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Burnley vs. Hull City

We’ve just looked at the Manchester derby as the biggest game of the weekend, from a title-race perspective but from a survival perspective I think this match between the new boys is just as huge.

As ever, it’s all about earning the three points at the bottom, performance is purely secondary.

I think Hull have made a great start to the campaign, having already collected six points from three games. It could’ve, and should’ve been at least seven after their game against Man United – and for a second I thought Liverpool could really use a certain Curtis Davies! – but they were unlucky in the end.

Burnley need to bounce back after their 3-0 defeat away to Chelsea and as always, Turf Moor seems like the perfect place to get some salvation.

Also, there will potentially be a couple of new signings on show. I thought the two clubs bought quite well and the sooner the players hit the ground running the better.

I think it will be interesting to see how Burnley and Hull approach this game, do they fire all their guns at each other or do both play it safe? It’s a bit tough to pick a side here so I’m going to predict that this one ends in a scored draw.

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Hull City

Arsenal vs. Southampton

Arsenal’s first win of the season at Watford was an absolute stroll so I think this home tie against Southampton comes at the right time for them.

Arsené Wenger eventually listened to fans’ calls for some new signings and new boys Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi will look to make a good first impression should they make their first appearances on Saturday afternoon.

Claude Puel’s Southampton are still looking to get their season started after two draws and a defeat was all they got from their first three games. One of the lessons I learned from their start to the season is that Puel’s strike-force of Shane Long and Nathan Redmond can be effectively brilliant at best but the Saints really miss that physical presence and aerial prowess up-front, which Graziano Pellé (who moved to China during the summer) offered so well, along with his hold-up play.

Puel didn’t address that in the transfer market so it’ll be interesting to see how he intends on working on it moving forward.

Either way, I’m predicting a win for Arsenal. A first win of the season and their new boys will give them renewed optimism and they’ll look to get the Emirates crowd back on-side by making it back to back wins here.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Southampton

Swansea City vs. Chelsea

This could turn out to be a very good weekend for Chelsea, in more ways than one.

Not only do I fancy the Stamford Bridge outfit in this match but they’ll head into it with the knowledge of the result of the Manchester derby and will look to take full advantage, whoever slips up at Old Trafford.

I like to believe that it’s going to be that sort of season for them again, when the top two are battling it out for the title and they’re the dark horses, taking advantage where they can in order to push forward their own claims for a finish at the top.

Swansea have gone nowhere ever since their opening day victory at Burnley. They’ve followed that up with two consecutive defeats and have made a couple of summer signings who haven’t quite lifted the side thus far. I think if the likes of strikers Borja Baston and Fernando Llorente – both capable goal scorers – can get off the mark, it will do the Welsh side the world of good.

Either way, I still think Chelsea will have too much for the Swans in this clash.

I’ve got a Chelsea supporter as a friend, who liked using the words “sinking ship” to describe his side’s performances last season. Well, at the moment the holes certainly look to have been closed and the water poured out as this ship has so far run on full speed under Antonio Conté and the Italian manager will demand more of the same this Sunday.

Prediction: Swansea City 1-3 Chelsea