FUTBOL CITIZENS

Barnabas Peter; a Manchester United fan and a pencil artist based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Instagram: @barniz_artz, Twitter: @barnabaspeter9

Reason being a Manchester United fan: I started supporting Manchester United in 2005 because of Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the fast, counter-attacking style of play.

27-08-2022

Southampton vs Man Utd

Southampton have suddenly flipped their poor form after losing to Tottenham in GW 1 and did a comeback against Leicester last time out. Man Utd also surprised us with a win over Liverpool last time out and I feel they will be confident thereafter. With the addition of Casemiro to Man Utd’s team, I expect them to be much better here against the Saints but I won’t be putting my two legs in for them because their consistency has always been in question. I will rather bank on goals here because there have been, at least, 2 goals in their past 3-5 meetings.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: SOU 1-1 MNU

Barnabas Peter: Saint Mary’s has been a difficult ground for Manchester United and it’ll play out like previous seasons this time around. It will be a narrow win for Man Utd.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: SOU 2-3 MNU

RESULT: SOU 0-1 MNU

Barnabas Peter’s Opinion on Manchester United this season: My expectations for the season aren’t that high. Man Utd are a team still trying to find balance and rhythm. So finishing in the top four will be a big plus for my fan club this season.

Brentford vs Everton

Everton managed to get a point at home against Nott. Forest last time out but it is very clear that they are suffering from their lack of a striker. Until they get a striker, they will struggle to get points because you can’t win games if you can’t score goals. Brentford, on the other hand, have been scoring goals since they started the season and even scored two goals in their defeat against Fulham last time out. Defensively, both teams are quite okay but the victory will be down to whoever can score goals which makes Brentford the favorite team to win.

PREDICTION: 1

TIP: BRE 2-0 EVE

Barnabas Peter: Everton are still without a win after three league games and I don’t see that ending in this match.

PREDICTION: 1

TIP: BRE 2-0 EVE

RESULT: BRE 1-1 EVE

Brighton vs Leeds Utd

These two teams have started the season quite well and are unbeaten so far. Either of the teams will be adamant to keep their unbeaten record because they will be looking at each other as a beatable opponent. So this makes this fixture hard to predict. I am expecting an end-to-end or a cagey game probably. These two sides failed to get a victory over one another last season and didn’t score up to 3 goals in each one of them so I am not expecting many goals here.

PREDICTION: Under 3.5

TIP: BHA 1-1 LEE

Barnabas Peter: With both teams in very fine form and both coming off wins in the previous gameweek, I think this is going to be a tight one ending up in a draw.

PREDICTION: X

TIP: BHA 1-1 LEE

RESULT: BHA 1-0 LEE

Chelsea vs Leicester

These two teams were unexpectedly defeated last time out. Chelsea were awful against Leeds Utd last time out and lost 3-0. They lost the midfield battle, had issues going forward and couldn’t convert chances and score goals. Leicester, on the other hand, lost 1-2 to Southampton after taking the lead. They couldn’t stop conceding late goals which has been the reason they haven’t secured a victory in this new campaign. The woes of these two teams make this fixture hard to predict which is why it will be safe to bank on goals.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: CHE 1-1 LEI

Barnabas Peter: Both teams haven’t really started the season well showing defensive frailties and with Chelsea not really finding their attacking mojo yet, I feel Leicester might just come out tops in a narrow win.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: CHE 1-2 LEI

RESULT: CHE 2-1 LEI

Liverpool vs Bournemouth

Liverpool are having issues and finding it difficult to keep up to their standard. It is a surprise that they are yet to get a win after playing 3 games. Jürgen Klopp will surely be asking more from his boys and speeding up the recovery process of those out injured. Bournemouth have lost two games back to back against Man City and Arsenal and their level of confidence would have been reduced. I don’t think they’ll be worried because the run of fixtures is not in their favor at the moment having Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool in GW 2, 3, and 4 respectively. I think this should be the first win for Liverpool in this new campaign if they manage to get things right at home here.

PREDICTION: 1

TIP: LIV 2-0 BOU

Barnabas Peter: Although Liverpool haven’t really started the season well, I’ll tip Liverpool to come out comfortable winners in this one.

PREDICTION: 1

TIP: LIV 3-0 BOU

RESULT: LIV 9-0 BOU

Man City vs Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace had an impressive win over Aston Villa last time out and they’ll be full of confidence here. They will surely give Man City a good fight and are capable of getting something out of this game if they get hold of the ball for a quality amount of time. Man City managed to get a draw against Newcastle luckily last time out and also went to Spain to play against Barcelona to get 3-3 draws on both occasions. Although Pep Guardiola gave rest to some players and didn’t play them against Barcelona in the Midweek, I feel they will still be feeling tired but the squad depth will come into play here and I think they will manage to cross the line.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: MCI 2-1 CRY

Barnabas Peter: Man City dropped points last weekend at Saint James’ Park and I feel they’ll return to winning ways this time.

PREDICTION: 1

TIP: MCI 2-0 CRY

RESULT: MCI 4-2 CRY

Arsenal vs Fulham

Fulham got an impressive 3-2 win over Brentford last time out and it seems like they’ve got plenty of goals in them. They will be confident going into this game, hoping to continue their unbeaten run, and will get into the face of the Gunners. Arsenal have got a 100% good run to maintain here and will be willing to do everything here to keep it going. They’ve got a good defense and goalkeeper that can prevent goals and a formidable attack to get the needed goals to win the game. The Gunners are favorites to win but it won’t come easy.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: ARS 2-1 FUL

Barnabas Peter: With Arsenal in the form of their lives coming up against a fast attacking Fulham side with an in-form striker, Mitrovic, I feel it’ll end in a narrow 2-1 win for the Gunners continuing in their fine form.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: ARS 2-1 FUL

RESULT: ARS 2-1 FUL

28-08-2022

Aston Villa vs West Ham

Like I’ve been saying, there are issues at West Ham. They have lost 3 of 3 games this season and I’m finding it difficult to make a case for them. Hopefully they can be better if they make more signings and also if David Moyes can come up with a new equation to get them up and running like he has done in the past seasons. Aston Villa got battered by Crystal Palace last time out after taking the lead very early in the game and I feel Steven Gerrard is missing a piece. They have become unpredictable as you never can tell what outcome you can possibly get from them. I won’t be backing a side here.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: ASV 1-1 WHU

Barnabas Peter: Both sides haven’t started well but the Hammers are having it worse this season. I feel they will pick a point in this one. I think it will be a goalless draw.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: ASV 0-0 WHU

RESULT: ASV 0-1 WHU

Wolves vs Newcastle

Wolves are still struggling to get themselves settled into the new season. They’ve not been impressive but rather difficult to beat. Newcastle showed us what quality they possess as they nearly beat Man City last time out. Even though Callum Wilson is out injured, I believe they’ve got goals in them, and are defensively good so I think they can keep a clean sheet since Wolves are finding it difficult to score goals. I see the Magpies winning here but Wolves will give them a good fight like they gave Tottenham.

PREDICTION: 2

TIP: WOL 0-2 NEW

Barnabas Peter: The Magpies are looking very sharp and ready to compete at the higher level in the #PL. They’ve started on a very fine note by posing a scare to the Champions and I see them edging out a resilient Wolves team by a lone goal.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: WOL 0-1 NEW

RESULT: WOL 1-1 NEW

Nott. Forest vs Tottenham

Nott. Forest nearly defeated Everton last time out but ended it with a draw. They are growing tougher after each game, unbeaten in two games now and will be hoping to extend it to three unbeaten runs here. Tottenham managed to secure a 1-0 win over Wolves last time out and remain unbeaten in the #PL this season. They’ll be keen to extend it here as they will be looking at Nott. Forest as a beatable opponent. I am not expecting many goals here but I’m expecting a good fight from Nott. Forest and make it a difficult game for Tottenham as the Spurs seem to be the favorite quality wise.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: NFO 0-2 TOT

Barnabas Peter: Antonio Conte’s Spurs have looked convincing thus far, picking up points in all three of their games while Nott. Forest have also had an unbeaten run but I tip Spurs to take the day.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: NFO 1-2 TOT

RESULT: NFO 0-2 TOT