Each week, The National Deputy Sports Editor Thomas Woods predicts the outcomes of the English Premier League. In Week 7, our man got five correct results from 10 predictions, with one correct scores. This week, senior sports editor Graham Caygill fills in for Tom. Can he do better? Here are the results for the season.
Arsenal 1 Manchester United 2
Why? A lot of the time they have failed to convince but United somehow are top of the table thanks to the knack they have found for winning matches despite not being at their best. Arsenal seem to be classic Arsenal in they can be sensational, as they were in putting five past Leicester last week, but then poor as they showed in losing to Olympiakos in the Champions League in midweek. This should be tight, but United appear a little more battle hardened than Arsenal and I expect that to be the deciding factor.
Crystal Palace 2 West Bromwich Albion 0
Why? Palace have been impressive this season, solid at the back and the pace and power of their attacking options, led by Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon have caused opponents problems. They should make it an unhappy return to his former club for West Brom manager Tony Pulis.
Aston Villa 1 Stoke City 1
Why? Both sides have made difficult starts to the season, with Stoke's probably the more surprising of the two. What Villa lack in talent they make up for in spirit under Tim Sherwood, and they should get something out of this clash at Villa Park, even if they are not good enough for the three points.
Bournemouth 2 Watford 2
Why? A clash of the newly promoted sides, and an important one for both after they each lost last week. Losing Callum Wilson to injury is a big blow for Bournemouth, and they will be tested hard by a Watford outfit who so far have played their best stuff away from home. Odion Ighalo will again be Watford's main threat and both sides will go on the offensive in what should be an entertaining game where neither side will be quite good enough to take all three points.
Manchester City 4 Newcastle United 0
Why? City have had something of a blip as having won their opening five games of the season, they have lost their past two league games. But if Manuel Pellegrini had to pick an opponent to find their form against, it would be winless Newcastle. The Tyneside club should have beaten Chelsea last week, but City are a better side than Chelsea, and expect Sergio Aguero to finally end his goal drought in the league this year on Saturday.
Norwich City 2 Leicester City 1
Why? Alex Neil has set up his Norwich side well and they are quietly impressing, having only lost one of their past six games. They will fancy their chances against a Leicester side who continue to leak goals, and the wily Wes Hoolahan will cause their defence headaches and could be the difference maker.
Sunderland 0 West Ham United 3
Why? West Ham are having an odd season. They have beaten Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, yet have lost to Bournemouth, Leicester and almost to Norwich City last week. Expect a bit of normality here as the West Ham offence, led by Dimitri Payet, should have too much for a woeful Sunderland, who have continued where they left off from last 2014/15 by struggling so far this campaign.
Chelsea 1 Southampton 0
Why? Chelsea have been a shadow of themselves so far this season, leaking goals and struggling to create chances in attack. They have not become a bad side overnight though, and despite being without the suspended Diego Costa, Jose Mourinho's men should have enough to grind out a win against Southampton, despite the fact they failed beat to Ronald Koeman's outfit in either league game last season.
Everton 2 Liverpool 1
Why? The Merseyside derby finds Everton as the team with momentum and form on their side and Romelu Lukaku will be confident of a productive afternoon against Liverpool's unconvincing backline. Given how average Liverpool have looked so far this looks to be another prime occasion for more misery to be piled on underfire manager Brendan Rodgers.
Swansea City 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Why? Swansea's momentum has cooled greatly since the start of the season and they have not won since August 30. Tottenham produced one of the performances of the season in beating Manchester City 4-1 last weekend and Mauricio Pochettino will be confident of a fourth successive league win, especially with Harry Kane finally off the mark on the goal tally this season.
