DC Predicts: Premier League Week 6 Predictions

Welcome to my sixth weekly Premier League predictions article. I am predicting the Premier League fixtures every week and tracking my progress as I go along using a points system that I have devised which is as follows:

Getting the outcome of the match wrong: 0 points

Getting the outcome of a match correct: 1 point

Getting the exact score of a match correct: 3 points

BONUS POINTS

Getting five outcomes in a set of fixtures correct: 2 points

Getting five exact scores in a set of fixtures correct: 4 points

I am comparing my progress to BBC Sport’s Mark Lawrenson and seeing how our prediction success compares throughout the season.

Last week I scored three points, consisting of three correct outcomes but no perfect scores. Mark Lawrenson got five correct outcomes including two perfect scores. For five correct outcomes Mark gets an added two points bonus. This gave him a total of 11 points.

After five weeks of the contest Mark Lawrenson has retaken the lead on 30 points, leaving me behind on 25 points.

Here are my predictions from Week 5 in case you didn’t get the chance to read it. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/59364-dc-predicts-premiership-predictions-week-5

Who will be leading after Week Six? Here are the predictions:

Everton v. Liverpool

Everton aren’t as strong as they were last season. At the back they at not as well organized as in the past, and letting some weak goals in.

Liverpool aren’t on the best of form either. That 0-0 against Stoke was a major disappointment and those are the sort of games they have to be winning.

Everton will give their best performance against Liverpool but I think Liverpool will be able to undo them at the back and Liverpool will have enough to win the match.

Verdict: 0-2

Aston Villa v. Sunderland

Sunderland made a great start to the season but they are just started to slip slightly. They were very lucky to make it past Northampton in the cup this week and Roy Keane wasn’t happy.

Aston Villa lost in the cup but I think they will be fired up this weekend and recover quickly.

At home I think Aston Villa will be able to edge it against Sunderland. Sunderland will be far better than during the week and will give Villa a very tough game.

Verdict: 1-0

Fulham v. West Ham

It hasn’t been a great week for West Ham with the talk of compensation for Sheff United and Carlton Cole’s arrest. Dean Ashton is also out for a long period and that is a big blow.

Fulham will give West Ham a big test and we will see how Zola copes with the Fulham challenge. Despite some negative things happening I think Zola will have the troops fired up. However I think goals will be tough to come by at Fulham.

I think Fulham will edge this.

Verdict: 1-0

Manchester United v. Bolton

Manchester United are still nowhere near their best but I thought they deserved to win at Chelsea.

Bolton are struggling this season and I think they will be in the relegation battle. They are three or four quality players short I think at the moment. Other sides around them have overtaken them.

Bolton won’t be easy to break down but Man Utd have goals over the pitch and it’s hard to imagine Bolton challenging United’s goal with the limiting attacking threat they have.

United should walk this.

Verdict: 3-0

Middlesbrough v. West Brom

'Boro didn’t get the result they wanted against Sunderland, and other matches haven’t gone their way despite playing well. As the season goes on I think they will get stronger and stronger. Gareth Southgate is putting together a very strong squad.

West Brom are slowly improving but they are lacking quality players and a regular goal scorer. If they can survive till January and get two or three players with Premiership experience then they have an outside chance of staying up.

I think Boro at home will be too strong for West Brom.

Verdict: 2-0

Newcastle v. Blackburn

Newcastle are still in a right mess but at least in Joe Kinnear they have some experience to guide them and get their focus back onto the football. They just need some kind of result to get the spirits going again

Blackburn have recovered after a sticky spell with the wins against Fulham and Everton in the cup midweek.

Newcastle will undoubtedly improve this weekend but I think Blackburn will edge the game.

Verdict: 0-1

Stoke v. Chelsea

Stoke are playing well and are extremely hard to beat. Holding Liverpool to 0-0 was very impressive. They aren’t the world’s prettiest side but they are proving themselves to be very effective. They have a great chance of surviving.

Chelsea look very strong this season and I think they will take some beating. However United did have the better of them last weekend.

So all Stoke’s hard work and effort, I think it will take something quite extraordinary for them to nick a point as they did at Liverpool.

Verdict: 0-2

Arsenal v. Hull

Like Stoke, Hull have been very impressive and have equipped themselves to the Premiership very well.

Before the season everyone had their doubts about Arsenal but they look extremely good. The question will be if they can pull together a full season or if they drift off again. They put a young side out against Sheffield United midweek and even that was enough to win 6-0.

Hull will try very hard to get a result but you don’t much of the ball at Arsenal and whenever you try to attack Arsenal will beat. I think they may end up getting thrashed here.

Verdict: 3-0

Portsmouth v. Tottenham

Portsmouth have really slipped in the last couple of games. Defensively they were awful against Manchester City, and the manner of the defeat will be a huge surprise to Harry Redknapp. They didn’t improve midweek against Chelsea either.

Tottenham have had another stuttering start but they have a group of great players. They need to stop making signings all the time and allow this side to gel and I think they will come good.

Harry Redknapp doesn’t go on many long runs without a result and at home I think Portsmouth will have a better game. However the its hard to get over two large defeats quickly but I think they will get a point.

Verdict: 1-1

Wigan v. Manchester City

Manchester are really gelling quickly and they look strong, fast, and with goal potential everywhere. Robinho has settled in quickly and is already scoring goals. Shaun Wright-Phillips has returned instantly to the player he was before he left Man City and that is a real bonus for Mark Hughes.

Man City can’t afford to get too cocky as Wigan will make them work really hard and they have a capable attack too in Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki.

However on this run of form I think Man City will be too strong and win comfortably.

Verdict: 0-2