EPL Week 9 Fixtures: Schedule, Live Stream Info and Score Predictions

After Gameweek 8 produced the most goals of the season so far—per OptaSports—this weekend’s slate of Premier League action has a lot to live up to.

Manchester City travel to Chelsea for the weekend’s blockbuster clash, while relegation zone occupants Norwich City welcome Cardiff City to Carrow Road with both sides in need of three points.

Date, time	Home	vs.	Away	TV	Prediction
Oct. 26, 12:45 p.m BST	Crystal Palace	vs.	Arsenal	BT Sport	Arsenal win, 4-0
Oct. 26, 3 p.m BST	Norwich City	vs.	Cardiff City		Norwich win, 2-1
Oct. 26, 3 p.m BST	Liverpool	vs.	West Brom		Draw, 2-2
Oct. 26, 3 p.m BST	Aston Villa	vs.	Everton		Everton win, 1-0
Oct. 26, 3 p.m BST	Manchester United	vs.	Stoke		United win, 3-0
Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m BST	Southampton	vs.	Fulham	Sky Sports	Southampton win, 2-1
Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m BST	Sunderland	vs.	Newcastle	Sky Sports	Newcastle win, 2-1
Oct. 27, 4 p.m BST	Swansea	vs.	West Ham		Swansea win, 3-1
Oct. 27, 4 p.m BST	Tottenham	vs.	Hull		Spurs win, 3-1
Oct. 27, 4 p.m BST	Chelsea	vs.	Manchester City	Sky Sports	Draw, 2-2

BT Sport subscribers can view Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal via the BT Sport app.

UK viewers can watch Sky Sports’ live games on the Sky Player website or via SkyGo for laptops and mobile devices (subscription required). Live scores are also provided on Sky Sports News throughout each match.

All highlights are available without the need for subscription on Match of the Day (BBC One, Saturday) or Match of the Day 2 (BBC2, Sunday). Both can be found on BBC iPlayer Monday.

Here’s a more in depth look at three of this weekend’s big clashes.

Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion, Saturday Oct. 26, 3 p.m. BST

West Brom have posed some difficulties for Liverpool in recent years. The Baggies will arrive at Anfield confident in the knowledge that they picked up six points from their last two visits to Merseyside, and they will be hoping to ruffle some Liver bird feathers once more come Saturday.

In the last three league outings between the two teams, Steve Clarke’s side have scored six times while Liverpool have failed to register one single goal.

West Brom have played the big teams close this season, beating Manchester United in Old Trafford while picking up points against both Arsenal and Everton, and the midfield partnership of Claudio Yacob and Youssouf Mulumbu will be key to their chances this weekend. 

The duo looked completely in sync when pitted against Arsenal’s talented midfielders, shutting down moves before Arsene Wenger’s side had a chance to run at the back four, and it will be a case of more of the same against Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers’ team came away from St. James’ Park last weekend with a disappointing 2-2 draw, and the Northern Irishman will need to make some changes ahead of the visit of West Brom.

The one thing glaringly obvious from Liverpool’s performance was the importance of Lucas Leiva to the side. The holding midfielder missed out on the game due to the birth of his daughter—per David Cartlidge in the Daily Mail—and in his absence Liverpool struggled to contain the 10 men of Newcastle. 

Alan Pardew’s side turned defense into attack with ease throughout the match, and, without Lucas, Newcastle had big gaping holes to run into.

Lucas is expecting to return for this weekend, and, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in excellent form, Liverpool will be expected to take home three points. Having said that, it will be a tightly fought contest with a score draw the most likely outcome.

 

Southampton v Fulham, Saturday Oct. 26, 3 p.m. BST

While Arsenal may be the standout team of the Premier League season so far, Southampton can’t be too far behind them.

Mauricio Pochettino’s stock has risen dramatically since arriving in the south of England, and the controversy surrounding Nigel Adkins’ sacking has faded with each passing result.

After nicking a draw at the death against Manchester United in Gameweek 8, Southampton are set to welcome Fulham, who eased passed Crystal Palace 4-1 on Monday, to St. Mary’s Stadium.

Martin Jol has the personnel at his disposal to threaten the Saints. Dimitar Berbatov rediscovered his goal scoring touch on Monday, and with players like Bryan Ruiz, Darren Bent and Pajtim Kasami to call upon, it’s impossible to rule out the possibility of a Fulham upset.

Southampton’s biggest problem has been up front. Rickie Lambert was consigned to the bench for the trip to the Theatre of Dreams and their big-money signing from Roma, Dani Osvaldo, has been firing blanks since arriving in the Premier League.

If Pochettino can begin to get the best out of Osvaldo, who scored 16 goals in Serie A last season—per ESPN, then the Saints will spend more time looking up the table than down it.

The Saints are much more of a cohesive unit than Fulham and Pochettino has each of his players performing at their peak. Expect them to continue their run of form.

 

Norwich City v Cardiff City, Saturday Oct. 26, 3 p.m BST

Just one point separates Norwich and Cardiff in the table, and both sides will be desperate for three points on Saturday.

Matches among teams that linger around the relegation zone are often the ones that count the most come May time, and both bosses will be eager to stamp their authority this early in the season.

Chris Hughton’s side have picked up just four points from their four home games and they will need to recreate the atmosphere inside Carrow Road that brought them so much success last year. In their 19 home games during the 2012/'13 season, Norwich won eight and drew seven, which was the second-best return of those teams outside the top eight.

The visit of Cardiff represents a great opportunity for Norwich to return to winning ways at home.

Malky Mackay’s side have won once on the road this season—against Fulham in Gameweek 6—and after two consecutive defeats, albeit against Chelsea and Newcastle, Mackay will be hoping to stem the flow sooner rather than later.

The Cardiff boss has endured a difficult few weeks—per Stuart James in the Guardian—at the helm in Wales. Although he has the full backing of the club’s supporters, another loss—this time against fellow relegation strugglers—may not be taken lightly by the club’s controversial owner Vincent Tan.

Both sides have been up and down this season, but if Norwich can reproduce the form at home that they demonstrated so often last season they should come away with the spoils.