2.5 Goals (Total) @ $1.60
or
Mane to score 2+ goals @ $6.00
MANCHESTER CITY v SPURS
SATURDAY 5:30PM
OUR MATCH RATING
The big game of the weekend, with just about everything going for it. Rivalry is only a three out of five so far, but it is developing nicely after last season’s Champions League quarter finals.
MATCH STATS
The stats are in Manchester City’s favour as one would expect.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Manchester City were so ruthless against West Ham last weekend, it will be interesting to see if Spurs can keep up.
Raheem Sterling deserved his goals and accolades, but Kevin De Bruyne was also very good on his way back from an injury plagued 2018-19.
Harry Kane, does what he does best and scores winning goals. His record against Man City isn’t as good (8 matches – 2 goals/2 assists),
Will Aguero start this week? Jesus was pretty good last weekend. Aguero has scored 14 times in 16 games v Spurs.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Although Manchester City are playing at home this weekend, something to think about for the return leg at Spurs…Manchester City have not won a title in this new era, if they haven’t beaten Spurs at home. Their four titles have come in the year they have beaten Spurs in London.
OUR FINAL SAY
Manchester City 3 Spurs 0
BEST BET
Aguero to score anytime @ $1.57
or
Penalty awarded @ $2.28
SHEFFIELD UTD v CRYSTAL PALACE
SUNDAY 2:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
A game for the purists, but Sheffield Utd did look OK last weekend, and were the only promoted side to get a point.
MATCH STATS
No fancy graphic as no Premier League head to head in the past 10 seasons.
The overall records stands at Sheffield Utd 20 Wins – Crystal Palace 21 Wins – 12 Draws.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Sheffield United looked quite solid away at Bournemouth last weekend, so here’s a chance to prove their credentials at home.
For the FPL players there are so many cheap choices, so as a Fantasy Premier League players, there’s a lot to be interested in.
Crystal Palace looked the better against Everton last weekend.
Can Zaha get himself back into the good books and start this weekend.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
The last time these teams met in the Premier League, it was the first ever season. Crystal Palace won boh games for the record.
OUR FINAL SAY
Sheffield Utd 1 Crystal Palace 0
BEST BET
Draw at Half Time @ $1.91
CHELSEA v LEICESTER
SUNDAY 4:30PM
OUR MATCH RATING
Middle of the road for everything. The return leg of this match might be a lot more interesting.
MATCH STATS
Chelsea have the advantage in August, but not quite as dominant at home as you would expect. The Sunday games in the last 10 EPL seasons have all been draws too. Just one goal in the last three games.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Chelsea weren’t as bad as the 4-0 scoreline suggests, but we wait to see how Frank Lampard turns it around.
Both sides were guilty last weekend of wasting chances, so it could rain goals or end up 0-0 again.
Leicester’s midfield options are abundant, and one could argue is better than Chelsea’s.
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Chelsea have only won two of their last five at home to Leicester. Last season’s fixture was a Foxes win.
OUR FINAL SAY
Chelsea 1 Leicester 4
BEST BET
Leicester win and Both Teams Score @ $8.50
WOLVES v MANCHESTER UNITED
MONDAY 8:00PM
OUR MATCH RATING
Plenty of interest in this game after Man Utd surprised everyone last weekend with a 4-0 win over Chelsea.
MATCH STATS
Manchester United have the historical advantage over Wolves, but not last season.
POINTS OF INTEREST
The first Monday night game of the year.
Can Man Utd be that clinical against Wolves again.
Wolves looked good last weekend, and have been good against the top six last season.
Surely Jota won’t waste chances as badly this weekend.
Will Pogba stay or go?
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Man Utd’s record at Wolves isn’t great however, winning four of the last 10 games.
OUR FINAL SAY
Wolves 0 Man Utd 0
BEST BET
Under 2.5 Goals @ $1.77
