EPL Predictions: Picks, Top Players for Week 8 Premier League Fixtures
The Premier League returns after the international break with a set of mouthwatering fixtures, as Liverpool entertain Manchester United at Anfield.
The two traditional giants of the English game face off on Monday night, with Jose Mourinho's side giving chase to Jurgen Klopp's Reds in the table.
Manchester City attempt to cling on to their place at the summit as they welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium, with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal within touching distance of top spot.
The Gunners face Swansea City at the Emirates Stadium, and a victory could see them leapfrog the Sky Blues. Spurs can also collect the lead in the title race if they claim the three points on offer at West Bromwich Albion and City stumble.
Read on for a look at which players could be set to star for their sides in Week 8, but first, here is the full schedule complete with predictions for each match:
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 12:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. | Chelsea vs. Leicester City | 2-1 |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Arsenal vs. Swansea City | 3-1 |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Bournemouth vs. Hull City | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Manchester City vs. Everton | 3-1 |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Stoke City vs. Sunderland | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Tottenham Hotspur | 1-2 |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. | Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United | 1-0 |
| Sunday, Oct. 16 | 1:30 p.m./8:30 a.m. | Middlesbrough vs. Watford | 2-1 |
| Sunday, Oct. 16 | 4:00 p.m./11:00 a.m. | Southampton vs. Burnley | 3-1 |
| Monday, Oct. 17 | 8 p.m./3 p.m. | Liverpool vs. Manchester United | 2-1 |
Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
It was only a matter of weeks ago that many football fans were writing Liverpool off, with their defence resembling a colander and leaking profusely.
Fast forward to the present, and the Reds sit in the UEFA Champions League spots after some electric form in front of goal.
Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho have taken Liverpool forward, and the Merseyside team sit two points behind City at the top of the division.
Coutinho is in the best form of his life, scoring four times in all competitions this season, according to WhoScored.com.
Firmino has been less impressive than his compatriot but has the same tally of strikes after the opening games of Premier League action, per WhoScored.
Both players have battled their way back into action for Brazil, and the pair recently led their country to a 5-0 win over Bolivia in 2018 World Cup qualification.
Firmino has converted into a striker for Klopp, and the player has brought a different dimension to Liverpool's attack, checking deeper to link with his team-mates.
Coutinho has continued to deliver statistics that prove he is on par with the best creative talent in England, as highlighted by Squawka Football:
Klopp's team are performing at a surprisingly high standard this term, and they enter the clash with United as slight favourites.
The Reds have achieved five wins from seven in the league, while United have spluttered with inconsistency and teething problems under Mourinho's new regime at Old Trafford.
If Firmino and Coutinho are firing once they return from South America, it is difficult to envision United's defence keeping a clean sheet in front of the Kop.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, Manchester United
United's superstar buys from the summer are yet to turn the Red Devils into an irresistible force, but the signs are positive for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba.
The mercurial Swede appears comfortable in his new surroundings at Old Trafford, but Pogba has taken his time to settle since returning to the club in a world-record transfer.
The Sun Football highlighted Ibrahimovic's training regime under Mourinho as he attempts to bring silverware to United:
Pogba has struggled to find form in the hectic pace of English football, but a transitional phase was always expected after years in Italian football.
As a player who spent his teenage years at United, he will understand the rivalry with Liverpool and will know a match-winning performance will release the pressure on him and his manager.
Liverpool's defence remains poor, and if United can string together a cohesive performance, they could be provided with joy in the penalty area.
Ibrahimovic and Pogba are big-game players, and it does not get bigger than this north-west derby in the Premier League.
However, Coutinho and Firmino have the wind in their sails, and the Brazilians are the more likely to be the heroes on Monday night.
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Draft Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Fans React to Simpson Pick 😱")
.jpg?w=600 "Vet Wideout Landing Spots After Draft 📍")