New Delhi: The Premier League returns with exciting Matchday 8 fixtures following the international break. Saturday promises high-stakes action with a thrilling London derby as Tottenham Hotspur welcomes West Ham United, followed by Erik ten Hag at the test again, and finally, the Gunners facing off Bournemouth with many players injured. As the anticipation builds fans will be keen to see which side holds the upper hand. So, before the action kicks off here’s a preview of the Saturday matches.
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham ( 5 pm IST)
Back in @PremierLeague action 🎬
👉 @Castrol pic.twitter.com/C9t9qPTfCO
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 17, 2024
Tottenham Hotspur welcomes West Ham United as the Spurs are still reeling from a shocking 3-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion, where they squandered a two-goal lead, much to the dismay of manager Ange Postecoglou. The Lilywhites currently sit in ninth place having lost three out of their seven matches this season which leaves them anxious ahead of the clash.
West Ham is buoyed by a resounding 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, snapping a five-match winless streak. Manager Julen Lopetegui will be relieved as his team climbs to 12th, just two points behind Spurs. The Irons have shown resilience away from home and remain unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches and will look to continue that trend. With a history of surprising results in this fixture, both teams will be eager to secure vital points in their pursuit of a stronger league standing.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 West Ham
Ipswich Town vs Everton ( 7:30 pm IST)
Back on the road this weekend. 👊#IPSEVE 🔜 pic.twitter.com/fpFitYpd5X
— Everton (@Everton) October 15, 2024
Ipswich Town will host Everton at Portman Road on Saturday, marking their first meeting in 20 years. Both teams are just above the relegation zone with Ipswich seeking their first Premier League win after a tough start. Their unbeaten streak ended with a 4-1 loss to West Ham, despite close calls against Aston Villa and Fulham.
Everton has struggled too having won only once in seven matches. After back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Aston Villa, they finally secured a point against Leicester City and followed it up with a win over Crystal Palace. Despite a challenging 14-match winless run away from home in the Premier League the Toffees will aim to leverage past successes against Ipswich. With both sides eager to climb the table this clash is pivotal for their aspirations in the league.
Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Everton
Manchester United vs Brentford ( 7:30 pm IST)
Saturday. 3pm. Old Trafford. 🫡#MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/j8xfniBu9H
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 16, 2024
Manchester United will aim to break a five-match winless streak when they host Brentford at Old Trafford. The teams last met in March and finished in a dramatic 1-1 draw. United’s struggles have continued under Erik ten Hag, who faces mounting pressure after a dismal start to the Premier League season having accumulated only eight points from seven matches.
While United sits 14th, closer to the relegation zone than the top four Brentford comes into this match with a mixed bag of performances. The Bees have scored first in their last four games but despite this strong start they have failed to win away from home this season, suffering defeats against top teams like Liverpool and Manchester City. Historically, United have dominated Brentford at home, winning their last five league encounters. However, with United’s recent form, this match presents a crucial opportunity for both sides to regain momentum in their campaigns.
Prediction: Man United 2-2 Brentford
Fulham vs Aston Villa ( 7:30 pm IST)
Welcoming the Villans. ⏭️#FULAVL pic.twitter.com/5peqMzpQt3
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) October 17, 2024
Fulham will welcome Aston Villa at Craven Cottage with both teams looking to solidify their positions in the Premier League table. Fulham sits in the eighth spot, having secured three wins and two draws in their opening seven matches but they fell to a 3-2 defeat against Manchester City before the international break. Despite that setback, Marco Silva’s side have shown promise at home, collecting seven of their eleven points at Craven Cottage.
Aston Villa are currently fifth and aim to extend their impressive unbeaten run that included three consecutive wins and a memorable Champions League victory over Bayern Munich. They recently drew 0-0 against Manchester United marking their first Premier League clean sheet since April. Historically, Villa had mixed results at Fulham, winning three of their last ten league visits but having lost five. With both teams eager for points this clash promises to be an exciting encounter as they aim for a spot in the upper echelon of the Premier League.
Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa
Newcastle vs Brighton ( 7:30 pm IST)
Back in action this weekend! 😍 pic.twitter.com/DxAss6rFKf
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 16, 2024
Newcastle will clash against Brighton as they welcome them at St. James’ Park. Both the teams levelled on the points table last time and played out a 1-1 draw. Currently sitting seventh with 12 points Newcastle has drawn their last two matches against Manchester City and Everton struggling to find their rhythm after a promising start to the season. Manager Eddie Howe expressed frustration over missed chances but noted defensive improvements as they secured their first clean sheet in several matches.
Meanwhile, Brighton are just above Newcastle in sixth place, also on 12 points but ahead on goal difference. Both teams are eyeing a place in the top five. The Seagulls come into this match with renewed confidence following an impressive comeback victory over Tottenham rallying from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Coach Fabian Hurzeler remains focused on the process rather than immediate results emphasizing the challenge that Newcastle presents.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Brighton
Southampton vs Leicester City ( 7:30 pm IST)
In SO on Saturday ✊ pic.twitter.com/SZpi8476Ta
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 16, 2024
Southampton will host Leicester City at St Mary’s in a battle for crucial Premier League points. The Saints recently suffered a narrow 3-1 defeat to Arsenal, which leaves them at the bottom of the table without a win this season. Manager Russell Martin is under pressure as a loss on Saturday would mark a club record of 21 consecutive top-flight games without victory. Despite dominating possession Southampton’s struggles in attack are evident with only four goals to their name which is the worst record in the league.
In contrast, Leicester City found their stride with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth, thanks to Facundo Buonanotte’s early strike. This victory lifted the Foxes to 15th place three points clear of the relegation zone but they still aim to break an 11-game winless streak away from home in the Premier League. With both teams eager for a much-needed victory this encounter promises to be a pivotal clash in their respective campaigns.
Prediction: Southampton 0-3 Leicester City
Bournemouth vs Arsenal ( 10 pm IST)
How we feeling ahead of Saturday? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y9mjgdP3H3
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) October 17, 2024
Arsenal aims to secure the top spot if they pass the Bournemouth test at the Vitality Stadium. The Gunners have shown impressive form, winning four consecutive matches including a comeback 3-1 victory over Southampton where Bukayo Saka played a crucial role.
On the other hand, Bournemouth is eager to recover from a recent 1-0 defeat against Leicester City which marked their third loss in four games. The Cherries have struggled against top-half teams, and they haven’t won against such opponents in their last 11 attempts.
Arsenal has dominated against Bournemouth winning their last four encounters and scoring at least three goals each time. As Arsenal eyes their 2,000th top-flight victory they will look to exploit any weaknesses in Bournemouth’s defense and extend their unbeaten run in the league.
Prediction: Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal
