Matchweek 2 Preview: London derbies, Ange's first home game, Tyneside vs. City side

And just like that, the second week of the Premier League season has arrived, promising a thrilling weekend of matches for us fans. With fixtures like Tottenham vs Manchester United, Man City vs. Newcastle, and two London derbies, anticipation is high. Let’s delve into each matchup and make score predictions:

Nottingham Forest vs. Sheffield United

Week two kicks off with a showdown at the City Ground as Steve Cooper’s men take on newcomers Sheffield United. Both sides lost last weekend, but Forest displayed more promise than the Blades.

Sheffield United appeared sluggish and outpaced in their loss to Crystal Palace, with Edouard securing a 1-0 victory. The Blades’ squad may struggle to compete at the Premier League level, suggesting a challenging season for Paul Heckingbottom.

On the other hand, Forest put up a valiant effort against Arsenal, even though they fell 2-1. Despite Arsenal’s dominance, Forest were able to cause the Gunners problems throughout the match. New signing Anthony Elanga changed the Forest attack when he came onto the pitch, contributing to a goal. If he starts alongside Taiwo Awonyiyi, I can only see one winner.

Score: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Sheffield United

Fulham vs. Brentford

Fulham clinched a 1-0 against Everton at Goodison Park courtesy of Bobby Reid’s goal. Fulham struggled in the first half as the Toffees peppered their goal. However, goals win games and the Cottages scored the vital goal. Joao Palhinha is a big miss for the side and Fulham will want him back fit as soon as possible.

Brentford went toe-to-toe with Tottenham and earned themselves an impressive point in a 2-2 draw. Brentford will be confident going into this game knowing Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo can score goals. Questions arose about Brentford’s performance without Toney, but they’ve proven capable.

Score: Fulham 1-3 Brentford

Liverpool vs. Bournemouth

Recalling last year’s 9-0 defeat, Bournemouth hopes to avoid heartbreak at Anfield again. Although a repeat of such a result is unlikely, surprises are possible. The Reds earned a point at Stamford Bridge with Luiz Diaz finding the net. While Chelsea dominated, Liverpool’s resilience stood out.

Bournemouth touted as a team to watch under new manager Andoni Iraola, settled for a 1-1 draw against West Ham. Despite the hype, improvement is needed to fully implement the manager’s strategies.

Score: Liverpool 4-0 Bournemouth

Luton vs. Burnley

Luton’s unprepared stadium impacts the match.

Score: Premier League Stadium Rules 1-0 Luton Town

Wolves vs. Brighton

Wolves surprised everyone last week despite losing 1-0 to Manchester United. To go to Old Trafford and run all over United is something Gary O’neill should be very proud of, especially since specific calls did not go their way.

Brighton dismantled Luton Town 4-1 and will be looking to make it six points out of six at the Molyneux. Although they lost Moises Caicedo, Brighton’s scouting strength ensures a replacement. The attack of Joao Pedro, Simon Adingra, Evan Ferguson, and Kaoru Mitoma looks strong, I think Wolves will struggle.

Score: Wolves 1-2 Brighton

Tottenham vs. Manchester United

One of the games of the weekend. Tottenham were unlucky not to beat Brentford since they had more possession and shots. Ange will demand that his team win the first home game of the season against top-four rivals Manchester United. Players like Son, and Richarlison will need to step up.

United’s narrow win against Wolves raised concerns. While luck played a part, their unbeaten record at the new Tottenham stadium should boost their confidence. I don’t think either team has enough to win, but a draw seems fair.

Score: Tottenham 1-1 Manchester United

Manchester City vs. Newcastle

The champions face an attacking Newcastle side. Manchester City are formidable at home, losing only one game last season at the Etihad. Kevin De Bruyne is a big blow for City, not having his creative talent will be damaging. However, they still have Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and the likes of Bernardo Silva.

Newcastle proved a lot of people wrong with their statement 5-1 win against Aston Villa. Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes, and Sandro Tonali were on fire and will be raring to go in this one. I back them to get a result here, but I don’t see them winning this match.

Score: Manchester City 1-1 Newcastle

Aston Villa vs. Everton

Aston Villa will want to win this one for their fans after that 5-1 demolition at St. James Park. Villa will bounce back, they have a solid squad and a great goalscorer up top in Ollie Watkins.

Everton on the other hand has no excuses. To lose to Fulham at home after missing so many good opportunities is disappointing for the fans. Neal Maupay missed his fair share of shots and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured, maybe we’ll see Danjuma make his full debut. At Villa Park, I think they will struggle a lot and ultimately lose.

Score: Aston Villa 3-0 Everton

West Ham vs. Chelsea

Who doesn’t love a London derby? Both sides drew 1-1 in their first games of the season. Pochettino has a group that wants to play as a team now, and with the signings of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, the Blues will be confident.

West Ham will be disappointed not to hold on to their one-goal advantage at Bournemouth but they should be optimistic for the season ahead. Chelsea have only beaten West Ham twice in the London Stadium, with the Hammers winning five times. I don’t see them beating the Blues this time around.

Score: West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal

The weekend concludes with a London Derby. Crystal Palace’s comfortable win against Sheffield United bodes well. Arsenal’s cohesive attack and solid defense could overwhelm Palace.

Score: Crystal Palace 0-4 Arsenal