Premier League Week 10 Fixtures: EPL Picks and Predictions for Matchday 10
The Manchester derby has always been one of the first matches to look for on the Premier League fixture list, but given Manchester City’s renaissance in recent years, meetings between red and blue have become some of the most gripping on the continent.
While derby matches are typically tight, tense affairs, when City come up against United there are usually goals aplenty. And in a Premier League season in which matches have yielded an average of a whopping 2.89 goals per game, per MyFootballFacts.com, expect no let-up in the enthralling attacking football on show.
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The Manchester derby is the crown jewel of the weekend, but there are myriad other intriguing fixtures to sample in Week 10 of the season. Here’s a rundown of the fixtures and a closer look at some of the ties of the weekend, including that enticing clash at the Etihad.
| Fixture | Date | Kickoff (GMT) | Prediction |
| Newcastle vs. Liverpool | Sat., Nov. 1 | 12:45 p.m. | 1-2 |
| Arsenal vs. Burnley | Sat., Nov. 1 | 3 p.m. | 4-0 |
| Chelsea vs. QPR | Sat., Nov. 1 | 3 p.m. | 3-0 |
| Hull vs. Southampton | Sat., Nov. 1 | 3 p.m. | 1-1 |
| Everton vs. Swansea | Sat., Nov. 1 | 3 p.m. | 2-1 |
| Leicester vs. West Brom | Sat., Nov. 1 | 3 p.m. | 2-2 |
| Stoke vs. West Ham | Sat., Nov. 1 | 3 p.m. | 1-1 |
| Manchester City vs. Manchester United | Sun., Nov. 2 | 1:30 p.m. | 2-0 |
| Aston Villa vs. Tottenham | Sun., Nov. 2 | 4 p.m. | 0-0 |
| Crystal Palace vs. Sunderland | Mon., Nov 3 | 8 p.m. | 1-0 |
Newcastle United vs. Liverpool
After their start to the campaign was punctured by protests and poor form, Newcastle are a team that finally look as though they’re moving in the right direction. Alan Pardew has steered the Toon to consecutive Premier League wins, and they’ll feel confident hosting a Liverpool side struggling for rhythm.
Indeed, the Reds have failed to convince in any of their games following the most recent international break, and their frustrations were compounded last time out when Hull City managed to take a point from Anfield, holding Brendan Rodgers’ side to a 0-0 draw.
Both teams will be coming into this one on the back of a League Cup tie in midweek, so neither boss will be too pleased with the early kick-off slot on Saturday. You suspect both managers will have to rotate their squad accordingly, and with a vital Champions League clash against Real Madrid to come for the Reds just three days later, it’ll be interesting to see what XI Rodgers fields here.
Mario Balotelli is a player desperate to make an impression in the north-east after a difficult run of games, and although Newcastle have hit their stride in recent weeks, his physicality will cause problems for what has been an otherwise ropey defence. Expect him to find form this weekend and for Liverpool to take a vital three points back to Merseyside.
Prediction: Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool
Manchester City vs. Manchester United
Manuel Pellegrini’s side suffered a shock defeat at West Ham in their previous Premier League outing, but they’ll be hoping a return to the Etihad Stadium will enable them to rediscover the winning formula against their city rivals.
City did the double over United last season, racking up seven goals in the two games against the Red Devils. But you suspect that under Louis van Gaal, the men from Old Trafford will make a better fist of things this time round, especially after they struck late to secure a morale-boosting 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
While City have yet to reach their full potential on the road, at home they’re a much more formidable proposition. In front of their own supporters, the champions play with a swagger and a freedom that’s been scarcely seen away from home, and although United are making strides, Pellegrini’s men will feel confident of notching a vital win.
They'll feel even more confident should midfielder Samir Nasri be available, as noted by City Watch:
United have a concern over the fitness of Wayne Rooney, who could miss this one due to a foot injury, per Mark Ogden of The Telegraph. Given his excellent record against the men from Eastlands, his omission would be a major blow. In his absence, United will be desperate for their big-game players—the likes of Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria—to step up to the mark.
City have plenty of players who relish these occasions too, however, and despite their stuttering form, they typically take their performance levels up a gear when they come face-to-face with United. Expect the home side to get back on track with a comfortable victory.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Manchester United
Aston Villa vs. Tottenham
After encouraging starts to the campaign, things have taken a real turn for the worse for these two sides, who’ll be equally desperate for three points when they lock horns at Villa Park.
Paul Lambert’s side were sitting in second place after four games this season having won three and drawn one of their opening matches. But ever since Villa fell to a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, their form has dropped off a cliff. Their latest defeat to QPR was their fifth in a row, and OptaJoe gave us an indication of just how poor they’ve been of late:
Things aren’t much better for Tottenham at this juncture. Again, they showed positive signs during the early stages of the campaign, playing with a dynamism and intensity under Mauricio Pochettino. But a 4-1 hammering at the hands of City and an awful 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle have heaped the pressure on the Argentine boss.
The former Southampton manager needs to turn things around, and Saints legend Matt Le Tissier took a minor swipe at Pochettino on Twitter:
This game looks likely to be a low-scoring affair, and with both teams looking to avoid another defeat, expect both Lambert and Pochettino to adopt relatively conservative approaches to this clash. Unfortunately, that could see both sides canceling each other out and a subsequent stalemate.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-0 Tottenham
