Premier League match week three will kick off on Saturday when Arsenal hosts Brighton at the Emirates. Each team has a 100% record since the start of the season.
The biggest match of the round will be the English version of the “El Classico” when old rivals Manchester United and Liverpool lock horns at Old Trafford.
Other key fixtures that will make headlines are Chelsea hosting Crystal Palace at Stanford Bridge and Manchester United travelling to the Olympic stadium to face West Ham.
Premier League all-time top scorer Alan Shearer, who is the ambassador for Betfair, will preview the week’s round of matches and provide predictions for the ten fixtures for the weekends.
What are Alan Shearer’s Prediction for Match Week Three?
Arsenal v Brighton
“This is a really exciting game and a tough one to call. Brighton have been very impressive in beating Man United and going to a tough place in Goodison Park and scoring three goals, which could’ve been more that day. Their wingers ripped Everton to shreds.
“They’ll go to Arsenal full of confidence after the result last weekend too. It’s been a great start from Fabian Hürzeler, managing to impose himself on that squad, but I think Arsenal, who got that result despite not playing too well at Aston Villa and have two wins from two themselves, so they will make it tough for Brighton. I think Arsenal will have too much for Brighton in the end.
“Leandro Trossard came on last week, scored with his first touch and when a manager brings you off the bench, it’s either to protect the game or to win it, and boy did Trossard make an impact. He looked so cool, and it was a clever finish. When Arsenal go in-front, they are hard to beat.”
Brentford v Southampton
“My concern with Southampton over the first two games would be how are they going to score goals.
“Yes, they are very good technically, controlling possession, but in terms of having that killer instinct, that’s where they’ll have to improve if they want to stay in the Premier League.
“They’ll have to create chances and start to convert them otherwise that could be a problem for them.
“I’ll go for a home win. I think Brentford will have too much up front for them.”
Everton v Bournemouth
“I’ve been impressed with Bournemouth. They were a bit unlucky against Newcastle last weekend and they’ll go to Goodison knowing Everton are under huge pressure. Everton got their win at home in the cup, which was important, but Bournemouth will know that if they can keep it tight for the first hour or so, then that won’t help Everton at all.
“With Everton, I think they have the correct manager in Sean Dyche for in the situation they’re in. He’s been there and done it, he did a great job last season given the point deductions. I’m going to go for a draw in this one.
“It’s a tough environment at the minute, a tough football club because of what has gone on in the past, but that’s no fault of Sean Dyche.
Sean has inherited a difficult job, with the points deductions, the lack of ability to sign players, and it’s about navigating the football club and trying to stay in the Premier League. I think it’ll be another tough season for Everton and if there’s one manager you’d want in that situation, it’d be him.”
Ipswich v Fulham
“When you talk about tough starts, it couldn’t have been tougher for Ipswich with Liverpool and Manchester City in their first two games. Welcome back to the Premier League after 22 years. This is where their season starts, this is where they will think they could go out and get something.
“Fulham though have made some clever signings, have a really good manager and it’ll be a tough game. However, I think they’ll have too much for Ipswich. It’ll be a great atmosphere, but I’ll go for an away win.”
Leicester v Aston Villa
“It’ll be a tough season for Leicester because they’ll have to face something to do with the charges, whether it’s a points deduction or some form of punishment.
“I like Steve Cooper, he got a good point in the first game against Tottenham, but I think Aston Villa will have too much for them here.
“I’ve been really impressed with Morgan Rogers, and as a centre forward, when you have missed two howlers, you cannot wait for the next game so I would think Ollie Watkins will be a lot better this weekend. I’ll go for an Aston Villa win.
“When you look at who Morgan Rogers was up against in that Arsenal midfield, and some of the things he did with the ball, it was a magnificent performance. He didn’t deserve to be on the losing side and was without a doubt the standout player on the pitch.”
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
“Nottingham Forest got a great result last week at Southampton and have some really talented players in there. This will be about how Wolves react to the loss against Chelsea.
“It was a crazy result at Molineux and could’ve gone either way despite them conceding six. It’ll be very tight this game, so I’ll go for a draw.”
West Ham v Man City
“I’d be surprised if West Ham caused any problems for Man City here. They got a great result at Crystal Palace and made a really great signing of Max Kilman at the back, but Man City will have too much for them.
“When they conceded the first goal against Ipswich it was all about how are City going to react, and it was amazing to see how they did indeed react in the next 10-15 minutes. They could have even scored a few more. I’ll go for an away win.
“When you’re in the form Erling Haaland is in, pretty much through his whole Man City career, he’s got the players supplying the ammo, but when you’ve got that feeling and that confidence, you can’t wait to get out there and into the next game.
“I’ve been there before, standing in the tunnel, looking at your opponents, and not just thinking, but knowing you’re going to score. Erling will have that and It’s a great feeling.”
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
“Crystal Palace have been a tad unlucky so far, but it’s been a disappointing start. Eze scored the amazing free-kick at Brentford in the first game, which was wrongly chalked off at 0-0.
“Depending on what happens between now and the end of the transfer window for Chelsea, though, I think they’ll go into this game full of confidence after the result last weekend. I do think they’ll have too much for Crystal Palace.
“Palace must keep hold of Eze now before the deadline, and it remains to be seen if they are to lose Marc Guehi, but you’d hope they would have someone lined up if they do so. When you put all that together and the uncertainty around Palace, that’s why I am going for a home win.”
Newcastle v Tottenham
“Newcastle have had two decent results without playing well. They got lucky against Bournemouth; it was a poor decision to disallow the late winner.
They didn’t play well, but after they made the subs for 10-15 minutes that did improve Newcastle, and then Gordon got his goal. They still need a statement signing and if they can get that before the game, it could make all the difference mentally to both the team and those in the stands to give them that added excitement.
“Tottenham got a disappointing result against Leicester but then scored four last weekend. They were ruthless. Ange made three changes last weekend and all three made an impact, so it’s a tough one to call at St James’ Park.
“If Newcastle get a signing over the line, then I’d go for a home win. If they don’t, I’ll go for a draw.”
Manchester United v Liverpool
“I haven’t seen a lot that’s changed from last year at Manchester United, and I know they’ve still got injuries, they’re also bringing in a new midfielder in Manuel Ugarte but not much has changed in terms of their performances against Fulham and especially, against Brighton.
“Man United are a better team when teams are attacking them, and with the pace that they have up-front, they can really hurt you when sides leave space, we saw that against Brighton despite not getting the result.
If Liverpool are going to attack, they will have to be aware of that going the other way.
“Liverpool’s opener against Ipswich was a tough one – they were under immense pressure in the first half but the way they came out in the second half and battered them in the end was impressive.
“The result against Brentford showed how strong and powerful they are, too. But looking at the game on Sunday, sometimes Man United produce their best performances against the big hitters. They did last season in the FA Cup final when they were really impressive against Man City, and that may be the case this weekend against Liverpool.
“Ultimately when you look at Man United last weekend against Brighton and the lapses in concentration defensively, if they don’t improve that then Liverpool’s front line will have huge success.
“There’ll be goals in the game and I think it could be a score-draw at Old Trafford on Sunday as I’ve mentioned Man United can save their best for the biggest games, and this is one of those.”
