Have you missed it? Bet you did. The Premier League makes its return after the international break and a lot has changed since the last fixtures. Two sides begin with new managers with one of the bosses sacked, now in charge of the other to show their manager the door.
Meanwhile another club has a new boss in charge, hoping not to relegate another side from the Premier League. Let’s look at whether Villa, Norwich and Newcastle can get wins this weekend.
Saturday 20 November
Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion (3pm KO)
After five Premier League defeats in a row, Aston Villa gave Dean Smith the sack. More about him later in this article. Those losses took the midlands club down to 16th in the table and just two points above the drop zone.
Enter Steven Gerrard and bang goes all those predictions his first Premier League job would be at Liverpool. His first task will be to end the losing run and stop his side conceding so many goals. Only once in their last five league games have they avoided conceding at least twice. Yet, before that, Villa had conceded four goals in five league games, three scored by Chelsea.
Gerrard begins with a home game against seventh placed Brighton. Villa are 6/4 at William Hill to get their new boss off to a winning start. Brighton last won a Premier League game two months ago. Since then, they have drawn five games and lost at home to Manchester City. Another draw could be on the cards and that’s 11/5 at BetVictor.
Newcastle United v Brentford (3pm KO)
This might just be the weekend when Newcastle finally achieve their first win of the season. That has been written a few times though. They begin this latest set of fixtures five points from safety and those wealthy owners must be thinking it’s time a match was won.
Eddie Howe (who relegated Bournemouth) has taken over and could start with a victory. His new team has drawn two of their last three games, so they’re getting closer. They host Brentford who have lost four league games in a row, two against sides in the bottom three. Betfair have Newcastle at 13/8 to finally get off the mark.
Norwich City v Southampton (3pm KO)
Poor Daniel Farke. He gets a first league win of the season at Brentford and then gets the sack. Dean Smith (formerly at Brentford) gets his marching orders from Villa and inside a week he’s in charge at Carrow Road.
His new side are bottom of the table, behind Newcastle on goal difference. The Canaries have only scored five league goals (two from the penalty spot) and conceded 26. Has Smith gone from the frying pan into the fire? A new boss and some confidence from the win at Brentford may well help Norwich. Four out of five home league games have been lost though, the other a goalless draw with Brighton. 888sport will give you 51/20 on them beating Southampton.
Southampton are 13th in the table and on a good run. They probably didn’t want an international break after earning ten points from their last four league matches. Their away form is a big worry though with only two victories in their last 18 and five points this season. Southampton did get a goalless draw at Manchester City though and Paddy Power will give you 11/10 on them getting Smith off to a miserable start.
