EPL Week 8 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixture Info
The first week of domestic action after an international break always makes for intriguing viewing. With various players having travelled to the farthest corners of the world, it’s often the time on the calendar when we get a few surprise results, as teams have to conquer fatigue and injury.
It’s also a vital period for gaining momentum. Teams who were playing poorly before the break will view this run of games as a fresh start, while those playing with vibrancy and swagger in the early weeks of the season will be looking to strike that balance again.
So looking ahead to Week 8 of the Premier League season, here are all the details you need on the matches ahead, as well as a look at some of the men who will play a critical role in their teams' respective clashes.
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| October 18 | Manchester City vs. Tottenham | 12:45 p.m. | 2-0 |
| October 18 | Arsenal vs. Hull | 3 p.m. | 3-1 |
| October 18 | Burnley vs. West Ham | 3 p.m. | 1-1 |
| October 18 | Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea | 3 p.m. | 0-2 |
| October 18 | Everton vs. Aston Villa | 3 p.m. | 2-1 |
| October 18 | Newcastle vs. Leicester | 3 p.m. | 2-2 |
| October 18 | Southampton vs. Sunderland | 3 p.m. | 2-0 |
| October 19 | QPR vs. Liverpool | 1:30 p.m. | 1-3 |
| October 19 | Stoke vs. Swansea | 4 p.m. | 1-1 |
| October 20 | West Brom vs. Manchester United | 8 p.m. | 2-3 |
David Silva
While Manchester City are yet to hit top gear this season, in David Silva they have one of the most in-form players in the league. The Spaniard has been at his majestic best in the infancy of the campaign, insouciantly floating around the pitch and locating pockets of space in dangerous areas.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were struggling to break down Aston Villa in their last domestic outing, but in the second half, the former Valencia man really turned on the style. He was the linchpin in all of City’s impactful attacking forays, and though he never found the back of the net himself, Silva was the catalyst for a vital 2-0 victory.
After that match, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher had some high praise for the Spaniard, per Matt Morlidge of the Mail Online:
"One player you would love to watch, no matter who you support—it would be him. [The] couple of other Spaniards like him—[Santi] Cazorla and [Juan] Mata—he's two or three levels above them. You never see him get tackled, you can't get near him.
His awareness is the best in world football, [Andres] Iniesta and Xavi are the nearest level to him. He's something special.
"
He’s continued that stellar form on the international scene for La Roja too, as we can see here courtesy of Bleacher Report UK:
Under Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham have tried to press teams higher up the pitch, but you have to wonder if they’ll adapt that strategy against City. If the Etihad outfit can play through the pres,s then there’ll be a lot of space for Silva to operate in, which would spell trouble for Spurs.
Containing the Spaniard will be critical to their chances of getting out of Manchester with any kind of positive result, but at this juncture, it’s difficult to see any side shutting down the player that the City faithful refer to as Merlin.
Nemanja Matic
The arrivals of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have given Chelsea a real refreshing edge in the early parts of this campaign, but Nemanja Matic is a player who has been just as crucial for Jose Mourinho’s side.
After re-signing for the club in January 2014, the Serbia international has been magnificent at the base of the Blues’ midfield, and with a physical challenge likely to await Chelsea at Selhurst Park, Matic—a player Mourinho recently described as a “monster,” per Adam Bate of Sky Sports—will have to be at his very best to keep things together.
It's his role in this team that has afforded the likes of Fabregas, Costa, Eden Hazard and Oscar the freedom to go and hurt the opposition. Matic is the lungs of the Chelsea midfield, and if they do lose possession, more often than not he’s there to win the ball back and calm things down. And when the situation calls, he’s also capable of surging forward himself.
Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe paid tribute to the sparkling form of the Serb:
Palace are a side with bundles of energy in the middle of the pitch, and during their 1-0 win over Chelsea last season, they really halted the Blues with ferocious pressing in that area. But with a battle-hardened Matic in situ—not to mention the calming influence of Fabregas alongside him—expect things to be a lot different this time round.
After a wonderful first season in charge, Roberto Martinez is finding things a lot more difficult at Everton in his second campaign. The Toffees have picked up just one win from the opening seven games, and they’ll be looking to Romelu Lukaku—the club’s record signing—to fire them back towards the top end of the table.
The £28 million man has notched just twice in the opening seven matches, and he’s looked a long way off the player who bullied defences in Everton blue last season. Indeed, in the Toffees’ last match, Manchester United’s young central defender Paddy McNair easily got the better of the Belgian international, as noted here by ESPN’s Iain Macintosh:
Lukaku has looked a little short of full fitness in the opening weeks of the season, and Everton supporters will be hoping the international break will have allowed him to recuperate ahead of a critical spell for the Toffees. The imminent return of Ross Barkley—a player who’s yet to feature so far this campaign—should also do plenty to lift the forward’s spirits.
Ahead of this one, Lukaku has admitted he had the chance to join Juventus, but he insisted that Everton was the ideal destination, per the Sunday People (h/t Liam Twomey of Goal.com):
"I'm here and I'm happy. I don't regret any choices I've made. Everton was the best choice I could make as a young player who wants to progress and develop.
"
This club is a good fit for me. They made so many efforts to get me. I feel at home here.
The former Chelsea man will need to be at his robust best against Aston Villa on Saturday, a game in which he’ll come up against two of the most physical defenders around in Ron Vlaar and Philippe Senderos. In front of a packed house at Goodison Park, expect Everton’s big-money signing to finally begin proving his worth with a strong display.
