Premier League Picks Of The Week 9

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 9

The ninth week of the Premier League action saw:

35 goals - most by Chelsea = 4
243 shots - most by Arsenal = 30!
92 on target - most by Arsenal = 14!
103 corners - most by West Ham = 10
209 fouls - most by Stoke = 17
31 yellow cards - most by Huddersfield & Newcastle = 4 each
1 red card - Idrissa Gueye for Everton (second yellow)
3 penalties - 3 scored (Glenn Murray for Brighton, Sergio Agüero for Man City, Junior Stanislas for Bournemouth)

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What a game! Chelsea and Watford shared six goals between each other and it could have been more. The Blues were lucky the result swung their way, 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in the end thanks to Michy Batshuayi's double and a César Azpilicueta header. Pedro's opener was a smacker, curled across into the top corner, unstoppable. Both goals by the visitors in reply to that, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Roberto Pereyra either side of the interval, were also top quality. Marco Silva will have felt the score as very harsh on his side, the Hornets showing what they are made of and that they can more than compete against top sides, they could have scored four or five themselves. They will have kicked themselves for all the misses and then giving the game away late on. Antonio Conte's reaction showed how much the win meant to them, especially after losing to Crystal Palace last week and not playing very convincingly again this time round.

What a team! The promoted sides marked their worth and place in the top league this weekend! Huddersfield downed Manchester United to their first defeat of the season thanks to the first-half goals from former City man Aaron Mooy and Lauren Depoitre. Their German boss David Wagner celebrated wilth the fans and correctly called it "nearly perfect" after the match. The Red Devils never looked in or near it despite almost 80% possession and even after Marcus Rashford's goal, serving the Terriers their first win against them in 65 years to end their unbeaten start to the season. Newcastle left it late against Palace, substitute Mikel Merino grabbing the winner in the 86th minute and helping the Magpies to their best Premier League start since 2011-12. Eagle Yohan Cabaye was a very lucky man not to receive a straight red for his scissor tackle! More to Brighton's great win below. Meanwhile, two goals in 133 seconds stunned Stoke City as they lost 1-2 against Bournemouth, sucking them too close to the relegation zone, just goal difference separating them, whilst the Cherries avoided the unwanted record of the worst start to a league campaign. And managerless Leicester impressed winning 1-2 at Swansea. All my predictions went out the window, but it was great to watch. The unpredictable Premier League never fails to surprise and entertain!

What a man! Sergio Agüero was lucky to get the spot kick but definitely deserves his name in Manchester City's history books equalling their all-time goalscoring record with his 177th for the club, levelling up with Eric Brook. The Citizens "only" won 3-0 this weekend, proving Burnley aren't an easy opposition to break. It's only the second time in the league this season they have conceded two or more, Nicolás Otamendi and Leroy Sané adding two more in two second-half minutes (73'/75') sealing City's 11th straight win, equalling another club record. Sean Dyche was right to criticise the soft penalty, I loved his dig at Bernardo Silva for making the most of keeper Nick Pope's approach. But the Clarets' boss also rightly pointed out Pep Guardiola's men are a top-class side. Can anyone stop them?!

What a goal! Brighton's second! Record-signing José Izquierdo's right-footed diagonal smacker from the edge of the box, West Ham keeper Joe Hart full stretch, could only glove it in. This beauty came between Glenn Murray's headed opener and penalty through the middle. The Seagulls rode the waves with great organisation and hit back with some top-class moves, being lethal sealing a fine 0-3 win. Top-quality football, watching them it's hard to believe they were the promoted side and the visitors at London Road, and it's their first top-flight away win since 1983! The Hammers were nowhere near, awful, Slaven Bilić looked baffled and clueless. The ground emptied very quickly. His clock is ticking very loud. Tick. Tock. No matter how loud they turn up the music, the boos and "bye bye Bilić" chants still echo around! Southampton's winner against West Brom was a great individual run and goal by substitute Sofiane Boufal and lit up an otherwise boring game.

What the hell?! I don't think I've ever seen or heard Mister José Mourinho be so honest, to the point and bang on! His side were poor and deserved to lose. The best team won. For all those who already crowned them champions, ha! That is all I will say to that.  There were 12 goals in the two Super Sunday clashes, the two London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham thrashing their Scouser opponents 9-3 on aggregate, Everton 2-5 and 4-1 Liverpool at Goodison Park and Wembley respectively. Can't keep up?! Neither could I! The Gunners banged in 30 shots, 14 on target after Wayne Rooney gave the Toffees the lead which proved to be a very false dawn! Bon anniversaire Monsieur Wenger! Tot ziens Ronald Koeman! Can't say I was too surprised... The Reds were just overrun by Spurs, their lethal attack proving deadly from the start. Click here for my full LFC match report. The defeat dragged Everton down into the relegation zone, dangling in 18th on eight points but just goal difference separating them from safety, whilst Jürgen Klopp's side slumber in ninth on 13 points, trailing the top by 12 points.

My Predictions - Actual Results
West Ham 2:1 Brighton - 0:3
Chelsea 1:2 Watford - 4:2
Huddersfield 0:1 Man United - 2:1
Man City 4:2 Burnley - 3:0
Newcastle 2:1 Crystal Palace - 1:0
Stoke City 2:1 Bournemouth - 1:2
Swansea 2:2 Leicester - 1:2
Southampton 2:1 West Brom - 1:0
Everton 0:1 Arsenal - 2:5
Tottenham 1:1 Liverpool - 4:1 or click here for my LFC match report

Click here for my last Picks Of The Week.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, MOTD, Twitter and SFR live match coverages.