Premier League 21/22: Matchday eight predictions

This season, the team's predictions will be available in weekly articles and they'll be in competition with a league too!

Read our pundits predictions below

Watford v Liverpool - Saturday, 16th October - 12:30pm

Watford ended Liverpool's long unbeaten Premier League run in February 2020

Chris Stott

Ranieri is the latest in a long line of Watford managers in recent years. He’s another coming in after a rather surprising sacking too! We now Ranieri is the type of guy you would love to play for and we saw what that did for Leicester. I’m not expecting anything near that transformation and it will be interesting to see how differently they approach the match this weekend. Liverpool have started to click into gear lately. Salah is in incredible form and the Reds will be hard to stop. But I’m sure we thought that last time they went to Vicarge Road? Watford will make it difficult but still fancy an away win.

Prediction: 1-3

Ryan Kirk

Watford will be hoping for the same outcome as the last time the two sides met at Vicarage Road, a 3-0 win against Jurgen Klopp’s men. They’ll for sure have the ‘new manager bounce’ after recently appointing Claudio Ranieri, but will that be enough to see them take anything from the game? Not for me. The Reds, who will be without Alisson, Fabinho and Jones, should still have enough to claim all three points.

Prediction: 1-2

Joe Richardson: 1-3

Harry Reynolds: 0-3

Chris Coughlin: 1-3

Aston Villa v Wolves - Saturday, 16th October - 3pm

Villa 'keeper Emi Martinez was the star of the show in the 0-0 draw between the sides last season

Harry Reynolds

I was really surprised that Villa lost to Spurs, and for me they blew a perfect opportunity to keep their momentum going. Wolves have taken advantage of a couple of easier fixtures to get their season jump started, with Raul Jimenez starting to fire again. I think this will be a tense game as we saw last year, but I just feel Villa are a much better side and should do enough to win.

Prediction: 1-0

Chris Stott: 1-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-1

Joe Richardson: 2-1

Chris Coughlin: 2-0

Leicester v Man Utd - Saturday, 16th October - 3pm

Jamie Vardy's arguably most iconic moment in a Leicester shirt came against Man Utd in 2015

Ryan Kirk

A difficult one to call, this one. Leicester are always a threat and capable of beating anybody on their day, but so are Manchester United.

Prediction: 1-1

Joe Richardson

Leicester have made a rather indifferent start to the season, as was evident in giving a two-goal lead away against Crystal Palace. That game saw Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho start up front together for the first time this season. And that combination could cause United problems. The loss of both Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire is a major blow, which leads me to predict the draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Harry Reynolds

This is an incredibly tough game to call. Leicester beat United three times last season, but they’ve been a long way off that form so far and haven’t won at home since the opening day, with no victories since August. The visitors have plenty of their own problems though, with Varane and Maguire both out of this game, and the pressure is starting to mount on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I think there’ll be plenty of goals in this.

Prediction: 2-2

Chris Stott: 1-1

Chris Coughlin: 1-2

Man City v Burnley - Saturday, 16th October - 3pm

Burnley have been lambs to the slaughter at the Etihad in recent years

Chris Stott

Let’s be fair… this is the easiest game of the week to predict. Burnley have a retched record at the Etihad and you really can’t seem them changing that given their respective form. City looked very slick at times against Liverpool, with Foden in particular looking in top form. Having said all this, if Burnley get it right, this could be the type of game where City miss the out and out Centre Forward. But surely they’ll have too much…

Prediction: 3-0

Ryan Kirk

I can see this one being similar to many other Manchester City home games, especially as Burnley will be missing their captain, Ben Mee. I fear a tough afternoon for Sean Dyche and his team

Prediction: 5-0

Joe Richardson: 5-0

Harry Reynolds: 4-0

Chris Coughlin: 4-0

Norwich v Brighton - Saturday, 16th October - 3pm

The last Premier League meeting between the sides was during Project Restart

Chris Stott

This is as must win as it gets for the Canaries in my opinion. They can’t squander points at home every week. Having got off the mark last time out with a draw at Turf Moor they have to push to get a win here. But they come up against a Brighton team enjoying their best Premier League decision to date. The Seagulls are tough to break down and carry a goal threat. Sadly I can’t really say the same about their hosts. That’s why I think another defeat beckons for Norwich.

Prediction: 1-2

Ryan Kirk

Another game, another defeat for Norwich. I just can’t see how Brighton, who are flying under Potter this season, are going to drop points against such a poor side who give away so many chances.

Prediction: 0-2

Joe Richardson: 0-1

Harry Reynolds: 0-1

Chris Coughlin: 0-2

Southampton v Leeds - Saturday, 16th October - 3pm

Leeds secured a top half finish by winning at St Marys last season

Chris Stott

It’s a big game for Hassenhuttl, pretty much must win for his job security. The Saints need the points having yet to win this term. But they have shown some encouraging signs against the two Manchester clubs especially. Leeds have started t get the results their play has arguably deserved. With the impetus on the home side to attack, Leeds could use their counter attacking prowess to good effect here and heap more misery on Southampton.

Prediction: 1-2

Joe Richardson

You have to say that the fixtures haven’t been kind to Southampton so far, with both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and West Ham along with Everton and Newcastle away where they historically have wretched records. However, the Wolves result and performance was a bad one and with Burnley, Watford, Villa and Norwich to come, they must start winning otherwise they are in big trouble. That starts with the visit of Leeds, who themselves have only managed one win so far this campaign. With no Patrick Bamford and Raphinha’s selection a doubt, Saints really need to take advantage.

Prediction 2-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-3

Harry Reynolds: 1-1

Chris Coughlin: 0-2

Brentford v Chelsea - Saturday, 16th October - 3pm

There was a thriller between these West London rivals in the FA Cup in 2013

Harry Reynolds

What an occasion this will be for Brentford. You can bet your life the home crowd and the players won’t give Chelsea a moment’s peace in this west London derby, and with the run they’ve been on they’ve every right to be confident. I think this may be the day where they come unstuck though, and the home side may just be a little bit too open for Chelsea.

Prediction: 1-2

Joe Richardson

We knew Brentford would bring a refreshing attitude and style to the Premier League, but seven games in I think only their most loyal of supporters could have predicted their points tally so far. 12 points with just the one blot on their copybook, a home defeat to Brighton. Whilst the Chelsea juggernaut has halted somewhat, with successive defeats before an unconvincing win against Southampton. The Bees could well take a draw, but I think Chelsea’s experience and nouse will just be too much.

Prediction: 1-2

Ryan Kirk:

Brentford have been overly impressive in their first season in the Premier League, proving they're no pushovers. Unfortunately for them, I can see them falling short here, but only narrowly.

Prediction: 0-1

Chris Stott: 0-2

Chris Coughlin: 1-2

Everton v West Ham - Sunday, 17th October - 2pm

The Hammers produced a dramatic turnaround at Goodison Park back in 2016

Harry Reynolds

David Moyes has only won once at Goodison since leaving Everton in 2013, so this won’t have been the fixture he was hoping for after a last-minute defeat to Brentford. West Ham are unbeaten away from home but Everton have won all three in front of their fans. I thought the performance at Old Trafford was outstanding with such a threadbare squad, and a win here will keep the good feeling going.

Prediction: 2-1

Joe Richardson

This a tricky game to predict with Everton still having major injury doubts to their two star strikers. West Ham were stunned by a late Brentford winner before the international break and may have injury concerns of their own. I think a draw is a safe pick, but I wouldn’t be surprised by all three results here.

Prediction: 1-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-1

Chris Stott: 2-2

Chris Coughlin: 1-2

Newcastle v Tottenham - Sunday, 17th October - 4:30pm

It was honours even at St James' Park last season

Chris Stott

There will be an electric atmosphere around St James’ after the doom and gloom of the Ashley regime has dissipated. Obviously, the owners can’t splash the cash just yet but there is a renewed sense of optimism in the North East. Big day for Steve Bruce to as this could be his last chance to impress the new bosses. Spurs have blown hot and cold this season, with the later typical of their recent form. They have had a few hidings here over the years and you know what I think the Toon may be on it this week and could bag an impressive and much needed win.

Prediction: 2-0

Harry Reynolds: 1-1

Ryan Kirk: 1-1

Joe Richardson: 2-2

Chris Coughlin: 1-1

Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Monday, 18th October - 8pm

Palace have only won two Premier League games at Arsenal - in 1994 and 2019

Chris Coughlin:

Will the Manager of the Month curse strike Mikel Arteta here? Not for me. Arsenal have been much improved in recent weeks even if they were severely tested at Brighton at times. Palace did well to fight back from 2-0 down to earn a draw against Leicester but it's still only one win all season for the Eagles - against Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham. Saka and Smith-Rowe to start yet again in an Arsenal win here.

Prediction: 2-0

Chris Stott: 3-1

Ryan Kirk: 2-2

Harry Reynolds: 2-0

Joe Richardson: 2-1