Premier League Pick 3. Round 9.
The Premier League returns after the second international break. The race is tight after eight matches. Manchester City hasn't made another run and hide as of yet. City, Chelsea and Liverpool have the top three spots in that order with 20 points each. Arsenal has been the hottest club in the league with 6 consecutive wins at fourth place. Tottenham sits in fifth place with 18 points.
Eden Hazard leads the league with seven goals, ahead of Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane, Aleksander Mitrovic and Glenn Murray with five goals each.
My season record stands at 11-6-7. Another week of a win, a loss and a tie for the third week in a row. I picked Manchester United over Newcastle, tied with the scoreless draw between Liverpool and Manchester City and lost the Watford match in style with their 4-0 drubbing by Bournemouth.
Here are my three Round 9 picks.
Wolverhampton (4-3-1)(15 pts.)(7th) v. Watford (4-1-3)(13 pts.)(9th)
Saturday
Molineaux
This is a match featuring two clubs clearly that have been going in opposite directions. Watford has three losses and two draws since their 4-0 start. Bournemouth delivered them a beating the last time out. Marc Navarro appears to be out for Watford.
Wolverhampton has three wins and three draws and only has one defeat in this campaign so far. Their top goalkeeper, Rui Patricio will be evaluated to see if he is fit to play.
Each club has 13 wins against each other with 18 draws all time. Wolves are 4-2-2 against Watford since 2008.
Wolves 3-1
West Ham (2-1-5)(7 pts.)(15th) v. Tottenham (6-0-2)(18 pts.)(5th)
Saturday
London Stadium
Tottenham is coming off of an 1-0 win over Cardiff City. They are sort of a MASH unit with both Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli out with hamstring injuries and Danny Rose out with a groin. They should be welcoming back Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele.
Six of West Ham's eight goals have been scored by Andriy Yarmolenko, (2) and Marko Arnautovic, (4). How much damage could those two do to Tottenham's leaky defense?
West Ham has 14 Premier League wins against Tottenham; their most against any other squad. They trail the series 94-63 with 52 draws. I think London Stadium will still be unkind to the Hammers.
Tottenham 4-2
Chelsea (6-2-0)(20 pts.)(2nd) v. Manchester United (4-1-3)(13 pts.)(8th)
Saturday
Stamford Bridge
The Jose Mourinho bowl. However, Mourinho and current Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri has never faced each other. It hasn't been a pleasurable season for Mourinho and Manchester United as they are rivaling their worst start in the Premier League. Jesse Lingard will be out and Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Luke Shaw are questionable.
Chelsea may be without defender, Antonio Rudiger with a groin issue. Eden Hazard is the league leader in goals and it will be interesting what he might do against an United squad who has given up 14 goals already this season. Mourinho may want to 'park the bus' if they are able to.
Manchester United leads the series 77-54 with 49 draws. Although Chelsea is 9-2-5 against United since 2012. The last United win in Stamford Bridge was during Sir Alex Ferguson's final season five years ago. Manchester United can't afford more losses.
1-1
