By Robert Wheeler
- Relegation-threatened Everton faces league leaders Arsenal
- Manchester City play Tottenham Hotspur
- Chelsea is up against Fulham in a West London derby
UK – After the drama of the FA Cup last weekend, the Premier League returns with crucial ties at both ends of the table.
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Everton vs Arsenal, Saturday February 4, kick-off 12:30
Everton has a new manager in Sean Dyche but with their problems at the boardroom level, replacing Frank Lampard will likely not solve all of the club’s issues.
The Toffees are on a dreadful run of form, having not won in their last eight Premier League matches. It will not get any easier with Dyche having the toughest possible start, as his new side takes on the title favourites Arsenal.
Although the Gunners lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend, they will not be too disheartened as they have one less competition to worry about.
Leandro Trossard could make his first league start and Mikel Arteta‘s attacking options which also includes Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will be licking their lips at the chance of facing Everton this weekend.
Everton has lost their Anthony Gordon to Newcastle. However, Gordon’s form has not been so impressive this season, as he has managed just three league goals. Although that did make him the club’s top goalscorer, which shows just how bad it has been at Goodison Park recently.
Score prediction: Everton 0-4 Arsenal
Tottenham vs Man City, Sunday February 5, kick-off 16:30
Manchester City would have gained a psychological boost in the title race as they beat Arsenal in the FA Cup last week. They have also won their last two Premier League games since their defeat in the Manchester derby.
Erling Haaland is continuing his phenomenal goalscoring run with a hat-trick against Wolves in their last league game. It is not just Haaland where the goals are coming from with defender Nathan Ake netting the winner against the Gunners. Although, City have surprisingly let João Cancelo join Bayern Munich this week.
Pep Guardiola‘s side is still second but are five points off the top spot. They cannot afford to drop any more points but this will be a tough game against Tottenham Hotspur who are in fifth place and chasing a Champions League spot. Spurs will likely be without manager Antonio Conte after he recovers from surgery which removed his gallbladder.
The two sides have met recently in the league; on that occasion, City came out 4-2 winners. It was a match where Riyad Mahrez scored a brace and Spurs will be out for revenge.
Conte’s side has won their last two games in all competitions since the defeat at the Etihad. Harry Kane is now level with Jimmy Greaves as Spurs’ all-time top goalscorer and what a story it would be if he breaks the record against the team he wanted to join just a few seasons ago.
Score prediction: Tottenham 1-2 Manchester City
Chelsea vs Fulham, Friday February 3, kick-off 20:00
Not many would have expected Fulham to be above Chelsea at this stage in the season. However, they are deservedly so with the form that Marco Silva‘s side has been on.
They beat the Blues recently at Craven Cottage in a match which included a goal from Willian against his former club. However, Fulham has lost two league games since that victory and only managed a draw against Sunderland of the Championship in the FA Cup.
Graham Potter‘s side has beaten Crystal Palace and earned a point against Liverpool at Anfield in their two games since the Fulham defeat.
It has been a disappointing season for Chelsea who sits in a lowly tenth place. However, they have been active in the transfer window, signing Mykhailo Mudryk, João Félix, Benoît Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Enzo Fernandez. The pressure is already on Potter with their poor results, and with these new signings, he will have no excuses.
Score prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Fulham
Last Matchweek’s predictions vs actual results:
| Rob’s prediction | Actual result |
| Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United | Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United |
| West Ham 1-0 Everton | West Ham 2-0 Everton |
| Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea | Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea |
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