Grosvenor Sport ambassador Jamie O’Hara is on hand to break down three must-watch matchups in the Premier League this weekend, including the infamous London derby between Tottenham and Chelsea on Sunday.
Everton vs Liverpool – Saturday 12:30
Everton are off the back of a massive result, it’s a big game for them. I don’t think they can beat Liverpool – I just don’t think they’ve got it in the locker. Wolves are terrible and Liverpool are top of the league so it’s a completely different game. The only thing that they can maybe rely on is to try and rile Liverpool up and make it a horrible game.
It’s a local derby, it’s a big derby, and they’ve got to try and be horrible; try and get a Liverpool player sent off; try and find a moment in the game where they can get lucky and where Liverpool lose their concentration.
It’s the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, so the fans will be up for it and they could definitely be Everton’s 12th man. You’ve got to be hard to beat, a little bit like Nottingham Forest. Sit in and be difficult to score against. Try to beat them on the counterattack. That’s the only way I can see Everton getting a result from the game. If Liverpool are patient, in truth this should be an easy three points.
Prediction: Everton 1-3 Liverpool 19/2
Fulham vs Arsenal – Sunday 14:00
This is a tough game to call, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there was an upset. Fulham are a good side; they’ve got a good team and Marco Silva deserves a lot of credit for the squad he’s assembled. I don’t think they’re going to challenge the top portion of the table, but if they can finish in the top half or squeeze into a European place, that’d be a great achievement for them.
However, Arsenal look like the real deal. Their set-pieces are outstanding, they’re hard to beat and they keep clean sheets. I think in this fixture, Arsenal won’t concede too many goals, even with the likes of Ben White and Gabriel being unavailable. They still have a really strong spine in David Raya, William Saliba, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
I think Arsenal know that they need to go on a good run in order to catch Liverpool, and that will motivate them to get a result at Craven Cottage.
Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Arsenal 13/2
Tottenham vs Chelsea – Sunday 16:30
I think the blame for Spurs’ inconsistency is on everyone – as a team you’re a collective. Ange Postecoglou has got an attacking mentality, so he has to take some of the blame because I think there’s been a lack of emphasis on defending. They’re wide open and easy to score against and if they don’t produce on the day in terms of free-flowing football, they’ll get beaten.
I think Gennaro Gattuso was managing in Italy when he said: “sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe s***,” and that’s just Tottenham. I don’t think anyone knows what team is going to turn up – it might be great; it might be dreadful.
Fair play to Enzo Maresca, he’s done really well since he arrived at Chelsea. He was adamant when he started about his demands, and you can’t argue with that. He’s put players he’s out of favour with to the side which caused some controversy, but it’s worked. Players are on board, they’re playing some decent football, and they seem to have taken on what Maresca’s trying to do, so credit where credit is due!
I feel like Spurs never play well against Chelsea. It’s a really tough one to call, but I have a feeling that Spurs will have a big night. Surely at some point they have to get a big result against Chelsea?
Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Chelsea 19/1
Have a great weekend,
Jamie
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