By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
In a new weekly feature, I play The Predictor as I forecast this weekend’s Premier League games and how I think they will play out.
Newcastle United v Liverpool – Saturday, 19 October – 12.45pm (Live on BT Sport)
This game pits the two top goalscorers in the league against one another. Loic Remy has five goals in three games, whilst Daniel Sturridge has found the target six times for the Reds in seven matches.
I can't work Newcastle out but then again, neither can the manager. However, this will be one of their better days. Remy to score a hat-trick and Liverpool to leave Tyneside with a rare defeat.
SIMON PREDICTS: Newcastle United 3-1 Liverpool
Arsenal v Norwich City – Saturday, 19 October – 3pm
Arsenal could be off the top of the table by the time the 3pm games get underway on Saturday but they should be back at the summit by 4.45pm. Norwich have had a rocky start and despite playing very well against Chelsea a fortnight ago, they came away from that match with nothing and are now in the bottom three.
They don't travel well to Arsenal either, with their last league success coming back in August 1992, although they were within 10 minutes of an upset in April before shipping three late goals. The Gunners might be missing Mesut Ozil to a slight knock on his knee picked up on international duty but they will have plenty of firepower on display in a game where defending is likely to be very suspect. Seven goals, two red cards and a home victory with a hat-trick for Olivier Giroud.
They don't travel well to Arsenal either, with their last league success coming back in August 1992, although they were within 10 minutes of an upset in April before shipping three late goals. The Gunners might be missing Mesut Ozil to a slight knock on his knee picked up on international duty but they will have plenty of firepower on display in a game where defending is likely to be very suspect. Seven goals, two red cards and a home victory with a hat-trick for Olivier Giroud.
SIMON PREDICTS: Arsenal 5-2 Norwich City
Chelsea v Cardiff City – Saturday, 19 October – 3pm
It has been a very difficult fortnight for Cardiff City with speculation growing over the future of manager Malky Mackay. Despite a decent start to their first campaign in the Premier League, reports have been flying around that he was ready to quit following the sacking of the club's head of recruitment by the flamboyant owner Vincent Tan.
Mackay has reiterated that he has never been asked to resign and will see this through but the odds on him leaving before Christmas have definitely shortened. Chelsea will have a comfortable afternoon at Stamford Bridge as they prepare for the bigger test of Gelsenkirchen and Schalke in the Champions League in midweek.
Mackay has reiterated that he has never been asked to resign and will see this through but the odds on him leaving before Christmas have definitely shortened. Chelsea will have a comfortable afternoon at Stamford Bridge as they prepare for the bigger test of Gelsenkirchen and Schalke in the Champions League in midweek.
SIMON PREDICTS: Chelsea 3-0 Cardiff City
Everton v Hull City – Saturday, 19 October – 3pm
Everton lost their unbeaten record a fortnight ago as they came up short at the Etihad against Manchester City. Nevertheless, it has been a fine start to Roberto Martinez's reign as Toffees boss and they are in the chasing pack for a top four spot.
Martinez has allowed the likes of Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman to show their full potential so far this term and with the goals of Romelu Lukaku in attack, they will be a major threat against anyone.
It has been a brilliant opening to the season for Hull too. Steve Bruce's side are unbeaten in four and have only been defeated by Chelsea and Manchester City so far. They will go to Merseyside with confidence and I reckon they will return to Humberside with a hard-fought point and a man of the match performance by goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
Martinez has allowed the likes of Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman to show their full potential so far this term and with the goals of Romelu Lukaku in attack, they will be a major threat against anyone.
It has been a brilliant opening to the season for Hull too. Steve Bruce's side are unbeaten in four and have only been defeated by Chelsea and Manchester City so far. They will go to Merseyside with confidence and I reckon they will return to Humberside with a hard-fought point and a man of the match performance by goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
SIMON PREDICTS: Everton 0-0 Hull City
Manchester United v Southampton – Saturday, 19 October – 3pm
It is fair to say that Manchester United's start has been pedestrian to say the least. A lucky victory at Sunderland did at least lift them back into the top half of the table before the international break but they are still in a vulnerable position and don't look like title contenders to me this season.
Who would have thought Southampton would be sitting pretty in the top four in mid-October? Three wins in a row and with the best defensive record in the division, things are looking very rosy for the Saints.
While Wayne Rooney is in great form, his team-mates aren't and Saturday will be another struggle and the visitors will grab a point from an entertaining duel. The fortress that was Old Trafford in the past is not in good stead at the moment.
Who would have thought Southampton would be sitting pretty in the top four in mid-October? Three wins in a row and with the best defensive record in the division, things are looking very rosy for the Saints.
While Wayne Rooney is in great form, his team-mates aren't and Saturday will be another struggle and the visitors will grab a point from an entertaining duel. The fortress that was Old Trafford in the past is not in good stead at the moment.
SIMON PREDICTS: Manchester United 2-2 Southampton
Stoke City v West Brom – Saturday, 19 October – 3pm
Last season these two played out one of the worst ever encounters the league has ever seen. So much so, I would have given the man of the match award to the referee it was that bad.
It won't be much different on Saturday, although West Brom will be confident after two wins and a creditable point against Arsenal before the international hiatus. Stoke have lost their last three matches. Mark Hughes might be adapting a new style which is pleasing on the eye but they could do with a scrappy home win to move up the league again.
This game has draw written all over it. Luckily for those brave in travelling to the Britannia, they should be able to see some goalmouth action and a score draw as the final outcome.
It won't be much different on Saturday, although West Brom will be confident after two wins and a creditable point against Arsenal before the international hiatus. Stoke have lost their last three matches. Mark Hughes might be adapting a new style which is pleasing on the eye but they could do with a scrappy home win to move up the league again.
This game has draw written all over it. Luckily for those brave in travelling to the Britannia, they should be able to see some goalmouth action and a score draw as the final outcome.
SIMON PREDICTS: Stoke City 1-1 West Brom
Swansea City v Sunderland – Saturday, 19 October – 3pm
It is a new dawn for Sunderland and for Gus Poyet. The former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder is in the managerial dugout at the top level for the first time on Saturday and he will want to see some fight and commitment from the players.
Sunderland couldn't get much worse. They were so poor under Paolo di Canio, I wouldn't have been confident in them beating a pub team to be honest. At least they showed greater urgency against Liverpool and Manchester United under the guidance of caretaker boss Kevin Ball but still no points to show for their efforts.
Swansea might have not won yet at the Liberty Stadium in the league this season but they have faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal at home in their first three games. European adventures have had an impact on their league form but Michael Laudrup's side start as clear favourites and should record an easy and overdue win in Wales. For Poyet, he will learn the ropes the hard way.
Sunderland couldn't get much worse. They were so poor under Paolo di Canio, I wouldn't have been confident in them beating a pub team to be honest. At least they showed greater urgency against Liverpool and Manchester United under the guidance of caretaker boss Kevin Ball but still no points to show for their efforts.
Swansea might have not won yet at the Liberty Stadium in the league this season but they have faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal at home in their first three games. European adventures have had an impact on their league form but Michael Laudrup's side start as clear favourites and should record an easy and overdue win in Wales. For Poyet, he will learn the ropes the hard way.
SIMON PREDICTS: Swansea City 2-0 Sunderland
West Ham United v Manchester City – Saturday, 19 October – 5.30pm (Live on Sky Sports)
With just a solitary point from three away games so far, Manchester City's away form is threatening to derail their title charge, especially as they have looked convincing on their home patch so far.
This will not be an easy game and West Ham will go into the match with renewed vigour following their shock but deserving win at Tottenham 12 days ago. It will be interesting to see how the City backline deals with the unpredictable element of Ravel Morrison.
I think it will be a tight game, to be settled by a Mark Noble penalty. Manuel Pellegrini needs an away win but it won't come at the Boleyn Ground this weekend.
This will not be an easy game and West Ham will go into the match with renewed vigour following their shock but deserving win at Tottenham 12 days ago. It will be interesting to see how the City backline deals with the unpredictable element of Ravel Morrison.
I think it will be a tight game, to be settled by a Mark Noble penalty. Manuel Pellegrini needs an away win but it won't come at the Boleyn Ground this weekend.
SIMON PREDICTS: West Ham United 1-0 Manchester City
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur – Sunday, 20 October – 4pm (Live on Sky Sports)
Aston Villa should be ready to welcome back Christian Benteke after he has missed the last two matches and Belgium's recent two World Cup qualifiers with a hip injury.
Benteke was courted by Spurs over the summer before he elected to stay at Villa Park and sign a new contract. He will want to showcase his qualities again and Michael Dawson and Jan Vertonghen will be in for a tough afternoon if he plays.
Despite their lack of goals in the league, with just six from seven games, Tottenham have had the most shots on goal of any club in the top flight and surely those efforts will turn to more goals in the upcoming games. It won't be as convincing as the recent League Cup triumph in Birmingham but it should be another happy trip to the Midlands for Andre Villas-Boas and his side.
Benteke was courted by Spurs over the summer before he elected to stay at Villa Park and sign a new contract. He will want to showcase his qualities again and Michael Dawson and Jan Vertonghen will be in for a tough afternoon if he plays.
Despite their lack of goals in the league, with just six from seven games, Tottenham have had the most shots on goal of any club in the top flight and surely those efforts will turn to more goals in the upcoming games. It won't be as convincing as the recent League Cup triumph in Birmingham but it should be another happy trip to the Midlands for Andre Villas-Boas and his side.
SIMON PREDICTS: Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Crystal Palace v Fulham - Monday, 21 October – 8pm (Live on Sky Sports)
A London derby where both sides need the points. It is the kind of game that Crystal Palace must win or they stand absolutely no hope of beating the drop. Ian Holloway's team already look like they could be cut adrift with Sunderland from the rest of the pack. They need all three points just to keep in touch.
So do Fulham though. They might have beaten Stoke two weeks ago to give Martin Jol some more time but they still look far from impressive. The balance in their squad is not there and the defensive unit is simply not strong enough to cope with the lack of ability to defend from attack-minded players such as Bryan Ruiz, Dimitar Berbatov and Adel Taarabt.
I'm going for a narrow Palace victory, settled by an injury-time winner from a corner kick. It won't be a great game but littered with many individual mistakes, hence the high scoreline.
So do Fulham though. They might have beaten Stoke two weeks ago to give Martin Jol some more time but they still look far from impressive. The balance in their squad is not there and the defensive unit is simply not strong enough to cope with the lack of ability to defend from attack-minded players such as Bryan Ruiz, Dimitar Berbatov and Adel Taarabt.
I'm going for a narrow Palace victory, settled by an injury-time winner from a corner kick. It won't be a great game but littered with many individual mistakes, hence the high scoreline.
SIMON PREDICTS: Crystal Palace 3-2 Fulham
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