Dapo Olajuwon’s EPL prediction: Game Week 23

11-02-2023

🛠 WEST HAM VS CHELSEA 🔵

West Ham have been unbeaten in two games after a poor start to the league. After securing a 2-0 victory against Everton, they played a 1-1 draw against Newcastle last time out. Now they will be playing against Chelsea at home and the last time West Ham conceded two goals in a match was in a 2-2 draw against Leeds Utd in Game Week 19. Chelsea, on the other hand, are defensively good and do not concede goals anyhow. The last time they also conceded two goals in a match was in a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle in Game Week 16. So this is a clash between two improving sides and one thing I’ve learned from my superior in the studio back in the years is that if a team begins to improve, the improvement usually starts from the defense in most cases which is what is manifesting in these two teams. So I am not expecting many goals.

PREDICTION: Under 3.5

TIP: WHU 1-1 CHE

RESULT: WHU 1-1 CHE

🔴 ARSENAL VS BRENTFORD 🐝

Brentford have been massive this season and their performance last time out against Southampton was impressive which led them to a 3-0 win. They will be full of confidence going into this one against Arsenal but I don’t think the fan factor at the Emirates stadium won’t affect them. Arsenal will be going into this one like a wounded lion after a defeat at Goodison Park against Everton; an unexpected defeat for me, I don’t know about you. I read the news update that a good number of fans want Mikel Arteta to rest some players ahead of Man City clash but I think the manager will do well to make it balanced so that they can get something out of this game no matter what.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: ARS 2-1 BRE

RESULT: ARS 1-1 BRE

🦅 CRYSTAL PALACE VS BRIGHTON 🐦

Crystal Palace have been playing well and giving a good fight even though they lost to Man Utd last time out. I am expecting them to give another good fight here at Selhurst Park but I don’t think they will get the reward here because of the opponent they are up against. Brighton are on another level. They had a difficult game against Bournemouth last time out but they ground out the result – courtesy of Mitoma’s goal. I think they will continue from where they left it off here.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: CRY 1-2 BHA

RESULT: CRY 1-1 BHA

FULHAM VS NOTT. FOREST 🎄

Nott. Forest are unbeaten in 5 games now and they’ve played Chelsea, Southampton, Leicester, Bournemouth, and Leeds Utd respectively. Are you surprised? They’ve been playing well and getting results but there are times when you would play well and not get results which I think is about to happen here. I don’t think Nott. Forest will be able to cope with the intensity of the Cottagers here – fast-attacking football. Fulham will be hoping to build on the goalless draw they played against Chelsea last time out to get back to winning ways. They will be determined to get something out of this game because they know that it is possible to get nothing out of their next two games against Brighton and Wolves.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: FUL 2-1 NFO

RESULT: FUL 2-0 NFO

🦊 LEICESTER VS TOTTENHAM

I have been questioning Leicester’s inconsistency. I thought they wouldn’t get a win last time out against Aston Villa but they did a comeback victory. I am not convinced yet and moreover, they are playing against a Tottenham side who are just gaining momentum and have been defensively disciplined in their last two games. They have had two 1-goal victories and I think they can score more here. Spurs will be confident going into this one and I think it will be safer to bank on goals.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: LEI 1-2 TOT

RESULT: LEI 4-1 TOT

SOUTHAMPTON VS WOLVES 🐺

As I said, I do not disrespect Nathan Jones but I’m not convinced that he’s the right man for Southampton’s job after Ralph Hasenhüttl was sacked. A couple of days ago, I read that Ralph is getting another job and I’m happy for him. He was hoping to retire at Southampton but sadly he was sacked. Good luck to him on his new job. Nathan Jones was wondering what was wrong last time out when they got defeated 3-0 at Brentford and I think he will be in a similar situation here once again. The Southampton board needs to make a real investment and add quality to the club; the problem is beyond the manager. Wolves got an impressive win against Liverpool last time out and now we are going to see what they are made up of on the road. They should be able to get something out of this game but I think it will be safer to bank on goals.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: SOU 1-1 WOL

RESULT: SOU 1-2 WOL

🍒 BOURNEMOUTH VS NEWCASTLE ⚫

Bournemouth gave a good fight to Brighton last time out and seems like a sign of improved performance to me. I am expecting them to do the same here but I am not expecting them to get a result here. All I am expecting here from the Cherries is not to concede many goals. Newcastle have been finding it difficult to score goals and it has been dragging them down recently. I thought they would be able to resolve it last time out against West Ham but they couldn’t. Hopefully, they will be able to resolve it here. Come what may, I expect them to win, or draw if it gets worse.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: BOU 0-1 NEW

RESULT: BOU 1-1 NEW

12-02-2023

LEEDS UTD VS MAN UTD 👹

This is a replay of the midweek fixture at the Leeds home this time. Leeds Utd gave away a two-goal lead in the second half. It took Man Utd only eight (8) minutes to score the reconciliation and equalizer goals by Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho (who had just returned to the team after a long time away) respectively. Despite scoring the equalizer, Erik ten Hag has warned Jadon Sancho not to be overwhelmed or over-excited. Man Utd will be determined to make up for the setbacks they had on Wednesday night and I think they will almost have less turbulent sailing here.

PREDICTION: 2X

TIP: LEE 1-2 MUN

RESULT: LEE 0-2 MUN

💎 MAN CITY VS ASTON VILLA 🦁

Aston Villa will be going into this one after a defeat to Leicester after they took the lead in the game. Usually, Aston Villa are a team that gives Man City a tough game and now that there is a crisis at Man City, you might be tempted to say Aston Villa can win or draw but it could be inappropriate to be dependent on a lower team to get you the result you desire as a Pundit. It will be difficult to know what sort of outcome you are going to get from Man City as the club is facing a crisis. It will also be difficult to predict the players that will be playing. Everything seems broken at Man City at the moment as they go to war against the Premier League and other clubs, especially the rival clubs in the league with a possible expulsion from the league. Maybe this might be a season where Man City may not beat Aston Villa at all.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: MCI 1-1 ASV

RESULT: MCI 3-1 ASV

13-02-2023

🔴 LIVERPOOL VS EVERTON 🔵

This is a Merseyside derby, always looking promising but not always thrilling in the end with few goals. Everton got a new bounce under their new manager, Sean Dyche and they beat Arsenal last time out. Coupled with the fact that Liverpool are in crisis, they will be confident going into this one but they will have to be filled with a different thought in their head because the fans at Anfield are wide and noisy and will make you lose your psychological balance. Liverpool will be showing some level of discipline here because it is a derby and Jürgen Klopp will be asking more from his boys after an awful performance against Wolves last time out. This game might be a cagey one so I am not expecting plenty of goals.

PREDICTION: Under 3.5

TIP: LIV 1-0 EVE

RESULT: LIV 2-0 EVE

Dapo Olajuwon’s EPL prediction stats

Total Prediction: 208

Correct Outcome: 146 ✅

Correct Score: 21 📌