Premier League Predictions: Derby wins for Spurs, Chelsea & Man City

After three gameweeks, there's some catching up to do for Conor (14), as he trails Simon (18) and me, Nick (21), on the Premier League Predictions leaderboard. 

We're back for Gameweek 4 this weekend, with Sunday's Manchester derby the pick of the action.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest (Saturday 12:30 BST, TNT Sports 1) - 2-1 @ 7/1

Arsenal's perfect start to the season was ended last time out by Liverpool, who beat the Gunners 1-0 at Anfield.

Mikel Arteta's side should fancy their chances of getting back on the winning trail this Saturday, though, as they host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. Forest won their first game 3-1 against Brentford before drawing 1-1 at Crystal Palace and suffering a shock 3-0 home defeat to West Ham United before the international break.

Then, earlier this week, Forest supremo Evangelos Marinakis pulled the plug on Nuno Espirito Santo's tenure as Tricky Trees head coach, with behind-the-scenes quarrels reportedly behind the decision.

Ange Postecoglou, who failed to beat Arsenal in two years as Tottenham Hotspur manager, has been appointed as Nuno's replacement, and he has a tough job on his hands following his popular predecessor.

Forest have forwards that can trouble the home side's back line, but with all the upheaval this week, it's asking a lot for them to claim a positive result in north London on Saturday.

Conor: 2-0

Simon: 3-0

AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion (Saturday 15:00 BST) - 2-2 @ 10/1

This could be an entertaining game at Vitality Stadium, with two well-coached sides in action.

Bournemouth have won their last two Premier League games 1-0, beating Wolves (H) and Spurs (A), while Brighton bounced back from two consecutive defeats to take down Manchester City 2-1 at the Amex Stadium last time out.

Brighton finished eighth last season, one place and five points ahead of Bournemouth, and the Seagulls won both head-to-heads 2-1.

I'm anticipating another close contest on Saturday, but this time, I fancy the shares to be spoiled.

Conor: 2-3

Simon: 2-1

Crystal Palace vs Sunderland (Saturday 15:00 BST) - 1-1 @ 13/2

It's been a terrific start to the season for Crystal Palace, who have won the FA Community Shield, progressed to the league phase of the Uefa Conference League, and kept their skipper, Marc Guehi, all while remaining unbeaten in the Premier League.

Yes, Eberechi Eze is now plying his trade at the other end of London with Arsenal, but the Eagles didn't miss him much in their 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park last time out.

Next up for Oliver Glasner's side is a home match against league newcomers Sunderland, who have beaten West Ham (3-0) and Brentford (2-1) at home, either side of a 2-0 defeat at Burnley. Home form was always going to be key for the Black Cats this season, but they will want to get off the mark away from the Stadium of Light as soon as possible, and they may fancy their chances of doing so at Selhurst Park this weekend, given Forest picked up a point there three weeks ago.

Palace weren't particularly strong at Selhurst last season, with 11 other clubs claiming more points at home than the Eagles (25), and they've already drawn - in regulation time - four of their six games this term.

Conor: 2-1

Simon: 1-1

Everton vs Aston Villa (Saturday 15:00 BST) - 1-1 @ 5/1

Everton lost their opening Premier League game 1-0 at Leeds United, but have since beaten Brighton (H) 2-0 and Wolves (A) 3-2, with on-loan Man City winger Jack Grealish starring on Merseyside with a division-high four assists.

Villa, on the other hand, have started horrifically, failing to score in any of their three games, the latest two of which they have lost.

A trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium to take on the Toffees isn't ideal for Unai Emery, but they have to start their revival somewhere, and while I think a win may be beyond them on Saturday, I do think they are capable of stealing a point.

The Villans added Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof to their ranks on transfer deadline day, with Elliott, in particular, predicted to make an instant impact.

Expectation is usually the killer for Everton and David Moyes, and they may fall slightly flat this weekend.

Conor: 2-1

Simon: 0-0

Fulham vs Leeds United (Saturday 15:00 BST) - 2-0 @ 8/1

Fulham are yet to taste victory in the Premier League this season, but trips to Brighton and Chelsea, which ended in a 1-1 draw and 2-0 defeat, respectively, are never easy, while they could consider themselves slightly unfortunate not to beat Manchester United (1-1) at Craven Cottage.

Marco Silva's side, bolstered by the deadline day arrivals of wingers Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze, will expect to collect their first three points of the campaign on Saturday at home to newly-promoted Leeds, who are yet to score in open play, despite taking four points.

The Whites looked particularly blunt in attack at home to Newcastle United (0-0) last time out, and Fulham could snuff them out in west London this weekend.

Conor: 2-1

Simon: 1-1

Newcastle United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (Saturday 15:00 BST) - 4-1 @ 20/1

I'm going big here, despite Newcastle failing to score in two of their first three games this season. The Magpies have been denied in goalless draws at Villa and Leeds, but back at St James' Park, where they found the net twice with 10 men against Liverpool (2-3) last month, they can claim a first win.

Their visitors to Tyneside, Wolves, are the only side to lose their first three matches, and they've shipped seven goals.

With Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade signed to compensate for Alexander Isak's exit to Liverpool, a lack of firepower is no longer an excuse for Eddie Howe, who will expect his side to show their true colours on Saturday.

I think things will all come together for Newcastle this weekend, and Wolves will be reliant on Jorgen Strand Larsen to strike a consolation effort.

Conor: 3-1

Simon: 2-0

West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur (Saturday 17:30 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) - 1-2 @ 15/2

The first of two London derbies on Saturday evening, West Ham host Spurs at the London Stadium.

The Irons began the season poorly, losing their first two league games before suffering a Carabao Cup exit at Wolves, but they stunned Forest at the City Ground last time out, winning 3-0.

Spurs, meanwhile, won their opening two matches, shocking Man City 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium in their second, but were well below par in a 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last time out.

Both teams have scored in the last four head-to-heads, and I think we'll see more goals in this fixture on Saturday, but Spurs, strengthened by the recent arrivals of Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani, may have slightly too much for Graham Potter's charges.

Conor: 1-3

Simon: 1-1

Today's Football Fixtures

Brentford vs Chelsea (Saturday 20:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) - 1-3 @ 12/1

There's a west London derby taking place at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday evening, with Brentford taking on Chelsea. The Bees have lost twice already this season, suffering a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest and a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland, but between those two point-less away trips, they beat Aston Villa 1-0 at home.

The Blues, meanwhile, started their league campaign with a goalless draw at home with Palace, but then thrashed West Ham 5-1 at the London Stadium before battling past Fulham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The last three head-to-heads at the Gtech have ended in a stalemate, with a couple of them goalless, but this is a new-look Bees side, shorn of head coach Thomas Frank, captain Christian Norgaard, and strike duo Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo.

After a chastening opening-day defeat at the City Ground, Brentford have looked more assured, backing up that victory over Villa with one at Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup. Still, against a potential title challenger, they're likely to be up against it on Saturday.

Even if Cole Palmer misses another match through injury, Chelsea shouldn't be lacking in the final third, with summer signing Joao Pedro on fire with two goals and two assists in his last couple of appearances.

Conor: 1-3

Simon: 2-0

Burnley vs Liverpool (Sunday 14:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) - 0-2 @ 6/1

None of Liverpool's three victories have been handed to them, with all of their winning goals scored in the 83rd minute or later. Still, they are the only Premier League side to win every game so far, and they are now bolstered by the arrival of Isak, who joined the reigning champions from Newcastle on deadline day.

The Swedish striker may be limited to a cameo role at Turf Moor on Sunday, given his lack of game time in recent months, but what a substitute to have if you are struggling against Burnley.

The Clarets have lost two of their first three games back in the top flight, the latest a particularly heartbreaking defeat as Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty seven minutes into second-half stoppage time to claim a 3-2 victory for Manchester United.

Scott Parker's charges did win their first home match 2-0 against fellow newly-promoted side Sunderland, but Liverpool at home is a completely different assignment, and one they are likely to struggle with.

I'm backing the Reds to maintain their 100% record and keep their first clean sheet of the season.

Conor: 0-3

Simon: 1-1 (mainly just to annoy Liverpool fan Nick...)

Manchester City vs Manchester United (Sunday 16:30 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) - 3-1 @ 11/1

The first Manchester derby of the season is upon us, and, bizarrely, for all the talk around them, Man United start Sunday's game at the Etihad higher in the Premier League table than Man City.

While United have picked up four points - just about - City only have three to their name, having followed up a routine 4-0 win at Wolves with a 2-0 defeat at home to Spurs and a 2-1 loss at Brighton. Pep Guardiola's side don't look right defensively, and their struggles are highlighted by a record of just one clean sheet in their last five games, going back to the group stage of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup.

Still, the visit of an inconsistent Red Devils outfit will be a welcome one, despite Ruben Amorim's side stringing together a two-game unbeaten run in the league against Fulham (1-1) and Burnley (3-2). Between those slightly fortunate results, though, was a Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town, who were 2-0 up against the 20-time champions and eventually knocked them out of the competition on penalties.

United have shown before that they can raise their level for big games, including at the Etihad last season under Amorim, when they won 2-1, but it's tough to see City falling to a third straight defeat on Sunday, particularly with Erling Haaland on nine goals after five appearances for club and country this term.

I'm predicting the Citizens to triumph in a Manchester derby for the first time since March 2024, but given their creaky defence in the past few months, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the visitors get on the scoresheet.

Conor: 2-1

Simon: 1-2

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