⛅ Friday Forecast: Struggling Chelsea, superb Silva, big name debuts? | OneFootball

Sorry but we’re going to distract you from transfers just one moment to focus on some actual Premier League football.

After last weekend saw Manchester City lose, we feel a bit uncomfortable. Nothing seems to make much sense.

Maybe order will be restored this weekend, or maybe City just lose every week now – wouldn’t that make things interesting?

Here, as ever, is your Friday forecast.

? Game of the weekend: Burnley v Manchester United

Throwback to Boxing Day, when we saw Manchester United held to a draw at Old Trafford by Sean Dyche’s men.

It’s now actually seven Premier League games since Burnley won but they remain formidable opposition, especially at home.

Having taken a point from the away fixture, they’ll back themselves to do well again.

Oh and could we see a certain Alexis Sánchez line up at Turf Moor? Perhaps.

Easiest 3️⃣ points: Manchester City v Newcastle United

They may have suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at the hands of Liverpool last weekend but history will not repeat for Manchester City.

When they went to St. James’ Park last month, City faced a Newcastle side with a rare back five. They camped no the edge of their own box and essentially waited for the visitors to score.

City obliged – as they do – and it’s tough to see a different outcome this time around.

The Premier League champions-in-waiting have won 10 of 11 home games in the league this season, scoring 39 goals. Watch out, Rafa.

? Potential upset: Brighton v Chelsea

Why not?

Chelsea have scored just once in four games in 2018 – Michy Batshuayi struck against Norwich City in an FA Cup replay on Wednesday.

To make matters worse, Antonio Conte’s men are without Álvaro Morata and Pedro, who were both sent off in extra-time of the same game.

Last weekend they could only draw at home against Leicester, who played the majority of the second half with ten men.

Usually we pick these upsets when a struggling side are showing some promise but this time around Chelsea are simply bad enough to drop points to anyone.

? For the record: David Silva

The little magician has played Newcastle United 11 times and been on the winning side 11 times.

No active Premier League player comes close to his 100% record against a single club.

Like we said, we’re pretty sure it’ll be bumped up to 12 this weekend.

? We hope to see: Debuts

Obviously.

OK, we’re not super super excited about Kostas Stafylidis or Moritz Bauer at Stoke. Theo Walcott at Everton is a bit more like it. Alexis Sánchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Manchester United and Arsenal? Now you’re talking.

At this point nobody has any idea about the weekend’s lineups and that’s always fun.

No matter the fee or the prestige, every fan gets a little buzz out of seeing someone new in their colours. Hopefully there’s plenty of it around.