Our Premier League GW7 Predictions Against Murkage Dave

With the Premier League season now in full swing, we’ve called upon a legend of our scene, Murkage Dave, to go up against us with his predictions for the weekend’s fixtures ahead. Dave has worked with the likes of Mike Skinner and Caroline Polachek, delivering two fantastic albums with ‘Murkage Dave Changed My Life’, and ‘The City Needs A Hero’, with more music on the way next week.

Here are our and Dave’s predictions for the week and season ahead:

Name: Murkage Dave

Team Supported: Arsenal 

Favourite Player Growing Up: David Seaman 

Favourite Player Now: Starboy Saka! 

Favourite Football Moment: Arsenal beating Man U to win the double in 2002

Aston Villa vs Brighton

Both of these sides enjoyed a fantastic campaign last season, with Brighton the team who have managed to carry on their form into this year’s fixtures. Roberto De Zerbi has proved his credentials as a world class manager, and has been able to regenerate his team after losing some key players over the summer.

Unai Emery on the other hand has seen his side drop some inconsistent performances so far. Going forward, the dynamism of Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins means that Villa are a constant threat, but too often this season they have been leaky at the back.

Brighton come into this fixture as the form team, but Villa have the potential to secure a statement win in this tie. I expect an entertaining stalemate.

Score Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton

Joe Simpson

MD Prediction: Brighton win 2-1. They’ve been playing some of their best football, great start to the season.

Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Bournemouth have yet to win in the Premier League thus far but their fixture list has not been the kindest. Andoni Iraola however will be buoyed by the news that Tyler Adams is back in the cut, adding some much needed bite to the Cherries midfield.

Arsenal have started the season well but they will already be feeling the pressure to close the gap on Manchester City after their draw last weekend. Mikel Arteta has yet to find his best eleven and has struggled to implement Kai Havertz into his side, but I feel that the German can get off the mark at the Vitality stadium with a relatively comfortable Arsenal win.

Score Prediction: Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal

Joe Simpson

MD Prediction: Arsenal will thrash them 3 or 4 nil!

Everton vs Luton

Sean Dyche has turned Everton around in recent weeks and he will be excited about the return to form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. If they can string a few decent results together over the next few weeks, the Toffees can open up a gap between themselves and the relegation zone, with Saturday’s fixture opening up a perfect opportunity.

Luton have struggled to impose themselves in the Premier League and it is difficult to see where their first win will come from. Goodison Park is a tough place to go at the best of times and I can’t see them securing their first three points in Merseyside.

Score Prediction: Everton 4-0 Luton

Joe Simpson

MD Prediction: Everton 2-0. It pains me to say it but Luton are heading for relegation already

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace

It’s not very often two teams play each other twice in a row, but that is the case at Old Trafford this weekend. The Red Devils have improved a bit since their early season slump, having dispatched Burnley and Palace in the League Cup. Casemiro has shown his A-star qualities with 4 goals this season and Sofyan Amrabat looks like a perfect partner in the midfield. With Mason Mount and Raphaël Varane also returning to the side, there are more options in this team. A few clean sheets for André Onana will also boost his confidence after a tricky start as the new no.1.

Crystal Palace as expected have been decent, but not wowing anyone with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 defeats so far. Odsonne Édouard has shown why Palace bought him, with 4 goals in the league so far and Jean-Philippe Mateta has also been decent with 3 goals and 3 assists. Also, they still have the talent and pace of players like Eberechi Eze to count on. However, injury to Dean Henderson is a blow and Sam Johnstone will have to be at his best to keep out the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

United easily dispatched a second-string Palace side in the week, but I think this will be a harder game. I still think the home side will have enough and adding Rashford and Fernandes into the mix will give them an advantage.

Score Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

Tom Atkinson

MD Prediction: Man U will have them again but I reckon it will be tighter – maybe 2-1

Newcastle vs Burnley

Newcastle romped to a 8-0 victory in an awesome display last time out and I’m backing them to extend that winning streak. The Geordies have not started the season as well as last but look back on track with their trashing of Sheffield United. While Newcastle exercised some demons last week the same can not be said for Burnley, who let Manchester United leave Turf Moor with all 3 points.

Ironically the United game was arguably their best performance of the season, dominating the ball and the share of the chances but profligacy and a single moment of quality from Ten Hag’s men proved decisive. The Premier league is cruel and malevolent and as of now Burnley have yet to take that message to heart. I expect a similar story for Kompany’s men where despite being able to compete they will leave empty handed.

Score Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Burnley

Jesse Williams

MD Prediction: Newcastle will do them at least 4-0. After what they did to Sheffield United I’m expecting big things.

West Ham vs Sheffield United

West Ham’s season has been really stop and start so far, winning their first 3 games of the season and then losing the next two. Granted their last two matches were Man City and Liverpool which makes their form a bit more understandable. However, Sheffield represents a great chance to return to winning ways.

On paper West Ham have an enviable amount of quality which I believe will shine through in what could be a snooze fest of a match. As for Sheffield United, their position in the league is more than precarious. I would not back a team that loses 8-0 to have the resolve to bounce back and that goes for this game and the season as a whole. The Blades just don’t seem to be at the required level and should expect a West Ham side at home to bring their A-game.

Score Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Sheffield United

Jesse Williams

MD Prediction: I gotta say West Ham. My dad’s a Hammer and they’ve had a great start to the season so I’m gonna say 3-0.

Wolves vs Manchester City

Gary O’Neil will be feeling the pressure after his Wolves side were unceremoniously dumped out of the Carabao Cup in midweek. Wolves have impressed in spells during the new Premier League campaign but have struggled to hold onto leads, something that plagued O’Neil’s time at Bournemouth as well.

Pep Guardiola in the opposing dugout will be hoping for a response from his City side after losing in midweek to Newcastle. City have been in excellent form to start the season but the trip to Molineux could be a potential banana skin for them and they will need to be vigilant to secure three points. I expect a close game with the away side coming out on top.

Score Prediction: Wolves 1-3 Manchester City

Joe Simpson

MD Prediction: City are gonna have them up totally. Scoreline could be absolutely crazy. Expecting at least 4 or 5 from them.

Tottenham vs Liverpool

Easily the biggest game of the weekend, Tottenham host Liverpool for Saturday’s 5:30 kick off. Sat in 4th place and 2nd place respectively, this is bound to be an intense tactical battle with both teams starting off the season so strongly. Ange Postecoglou has won the hearts of not only Tottenham fans but football fans in general, and they look stronger than they have been in recent years at the moment; however I think Liverpool’s experience over the last few years might just help them in this game.

Jumping straight into the prediction, I’m going to refine the detail in what I think will happen in the game. As discussed in the “With That Being Said” podcast, Liverpool’s defensive woes have seen them concede in their last 4 games, three times conceding first and then turning the game around to win. I think Tottenham will take a 1-0 lead and then Liverpool will flip the game on its head and turn the fixture around to win 2 or 3-1.

Score Prediction: Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool

Harvey Marwood

MD Prediction: Oooooh gonna be a tight one! 2-2 I reckon.

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford

These two sides are right next to each other in the middle of the table after decent starts to the season. After an impressive victory at Stamford Bridge, Forest failed to beat Burnley and lost to Manchester City despite both sides being reduced to 10 men. They will be content with their start to the season, especially the performances of attackers like Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi. Morgan Gibbs-White is also key to their attacking performance, while the likes of Joe Worrall are important at the back.

Brentford have won just once this season, having lost to a poor Everton side and Arsenal in the Cup. David Raya is clearly a huge loss with Mark Flekken having struggled so far as the new man between the sticks. Bryan Mbuemo has impressed at the front though and he will be a big threat up front alongside Mathias Jensen and Yoane Wissa.

This will be a very interesting clash and I think it will be a great game for neutrals. I see both teams as equally matched and I expect an entertaining draw.

Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brentford

Tom Atkinson

MD Prediction: The Bees to win 2-1. Free Ivan Toney!

Fulham vs Chelsea

This west London derby offers an opportunity for both teams to kick start their season. Fulham have stopped and started throughout their campaign so far after losing their talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic, while Chelsea’s spending and on pitch struggles have been well documented.

The blue side of London undoubtedly have quality players at their disposal but Mauricio Pochettino is yet to find his best 11. Marco Silva on the other hand has shown his skills as a top coach and continues to get the very best out of his squad. I expect a close encounter with the away side just coming out on top.

Score Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea

Joe Simpson

MD Prediction: Chelsea are pants. Spent a billion for what? Fulham could hold them to 1-1 for the west London derby.

Dave’s Full Season Predictions

Who do you think will be champions? Man City 

Top 4? Man City, Brighton, Arsenal, and regrettably Spurs 

Relegated? Luton, Sheffield United, and maybe Wolves 

Golden Boot winner? Haaland 

Player of the season? once again regrettably, James Maddison