FUTBOL CITIZENS

11-08-2023 (FRIDAY) 

📛 BURNLEY VS MAN CITY 💎 (20:00 WAT) 

Man City have just lost the Community Shield against Arsenal via penalty shootout and Haaland failed to showcase himself just like last season – Community Shield is already looking like a jinx for him. They will be keen to bounce back and start their league campaign with a win here. Burnley were trashed by the Cityzens last season in a cup game and I am confident that they will avoid a deja vu here, especially now that they’ve signed new players. The Clarets are known for giving their opponents a good game at Turf Moor and we shall see if they still have the fire in them. I do not expect any result from them but a good fight and not so many goals like it was in the reverse fixture. I also expect Haaland to

get on the score sheet. 

PREDICTION: 2 

TIP: BUR 0-3 MCI 

RESULT: BUR 0-3 MCI

12-08-2023 (SATURDAY) 

🔴 ARSENAL VS NOTT. FOREST 🎄 (12:30 WAT) 

The last time these two teams met was late last season at the City Ground where Nott. Forest defeated Arsenal 1-0 to secure their safety in the Premier League. That defeat shattered Arsenal’s hope of winning the league and automatically handed Man City the league title. For that reason, I think Arsenal will be in revenge mode. Moreover, it is the first game of the new season and Arsenal have already played a competitive game against Man City which has gotten them a good momentum. This fixture looks predestined merely looking at it and it has a win for Arsenal and a defeat for Nott. Forest is written all over it. I think Steve Cooper will just set up his side not to concede many goals. 

PREDICTION: 1 

TIP: ARS 4-0 NFO

RESULT: ARS 2-1 NFO

🍒 BOURNEMOUTH VS WEST HAM ⚒️ (15:00 WAT) 

Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium is not a concern for me even though they have parted ways with Gary O’Neil but West Ham are my concern. Bournemouth have lost some players and have equally replenished, and perhaps bought more players to strengthen their squad. The opposite is the case for West Ham. They have lost players and are yet to replace them. Imagine losing the team captain, Declan Rice for £105 million to Arsenal and not replacing him with an equivalent quality or caliber of player. They have only signed one player – Mexican midfielder, Edson Alvarez from Ajax for a fee around 40m. This has caused the manager, David Moyes to have some words with the club’s top officials and he is virtually having doubts about his job after winning the Europa Conference League with the Hammers. I won’t be surprised if he walks away or gets fired after a few games in the league as they are about to lose Lucas Paquetá to Man City also because I seriously don’t know how he’s going to compete with that depleted team even though they’re about to sign Harry Maguire from Man Utd and a midfielder. He might probably be the first manager to get sacked this season and as for this game, I do not see the Hammers winning at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth. I think the best result they can get is a draw so I’m expecting the Cherries to take their chances. 

PREDICTION: 1X 

TIP: BOU 1-0 WHU

RESULT: BOU 1-1 WHU

🐦 BRIGHTON VS LUTON TOWN 👒 (15:00 WAT) 

Luton Town made an incredible journey to get into English top-flight football but they do not look like they’ve come to stay in my opinion. I haven’t heard much about them in the transfer window, maybe they have their reservations but I watched a few of their games last season especially when they got to the playoff games. I do not see the Premier League quality in them with the way they play even though they have recently signed Ross Barkley, the former Chelsea player on a free transfer because it is just a kick-and-start (traditional) style like a kick-and-start generator, not a bit of beautiful football. Coming up against Brighton here is going to be a difficult test for them and they might get frustrated and drained because Brighton play beautiful football and are going to toss them up and down like the locusts. Brighton did very well in keeping their players like Caicedo in particular and for those that they’ve lost, they have already replaced them – Julio Igor for Levi Colwill who was on loan from Chelsea last season at CB, and Julio Enciso (who has been introduced into the team since last season) for Alexis Mac Allister who joined Liverpool this summer, meanwhile they are still in talks with Ajax for Mohammed Kudus. I do not see the Hatters getting a result here but I expect the Seagulls to bag the whole 3 points at the AMEX Stadium and set off a good start to the new campaign, get into gear and gain some momentum as they prepare for their first Europe competition game. 

PREDICTION: 1 

TIP: BHA 3-0 LUT

RESULT: BHA 4-1 LUT

🔵 EVERTON VS FULHAM ⚪ (15:00 WAT) 

The atmosphere at Fulham must be been very good as their manager, Marco Silva turned down a huge offer from Saudi Arabia to stay at the club, for the outgoing talisman, Alexander Mitrovic has already been replaced with Raúl Jiménez who was signed from Wolves and if Willian eventually leaves, there is Daniel James who can replace him. So I can say Fulham are in good shape but I can’t say the same for Everton. The Toffees managed to survive relegation last season on the last day and I expected a lot of transfer activities from them. I do not think they can beat the Cottagers in this fixture. 

PREDICTION: 2X 

TIP: EVE 1-2 FUL

RESULT: EVE 0-1 FUL

⚔ SHEFFIELD UTD VS CRYSTAL PALACE 🦅 (15:00 WAT) 

Sheffield Utd had an amazing campaign in the Championship last season and were second to Burnley. They have been doing their best in the transfer market and they’ve done well to retain their players so they might have some moments in the Premier League if only they can take their chances. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have been impressive under Roy Hodgson since he took over last season from Patrick Vieira which has landed him a new deal to continue at Crystal Palace. They have lost their former talisman, Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray and Michael Olise who is out injured has been on both Chelsea and Man City’s radar lately but I believe Roy Hodgson will sort it out over time. As for this clash, I think the Eagles will get a result and make a good start going to the new campaign. 

PREDICTION: 2X 

TIP: SHU 1-2 CRY

RESULT: SHU 0-1 CRY

⚫ NEWCASTLE VS ASTON VILLA 🦁 (17:30 WAT) 

To me, this is a clash of the Titans between two teams with enough squad depth and both are in Europe competition this season. I hope these clubs will be able to give a debut to their new signings here – especially Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali whom I am eager to see how he plays, what he offers, and how well he would integrate himself into the pace of Premier League football. This could be tricky, they are a match for each other and any team could beat the other which is why I will be sitting on the fence here. One beautiful thing is, they always score goals. 

PREDICTION: Over 1.5 

TIP: NEW 1-1 ASV

RESULT: NEW 5-1 ASV

13-08-2023 (SUNDAY)

🐝 BRENTFORD VS TOTTENHAM ⚪ (14:00 WAT) 

Brentford are a good side and they know how to narrow down the threat of opponent’s attack with their defense. They have done well in keeping their players but they will be without Ivan Toney who has been suspended till around January due to violation of betting rules since last season. Tottenham, on the other hand, under a new manager, Ange Postecoglou are looking quite different and they have added James Maddison from Leicester City to their midfield which is a good addition for them as we all know what he offers. If Harry Kane gets to play and comes to the party on this day, then Spurs can surely get the desired result. And if not, I still expect them to get a result because you always have a new bounce when you have a new manager. 

PREDICTION: 2X 

TIP: BRE 1-2 TOT

RESULT: BRE 2-2 TOT

🔵 CHELSEA VS LIVERPOOL 🔴 (16:30 WAT) 

This is the biggest game of Match Week 1 and I am expecting it to be a cracker because there’s been a lot of changes on both sides in terms of players going out and coming in. For some players like Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, this will be a real test, and for Liverpool’s Dominick Szoboszlai as well. The record of this clash is telling me that it will end in a draw but there will be goals. Hence, it is difficult to pick a side. 

PREDICTION: Over 1.5 

TIP: CHE 1-1 LIV

RESULT: CHE 1-1 LIV

14-08-2023 (MONDAY)

👹 MAN UTD VS WOLVES 🐺 (20:00 WAT) 

Wolves have not done well in the transfer window and this has made Julen Lopetegui left the club as the manager while Wolves have appointed Gary O’Neil from Bournemouth as the new club manager. They’ve got a depleted squad and I don’t see how they can compete this season unless the new manager can perform some tricks. Man Utd, on the other hand, didn’t do very well in the pre-season, and their manager, Erik ten Hag will be asking for more as they kick off their new campaign. Also, their new striker, Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta will be making his debut and be eager to get on the score sheet for the Red Devils as he makes his start in the Red color. This fixture has a Man Utd win written all over its face. 

PREDICTION: 1 

TIP: MUN 3-0 WOL

RESULT: MUN 1-0 WOL

Dapo Olajuwon’s EPL Prediction: 2022/2023 Season Review 

Total Prediction: 351 

Correct Outcome: 255 ✅ 

Correct Score: 33 📌