FUTBOL CITIZENS

01-09-2023 (FRIDAY)

👒 LUTON TOWN VS WEST HAM ⚒️ (20:00 WAT)

Luton Town do not possess the quality of a Premier League side in my opinion and I will keep hammering on it. I wish one of their club members could be reading this to the management right now. They need to replicate what Nott. Forest have been doing since they got promoted into the top-flight division if they don’t want to go back to Championship at the end of the season which involves a lot of transfer market activities. I can’t make a case for them because it is already programmed in my head that West Ham are going to blow them away in this fixture. I am impressed with the way West Ham have spent the £105m they got from the sale of Declan Rice as they are able to purchase a midfield trio of Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, and Mohammed Kudus for £103m. Indeed, patience is virtue as they beat both the buyer and seller of Moises Caicedo, the most expensive midfielder in the Premier League right now. It is funny huh? I hope they will continue the good work here and I can say that David Moyes is in safe hands now. I am expecting the Hammers to bag the whole 3 points here and extend their 3 unbeaten run.

PREDICTION: 2

TIP: LUT 1-4 WHU

RESULT: LUT 1-2 WHU

02-09-2023 (SATURDAY)

⚔️ SHEFFIELD UTD VS EVERTON 🔵 (12:30 WAT)

These two teams have lost all their games played so far but they are both trying hard not to concede many goals. Everton have conceded 6 goals in 3 games while Sheffield Utd have conceded 5 goals in 3 games. The difference between them is that Sheffield Utd have a goal in each of their last two games while Everton have not scored any goal in this new campaign. The goals are very hard to come by for Everton and the manager has now signed a new striker, Beto from Udinese on Tuesday after he tried out Neal Maupay and Calvert-Lewin. The bad news for the Toffees now is that Alex Iwobi is on Fulham’s radar and I won’t be surprised if he is not available for this game which is going to minimize the creation of chances. Maybe this is the moment the Blades would be rewarded for their good performance. We saw how they almost took one point against Man City last time out which means they are gradually settling down in the Premier League. I believe they can get something out of this game but I’m sure it is going to be a low-scoring affair.

PREDICTION: Under 3.5

TIP: SHU 1-0 EVE

RESULT: SHU 2-2 EVE

🐝 BRENTFORD VS BOURNEMOUTH 🍒 (15:00 WAT)

Bournemouth are not bad in terms of performance. They create chances but the only problem they have is converting those chances and putting the ball into the back of the net – a goal-scoring problem. How can you win a game if you can’t score goals? I think they need to get back into the market and sign a striker who’s good with header and his feet – West Ham’s Danny Ings, Fulham’s Carlos Vinicius, Nott. Forest’s Emmanuel Dennis or Crystal Palace’s Jean Mateta won’t be bad for a temporary solution. Another option is to switch back to the 4-4-2 formation they played mostly last season because leaving only Dominic Solanke upfront is not helping – he looks like an outcast and needs someone like Kieffer Moore to compliment him. This is the reason why you can’t make a case for them. Brentford, on the other hand, are highly organized, they know how to find the back of the net and how to narrow it down on the defensive phase. Their defense is compact and rigid so I expect them to bag the 3 points here unless the Cherries pull up with a surprise.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: BRE 2-1 BOU

RESULT: BRE 2-2 BOU

📛 BURNLEY VS TOTTENHAM ⚪ (15:00 WAT)

Burnley are good when it comes to ball tapping but that’s not what you are here for. You are here to find the back of the net for a limited period. It is useless to tap the ball all around without finding the back of the net because I don’t know how you are going to win a match if you can’t score goals. You have to score goals! That is your focus. This is not Championship, this is the Premier League where teams can win many games without having ball possession. Whether fine or ugly, a win is a win. Coming up against Tottenham who are currently playing beautiful football this season under Ange Postecoglou, I just have to sympathize with Burnley and their manager, Vincent Kompany because I do not see them getting anything here unless the Spurs return to their old sleeves. I have a feeling that the Clarets could score a goal which will mean to me that they are taking their time to settle in the PL but it can never be enough to drag Tottenham down. I expect the Spurs to extend their unbeaten run to four by winning this clash convincingly.

PREDICTION: 2

TIP: BUR 1-3 TOT

RESULT: BUR 2-5 TOT

🔵 CHELSEA VS NOTT. FOREST 🎄 (15:00 WAT)

Nott. Forest are silently building a bombshell underground with their club transfer activities. I won’t be surprised if they begin to shock some other clubs when they play which is very possible if only they could work on their defense properly. I don’t think getting goals is their problem; we saw what they did against Man Utd last time out – going two goals up earlier in the first half, but they couldn’t keep the Red Devils out and lost 3-2 in the second half. That could be disheartening; bottling a 2-goal lead and yes, they need to work more on their defense. Chelsea are not immaculate so they could get into the face of the Blues. I expect Chelsea to win this one because they’ve got more than enough quality in the team even though they are having injury concerns. The Blues are at home, they will enjoy the home advantage, and the fans factor will play a significant role but I’m expecting Nott. Forest to put up a good fight and a good fight could earn them something if the Blues should snooze. You snooze, you die!

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: CHE 2-1 NFO

RESULT: CHE 0-1 NFO

💎 MAN CITY VS FULHAM ⚪ (15:00 WAT)

Fulham are now looking like a team that will be difficult to beat in the league. They have quickly recognized what their problem is, which is goal scoring, and in quick succession, they have signed a striker, Lucas Ocampos from Sevilla. I am impressed, I must say. If Ocampos gets to play this game, then Man City might have a good job to do here if they want to win. Facing Fulham has not been easy for Man City since last season so I think they have to buckle up here, especially after a lucky win against Sheffield Utd last time out – thanks to Rodri’s clutch, plus the fact that their manager, Pep Guardiola isn’t available. But this is Etihad, they will have the home advantage and the fans’ factors should play a significant role in the game. I strongly believe that they will win, and if not, it will end in a draw.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: MCI 2-1 FUL

RESULT: MCI 5-1 FUL

🐦 BRIGHTON VS NEWCASTLE ⚫ (17:30 WAT)

This is going to be a massive game and I am expecting goals. Both teams lost their last game and it was a 2nd consecutive defeat for Newcastle. So the question is who wants it more? Who is hungrier? It is going to be an end-to-end game because both teams will be eager to bounce back to winning ways here. They are a match for each other which is making it difficult to pick a side. I think a draw will be a fair result for both sides but I feel it is safe and better to bank on goals as any one of them is capable of snatching the win.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: BHA 1-1 NEW

RESULT: BHA 3-1 NEW

03-09-2023 (SUNDAY)

🦅 CRYSTAL PALACE VS WOLVES 🐺 (14:00 WAT)

To be honest, I fear for Wolves because they’ve got a depleted squad. Most recently they have lost Matteus Nunes to Man City in a £55m deal. Their creativity is low and it is difficult for them to score goals. I don’t know how they get a goal against a defensively good Crystal Palace side here. I do not expect anything from Gary O’Neil and his boys until the club management brings some money to the table to spend. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have just signed a new goalkeeper, Dean Henderson from Man Utd and I believe he will be a great addition to the Eagles. They don’t also score many goals but they are compact and competitive. So I am not expecting many goals here and I believe the Eagles will get something out of this game.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: CRY 1-0 WOL

RESULT: CRY 3-2 WOL

🔴 LIVERPOOL VS ASTON VILLA 🦁 (14:00 WAT)

The last time these two teams met, the venue was Anfield and it ended in a 1-1 draw. Aston Villa are always a tough nut to crack for Liverpool in my opinion but I believe that there have been changes – a lot of outgoings and incomings which will surely play a major difference in this clash. The Villans got a good win against Burnley last time out likewise Liverpool got a massive win against Newcastle last time out with 10 men – their captain, Van Dijk was sent off and I’m hoping to see either Joel Matip or Joe Gomez replace him here. For the Reds to have won the match with a man down against a team that beat Villa heavily, tells you how deep-rooted the team quality is. So tell me, what do you expect here? I speak for myself and I am expecting a Liverpool win, or draw because the Lions might have gained some kind of momentum with their last two wins.

PREDICTION: 1X

TIP: LIV 2-1 ASV

RESULT: LIV 3-0 ASV

🔴 ARSENAL VS MAN UTD 👹 (16:30 WAT)

This is the big game of the Match Week so to speak but both teams have been struggling in the new campaign. They’ve both got injury concerns but to a different degree – it is more to Man Utd than to Arsenal. Arsenal are lacking balance in the midfield and Partey has been playing out of position this season. I wonder what Mikel Arteta is testing and trying to do but whatever it is, the fans are growing some kind of frustration. Man Utd, on the other hand, have not been playing up to expectations at all and their performances have been disappointing, especially from the attackers. Bruno Fernandes came back to life on the pitch last time out and rescued the points for the Red Devils after they went 2 goals down in the first half against Nott. Forest. They must not allow such setbacks to repeat itself here. Both sides are not immaculate, they could be held hostage by one another which makes me believe that there will be goals but I can’t pick a side. If I am forced to pick a side to steal the win, I would tip Arsenal to do that at Emirates Stadium.

PREDICTION: Over 1.5

TIP: ARS 2-1 MUN

RESULT: ARS 3-1 MUN

Dapo Olajuwon’s EPL prediction stats so far:

Total Prediction: 29

Correct Outcome: 27 ✅

Correct Score: 4 📌