EPL Week 9 Predictions: Strikers Guaranteed to Score This Weekend

There have been 196 goals scored so far this Premier League season—per the people that keep these stats at premierleague.com.

Some have been instant classics; some have been bundled over the line; and some have even been into players' own nets. But they all count, and when Gameweek 9 gets underway it will be all every fan in the country can think about.

Now don’t go putting your house on it, but here’s a look at three players almost certain to get their names on the scoresheet.

Date, time	Home	vs.	Away	Prediction
Oct. 26, 12:45 p.m BST	Crystal Palace	vs.	Arsenal	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	Southampton win, 2-1
Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m BST	Sunderland	vs.	Newcastle	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	Draw, 2-2

Luis Suarez

Suarez did pretty much everything except score in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle.

The Uruguayan won the penalty that Steven Gerrard went on to convert, which was the Englishman’s 100th Premier League goal, before turning provider for Daniel Sturridge to level things at two goals apiece. And the controversial striker almost sealed his man-of-the-match performance with a goal when he struck the woodwork with the clock ticking down at the end of the match.

At the beginning of the season there were doubts over whether Suarez would play another game in the red of Liverpool, but he has looked both sharp and committed since his return from suspension. 

The West Bromwich Albion defence stood up to the challenge of Arsenal when Arsene Wenger’s side visited the Hawthorns. They limited the team that sit top to just one goal, with Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yabob cleaning up in midfield.

But Suarez offers an entirely different challenge.

He will drag the Baggies' defense from side to side, repeatedly looking to get in behind the back four. With Daniel Sturridge for company, Liverpool should find goals in this game, and if Suarez’s performances in recent weeks are anything to go by he should rattle the net at Anfield.

The 26-year-old has three goals in three league games. Expect him to add to that this weekend.

Olivier Giroud

The French front man has bagged six goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season, and when he takes a look at this weekend’s opponents, he will rub his hands in glee.

Arsenal make the short visit across London to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in Saturday’s earlier kick-off. The Eagles will likely be managerless after Ian Holloway’s decision to leave his post midweek, and they have lacked direction all season.

They possess the second-worst defensive record in the league, having shipped 17 goals in eight league games, and they haven’t taken anything from a game since a 3-1 win over Sunderland at the end of August.

Palace have scored just six goals in the league, so Arsenal should be able to take the game to their opponents without having to pack men behind the ball.

Giroud should benefit directly from this. His main strengths are holding up the ball and bringing the midfielders into play, and while his assist tally of four is impressive, it will be his goal count that should spike this weekend. 

The former Montpellier man has a WhoScored? Rating of 7.98, which puts him third behind Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil this season.

 

Loic Remy

Remy is another player who takes his position in this list as a direct result of the opposition that lies ahead this weekend.

Sunderland are up next for Newcastle, and the Black Cats appear to be even worse off than Crystal Palace this season, having conceded 2.5 goals per game, and 20 in total.

Sunderland put up a good show for the opening 55 minutes against Swansea in Gus Poyet’s first game in charge. But once the Swans took the lead, Sunderland’s heads dropped, and they conceded three in seven minutes. There is a risk for Poyet that that could happen again this weekend in the Tyne-Wear derby.

Remy will relish the opportunity to run at a back four who have spent most of the season watching players go past them. The Sunderland defence isn’t the most mobile, and Remy will look to exploit that.

The 26-year-old has been deployed both on the wing and up front for Newcastle, but Alan Pardew would be best advised to start him up front on Sunday. 

The Frenchman does enjoy playing on the wing, cutting in and letting fly from distance, but with Papiss Cisse failing to find some form, Remy is needed up top for the Magpies.