It means another break in play domestically, but players will not benefit ahead of two more extremely busy months especially for those playing in England. The season may be played in a narrower timeframe than usual, but that only means the festive period is even more busy for the teams who will try and remain on track with games set to be played every few days through to mid-January.
After the November internationals the teams involved with European Football will continue to play every week as the Group Stage is concluded, although some of those are already in a very strong position to make it out of their sections. It will be important for managers to rest players and also allow those of us who play the Fantasy Football games a chance to at least make the right selections for our teams.
More on that later with an extremely early deadline on GameWeek 8 of the Official Fantasy game.
Brighton v Burnley Pick: This is an important Premier League fixture for both Brighton and Burnley on Friday afternoon, although I am not anticipating the PPV sales to go through the roof for the game.
That is perhaps slightly disrespectful to two clubs who have become solid Premier League mainstays and Brighton in particular do have a pleasing style of football for the neutral to enjoy.
It was on full display as they took the game to Tottenham Hotspur last week, but Brighton once again fell narrowly to one of the 'Big Six' clubs and it leaves Graham Potter looking for answers. While his team have played really well at times, they have made some silly mistakes which have proven to be costly as Brighton have struggled to score enough goals to make up for it.
The lack of consistency in the final third does make it hard to trust Brighton to win any game at odds on let alone a Premier League fixture.
Brighton will also be facing a Burnley team who earned a goalless draw in their last away game and who restricted Tottenham Hotspur to very little in the final third in a narrow home loss to them. Sean Dyche won't be overly concerned about the current League position, but he will be looking for his team to show a little more going forward having not scored in any of their last 3 League games.
Goals have tended to be produced when these teams have met and you can't ignore the fact that all of Burnley's League goals have been scored away from home. They had chances at West Brom in the goalless draw, but Brighton have tended to be a little more effective going forward at the Amex Stadium too.
It is a tight game to call, but one in which I do believe the defences can be on top for the majority of the ninety minutes. 2 of the 3 games between these clubs at this Stadium since Brighton returned to the top flight have ended with fewer than three goals scored and I think that may be the case here.
A single strike may be enough to secure the points for either team, but the 1-1 can't be ruled out either and so I won't be looking for a really high-scoring fixture to be played out here.
Southampton v Newcastle United Pick: On paper this looks like a fixture that should be a pretty decent watch on Friday Night Football, but in the last couple of years goals have tended to dry up when Southampton have hosted Newcastle United.
Both teams look to be heading into this meeting in confidence though with some big results earned over the last month. That has seen both Southampton and Newcastle United moving up the League standings and I think the two managers will believe this is a winnable fixture for them.
The loss of Danny Ings is a blow for Southampton who have relied on his goal output over the last twelve months. However, Ralph Hasenhuttl will be pleased that Ings has 'only' score 3 of the last 11 goals managed by his team.
You can't downplay his overall influence on the team and replicating that won't be easy for Shane Long who is the most likely replacement. Even then Southampton will feel they can create chances against this Newcastle United team who are fortunate to still be unbeaten away from home in the League.
In their last 2 Premier League away games Newcastle United have hit their hosts with a late sucker punch to steal the points and so there is going to be some concern for Southampton if this is fixture is tight with time running down. The Saints have played some very good football, but they have not created a lot of strong chances and will need clinical finishing again to give themselves the opportunity of securing the full points.
At the same time Southampton have improved defensively and they are not offering out a lot of encouragement for teams since the 2-5 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. Steve Bruce's team have not really been racking up the shots away from home and I think we should see another tight fixture between these two teams.
For me it would not be a huge surprise if one of these teams fails to hit the back of the net. Newcastle United were poor defensively against Tottenham Hotspur, but they have shown spirit at the back to stick around in matches, especially away from home. That should be the case again with no Danny Ings to trouble them, but Newcastle United are also unlikely to create a whole host of chances here.
An early goal would change the dynamics of the fixture considerably, but I can see this being a well fought game with the defences largely being on top. The last two games between these clubs at St Mary's have had a combined single strike trouble the scoreboard and I think this will be a relatively low-scoring fixture too.
Everton v Manchester United Pick: The recent results of both Everton and Manchester United have been disappointing and that means there is pressure on both squads in what looks to be a huge Premier League game on Saturday.
Both teams have lost their last 2 games heading into the fixture, although there is a lot more pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rather than Carlo Ancelotti.
While the veteran Italian manager is overachieving at the moment, his counterpart is under tremendous pressure as once again the cloud of a sacking looms over him.
Everton can at least point to the last two defeats coming through injuries and suspensions which have reduced the options Carlo Ancelotti has. However some of those players are returning this week and it makes Everton a real threat to Manchester United with the amount of chances they have been creating at Goodison Park.
The side have scored at least twice in all 5 home games played in all competitions, but Everton have also conceded twice in all of their League games played. Manchester United may have lost in Turkey on Wednesday, but they have won 6 away Premier League games in a row and have managed to score at least twice in each.
This is a team that can create chances and I do think Manchester United will benefit from the fact that Everton will be looking to get on the front foot. That should leave spaces for the visitors to exploit, but much is going to depend on how much the players are still keen on playing for their beleaguered manager.
Both teams hit the back of the net in both League games against each other last season and I do think that is a distinct possibility again. Manchester United have tended to find a big result when it feels Solskjaer needs one the most, but this is a tough place to play and I can see the fixture ending 2-1 either way.
Everton and Manchester United have been scoring plenty of goals in home/away games respectively and I think that will be the outcome of this one with the defensive mistakes the teams have been making.
Crystal Palace v Leeds United Pick: The second Premier League game to be played on Saturday comes from South London and both Crystal Palace and Leeds United are looking to bounce back from disappointing defeats last weekend.
Being back at home may be an advantage for many clubs, but that has not always been the case for Crystal Palace. In recent seasons under Roy Hodgson this team have been much happier playing away from Selhurst Park where they have the opportunity to counter attack as home teams are under pressure to get forward.
They should feel they can play this game in a similar manner because Leeds United are a team who will want to play attacking football and will commit men forward. It has worked for Leeds United in the Premier League with back to back wins at Sheffield United and Aston Villa and they have managed to somehow keep clean sheets in both.
That is despite the chances being created against them, but in this fixture you do have to wonder if Crystal Palace are capable of exposing any defensive issues Leeds United are continuing to have. In their last two home games Crystal Palace have struggled to create good opportunities, but their own defensive injuries have meant it has been hard to earn too many points.
Leeds United are capable of hurting Crystal Palace here and they have been creating opportunities for themselves. You do have to worry about their defensive responsibilities, but I can see Leeds United bouncing back with a victory after their 1-4 hammering to Leicester City.
It will be close and competitive as any Roy Hodgson team will make it, but Leeds United may edge to the victory in this one.
Chelsea v Sheffield United Pick: The struggles in the final third did not really cost Sheffield United last season, but this time around they have not been nearly as effective defensively and that has exposed the side.
Chris Wilder will be looking to get things turned around quickly as a long run of poor form in the Premier League continues to see Sheffield United slide down the League standings. Including last season, Sheffield United have lost 9 of their last 10 Premier League games and they have also been beaten in their last 5 on their travels in the Division.
Now they have to face a Chelsea team in fine form and who have looked to have discovered the balance in attack and defence in recent games. After back to back goalless draws, Chelsea have scored 10 goals in their last 3 games which have resulted in three big wins.
Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic may both miss out, but it didn't stop Chelsea hammering Rennes in the Champions League. They have looked much more secure at the back with Edouard Mendy giving the entire back four confidence and this is a team that looks to be rounding into strong form with winnable games to come.
Frank Lampard will be determined to see his team go into the November international break with another three points, but Chelsea have to show more consistency at home. They do look capable of producing that and on current form this looks like a game that should be a relatively comfortable home win.
Last season Chelsea looked on the way to that against Sheffield United when leading 2-0 at half time before an eventual 2-2 draw. This time around I do think Chelsea look more secure to look after a lead and perhaps even keep The Blades under more pressure and the home team should be able to win this fixture and keep the momentum behind them through the November internationals.
West Ham United v Fulham Pick: Neither West Ham United nor Fulham have produced as many points as some would think when seven games have been played, but the former have been in better shape for the most part.
David Moyes will not have ignored how difficult the early fixture list was going to be for his team, but West Ham United have been in fine form. They have been competitive against some of the best teams in the Premier League and it took a late goal last weekend for Liverpool to get the better of them.
They have already dismissed Wolves 4-0 here and drawn with Manchester City and that is a level that will be difficult for Fulham to deal with. However, you can't ignore the absence of Michail Antonio who has been a talisman for West Ham United since the resumption of play in June and that does lessen some of the threat of the home team.
Fulham have to take advantage and they have been a little more effective in their last couple of games. They were recently well beaten by Crystal Palace, but Fulham could have gotten more than a point from their visit to Sheffield United and they were deserved winners over West Brom last Monday which will have given the squad a shot in the arm.
There are likely going to be chances created against this West Ham United defence, but I do think David Moyes is getting plenty out of his squad at the moment. Despite the slightly improved results, Fulham are still not defending as well as they would like and I do think West Ham United have pace and quality in the final third which will give them the edge in this derby game.
The Hammers have beaten Fulham 3 times in a row at home and they have scored plenty of goals in those games. You do have to think their attacking play is dented without Michail Antonio, but I still think West Ham United will edge to the points.
West Brom v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: Some of the results have been better than the performances from Tottenham Hotspur and Jose Mourinho indicated that was his feeling after the 1-3 win over Ludogorets on Thursday in the Europa League. I think that would be a harsh assessment of the team in a game they largely dominated, but Tottenham Hotspur have not been winning fixtures as easily as they would like in the Premier League.
Last weekend Spurs beat Brighton and Mourinho stated that teams in the Premier League are much more competitive these days than they have been for a couple of years. Instead of a big divide between the best and the lesser teams, Jose Mourinho thinks things are much closer and that means this is going to be anything but an easy game for Tottenham Hotspur.
No away game is ever easy anyway, but despite the manager's thoughts I do think Tottenham Hotspur should be too good for West Brom.
All doesn't seem to be going smoothly at The Hawthorns where Slaven Bilic has been critical of some of the transfer policy which seems to be leaving his squad short of the quality the manager wants. The 2-0 defeat at Fulham on Monday afternoon would not have given the squad a lot of confidence and West Brom have struggled for League wins going back to the end of their time in the Championship.
The Baggies can get forward and look to cause problems, but they have struggled for goals- their 3 home goals have all come in the game with Chelsea and West Brom needed some huge defensive mistakes to get into a 3-0 lead before settling for a 3-3 draw.
Those goals being conceded has to be a concern against a free-scoring Tottenham Hotspur team and I do think the visitors can snap a poor run in this part of the Midlands. Some of the key players managed to get some rest on Thursday and Tottenham Hotspur are playing with some momentum, especially away from home.
I am not fully convinced about Tottenham Hotspur and they are about to enter a really testing period of the season. However that comes in two weeks time and this is not really a fixture that should be of huge trouble to them on current form of both clubs.
You can never take a fixture for granted, but I do feel Tottenham Hotspur will have the goals in the squad to win this game and by a comfortable margin when all is said and done.
Leicester City v Wolves Pick: The first of the Super Sunday live offerings in the United Kingdom features two clubs who will be hoping they can take advantage of any inconsistencies the traditional 'Big Six' display over the course of the campaign.
Both Leicester City and Wolves have been operating towards the top of the Premier League over the last eighteen months, but the target will now be to push on towards the Champions League spots.
Over the last month the two clubs have been producing plenty of wins without perhaps playing at their best. Leicester City have looked like they are turning a corner with their wins over Leeds United and Sporting Braga coming behind big performances, but Wolves are unlikely to be as porous defensively as those two clubs.
This is a well organised team that will not be giving Jamie Vardy the space behind the defence he loves to exploit the most and I do think they will challenge Leicester City.
A bigger concern may be whether Wolves have enough going forward to get after a makeshift back four Leicester City have been forced to play. The players being relied on have done well, but Wolves have pace and quality in the final third which makes them dangerous even if they have been struggling for consistency when it comes to chance creation in the final third.
They were much better against Crystal Palace, but Wolves have not been firing on all cylinders away from home. In the draw with Newcastle Unite and the win over Leeds United, Wolves did not create a lot going forward despite the possession and this fixture has the makings of a tight one that could be decided by a single goal.
Last season both games between Leicester City and Wolves finished goalless. That is actually the third time in four that the scoreline has ended that way between the clubs, while in 4 of the last 5 one or both teams have failed to find the back of the net.
My feeling is that there won't be much between these two on Sunday and the chance of one of the teams picking up a clean sheet is relatively high. An early goal changes everything, but I would not be surprised to see a close, competitive fixture throughout between two in form teams who are hoping to keep tabs on the leading clubs in the Premier League.
Manchester City v Liverpool Pick: The biggest game of the Premier League weekend comes from the Etihad Stadium as the two favourites to win the title meet for the first time in the 2020/21 season.
Manchester City and Liverpool have not really put their foot down in the League in the same manner as we have become used to, but both are in relatively decent positions after seven games. The more obvious positive is for Liverpool who lead the Division, but Manchester City would only be 2 points behind them if they win their game in hand and Pep Guardiola might be happy enough with that.
Injuries have not really helped the Manchester City cause early in the season, but they have looked pretty good defensively in recent games. It has taken away from some of the strong attacking displays we have become used to, but I also think that is down to the fact that their two strikers have both been injured and playing with a 'false nine' has been troublesome at times.
Gabriel Jesus is in line to start for the home team and Sergio Aguero is close to returning which is a huge boost for Manchester City. It will certainly mean they are in a stronger place to challenge this makeshift Liverpool centre back pairing as Joel Matip and Joe Gomez look to play alongside one another.
These two have not really played together too many times before and Manchester City are playing well enough to expose them.
However, I also think Liverpool will feel in confident mood after winning 5 games in a row in all competitions. Their 0-5 win in Atalanta was very impressive, although the home team missed some key chances to get back into the game.
From an attacking point of view Liverpool will look to get after Manchester City and their new-look centre half pairing. With Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in strong form Liverpool will believe they are going to have their opportunities, but Diogo Jota is a doubt and that will be a blow for the visitors considering his start to his career at Anfield.
Goals should be on display when these teams meet on Sunday, but my lean is that Manchester City may get the better of the fixture. They have beaten Liverpool 3 times in a row at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League and I think the home team are showing a bit more defensively than their visitors which may give them the edge here too.
It won't be easy but Manchester City did hammer Liverpool here in June and I think they will have just enough to earn the points again.
Arsenal v Aston Villa Pick: The final game in the Premier League weekend looks like it could be a decent fixture when Arsenal host Aston Villa.
Over the last week it is Arsenal who have picked up some momentum with 3 wins in a row in all competitions, while Aston Villa have lost back to back home games in the League. Losing is one thing, but Aston Villa's early defensive performances have been replaced by conceding seven times in a couple of fixtures at Villa Park.
To be fair to Aston Villa, Southampton punished them every chance they got last week and I do think they will be more competitive in this fixture. The fightback from 0-4 down to eventually lose 3-4 shows there is a determination in the squad that can't be underestimated and I do think Aston Villa have enough quality in the final third to create chances against this Arsenal team.
Mikel Arteta has made Arsenal more organised, although that has come at the cost of reducing some of the attacking threat that fans will have become accustomed to seeing from The Gunners over the last two decades. The new system and approach means Arsenal are not producing as many shots and creating as many chances as the manager would hope and I do think that will always give teams a chance against them.
Aston Villa have won at Leicester City already this season and showed resiliency in that victory at the King Power Stadium. They have also largely been playing pretty well with only the defeat to Leeds United being a fixture where Dean Smith would have been severely disappointed with the performance.
Last season Aston Villa could easily have won here and I do think they are not going to make things easy for Arsenal. The win at Old Trafford may have just covered one or two issues Arsenal have been having and I think Aston Villa with the start could at least keep this competitive on Sunday evening with every chance of earning a positive result.
MY PICKS: Brighton-Burnley Under 2.5 Goals
Southampton-Newcastle United Under 2.5 Goals
Everton-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals
Leeds United 0 Asian Handicap
Chelsea - 1.25 Asian Handicap
West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur - 1 Asian Handicap
Leicester City-Wolves Both Teams to Score NO
Manchester City - 0.25 Asian Handicap
Aston Villa + 1 Asian Handicap
Fantasy Football GameWeek 8
There is no doubt that this is a very difficult season for Fantasy players as well as the teams in real life with the short turnaround between fixtures and that also means an increase in injuries.
When you add in the continued Covid-19 crisis that is affecting us all and there are going to be moments when your Fantasy teams see injuries pile up. Out of principle I have to be pretty desperate to want to take a hit on my team and that would be the case in GW8 despite the likelihood of potentially coming up short from the full eleven starting this round of games.
Christian Pulisic and Tyrick Mitchell have been ruled out, although only the former would have been starting in my time. I am happy enough to go with Jack Grealish in his stead, while the illness Sergio Reguilon is dealing with is expected to keep the Spurs defender out of action.
That is a touch more troublesome and means Ollie Watkins comes in- this is less ideal considering Aston Villa are playing at Arsenal and anything above four points from Grealish and Watkins would have to be seen as a bonus.
It would be an easy decision to replace Christian Pulisic, but I do think I am happy enough with the squad as it is and I would love to roll over a transfer to use in GW9 which comes at the end of the international break. With the virus continuing to cause havoc, I think it is ideal to have that extra transfer in the pocket in case I need to make changes to replace those who have picked up Covid-19 while being away.
The extra time to prepare the transfers is also important for me and I do have a few players who I think are on the brink of being needed to be moved out. Depending on the severity of the injury sustained by Pulisic my first hit of the season could be needed next time around, but I am going to go with what I have for now.
With Manchester City hosting Liverpool, the Captain choice is very easy again this week- I am going to go with Harry Kane who faces a West Brom team that is struggling for clean sheets and conceded three times in 2 of their 3 home Premier League games.
I may have gone with Christian Pulisic in a home game against another struggling opponent in Sheffield United if he had not picked up his knock last week, but in the current situation things are straight-forward for me here.
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