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.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal – Saturday, 26 October – 12.45pm (Live on BT Sport)
Tony Pulis is the massive bookies favourite to succeed Holloway but it will be Keith Millen in caretaker charge for Saturday's early kick-off and he can't have asked for a harder test. Arsenal were caught out cold by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek but there domestic business is still second to none.
Palace did get a draw the last time the sides met at Selhurst Park in the Premier League in November 2004 but this will be a convincing away win for the league leaders.
SIMON PREDICTS: Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal
Aston Villa v Everton – Saturday, 26 October – 3pm
Two of the Premier League's remaining founder members meet at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon and these games often don't disappoint. Everton are going well again, with just one defeat from eight so far in the top flight while Aston Villa's home form is still a concern, having collected just three points from four games on their home turf.
Christian Benteke should return from the start after his cameo appearance from the bench against Tottenham last Sunday. Villa have played well without him and shown they can do something without him. However, they are a totally different proposition when the deadly Belgian is in flying form.
At the other end of the field is his international strike partner Romelu Lukaku who has made an impressive start to his temporary Toffees stay with four goals in four matches. Both Belgians will score and I reckon the points will be shared.
Christian Benteke should return from the start after his cameo appearance from the bench against Tottenham last Sunday. Villa have played well without him and shown they can do something without him. However, they are a totally different proposition when the deadly Belgian is in flying form.
At the other end of the field is his international strike partner Romelu Lukaku who has made an impressive start to his temporary Toffees stay with four goals in four matches. Both Belgians will score and I reckon the points will be shared.
SIMON PREDICTS: Aston Villa 1-1 Everton
Liverpool v West Brom – Saturday, 26 October – 3pm
Most Liverpool supporters would have been disappointed with the result against Newcastle last weekend, especially as their opponents were restricted to 10 men from the 41st minute onwards. Nevertheless, this probably shows how far they have come under Brendan Rodgers in such a short space of time.
Saturday sees the Reds face their bogey side in West Brom. Albion have won their last three Premier League encounters with Liverpool and kept three cleansheets in the process. Unbeaten in five in the league, Steve Clarke is currently in his best run of 2013 with the club and returns to the ground where he had a role as Kenny Dalglish's assistant for 18 months in 2011-12.
The Baggies will be confident of repeating February's smash and grab on Merseyside but with Sturridge and Suarez clicking promisingly in their striking partnership, Liverpool should have too much on offer to collect all three points.
Saturday sees the Reds face their bogey side in West Brom. Albion have won their last three Premier League encounters with Liverpool and kept three cleansheets in the process. Unbeaten in five in the league, Steve Clarke is currently in his best run of 2013 with the club and returns to the ground where he had a role as Kenny Dalglish's assistant for 18 months in 2011-12.
The Baggies will be confident of repeating February's smash and grab on Merseyside but with Sturridge and Suarez clicking promisingly in their striking partnership, Liverpool should have too much on offer to collect all three points.
SIMON PREDICTS: Liverpool 2-0 West Brom
Manchester United v Stoke City – Saturday, 26 October – 3pm
There was a victory in midweek for Manchester United but they laboured to success over poor opposition in Real Sociedad and continue to look like a side lacking confidence. This was shown in abudance by their failure to collect all three points last weekend at home to Southampton when a goal up.
Red Devils fans will be glad for Wayne Rooney's stunning form. Who knows where they will be if he wasn't at his best. Even Robin van Persie is misfiring pretty badly. Four goals only in the league for a man of his calibre is a disappointing return.
After a good start to the season, Mark Hughes and Stoke have badly lost their way. One point and no goals in their last three matches has seen them slide into the division's bottom five. They will defend resolutely but I can't see them troubling the United backline too much and the home side should have enough to force their way through for a scrappy 1-0 triumph.
Red Devils fans will be glad for Wayne Rooney's stunning form. Who knows where they will be if he wasn't at his best. Even Robin van Persie is misfiring pretty badly. Four goals only in the league for a man of his calibre is a disappointing return.
After a good start to the season, Mark Hughes and Stoke have badly lost their way. One point and no goals in their last three matches has seen them slide into the division's bottom five. They will defend resolutely but I can't see them troubling the United backline too much and the home side should have enough to force their way through for a scrappy 1-0 triumph.
SIMON PREDICTS: Manchester United 1-0 Stoke City
Norwich City v Cardiff City – Saturday, 26 October – 3pm
This game is a crucial one for both teams with Norwich in the bottom three and Cardiff floating just above the drop line. It is also a massive one for both managers. Both gaffers are under pressure but for totally different reasons.
Malky Mackay's pressure is through no fault of his own but with back-to-back losses, the Bluebirds will be keen to arrest the October malaise in East Anglia. Having spent big in the summer, Chris Hughton has failed to deliver on the promise of his new arrivals with just two wins and five defeats already.
It will be a cagey affair and chances will be at a premium so I'm going for a no score draw.
Malky Mackay's pressure is through no fault of his own but with back-to-back losses, the Bluebirds will be keen to arrest the October malaise in East Anglia. Having spent big in the summer, Chris Hughton has failed to deliver on the promise of his new arrivals with just two wins and five defeats already.
It will be a cagey affair and chances will be at a premium so I'm going for a no score draw.
SIMON PREDICTS: Norwich City 0-0 Cardiff City
Southampton v Fulham – Saturday, 26 October – 5.30pm (LIVE ON SKY SPORTS)
Having sang Southampton's praises already this campaign, I have been impressed by the way Martin Jol has turned things around over the past fortnight at Fulham. A narrow and slightly fortunate win over Stoke was following by a goal blast in the London derby at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
The Cottagers are still an unpredictable side to work out and I think the power and confidence of the home side will eventually lead to a comfortable home win for the Saints.
SIMON PREDICTS: Southampton 4-0 Fulham
Sunderland v Newcastle United – Sunday, 27 October – 1.30pm (LIVE ON SKY SPORTS)
Game of the weekend in my eyes is the Tyne & Wear derby clash between Sunderland and Newcastle United.
Sunderland are desperate for any kind of positive result. Their shambolic collapse in the second half away to Swansea last week highlighted the huge amount of work Gus Poyet has on his hands. If his players can't be motivated for this match, they might as well give up on the season.
Newcastle fought hard and deserved credit for that against Liverpool and deserved their point. It will be a gritty game and there will be two red cards at least and some tasty tackles but ultimately, no goals and a point apiece.
Sunderland are desperate for any kind of positive result. Their shambolic collapse in the second half away to Swansea last week highlighted the huge amount of work Gus Poyet has on his hands. If his players can't be motivated for this match, they might as well give up on the season.
Newcastle fought hard and deserved credit for that against Liverpool and deserved their point. It will be a gritty game and there will be two red cards at least and some tasty tackles but ultimately, no goals and a point apiece.
SIMON PREDICTS: Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle United
Chelsea v Manchester City – Sunday, 27 October – 4pm (Live on Sky Sports)
Away from the difficulties Yaya Toure suffered from the fans in Moscow, it has been a good week for Manchester City. Two away victories in a few days has eased the worries that they couldn't travel well under new manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Sergio Aguero seems to be back in top form and so too does David Silva. That is slightly tempered by the news that injury continues to keep the skipper Vincent Kompany out of action for the time being at least.
Chelsea showed a ruthless streak in finishing off Cardiff and then Schalke 04 in the Champions League in midweek. They are beginning to settle down under Jose Mourinho and these two could be setting the pace as winter dawns ever closer.
Not many goals as history would suggest between the sides. I'm not going to sit on the fence though. A Frank Lampard penalty and three points for Chelsea on a soggy teatime afternoon in west London.
Sergio Aguero seems to be back in top form and so too does David Silva. That is slightly tempered by the news that injury continues to keep the skipper Vincent Kompany out of action for the time being at least.
Chelsea showed a ruthless streak in finishing off Cardiff and then Schalke 04 in the Champions League in midweek. They are beginning to settle down under Jose Mourinho and these two could be setting the pace as winter dawns ever closer.
Not many goals as history would suggest between the sides. I'm not going to sit on the fence though. A Frank Lampard penalty and three points for Chelsea on a soggy teatime afternoon in west London.
SIMON PREDICTS: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City
Swansea City v West Ham United – Sunday, 27 October – 4pm
Swansea's first home win of the campaign arrived last Saturday as they took full advantage of Sunderland's complete lack of organisation throughout their side. However they dropped two costly points on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League, conceding a stoppage time penalty to their Russian opposition Kuban Krasnodar.
West Ham's amazing away win at Tottenham seems to be a flash in the pan, especially if you took last week's insipid performance against Manchester City into account. Big Sam's side are really struggling to find the net and with more options in attack, I have to go for a second successive win in the league for the Swans.
West Ham's amazing away win at Tottenham seems to be a flash in the pan, especially if you took last week's insipid performance against Manchester City into account. Big Sam's side are really struggling to find the net and with more options in attack, I have to go for a second successive win in the league for the Swans.
SIMON PREDICTS: Swansea City 3-1 West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City - Sunday, 27 October – 4pm
Steve Bruce and Hull City better get used to White Hart Lane and their hotel around London, as they play Tottenham twice in four days. A League Cup tie next Wednesday is preceeded by a more important league clash on Sunday in north London.
After a wobble at home to West Ham, Tottenham showed more of a cutting edge last week in dealing with Aston Villa before all but securing their place in the Europa League knockout stages with victory in Moldova on Thursday night.
Another game where it won't be full of goals but both side will spurn golden opportunities. A piece of magic I believe from Christian Eriksen will settle the match in favour of the hosts.
After a wobble at home to West Ham, Tottenham showed more of a cutting edge last week in dealing with Aston Villa before all but securing their place in the Europa League knockout stages with victory in Moldova on Thursday night.
Another game where it won't be full of goals but both side will spurn golden opportunities. A piece of magic I believe from Christian Eriksen will settle the match in favour of the hosts.
SIMON PREDICTS: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Hull City
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