Week One Predictions

Week One

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Arsenal 2 - 1 Wigan
Ozil, Fabregas : Sneijder

Aston Villa 0 - 2 West Brom
Nani, Fabiano

Blackburn 3 - 0 Tottenham
Drogba, Terry, Xavi

Bolton 3 - 0 Sunderland
Ibrahimovic, Navas, Forlan

Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke City
Ribery : Ronaldo

Everton 0 - 2 Newcastle
van Persie, Cazorla

Fulham 1 - 3 Man Utd
Pedro : Messi, Aguero, Higuain

Liverpool 1 - 2 Man City
Gerrard : Robben, Eto'o

Arsenal 2 - 2 Wigan
Ozil -------- Sneijder
Nasri ------- Pepe

Not a lot to seperate the sides all over the park. Both have greatt attacking options and talent at the back.


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Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom
Cassano ---------- Nani
------------------ Marcelo

Villa's defence let them down today, particularly Jankulovski who struggled to deal with Nani. Solid CB's proved tough for Cassano and co to break down for West Brom.


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Blackburn 2 - 0 Tottenham
Drogba
Podolski

Balckburn controlled the midfield, and this set the tome for the game. Terry and Chivu gave Adebayor little room, and despite some good defending by Spurs, they were well beaten.


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Bolton 3 - 1 Sunderland
Forlan ------- Benzema
Ibrahimovic
Navas

Sunderland's defence struggled to cope with the attacking power of Bolton, and Bolton's forwards helped themselves. Sunderland did always look dangerous on the break though.


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Chelsea 2 - 1 Stoke City
Villa (2) ---- Ronaldo

A great game that left the fans wanting more. Chelsea's stronger defence helped them today, as they managed to keep Ronaldo, ROoney and co in check. Villa's brace won it late on.


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Everton 0 - 1 Newcastle
------------- Lampard

Everton battled hard, but in the end, their defence, despite battling hard, just couldn't keep us with Newcastle at times, and in the end thiey finally conceded after Van Persie fed Lampard.


===


Fulham 2 - 3 Man Utd
Muller ------ Messi (2)
Pedro ------- Aguero

Utd's attacking approach meant this was end to end all game. They certainly looked like scoring golas at will, but always looked vunerable to Fulham's counter attacks, especially out wide.

Arsenal 2 - 1 Wigan
Arshavin, Fabregas
Sneijder

Arsenal edged a nervy encounter at the Emirates thanks to goals from midfielders Arshavin and Fabregas. The home side's midfield were dominant for most of the game so it came as no surprise that two of the midfield were on the scoresheet. Wigan came into the game as underdogs but surprised the hosts as they raced into a quick lead. Wesley Sneijder combined well with Pablo Hernandez before curling a sumptuous shot past the dive of Valdes. Arsenal created a host of chances but Fernando Torres looked bereft of form and was wasteful. Instead, Arshavin pulled his side level with a poacher's goal after he was quickest to react when Casillas could only parry Ozil's stinging shot. Arsenal were now the better side and the team looking most likely to score and did so when midfield maestro Fabregas headed in from close range after a goalmouth scramble. Wigan tried to change the course of the game with some substitutes but they were all to no avail.

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Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom
Ronaldinho
Nani, Gourcuff
West Brom overcame Midlands rivals Aston Villa easily at Villa Park thanks to a potent display from their attack. Aston Villa have a couple of star players but no real balanced side. West Brom's midfield aren't exactly world-beaters but they had more than enough in the tank to overpower and outclass their rivals today, and they did just that, setting a platform for the side to go on to victory. Aston Villa opened the scoring though when Ronaldinho showed he still has great skill with a sublime free kick. That was one of few highlights for the Villa faithful, though, as West Brom soon found their feet and didn't look like losing from then. Nani quickly equalised for the visitors with a free kick of his own and Gourcuff gave his side the points late on with a sweet strike from all of 20 yards.

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Bolton 2 - 0 Sunderland
Forlan, Ibrahimovic

Bolton were comfortable winners here in a game which they controlled from start to finish. Sunderland are not a bad side with some top players but recent deals have seen Bolton improve dramatically. They have few if any weaknesses, with perhaps Modric not at his best out wide. Other than that though, they are a side which are capable of challenging the best and I'm sure that's what they will do. Sunderland looked bright in patches as Totti and Benzema threatened but nothing really of note came about for the visitors. Instead, Bolton looked lethal going forward and quickly broke the deadlock through Diego Forlan. Chances were few and far between for either side for the rest of the half but soon after the break Ibrahimovic put the result beyond doubt with a neat finish.

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Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke City
Ribéry
Ronaldo
Two of the league's best sides collided in this fixture and didn't disappoint as they both contributed to an end-to-end game, despite what the scoreline would seemingly suggest. Chelsea are a side with a well balanced formation and world-class spine. Stoke, if a little shaky at the back despite their experience, are sublime in attack. Chelsea were probably marginal favourites going into the game and lived up to expectations as Ribery's strike gave them the advantage. Stoke did not deserve to be behind and shortly afterwards equalised as Ronaldo and Rooney used their pace and skill to bamboozle Luiz at the back. All the game's goals had been scored but the game did not pass by without incident. Ronaldo controversially earned his side a penalty as he went down under Luiz's lunge. The Portuguese winger stepped up to take the spot kick, only to fire wide and in doing so wasting his side's opportunity to win the game.

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Everton 0 - 1 Newcastle
van Persie

Newcastle caused an upset at Goodison Park today as they headed back up north with all three points. Bathite has done a good job at Everton and they have some decent attacking players. However, they look suspect at the back and were punished today by a Newcastle side which could be described as an efficient side. By this, they know what they need to do to win and have the know-how and experience to achieve this. Their front four caused problems for the hosts' defence all day long and the Dutch defensive midfield combination marshalled the midfield despite opposition from two of the best in Alonso and De Rossi. Neither could get a foot hold in the game and this inevitably contributed to Everton's demise. Robin van Persie nicked the only goal of the game in an uneventful first half when his volley flew in from range past César.

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Fulham 2 - 3 Man Utd
Pedro, Milito
Messi, Aguero, Vidic

Man Utd edged out Fulham in what was the game of the week by a country mile. Both of these sides have awesome attacking prowess but both are nowhere near as strong at the back. In fact, both have two decent defenders and two suspect defenders. Fulham's Badstuber and Sakho both lack experience and this showed in the first half as Messi and his 3 compatriots in United's Argentine quadruple attack had a field day. Messi was the first to get his name on the scoresheet as he raced past Badstuber with ease before cutting inside and curling a good shot past Muslera. Fellow Argentine Aguero doubled United's advantage shortly after as his weak shot slipped through Muslera. Fulham had nothing to lose now and this worked in their favour as they went all out at United's frail side of defence. Pedro punished Taiwo as the Spanish winger did exactly the same as Messi had to pull on back for the hosts. Shortly afterwards, Milito exposed Cahill's lack of experience as he capitalised on a mistake from the defender before slipping the ball past Lloris. The game, tied 2-2 with minutes remaining, was poised on a knife-edge until Nemanja Vidic's rocket of a header beat Muslera and gave the visitors a vital win.

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Liverpool 1 - 2 Man City
Gerrard
Robben, Eto'o

Title favourites Manchester City got a well-deserved win in their first game as Liverpool disappointed. The hosts have not done many deals so far this term and look quite weak in all honesty. Man City on the other hand are perhaps one midfielder away from being a side without a weakness. Wilshere is not a bad player though and it was the England midfielder's first pass which allowed Robben to score the first goal inside 2 minutes. Liverpool were stunned and Manchester City sat back with confidence. The game was quite a chess match as Liverpool's attack wasn't good enough to get behind City and the visitors were more than happy to sit on their lead. City's complacency told though as they conceded a rash goal as Gerrard pounced on a mistake from Marchena to equalise. City were forced into action and with five minutes left duly obliged, Samuel Eto'o showing why he is in high demand by smashing a cracking shot into the corner.

Arsenal 2 -1 Wigan
nasri --------- klose
torres

------
A game dominated by arsenal possession but conceded to a break away by wigan , wigan tried to hold on with a resolute defensive display but once arsenal got the equalizer they were always going to go on to win it.
-------
Aston Villa 1-1 West Brom
simao -------------- fabiano

a close fought affair with chances for both sides with wba taking the lead after an exquisite through ball by yoann gourcuff only to be wiped out by a 25 yard strike from simao
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Blackburn 3-0 Tottenham
drogba (2)
robinho

a game dominated by the midfield of blackburn meant spurs forward adebayor was always going to have a quiet day. xavi was at his creative best setting up robinho who was giving kolarov a torrid time.

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Chelsea 2-2 Stoke
villa ---------- kaka
ribery ------- rooney

an end to end game with the attackers coming off best.chelsea took a two goal lead and tried to see it out but with the quality in the stoke side it was always going to end badly.
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Everton 0-1 Newcastle
--------------- cazorla

a game dominated by terrific defensive displays by the newcastle cb's and a wonder goal from santi cazorla after a mazy run past 3 defenders to slot it home at the near post.

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Fulham 1-2 Man Utd
milito ------- aguero
--------------- messi

a game dominated by united from the outset only to be caught by a long ball leading to milito's opener , the pressure kept building and eventually they broke through with a neat through ball to aguero who slammed home to equalize with minutes to go lionel messi jinked his way past badstuber and curled a shot into the far left corner.

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Liverpool 0-0 Man City

a game with solid defensive displays and very few opportunities for either side.

arsenal 1-1 wigan
torres
sneijder

aston villa 0-1 westbrom
fabiano

blackburn 2-0 spurs
robinho, drog

bolton 2-1 sunderland
forlanx2
benz

chelsea 1-1 stoke
ribery
kaka

everton 1-2 newcastle
hernandez
lamps, puyol

liverpool 0-1 mancity
robben

arsenal 2-1 wigan
torres,ozil
iniesta

aston villa 0-1 westbrom
nani

blackburn 2-0 spurs
robinho, drogba

bolton 1-0 sunderland
forlan

everton 0-1 newcastle
lampard

Fulham 1-2 man utd
muller
messi,higuain

liverpool 1-2 mancity
pato
eto,robben

Arsenal 0-0 Wigan
Defences cancel each other out.

Aston Villa 0-2 West Brom
Villa lacking class players.

Blackburn 4-0 Spurs
Average spurs team taken apart by Blackburn

Bolton 2-0 Sunderland
Bolton have world class players than Sunderland don’t.

Chelsea 1-0 Stoke
Chelsea edge a win

Everton 0-2 Newcastle
Not enough quality for Everton

Fulham 1-2 United
Front four hides frailty.

Arsenal 1-0 Wigan

Blackburn 0-0 Spurs

Bolton 4-1 Sunderland

Chelsea 2-1 Stoke

Everton 0-3 Newcastle

Fulham 2-2 United

Liverpool 1-1 Man City

Arsenal 2-0 Wigan

Aston Villa 2-2 West Brom

Blackburn 1-0 Spurs

Bolton 2-1 Sunderland

Chelsea 2-1 Stoke

Fulham 1-2 United

Liverpool 1 - 2 Man City

Arsenal 1 - 0 Wigan
Kompany

Aston Villa 1 - 3 West Brom
Neymar ; Fabiano, Nani, Marcelo

Blackburn 2 - 1 Tottenham
Drogba, Terry ; Lennon

Bolton 2 - 0 Sunderland
Forlan, Navas

Chelsea 2 - 2 Stoke
Villa, Vargas ; Ronaldo (2)

Everton 0 - 0 Newcastle

Liverpool 1 - 1 Man City

Arsenal v Wigan

My match


Aston Villa 0 - 1 West Brom
-------------------------- Fabiano

The visitors were marginally the better side with both going with a 4-3-3 formation. Both are solid sides with a couple of star players apiece but Albion possess the greater threat going forward. Defensively Villa have good CBs but their aging fullbacks may get exposed against sides with pacey wide men. It could be a long season for the Villa faithful.


Blackburn 2 - 0 Tottenham
Drogba
Podolski

Rovers have a top looking defence and excellent central midfield combo. Hodgey has been looking to upgrade Moutinho all season long to date but with no joy as yet. However, today he combined well with his teammates to dominate the midfield. Spurs fought hard and were difficult to break down, Unfortunately they did not see enough of the ball to free their pacey wingers and supply Adebayor up front. Relatively comfortable home win in the end.


Bolton 2 - 1 Sunderland
Navas --------- Totti
Ibra

Hard fought match at the Reebok Stadium. Both sides have solid tacklers in central midfield which made for an entertaining battle for midfield supremacy. The game was ultimately decided by the greater quality of the home sides fullbacks allowing less supply to Sunderland's strikers than their opposition. Ibra is too good a player to miss too many chances and after the match was looking as if it may end 1-1, the giant Swede popped up to nod home the winner late on. Good to see the old maestro Totti role back the years.


Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke City
Villa ------------- Ronaldo

Chelsea will always get goals with David Villa and likewise Stoke will always get goals with Ronaldo. Fitting that those two players should both be on the scoresheet as this opening encounter ended in an entertaining draw. Both sides had arguments to claim the victory and had the match been played at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke may well have nicked it but at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea earned a hard fought point.


Everton 1 - 1 Newcastle
Hernandez --- RvP

The strength of the home sides central midfield was key to them earning a point today. Alonso and De Rossi protected a relatively young back 4 well and when exposed, Cesar was at hand to keep his goal intact although he was helpless to prevent the visitors taking the lead late on in the first half after a well work move saw RvP find space to pick his spot. Newcastle were unable to add to their lead though and with Everton having excellent wide men and the ever dangerous Hernandez up front, a result was never assured. Sure enough up popped the poacher to nick a point after nice work from Valencia down the right.


Fulham 1 - 2 Man Utd
Pedro --------- Messi, Higuain

Both defences had their hands full today against two excellent attacks. Utd's in particular is very powerful with the Argentine quartet causing all sorts of problems. Utd's defence didn't have the same depth in quality and allowed the home side plenty of chances. In the end it came down to the quality of the respective attacks with the visitors edging a narrow away victory.


Liverpool 1 - 2 Man City

Pato ---------------- Silva, Eto'o

Two strong sides here especially going forward where both will pose threats to their opposition throughout the season. Excellent central midfield trios on either side made for an entertaining encounter. The question was which defence would prove the stronger, the answer being the visitors. The old Valencia CB pairing worked well alongside compatriot Capdevila at LB and the raiding Maicon at RB. Liverpool's defence is fine but lacked the strength of their opponents and ultimately this proved the difference.

Arsenal 1-0 Wigan
Ozil

Both teams were well matched until a late stinger from 30 yards via Ozil's left boot won the home team the game.


Aston Villa 0-2 West Brom
Riquelme, Huntelaar

Despite being on paper the underdogs, the home side put up a great fight and it took 2 second half goals from 2 of the away sides substitutes to win the game. A low Riquelme drive and a sweeping move finished by Huntelaar won them the game.


Blackburn 4-2 Tottenham
Essien, Xavi (2), Chivu: Willian (2)

A game involving half a comeback from the away side. Blackburn raced to a 4-0 lead through goals from Essien, Xavi twice and a Chivu penalty before the second half where they let there foot off the pedal and the ever creative Willian put away 2 excellent goals.


Bolton 1-0 Sunderland
Chiellini

Good entertaining match won by a looping header from Chiellini via an irritating little Croatian's corner.


Chelsea 2-2 Stoke
Villa (2), Anyukov, Ronaldo

Entertaining match at the Bridge. David Villa bagged 2 successive goals inside 3 mins to give his side a 2-0 lead come half time. However, Stoke fought back in the second half and got back into it through an Anyukov cross which flew straight in and a low shot from Ronaldo which flew through a crowd.


Fulham 0-2 Man Utd
Messi (2)

Two dazzling goals settled this encounter in a fairly easy win for the away side.


Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
Suarez (2): Eto'o, Tevez

The home side will be thrilled with a draw despite being on the back foot for a lot of the game. The away side took the lead when Eto'o raced through to slot home well. Tevez doubled the lead with a snapshot from the edge of the area. During the second half and with the crowd behind them, the home side got back into it first with a Suarez shot from the corner of the box and late on to the delight of the crowd late on, Suarez poked home an equalizer.

Arsenal 1-1 Wigan
Ozil--------Klose

Blackburn 2-0 Tottenham
Drogba, Terry

Bolton 3-1 Sunderland
Forlan 2----Totti
Navas

Chelsea 1-1 Stoke City
Villa--------Alex

Everton 0-1 Newcaslte
Malouda

Fulham 1-2 Man Utd
Pedro-----Messi, Higuain

Liverpool 0-0 Man City

Arsenal 1 - 1 Wigan
Torres; Sneijder

Villa 0 - 1 WBA
Nani

Blackburn 3 - 1 Spurs
Drogbax2, Pod; Adebayor

Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke
Ribery; Rooney

Everton 0 - 1 Newcastle
Van Persie

Fulham 0 - 2 Man Utd
Messi, Higuain

Liverpool 0 - 1 Man City
Eto'o

Arsenal 1-1 Wigan
(Ozil :: Pablo)

Aston Villa 0-1 West Brom
(none :: Gourcuff)

Blackburn 2-0 Tottenham
(Drogba, Robinho :: none)

Bolton 2-1 Sunderland
(Ibraimovic, Chiellini :: Benzema)

Everton 0-1 Newcastle
(none :: Van Persie)

Fulham 1-3 Man United
(Falcao :: Messi, Aguero X2)

Liverpool 1-2 Man City
(Gerrard :: Tevez, Yaya)

Arsenal vs Wigan
(my game)

Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom
Neymar ----------- Nani,Fabiano

Blackburn 3 - 1 Tottenham
Xavi -------------- Ballotelli
Drogba
Podolski

Bolton 2 - 1 Sunderland
Ibra --------- Benzema
Navas

Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke
Anelka -------- Ronaldo

Everton 1 - 2 Newcastle
Hernandez -- Van Persie, Ivanovic

Fulham 1 - 2 Man Utd
Muller -------- Aguero, Messi

Liverpool 1 - 2 Man City
Gerrard --------- Tevez, Eto