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.
Aston Villa v Cardiff City – Saturday, 9 November – 3pm
Home form is also a concern, as they have been beaten four times on their own patch already in five attempts. This is wrecking decent away form, with Paul Lambert's side only defeated on the road by Chelsea so far this season.
Cardiff won the south Wales derby last weekend and compete very well on their travels. They won at Fulham back in September and I reckon that their frontline, combined with Villa's home sickness will contribute to a fairly straightforward away victory at Villa Park.
SIMON PREDICTS: Aston Villa 0-2 Cardiff City
Chelsea v West Brom – Saturday, 9 November – 3pm
Friends will be reunited at Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho meets up again with Steve Clarke. Clarke was number two in Mourinho's successful first spell at Chelsea and the Portuguese manager has already spoken of his praise for the job Clarke is doing at West Brom.
However, that friendship will be put on hold for 90 minutes as the Blues look to add another victim to the sides they have already dispensed with at Stamford Bridge this season. The visitors have been tough to beat of late but did show some vulnerable signs on their last away trip at Liverpool and it could well be more of the same here.
Chelsea have won 12 of their 14 Premier League meetings against the Baggies. I'd expect these managers to share a bottle of wine in the manager's office afterwards but they won't share the points. This is a comfortable home win for Chelsea in my eyes.
However, that friendship will be put on hold for 90 minutes as the Blues look to add another victim to the sides they have already dispensed with at Stamford Bridge this season. The visitors have been tough to beat of late but did show some vulnerable signs on their last away trip at Liverpool and it could well be more of the same here.
Chelsea have won 12 of their 14 Premier League meetings against the Baggies. I'd expect these managers to share a bottle of wine in the manager's office afterwards but they won't share the points. This is a comfortable home win for Chelsea in my eyes.
SIMON PREDICTS: Chelsea 3-1 West Brom
Crystal Palace v Everton – Saturday, 9 November – 3pm
Crystal Palace are in serious trouble and I can't see anyway how they are going to get out of the mess they are in. Seven successive defeats and just three points so far and still without a permanent manager.
Keith Millen might have expected to have handed over the reins by now but the lack of a permanent successor to Ian Holloway suggests either no-one wants the vacancy or the Palace board are already preparing for an instant return to the Championship.
Everton have won five of their last seven Premier League games and continue to fight for a place in the top four. Roberto Martinez has carried on the good work David Moyes had done. Romelu Lukaku might be missing with a knock to his knee but the Toffees will still have too much quality and will leave south London with another three points to their tally and some goals to show for their efforts too.
Keith Millen might have expected to have handed over the reins by now but the lack of a permanent successor to Ian Holloway suggests either no-one wants the vacancy or the Palace board are already preparing for an instant return to the Championship.
Everton have won five of their last seven Premier League games and continue to fight for a place in the top four. Roberto Martinez has carried on the good work David Moyes had done. Romelu Lukaku might be missing with a knock to his knee but the Toffees will still have too much quality and will leave south London with another three points to their tally and some goals to show for their efforts too.
SIMON PREDICTS: Crystal Palace 1-4 Everton
Liverpool v Fulham – Saturday, 9 November – 3pm
Liverpool were disappointing last Saturday at Arsenal and still have a way to go before anyone can say they are realistic title challengers. Brendan Rodgers will be happy to have this match next up though, especially as their opponents in Fulham are in a woeful run of results that leaves Martin Jol perilously close to the sack once again.
The SAS partnership is still working well in tandem. Brede Hangeland and his defenders will be in for a long afternoon dealing with the precise movements of Luis Suarez and the canny finishing by Daniel Sturridge.
Fulham won at Anfield two seasons ago but this is a much different Liverpool side now. In fact, I don't think the visitors will even have a shot on target in this match. The hosts will spurn plenty of chances but will still record a convincing 2-0 win.
The SAS partnership is still working well in tandem. Brede Hangeland and his defenders will be in for a long afternoon dealing with the precise movements of Luis Suarez and the canny finishing by Daniel Sturridge.
Fulham won at Anfield two seasons ago but this is a much different Liverpool side now. In fact, I don't think the visitors will even have a shot on target in this match. The hosts will spurn plenty of chances but will still record a convincing 2-0 win.
SIMON PREDICTS: Liverpool 2-0 Fulham
Southampton v Hull City – Saturday, 9 November – 3pm
The rise of Southampton has been further strenghtened this week with Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana winning call-ups into the England squad for the international friendlies coming up with Chile and Germany.
They are a side full of confidence and enjoying their football. Hull have done well too this season but are suffering from injuries, with Sone Aluko the latest absentee for two months thanks to an Achilles problem.
On their current form, both should finish in the top half of the table but I reckon Southampton will just have the edge in this head-to-head duel. A header from Rickie Lambert to settle the outcome.
They are a side full of confidence and enjoying their football. Hull have done well too this season but are suffering from injuries, with Sone Aluko the latest absentee for two months thanks to an Achilles problem.
On their current form, both should finish in the top half of the table but I reckon Southampton will just have the edge in this head-to-head duel. A header from Rickie Lambert to settle the outcome.
SIMON PREDICTS: Southampton 1-0 Hull City
Norwich City v West Ham United – Saturday, 9 November – 5.30pm (LIVE ON SKY SPORTS)
West Ham have only let in one goal in their five away matches and that was a spot-kick to Robbie Brady of Hull City. Trouble is, they can't score.
It will be a low scoring game but home advantage will just about prevail. However, this is one game where if you were the neutral, perhaps select an alternative option at this time for your Saturday night viewing pleasures.
SIMON PREDICTS: Norwich City 1-0 West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United – Sunday, 10 November – 12pm (LIVE ON SKY SPORTS)
Sky Sports have selected a triple header of live games this Sunday, hence the crazy kick-off time of 12pm for the game involving Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
Tottenham have been defending well but not scoring many but they are still just outside the top four so the AVB project is going according to plan. Newcastle were outstanding in shocking Chelsea last Saturday but who knows what team will turn up to play in the capital.
I think it will be the one that put in pitiful performances against Manchester City and in the first half at Everton and Tottenham are due a few goals. 4-1 home win for the north Londoners.
Tottenham have been defending well but not scoring many but they are still just outside the top four so the AVB project is going according to plan. Newcastle were outstanding in shocking Chelsea last Saturday but who knows what team will turn up to play in the capital.
I think it will be the one that put in pitiful performances against Manchester City and in the first half at Everton and Tottenham are due a few goals. 4-1 home win for the north Londoners.
SIMON PREDICTS: Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Newcastle United
Sunderland v Manchester City – Sunday, 10 November – 2.05pm (Live on Sky Sports)
Manchester City's record at Sunderland is very poor. They haven't scored on their last three visits to the Stadium of Light and lost all three matches. In fact, the last player to net for them in this fixture is now a Sunderland player in the form of Adam Johnson.
City's away form is still a concern on a domestic scale but they've scored 14 goals since the last minute calamity at Chelsea two weeks ago. I think Manuel Pellegrini's team have begun to settle down to his playing style and the results are beginning to beat fruit.
It will be an open contest with chances for both sides but hoodoos do have to end at some point. It will be another 1-0 scoreline but this time, the away side taking the prize of the three points.
City's away form is still a concern on a domestic scale but they've scored 14 goals since the last minute calamity at Chelsea two weeks ago. I think Manuel Pellegrini's team have begun to settle down to his playing style and the results are beginning to beat fruit.
It will be an open contest with chances for both sides but hoodoos do have to end at some point. It will be another 1-0 scoreline but this time, the away side taking the prize of the three points.
SIMON PREDICTS: Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City
Swansea City v Stoke City – Sunday, 10 November – 4pm
It hasn't been an easy week for Swansea. Defeat in the Wales derby was followed by a 5,000 mile trip to Russia in midweek and conceding another 92nd minute goal to Kuban Krasnodar in the UEFA Europa League. Throw in a suspension for Michel Vorm, an ankle injury to Michel Vorm and Jonjo Shelvey cleared of a ban for making obscene gestures last week and it hasn't been Michael Laudrup's greatest week in management.
Stoke is another side who really are struggling to find the back of the net but when you have goalkeepers scoring for you, it can't be all bad. I don't think Asmir Begovic will mind sticking to saving shots from the opponents though this week.
Mark Hughes' side are due a victory and I think they will get it here. Swansea's travelling this week won't have done them any favours so in my surprise of the weekend, I'm saying away win.
Stoke is another side who really are struggling to find the back of the net but when you have goalkeepers scoring for you, it can't be all bad. I don't think Asmir Begovic will mind sticking to saving shots from the opponents though this week.
Mark Hughes' side are due a victory and I think they will get it here. Swansea's travelling this week won't have done them any favours so in my surprise of the weekend, I'm saying away win.
SIMON PREDICTS: Swansea City 2-3 Stoke City
Manchester United v Arsenal - Sunday, 10 November – 4.10pm
It might not be the glamour fixture it used to be in the late 90s and the first part of the 21st century but Manchester United v Arsenal is still one of the top fixtures in the Premier League.
For the first time since 1996, it won't involve both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger and it is a big, big match for David Moyes. Defeat here and the Red Devils will be knocked out of the title race in mid-November, not good for the morale of the playing squad or the fans.
Arsenal have silenced the doubters again (Thomas Vermaelen pictured with Wayne Rooney) with a brilliant display in Dortmund to leave them in a great position in their Champions League group. They are full of confidence and I think a free-kick from Mesut Ozil will prove to be the difference. 11 points, even for Manchester United will be too big a deficit to bridge.
Arsenal have silenced the doubters again (Thomas Vermaelen pictured with Wayne Rooney) with a brilliant display in Dortmund to leave them in a great position in their Champions League group. They are full of confidence and I think a free-kick from Mesut Ozil will prove to be the difference. 11 points, even for Manchester United will be too big a deficit to bridge.
SIMON PREDICTS: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
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