England Round 10
- Thread starter spkutano
- Start date
Bournemouth vs Manchester City Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Bournemouth:
Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson
Manchester City:
Ederson; Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Bernardo, Gundogan, Foden, Nunes; Haaland
Bournemouth will welcome the reigning champions Manchester City to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The hosts are sitting in the middle of the table with 12 points. I assume the fans are not fully satisfied, but they must keep on mind Dominic Solanke left the club during the summer. He was the key player and best goalscorers. However, the actual form could be evaluated as good. The Cherries are unbeaten in the last two matches, both against Champions League representatives. Bournemouth registered a 2:0 home win against Arsenal and played an 1:1 draw with Aston Villa in Birmingham, thanks to Evanilson who netted a dramatic 96th-minute equalizer at Villa Park. Andoni Iraola will try to use the momentum for another success, but it won't be easy. The Spanish manager is unlikely to make lot of changes, if any. However, Alex Scott is sidelined due to a knee injury, while goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Luis Sinisterra and Philip Billing will all be assessed on Sunday. The last week hero Evanilson could start from the first minute.
Manchester City are the leaders in the Premier League after nine rounds. They have 23 points, one more than second-placed Liverpool and five more than Arsenal and Aston Villa. Pep Guardiola is doing an excellent job and the fans are pleased. City are in excellent form in league, but also in Europe. The Citizens have won the last three fixtures in the Premier League and the last two in the Champions League. The only failure is the elimination in League Cup where lost to Tottenham. But it is important to mention Guardiola heavily rotated the players on that match, mostly because of the injury situation. He has lot of injury issues ahead of this match too. He is still without newly-crowned Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and his absence is a huge handicap. In addition, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish are also out injured. That's not all as the long injury list now also includes Savinho and Manuel Akanji. Savinho was stretchered off on Wednesday with an ankle injury, while Akanji picked up an injury during the warm-up. Both players are rated as doubtful. Josko Gvardiol will also be assessed after sustaining a knock against Tottenham.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City Prediction:
Manchester City are big favorites in this match. They are the reigning champions and leaders on the table, so they are favorites in every match. However, the long injury list is surely a big problem for Guardiola, particularly the absence of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne. But it seems Guardiola find a way to adapt. Haaland, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan and Foden are all top players. Most of them did not start against Tottenham on Wednesday in order to be ready for this match. I believe Manchester City will win.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City Pick: Manchester City to win @ 1.58 with Pinnacle
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion Preview:
Possible starting lineups::
Liverpool:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Nunez
Brighton & Hove Albion:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Adingra, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Mitoma; Rutter, Welbeck
Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion will face for the second time in just four days, but now at Anfield in the Premier League fixture. The Reds were better at Amex as they managed to eliminate the Seagulls from the League Cup. Both managers rotated the players, however Arne Slot outsmarted Fabian Hurzeler as Liverpool won 3:2 in Wednesday's Last-16 knockout clash. Cody Gakpo was the key name that evening. The Dutch international have scored a brace at Amex to become the League Cup specialist. Gakpo has scored four goals this season, with all four coming in the EFL Cup. The series have started last season, when he went on an impressive run of scoring in four successive games in the competition. Luis Diaz also found the back of the net, so Adingra and Tariq Lamptey's goals didn't make any difference.
Liverpool will try to register the second victory against Brighton. The Reds now have the home advantage, so they are big favorites. However, it is always tricky to play with the same opponents twice in short period. Arne Slot is well aware about that fact and I expect lot of changes in the starting eleven. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister should all be back to the starting lineup. The injury situation is not good as some players remain sidelined. Diogo Jota will not be back before the November international break after picking up a rib injury against Chelsea. The Portuguese forward have already missed the draw with Arsenal and the cup match with Brighton as a result. Summer signing Federico Chiesa is struggling with fitness. Harvey Elliott and Alisson Becker remain out.
Brighton are sixth with 16 points and I think the fans are satisfied. New manager Fabian Hurzeler, who replaced Roberto de Zerbi during the summer, is doing a fantastic job. The Seagulls have four wins, four draws and one loss. The lone defeat came against Chelsea in September. It was an "one-man show" with Cole Palmer in main role. Brighton defenders were unable to stop him to became the first Premier League player in history to score four goals in one half. However, the current form could be rated as good. Brighton have two wins and one draw on the last three league matches. But Hurzeler has some injury issues ahead of this game. Lewis Dunk, who suffered a calf injury in the warm-up to the Wolves draw, is rated as doubtful. Yankuba Minteh and Joao Pedro are also injury doubts, while Solly March, James Milner, Matt O'Riley and Adam Webster are definitely out.
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion Prediction:
I expect both teams to score here. Liverpool have top strikers, so the absence of Jota is not a big problem. But midfielders are also able to score, even the defenders. Curtis Jones netted a winner against Chelsea, while Van Dijk was scorer against Arsenal. At the same time, the Reds are not perfect defensively anymore. Liverpool conceded two goals on the last two matches. They played 2:2 with Arsenal in the Premier League and won 3:2 against Brighton in the League Cup. The Seagulls could score at Anfield too.
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion Pick: Both teams to Score - Yes @ 1.61 with Pinnacle
Manchester United vs. Chelsea Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Manchester United:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Ugarte; Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Chelsea:
Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Gusto; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Manchester United will welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford in the most interesting match of the weekend. The Red Devils are in very complicated situation. After the last week defeat to West Ham, the club officials decided to sack the manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman had some success, he led the club to two domestic cup trophies, but that wasn't enough. Rubin Amorim from Sporting Lisbon is the new manager, but he will start after the international break. In the meantime, assistant coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy will temporary lead the team. His debut was fantastic, Manchester United won 5:2 against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. The fans enjoyed the show in which Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes were double scorers, while Alejandro Garnacho netted the fifth. The atmosphere in the squad is very good and Van Nistelrooy will try to use the momentum for another positive result. He is without some important players as Antony remains out after suffering an ankle injury against Fenerbahce in Europe League. In addition, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are also out injured. Finally, Christian Eriksen is rated as doubtful.
Chelsea are fifth on the table with 17 points at the time of writing. It is clear this match is very important for their ambitions. Manager Enzo Maresca is doing a solid job and victory here could see them between Top-4. Of course, that depends on Arsenal and Aston Villa results this weekend. However, Chelsea arrive at Old Trafford with the second-best attacking record in the league. Only the reigning Champions Manchester City have scored more goals - 20 compared to Chelsea's 19. It is not surprise as Maresca has some fantastic strikers, like Palmer, Madueke, Jackson etc. In the last round Chelsea beat Newcastle 2:1 at Stamford Bridge. The Blues faced Newcastle again on Wednesday, this time in League Cup. It seems Maresca don't care too much about the cup competitions. He made a full 11 changes for the midweek reunion with the Magpies at St James Park and lost 2:0. The Italian coach will start with the best eleven here. Most of the players are ready, only the youngster Omari Kellyman is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho is ineligible to face his parent club.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea Prediction:
I expect an efficient match at Old Trafford. Manchester United won 5:2 against Leicester City on Wednesday. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes were double scorers, while Alejandro Garnacho netted the fifth. The atmosphere in the squad is very good and interim coach Van Nistelrooy will try to use the momentum for another positive result. But Chelsea are excellent team and they are very good in attack. As I wrote above, the Blues have the second-best attacking record in the league. It should be lot of goals in the derby.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea Pick: Over 3.5 goals @ 2.05 with Everygame