Michael Owen: Premier League Matchday 6 Preview

We kick off the Premier League weekend with a cracking match as Leeds travel to Villa Park. The Villains are the only side in the league with a 100% record and I think this will be another match where they’ll fancy themselves to get 3 points. Leeds will be without Kalvin Phillips, but I still think the away side will have enough to cause them problems, so I’m siding with a draw.

Manchester City travel to West Ham after a midweek win in Europe against Porto. Based on their last two results, it looks like City could be turning the corner. The home side pose an obvious threat given their current form, but I think the Citizens will have enough to overcome the Hammers.

Fulham welcome Crystal Palace to Craven Cottage having picked up their first point of the season against Sheffield United. If it wasn’t for a late penalty scored by Billy Sharp, Scott Parker and his team would have been celebrating their first win of the season and they’ll be hoping to go one better here. Similarly, Palace lost a late goal of their own against Brighton. This one could be tight, but I think Palace have enough in their locker to shade it.

On Saturday evening Manchester United host Chelsea at Old Trafford. This will be the first time that United have played at home since their humiliating 6-1 defeat against Spurs. Chelsea, yet again, surrendered what looked a comfortable lead last week at home to Southampton. I don’t see much between these two and given that neither team have clicked so far this season, I think a draw is the most likely result.

Sheffield United managed to scrape a point at home to Fulham last week and now face the champions at Anfield. I think this could be another difficult afternoon for the Blades. Liverpool set themselves up nicely with a 1-0 away win against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, and I think they will take that good form into this and come away with three the points and another clean sheet.

Everton travel to Southampton after taking a point from last week’s Merseyside Derby. The Saints earned a valuable point in their 3-3 draw at Chelsea, so should come into this full of confidence. Southampton are a bit unpredictable at the minute, but they do have goals in their locker. However, so do the Toffees and I think they could shade it with the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin being the difference.

Wolves come into their home match against Newcastle after a good win on the road against Leeds on Monday night. It was an even game for much of the contest, and I think a similar match could be played out here. I think United will be hard to break down and can see them taking a point back up to Newcastle.

Leicester are enduring a poor run having lost their last two Premier League matches. The Foxes will be hoping that talisman Jamie Vardy will be fit for their trip to the Emirates. Arsenal weren’t great against City last week; however, I’ve seen enough in them this season to believe they can take all three points here.

Brighton host West Brom off the back of taking a point away to Crystal Palace. The Baggies come into this having not scored in their last two games, and I think that their lack of firepower could be their undoing here. Brighton have shown enough in flashes this season, and if they can recapture that, I think they can take the points here.

Spurs will still be licking their wounds after surrendering a 3 goal lead inside the last 10 minutes against West Ham. Burnley have been limited going forward this season, however, at the back they can be very difficult to break down. That said, I think Tottenham have enough to find a way through and can see them shading this by the smallest of margins.