Charlie Nicholas’ Premier League score predictions – 16th August

Charlie Nicholas has given his predictions for all of the opening weekend’s Premier League fixtures and it’s fair to say there are some eye-catching scores.

The former Celtic, Arsenal, Aberdeen and Scotland footballer currently works as a pundit for Sky Sports and most every weekend appears on the Soccer Saturday show to commentate on games and get involved with debates.

See what he went with below and on the next few pages…

MAN CITY v TOTTENHAM

The score Charlie Nicholas has predicted for this game is: 4-1

He said on Sky Sports’ website: “It’s a cracking game again I loved the Manchester United game against Chelsea, the way the game unfolded and how expansive it was. This is one of those games. There is a spark in my brain that questions where Mauricio Pochettino thinks he is? It is a judgement of where his team is at. What team will Pep Guardiola pick?

“Christian Eriksen came off the bench last week and helped, but do they change the system or format? I think there are issues at Tottenham, but it is not the manager’s making. It’s between the players and owners, but I see problems here for Tottenham. Man City, with Sterling having scored a hat-trick away from home, are mind-blowing.”

 

SHEFFIELD UTD v CRYSTAL PALACE

The score Charlie Nicholas has predicted for this game is: 1-2

He said on Sky Sports’ website: “Sheffield United will be really good to watch this year. Crystal Palace on their day can be too. Wilfried Zaha has to be in the mood here. He is the spark, but so too is Andros Townsend occasionally. I cannot believe Christian Benteke is still there, but he can be the guy that makes me swallow the pill and scores the winner in this one.

“It is very unpredictable. It was a great point for Chris Wilder after his team hung in there at Bournemouth. But if Zaha is over his mood, he will be the match-winner.”

 

CHELSEA v LEICESTER

The score Charlie Nicholas has predicted for this game is: 1-2

He said on Sky Sports’ website: “I see pain and suffering for Chelsea. Frank Lampard is playing youth team players at Old Trafford because he is left with no other scenario, but his anger at not being able to drag people off the treatment room is a reflection of where Chelsea are but also where Leicester are.

“Brendan Rodgers will play pass and move, pass and move, but this is different, this is Leicester. He has lost Harry Maguire, which was a great deal for Leicester. Is he going to change from what we saw at the latter end of last season? Yes he will, but it will take time.

“Ross Barkley will struggle here, because Leicester keep the ball well and move it, so he will see less of the ball to make things happen. It has been a change of circumstances at Leicester and massively so at Chelsea. This weekend is about Lampard getting his team over the line. It is going to be a rollercoaster ride of a season and they will not make the top four.

“I am going to go for a surprise score in this one. This is not a negative throw towards Lampard, I wish him well. This team will just take time to truly understand what they are, and they will be more exposed at home than away from home in my opinion.”

 

WOLVES v MAN UTD

The score Charlie Nicholas has predicted for this game is: 2-1

He said on Sky Sports’ website: “Nuno Espirito Santo has the energy, drive and passion for the crowd, with Manchester United coming off the back of a 4-0 victory, almost a hallucination is the best way to describe that result.

“I thought Harry Maguire was average, he did everything that was asked of him. He was efficient and got about the pitch, but I don’t want to hear nonsense about him being a leader and strong on the pitch already, it is too soon. He has started well, but I am suspect about the right-back and left-back positions at Man Utd. Chelsea could have easily scored two or three. I am still not convinced by Manchester United and I would still sell Paul Pogba.”

 

ARSENAL v BURNLEY

The score Charlie Nicholas has predicted for this game is: 4-1

He said on Sky Sports’ website: “I am extremely happy with Arsenal’s start to the season and the way the market has gone. We have to wait on a couple of players getting fit, but I genuinely do think that Arsenal are going to be a tremendously exciting team going forward this year. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is up and running, while Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe will add to this.

“I think what Unai Emery has now after a year is very promising. People can debate whether you spend £300m or £1m, whatever it may be, but you can improve the team with coaching and create the right togetherness. He has identified that they are weak at the back, and that is going to take time so he will try to improve that. To counteract that he needs a plan B and that is to score as many goals as they can.

“He was the PSG manager with some explosive stars. Emery couldn’t control it and neither could the players, and PSG may win titles but they do not threaten anywhere else. Is the project working there? It’s not. He has a project at Arsenal that he trusts and believes he can go somewhere. Burnley had a great weekend, there is no doubt about that. They have to start well at the Emirates and will give it a good go, but Arsenal will get the win.”

 

Take a look at more of his predictions on the next page.

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