DC Predicts: Premier league predictions week 4

Welcome to my fourth weekly premier league predictions article. I am predicting the Premier League fixtures every week and tracking my progress as I go along using a points system that I have devised which is as follows:

Getting the outcome of the match wrong: 0 points

Getting the outcome of a match correct: 1 point

Getting the exact score of a match correct: 3 points

BONUS POINTS

Getting five outcomes in a set of fixtures correct: 2 points

Getting five exact scores in a set of fixtures correct: 4 points

I am comparing my progress to BBC Sport’s Mark Lawrenson and seeing how our prediction success compares throughout the season.

Last week I scored 4 points consisting of 1 correct outcome and 1 perfect score. Mark Lawrenson got 2 correct outcomes but no perfect scores leaving him with just 2 points.

After 3 weeks of the contest Mark Lawrenson and I are level on 16 points.  

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/52325-dc-predicts-premiership-week-3-predictions Click here to read my predictions from last week.

Who will be leading after week 4? Here are the predictions:

Liverpool Vs Manchester United

Liverpool to me still have the same problems as last season. They rely too heavily on two or three players and some of Rafa’s decisions in games are still very questionable, mainly the substitutions. This season they have been able to scrape results rather than drop too many points, which in fairness shows a sign of improvement and more grit.

Manchester United have started slowly as they often do, but that result away to Portsmouth was a big result in my opinion. Fratton Park is a place where the team have often flopped in the past.

Manchester United also have Berbatov in their line-up for the first time. I think Berbatov will work well with Rooney. Manu now have that out and out striker that they really lacked. I feel it’s the last piece of the puzzle for them.

This will be a very tight game and not likely a game that will be thrilling to watch. Liverpool may be at home but Manu have the stronger squad, and Rafa’s record against other top 4 teams is poor and I don’t see that changing.

Liverpool will be very competitive but Manu have that little bit extra that will be important. If Torres and Gerrard were fully fit I would give Liverpool a better chance of getting a result.

Verdict: 0-1

Blackburn Vs Arsenal

Arsenal put in a very good performance at home to Newcastle and their team looks to be coming together. Walcott showed himself mid-week to be an ever-improving player, and this will give him a huge amount of extra confidence. For young players that can make such a difference. It could also make all the difference in the Arsenal performance.

Blackburn have made a decent start under Paul Ince and they look to be a very hard team to play against. That heavy defeat to West Ham didn’t tell the whole story. It was quite a flattering score for West Ham.

At home I think Blackburn will frustrate Arsenal and can snatch a result from this match.

Verdict- 0-0

Fulham Vs Bolton

Fulham are making a lot of improvements at the moment. I can see them staying out of relegation trouble this season. That win against Arsenal was a really big result for them and that will have put a lot of belief in the team. The spirit must currently been very high.

Bolton are physical and aggressive as usual but with Elmander they also have more goal threat. However Elmander is injured and against a strong Fulham team at Craven Cottage I think Bolton may struggle. Unless Bolton can source some goals from elsewhere then this season could turn out to be another difficult one.

Fulham will be able to edge this game but it will probably be scrappy and not too pretty to watch, but they won’t mind this.

Verdict- 2-0

Newcastle Vs Hull

Both these sides will be coming off the back of a dark week. Newcastle have huge troubles behind the scenes in the aftermath of Kevin Keegan’s departure. Hull had a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Wigan and for a newly promoted club that’s always hard to recover from.

Newcastle fans will really try and get behind their team. They will try to at least help them get a result so that they have something positive to say after a bad week. Hull won’t want a repeat of what happened against Wigan and will probably keep it tight. This may be the best way to get a result as it will silence the fans and frustrate the Newcastle players after a week of turmoil.

I think this will end up in a draw, which will be a much better result for Hull than for Newcastle.

Verdict: 1-1

Portsmouth Vs Middlesbrough

Portsmouth didn’t get an easy start having to play against Chelsea and Manu. However against Everton they showed why they are a top 6 contender. Defoe and Crouch played well together. There was strength in the midfield and David James performed his usual match winning heroics.

Boro are looking more like a quality side week by week at the moment. The patience with Gareth Southgate is paying off and is a valuable lesson to all foreign chairmen. Southgate has moulded a squad strong in all areas, particularly up front, which is an area, Boro had problems in for the last couple of seasons.

This is a game between two strong sides but I think home advantage will tip it in Portsmouth’s favour. However with two strong attacking line-ups I think there will be goals in this one.

Verdict: 3-2

West Brom Vs West Ham

There is nothing particularly wrong with the football that West Brom are playing at the moment. However you look at the squad, and finding where the goals are going to come from is very difficult. In January West Brom need to put all their money in finding a regular scorer otherwise survival will simple be impossible. Up till January staying in touch will be an acheivement

West Ham have a few problems behind the scenes at the moment. However their situation is nowhere near as bad as Newcastle. In their favour they now have a new manager that will put politics out of the player’s mind. I think Zola will get a lot of respect from the dressing room, plus I think he will be very attack minded and this will suit West Ham’s players and reap praise from the fans.

West Brom is a good first game for Zola. I think West Ham will win this game comfortably and start a good positive new era for the Hammers.

Verdict: 0-3

Wigan Vs Sunderland

I am impressed with both these teams at the moment. Both have improved over the Summer and have player well this season. They look like two solid mid-table sides looking up as opposed to looking down.

Sunderland have a great mix of players with some valuable experience which is really helping. Roy Keane appears to be injecting a lot of passion and belief into his players. You sense Sunderland is now a happier club to be playing for. I didn’t always get that feeling last season.

Wigan are very hard to beat but they also look good up front and they have pace, which is such an attribute in the premiership. Heskey is perhaps on the best form I have seen him in. He was great for England midweek. Plus Zaki looks like a great player and alongside Heskey he has a lot of goals in him.

I think Wigan are now a threat for anyone as Chelsea found out almost to their loss.

This has the makings of a close game but I fancy Wigan to nick this one.

Verdict: 2-1

Manchester City Vs Chelsea

Manchester City have spent loads and loads of money. However I sense that the new owners think that winning the premiership is going to be easy. When they are nowhere near the level of teams like Chelsea and Manu, then it’s going to be difficult just to get into the top 4. Over time Mark Hughes will turn this into a great team and when it comes to competing for titles there won’t be anyone better than Mark Hughes. So I hope the new owners play the long-term game.

Wright Philips showed glimpses of his best form in his first game back at City and Robinho is another great signing. If all City’s players are good on the day then no doubt they can challenge Chelsea but they have to be 110%.

I think it will be a close game. However I think this game will be the reality check that a couple of the new signings and new owners will need, to show that there is a very long journey still ahead for this club.

Verdict: 1-3

Stoke Vs Everton

Everton look to be slipping back this season. The main problems are a lack of investment and a lack of strength in depth. Clubs like Man City and Portsmouth are moving forward in these areas and threaten to leave Everton behind. I feel clubs like Middlesbrough, Wigan and Sunderland are closing in on Everton. As long as their main players perform consistently Everton will still finish strongly but more is needed if they want to maintain their current position as midfield leader.

I was worried by Stoke after their first game. However recently they have looked like a very hard working team and they can play good football. There is a very good spirit and confidence there. I think they will fancy their chances this weekend.

However Everton are still strong and tough to beat. If Everton tighten up at the back then I still tip them to get the goals they need to win the game.

A lot of people think Everton will struggle at Stoke but I see no reason why they can’t win and they will edge it here.

Verdict: 1-2

Tottenham Vs Aston Villa

It has been a rough time for Spurs recently. Playing good football and creating chances hasn’t been the problem. It has been getting the goals and converting good football into results. That 1-1 draw against Chelsea shows that they are a very capable team and will re-install belief. They will hope Pavlyuchenko can fill the missing piece of the jigsaw. If he doesn’t take the chances then the goal problem will continue.

Aston Villa are continuing to look like a good side with quality all over the pitch and they are one of the challengers for 5^th position. They is so much more to come from some of the players in the team. In years to come these players will be stronger and of higher value transfer wise. Villa are in a promising position.

This is an interesting match-up and it’s hard to pick a winner. Spurs should be strong at home but I think it will be an exciting score draw.

Verdict: 2-2