Leeds United
Premier League Gameweek 9: Match-by-match predictions
Gameweek 9 predictions: Leeds host West Ham; Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City expected to win Update
Gameweek 9 returns after a busy midweek in Europe. Several clubs head into the weekend with momentum, while a handful continue to search for answers.
West Ham begin the slate in the relegation zone and Nuno Espírito Santo still awaits his first win. A draw with Everton was followed by defeats to Arsenal and Brentford, and that sequence has increased the stakes for the Irons at Elland Road. Leeds have been encouraging on their return to the Premier League and have been particularly strong at home, having taken five of their eight points at Elland Road. Prediction: Leeds 2–1 West Ham.
Chelsea’s difficult injury list has not prevented an upturn in results. Despite the absence of talisman Cole Palmer, the Blues have won four on the spin in all competitions and their 5–1 midweek victory over Ajax showcased the squad’s depth under Enzo Maresca. Sunderland have impressed early on but should find Stamford Bridge a tough assignment. Prediction: Chelsea 3–0 Sunderland.
Newcastle have steadied their season after an uneven start and claimed a midweek win over Benfica, setting them up as favourites for Fulham. Fulham arrive on a run of three defeats and have slipped to 15th, a place below Newcastle. Prediction: Newcastle 2–0 Fulham.
Manchester United finally secured back-to-back Premier League wins under Ruben Amorim last weekend, Harry Maguire’s late winner at Liverpool bringing relief. Brighton have been a bogey side for United in recent years, but a long trip north could yield a shared point. Prediction: Man Utd 2–2 Brighton.
Liverpool avoided a fifth straight loss with a dominant win in Frankfurt and travel to Brentford off the back of restored confidence. The Bees will field former employees Jordan Henderson, Caomhín Kelleher, Sepp van den Berg and Fábio Carvalho. Prediction: Brentford 1–2 Liverpool.
Nottingham Forest have moved on from previous managers and begun the Sean Dyche era while yet to win since the opening day. High-flying Bournemouth, flourishing under Andoni Iraola, should have too much for Forest. Prediction: Bournemouth 2–1 Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal’s defensive form has been outstanding, conceding just three times in all competitions. Crystal Palace have taken points off top sides this term, but the leaders should hold firm. Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Crystal Palace.
Erling Haaland’s scoring haul has propelled Man City and he chases a long scoring run. Aston Villa have recovered to win three league games in a row, but City should prevail. Prediction: Aston Villa 1–3 Man City.
Wolves remain without a win and sit bottom; Burnley have shown their value on return to the top flight and will make this a tight contest. Prediction: Wolves 1–1 Burnley.
Everton return home after defeat to Man City, Jack Grealish available after his stoppage-time winner last time at Goodison. Tottenham have been inconsistent and have not beaten Everton on the road since 2018. Prediction: Everton 1–1 Tottenham.
Crystal Palace
Ten Premier League Appointments That Lasted Only Weeks or Months
A look at ten Premier League appointments that unravelled quickly, from 95 days to eight matches…
Top-flight management can be unforgiving. This piece revisits ten Premier League spells that ended almost as soon as they began, each outlined by the facts of their brief tenures.
Nathan Jones arrived at Southampton off the back of strong work at Luton Town but lasted just 95 days on the south coast. Supporters found it hard to get behind a manager who appeared reluctant to take responsibility; he responded with references to “xG” and the underlying numbers that had raised his profile at Luton.
Terry Connor took over at Wolves in February 2012 after a long spell as Mick McCarthy’s assistant. With the club sitting 18th, seven straight defeats followed and relegation was confirmed in April as Wolves finished the season on 25 points. Connor was not retained for the following season.
Quique Sánchez Flores enjoyed an impressive 2015–16 campaign with Watford but left at season’s end. He returned in 2019–20 after Javi Gracia’s dismissal and his comeback was a disaster: an early 8-0 defeat to Manchester City and just one win saw him depart in under three months.
Bob Bradley became the first American to manage in the Premier League when appointed by Swansea in 2016. Backing from the club’s owners was short-lived as Swansea conceded freely and earned eight points from the 11 games he led.
Frank de Boer’s spell at Crystal Palace lasted only 450 Premier League minutes; the side failed to score under his management. José Mourinho called him the “worst manager in the history of the Premier League.” De Boer later said the squad resisted his possession-based ideas.
Rene Meulensteen’s time at Fulham lasted 75 days. The former Manchester United assistant oversaw seven games, losing five, before the club moved on to Felix Magath.
Javi Gracia was drafted into Leeds United in February during the 2022–23 survival battle. He managed 11 league games over 71 days; six defeats and a run of heavy losses, including conceding at least four goals in four of his last seven matches, ended his brief spell. The man who replaced him? Stay tuned.
Les Reed returned to Charlton in 2006 and, after Iain Dowie’s sacking, was promoted to head coach. A six-week spell produced seven Premier League games with five defeats; he was tagged “Les Misérables” and “Santa Clueless” before leaving.
Nottingham Forest rose to seventh in 2024–25 under Nuno Espírito Santo, only for him to depart three games into the following season. Ange Postecoglou succeeded him but lasted eight matches without a win before being dismissed.
Arsenal
Gameweek 5: Five Premier League threads to follow as fatigue and form collide
Gameweek 5 brings late drama, fragile form and major tests for title hopefuls and struggling sides..
Gameweek 5 arrives with little respite for clubs and a compact schedule that could reshape early-season narratives. Several clear storylines emerge, from late finishes and goal droughts to managerial pressure and assertions of title intent.
Liverpool’s habit of scoring decisive late goals has become a defining trait this term. All five of their matches in all competitions have featured decisive strikes from the 83rd minute onwards, and the Reds’ recent fixtures suggest another Merseyside derby at Goodison Park could again produce late drama. James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equaliser last season and past late efforts by Gary McAllister, Sadio Mané and Divock Origi underline the fixture’s capacity for last-gasp moments.
Wolverhampton Wanderers remain the only Premier League side without a point and face newly-promoted Leeds United at Molineux in a match the Old Gold will view as a must-win. Jørgen Strand Larsen is expected to miss out again, leaving Wolves with the problem of replacing his goalscoring output, though home advantage offers hope of a first league point.
Tottenham Hotspur have started well under Thomas Frank, following three wins from four in the Premier League with an important Champions League victory over Villarreal. Their trip to Brighton will test Tottenham’s top-four credentials; last season Spurs lost both meetings with the Seagulls and have suffered four defeats in seven meetings.
Alejandro Garnacho is still being eased into life at Chelsea and is likely to feature in Chelsea’s trip to Manchester United, the club he left over the summer for £40 million. Garnacho “will be desperate to silence his former followers” if given the chance, though a hostile reception is expected at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim, the United head coach, will be focused on a response after a subdued display against Manchester City and remains under pressure following a recent defeat to Chelsea.
Aston Villa head to Sunderland still searching for a Premier League goal after two goalless draws and two defeats. Harvey Elliott scored in the Carabao Cup midweek, but Villa must end their league drought. Finally, Arsenal host Manchester City, a fixture that carries title implications after Arsenal’s earlier criticism for a negative approach at Anfield and Dominik Szoboszlai’s fine free kick that punished them in Gameweek 3.
Leeds United
Leeds complete signing of James Justin on four-year deal from Leicester
Leeds sign James Justin from Leicester on a four-year deal; fee reported at £8m plus £2m add-ons now
Leeds have finalised the acquisition of defender James Justin from Leicester. The 27-year-old full-back has signed a four-year contract at Elland Road after coming through the ranks at his local club and joining Leicester in 2019.
The structure of the transfer was reported as £8million upfront, with a further £2m in add-ons. Justin is the club’s 10th signing of the summer window as Daniel Farke’s men prepare to remain in the top flight following their Sky Bet Championship title last season.
On joining, Justin said: “Obviously to join a club of this size and to have the history it has had, and being back in the Premier League was a massive thing for me, so I’m over the moon to have joined,” James told the club’s official website.
He added: “Everyone that I’ve spoken to about the club and the area has had great things to say about it. So I’m excited to join the lads and get to work.
“The stadium has obviously got one of the best atmospheres in world football.
“And it’s always a daunting task to come here as an opposing team, but I’m happy to have the fans behind me this time.”
Justin brings experience at club and international level, having won one England cap against Hungary in June 2022. His arrival strengthens Leeds’ options at full-back as the squad prepares for the challenges of the 2025/26 season.
