Premier League Week 7 Fixtures: EPL Picks and Predictions for Matchday 7
Six games into the 2014-15 Premier League campaign and storylines continue to unravel from top to bottom league-wide. Chelsea still leads the brigade while two Premier League new boys make up the bottom three.
This far into the season, one might not have expected to see Southampton above the likes of Manchester City or Arsenal. Meanwhile, 14th-place Liverpool are struggling to live up to last term's dizzying heights.
Week 7 features a host of fixtures between top-half combatants, each seeking that next step in their progression, and we provide predictions for how this weekend's melee will play out.
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| Date | Time | Home | vs. | Away | Prediction |
| Oct. 4 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Hull City | vs. | Crystal Palace | 2-2 Draw |
| Oct. 4 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Leicester City | vs. | Burnley | 3-0 Home Win |
| Oct. 4 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Liverpool | vs. | West Brom | 2-1 Home Win |
| Oct. 4 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Sunderland | vs. | Stoke | 1-1 Draw |
| Oct. 4 | 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET | Swansea City | vs. | Newcastle United | 2-0 Home Win |
| Oct. 4 | 5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET | Aston Villa | vs. | Man City | 2-0 Away Win |
| Oct. 5 | 12 p.m. BST/7 a.m. ET | Manchester United | vs. | Everton | 2-2 Draw |
| Oct. 5 | 2:05 p.m. BST/9:05 a.m. ET | Chelsea | vs. | Arsenal | 3-1 Home Win |
| Oct. 5 | 2:05 p.m. BST/9:05 a.m. ET | Tottenham | vs. | Southampton | 2-1 Away Win |
| Oct. 5 | 4:15 p.m. BST/11:15 a.m. ET | West Ham | vs. | QPR | 2-0 Home Win |
Manchester United Frustrated Once More
Louis van Gaal's Manchester United are in a state of what has become a rare joy following their second win of the season against West Ham last weekend, but it's a streak at risk of being short-lived.
The visit of Everton this weekend is one that threatens to dislodge their victorious ways once again, and Squawka reveals a lengthy list of absences currently plaguing the Red Devils, Ander Herrera its most recent addition due to a fractured rib:
Despite their poor reputation of late, United's record at Old Trafford makes for better reading. Their average of one goal conceded per home fixture is currently the fifth-best mark in the Premier League. Their record of 2.33 goals scored in front of a home audience is even better, worse only than Chelsea and Leicester City.
However, the Red Devils lost twice to the Toffees last season, a party which by all means had the better of them in a tactical sense, and the absentees under Van Gaal could make for further frustration.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-2 Everton
Gunners Fail to Shoot Down Chelsea Hopes
It's hard to envision a Premier League side capable of deposing Chelsea's momentum at present, and after stuttering at home to Tottenham last weekend, Arsenal seem no more likely to accomplish such a feat.
The Blues are so far averaging three goals scored per game at Stamford Bridge this term and, per Infostrada Sports, Diego Costa is one to have immediately developed a romance with his west London setting:
As long as the Premier League's current top scorer can be kept in a prolific mood, it seems Jose Mourinho's side will be capable of soaring, and the Gunners' midfield concerns at present leave a considerable gap for the Blues to exploit.
Wayne Veysey of Goal.com confirm Arsene Wenger's first-choice midfield trio could all miss the trip to west London:
Mourinho has been fortunate in that his injury woes are nowhere near as critical, and it's difficult to envision the Gunners developing any real grip on possession with such a pivotal collection of stars in doubt.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
Mauricio Pochettino Haunted By Saints
A running storyline this season has been whether Ronald Koeman's Southampton "Version 2.0" is better or worse than that of Mauricio Pochettino's previous incarnation, and the two managerial minds meet at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
This won't so much be a battle to determine if the Saints have improved or worsened as such, but more a fight between tacticians old and new, promising to determine if it's Koeman himself who's a step up at St. Mary's.
The Saints come to north London in second place, but their boss is by no means getting ahead of himself, telling Studio Voetbal (h/t FourFourTwo's Elko Born) that eighth is still around their target zone:
It's incredibly humble praise from the Dutchman, and with Spurs losing their last two home league games to West Brom and Liverpool, 1-0 and 3-0, respectively, Southampton will certainly smell blood for this trip.
Prediction: Tottenham 1-2 Southampton
