Michael Owen’s Premier League Preview: Gameweek Eight

After a thrilling 2-2 draw against Man City, I’m sure Klopp’s men will return from their international break in good spirits. Mo Salah has been the league’s star player this season and my word, what a goal that was against City. The strength, pace and then composure was world-class, and he looks like scoring in every game.

Watford were poor in the away defeat to Leeds, but it was still a surprise to see Xisco Munoz lose his job. I know it’s a club that does things differently, but I’m still surprised to see Claudio Ranieri back in English football. Ranieri is an experienced coach, but this is a big ask of him.

As first games go, this is as tough as it gets. I think Liverpool will be too strong and win this 2-0.

Southampton are still winless in the league and are desperate for some optimism. They’ve only scored once in their last four matches, and they badly need to address that. Adam Armstrong is a good finisher but if they can’t get him decent service, this will be a long season.

Leeds haven’t hit top form this season, so to get their first win against Watford in their last was huge. They need to start scoring more though, they’ve only scored seven in the league so far. By this point last season, they had scored 13.

I don’t think this will be a thriller, these two have had a combined seven draws in the league so far this season. I can see another one here and I’m predicting 1-1.

Brighton played well against Arsenal and were a little unlucky not to claim all three points. They’ve made a fantastic start to the season, and it shows no sign of slowing down. They’ve got a tough run of fixtures after this, so Graham Potter will be targeting the win here.

Norwich got their first point of the season away to Burnley, but they desperately needed more. They’re still the league’s lowest scorers with just two, and they show no real signs of changing that.

Norwich will give this everything, but I don’t think they’ll have enough to beat Brighton. I fancy them to nick a goal, but I fancy Brighton to narrowly edge this 2-1.

It’s been a tough run of fixtures for Villa, facing Man United and Spurs away, so they’ll be delighted to get back to Villa Park. That was a famous win at Old Trafford, and they’ll be looking to build on that result to climb the table.

Wolves have turned their season around and have now won their last two. That was a deserved win over Newcastle and new man Hwang Hee-Chan now has three goals in four Premier League games. He and Jimenez are linking up well and it looks like Wolves have unearthed a bargain here.

Matches between these two are usually tight, and the match here last season finished 0-0. I think we will see goals in this but I’m tipping a low-scoring 1-1 draw.

It’s been a difficult run for Leicester, and they’ve not won in the league since August. They’ve not played badly but are conceding too many chances and are still too reliant on the talismanic Jamie Vardy to get them goals. I’m confident their form will turn, just not here.

I didn’t see United’s last two results coming. To pick up just one point from two home games to Aston Villa and Everton is disappointing and the pressure is back on Ole. Bruno Fernandes’ form has dried up, and Solskjaer needs to find a way to bring out the best of him and Cristiano Ronaldo.

When the pressure is on, Ole tends to get a result. Leicester haven’t beaten United at home in the league since 2014, so this is clearly a good matchup for United and despite their injury concerns at the back, I fancy United to narrowly edge this.

I thought City were outstanding for large parts of the game at Anfield. It was the same story as their defeat in Paris, some exceptional football but not putting the ball in the net. City still looks like the team to beat for me and if they had a recognised goal scorer upfront, they’d be virtually unstoppable.

Burnley’s performances have improved as the season has gone on, but they remain winless in the league. Sean Dyche will have been eyeing the win at home to Norwich in their last, so a goalless draw doesn’t help their cause too much.

I can only see one winner here. City rarely drop points at home to the teams they “should beat” and I’m predicting a comfortable City win.

What a win that was for Brentford away to West Ham. I’m so impressed with the start they’ve made, and I think they are going under the radar. Thomas Frank has got his side organised, and they look like a threat in every game. They’ve only conceded six goals, and three of those goals came against Liverpool.

This is a major test for the Bees though. After a surprising couple of results, Chelsea bounced back with a win at home to Southampton. I think the break came at the right time for the team and will allow them to recharge and get back to their best.

This won’t be an easy game for the Blues either, but I think they’ll be too strong for Brentford. I’m predicting a 2-0 Chelsea win.

Everton showed brilliant attitude to come back and claim a point at Old Trafford and could have nicked all three points. They’ve got back-to-back home games now and Rafa Benitez will be targeting all six points.

The Hammers have started the season so well, so I was surprised by the performance and the defeat at home to Brentford. If they are to have top-six aspirations, they can’t have many more slip-ups like that.

David Moyes would love to go back up to Goodison Park and claim the win, I don’t think he’ll get it though. Everton have won every home game under Benitez and I’m tipping another here by way of a 2-1 win.

It’s all change at St James’s Park. Some of the scenes we saw outside the ground after the takeover was made official were fantastic and those fans deserve some better years. It’s been a week full of speculation, so I’m curious how this will affect them on the pitch.

It’s been an inconsistent start to the season for Spurs, but they responded to the North London Derby defeat by beating Aston Villa last time out. This will be a crucial period of the season for Nuno Espirito Santo, and he needs to start getting wins.

The atmosphere at this game will be special. It’ll be a packed house and I’m looking forward to this. I don’t think Newcastle will have enough quality to claim the win, but I can see them getting a point. I’ll say 1-1.

All credit to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal as they seem to have turned their season around. I don’t think the performances have been fantastic, but they badly needed wins and that’s now 10 points from 12. A win here and they can begin to start thinking about a top-six push.

Palace have drawn their last two but showed loads of character to come back from two down to draw with Leicester last time. Vieira is doing a good job but still needs to claim a few more wins.

I’m sure it’ll be a special day for Vieira to manage against Arsenal, I just don’t think his side will have enough quality. I think Arsenal will narrowly edge it. I’ll say 2-1.