Predictions for the 2nd Round of the Premier League, August 22-25

West Ham vs Chelsea

A London derby where both participants are disappointed with their season start. Chelsea failed to break through Crystal Palace's defense in the first round (0:0), while West Ham conceded three unanswered goals from the newcomer – Sunderland. What will the teams show in their head-to-head encounter? They usually deliver goals – in 5 of the last 6 duels, the total was over 2.5. We expect a similar scenario now. Both sides have plenty of attacking talent. It's hard to believe in two consecutive rounds without goals.

Match Prediction for West Ham vs Chelsea: total over 2.5 goals

Manchester City vs Tottenham

Man City and Tottenham started confidently, securing big wins and immediately climbing to the top of the table. But in the second round, someone will have to drop points. The "Citizens" are the favorites, but it's not wise to draw far-reaching conclusions from the match against Wolverhampton (4:0). The "Spurs" not only performed well against Burnley (3:0) but also looked impressive against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup. Moreover, the Londoners can be considered an uncomfortable opponent for Guardiola's men – they won 2 out of 3 head-to-head meetings last season, and Manchester's last big win dates back to 2021. We believe Thomas Frank's healthy pragmatism will cause the hosts plenty of problems.

Match Prediction for Manchester City vs Tottenham: away win with handicap (+2)

Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton

Bournemouth and Wolverhampton were unlucky to start the season against title contenders, so their defeats were expected. However, the teams showed themselves differently. The "Cherries" almost took points from Liverpool at Anfield (2:4), while the "Wolves" were easily defeated by Man City at home (0:4). Does this mean the upcoming match is obvious? Certainly not. After all, Andoni Iraola is forced to play with a half-new squad, so issues will arise – that's normal. Therefore, we won't risk betting on the outcome, but we'll go for both teams to score. The "Cherries" should definitely score at home, but their untested defense is unlikely to hold back the visitors' attacking efforts.

Match Prediction for Bournemouth vs Wolverhampton: both teams to score 

Brentford vs Aston Villa

The first round brought disappointment to the fans of both teams. Aston Villa, unlike Brentford, did not lose, but showed a very weak game. However, there are reasons to believe that by the second match, Unai Emery will rally his boys, and they will display more substantial football. Trips to the "Brentford Community" have recently been successful for the "Villans" (two consecutive wins), and the "Bees," having lost several leaders and their head coach, seem to no longer pose the same threat.

Prediction for the Brentford vs Aston Villa match: away team win with a handicap (0)

Burnley vs Sunderland

A clash of newcomers, each returning to the Premier League in very different ways. Sunderland surprised everyone by leaving West Ham in ruins (3:0), while Burnley suffered the same scoreline defeat against Tottenham. It seems that Burnley's once rock-solid defense was left behind in the Championship. However, what Scott Parker's team did bring with them is a penchant for corners – even away at Spurs, they managed to earn 5 corner kicks. At home, with the support of the fans and a high level of motivation, Burnley players are unlikely to lower their standards.

Prediction for the Burnley vs Sunderland match: home team total corners over 4.5

Arsenal vs Leeds

Once again, opponents united by their results in the first round – both Arsenal and Leeds secured narrow victories. While the "Peacocks" looked impressive against Everton, the "Gunners" struggled to take three points from Old Trafford. One might even say the result was not reflective of the game. However, a different picture is expected at the Emirates, and Daniel Farke with his bold football is unlikely to appreciate such artistry. We don't think Arsenal will face any issues in their home match against a rare guest of the English football elite.

Prediction for the Arsenal vs Leeds match: home win with a handicap (-1.5)

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest

A principled match between representatives of the British Isles in European competitions. In case anyone is unaware, this summer saw a legal battle between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest for participation in the Europa League. The "Eagles" lost this legal battle and are eager to take revenge on the field. However, it won't be easy, as the "Foresters" showed in the first round that many were quick to write them off after last year's overperformance. Chris Wood continues to score, and newcomer Dan Ndoye is ready to assist him. Overall, Nottingham's status as the underdog in the upcoming match is questionable, especially given the "Reds'" dominance in head-to-head battles with the "Glaziers" (no losses in the last 9 matches).

Prediction for the Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest match: away team will not lose

Everton vs Brighton

Everton's first match at their new stunning stadium in the Premier League! The "Toffees" cannot afford to embarrass themselves, but after their first-round performance (or lack thereof), there are significant doubts. Brighton, on the other hand, has made it clear that even without João Pedro, the team is ready to showcase vibrant football. We are not sure that there will be a high-scoring game with end-to-end attacks at Hill Dickinson, but we do expect both teams to find the net. Until last season, the bet on both teams to score (yes) was successful in five consecutive head-to-head meetings.

Match Prediction for Everton vs Brighton: both teams to score

Fulham vs Manchester United

Manchester United heads to “Craven Cottage” after a bittersweet defeat to Arsenal. Of course, there's a touch of irony here, as there's nothing pleasant about a loss, but the match against the “Gunners” truly gave the “Red Devils” fans hope for a brighter future. Ruben Amorim made good use of the off-season, establishing a solid game plan for the team, and the newcomers Mbeumo and Cunha have shown that the club made a wise choice with them. It might be too early to make such bold statements, but Man United indeed left a very positive impression. If the “Mancunians” display the same level of football this weekend, Fulham will stand no chance. Let's recall that United, even when not in top form, consistently defeats the “Cottagers” away (8 consecutive victories).

Match Prediction for Fulham vs Manchester United: away team win

Newcastle vs Liverpool

Liverpool began their title defense successfully, redeeming themselves after the defeat in the FA Community Shield, although they did make their fans anxious. It came to the point where Federico Chiesa saved the team from a loss. As for Newcastle, they were superior to Aston Villa in all aspects but failed to find the back of the net against the “Lions” without the striking presence of Alexander Isak (0-0). The Swede is unlikely to take the field again, but we believe the “Magpies” will still manage to score – Arne Slot's team currently appears too unbalanced. Meanwhile, Liverpool's multi-million attack is expected to make a mark even on the road. Based on the above, a bet on both teams to score emerges, a scenario that has played out in Liverpool's last 6 consecutive Premier League matches.

Match Prediction for Newcastle vs Liverpool: both teams to score

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