The Barclays Premier League returns after the long international break of shocking results (Iceland’s 2-0 win over the Netherlands and Germany’s 2-0 loss to Poland while being held at home by Ireland) and a sacking (Stephen Keshi with Nigeria).

Our soccer analysts, who are still keeping their jobs, are back to give you their views and predictions on Day 8 of the 10 top-flight games.

Welcome to the BPL preview.

MANCHESTER CITY V TOTTENHAM

Aisha, let’s start with you. Where will the pendulum swing in this game?

Aisha: Well, champions City had to dig really deep to win their last game away to Aston Villa and stay within touching distance of league leaders Chelsea. Tottenham Hotspur also had an impressive win against a very good Southampton side. But consistency has been the bane of Spurs this season and I don’t see them getting anything from the Etihad. This should be a home win. 2-0

Sunday: Manuel Pellegrini’s men will roll out the machines in this one. City’s main men, Yaya Toure and David Silva, are both in form at the moment and they will punish a lacklustre Spurs whose coach is being too pragmatic and his strikers misfiring. 3-1

Kayode: Hugo Lloris is a major doubt for Spurs after missing France’s match with Armenia on Tuesday. Summer signing Michel Vorm will deputise if the Frenchman is ruled out but it won’t make much difference. Spurs were trounced 5-1 and 6-0 last season. They will lose again but with slimmer margin. 2-1

ARSENAL V HULL CITY

Arsenal’s annus horribilis with injuries rear its head again. Sunday, what’s your take?

Sunday: Injuries! That has been and will always be Arsenal’s undoing in the BPL. However, they should be able to overcome a Hull City side letting in goals against the big boys. Danny “Thierry Henry” Welbeck’s presence and their resurgent wingers should overwhelm the Tigers. 3-1

Aisha: This is a repeat of the exciting FA Cup final where Arsenal fought from two goals down to beat Hull City 3-2. The Gunners lost their unbeaten start to the season to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and have a horrific pileup of injuries. But in spite of these, I believe Arsenal have enough quality to beat Hull at the Emirates. 2-1

Kayode: Sunday is right, Arsenal are currently facing a severe injury crisis with nine players unavailable for this tie. Their back-line is most stretched with Laurent Koscielny (achilles), Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) and Calum Chambers (suspended) all missing. Captain Mikel Arteta is expected back, though. I still fancy the Gunners claiming the three points. 3-0

BURNLEY V WEST HAM UNITED

With four points from seven games, Burnley are already in relegation dogfight with Newcastle and QPR. Kayode, do you see them making a gradual ascent with a win in this game?

Kayode: The good news is that their injury problems have eased ahead of Saturday’s clash with West Ham at Turf Moor. Striker Danny Ings (hamstring), midfielders Nathaniel Chalobah (throat) and Dave Jones (thigh) and defenders Kieran Trippier (ankle) and Michael Keane (hamstring) should all be fit enough to be included to face Sam Allardyce’s team. They will remain at the base of the log after this game. 0-0

Sunday: Unlike Kayode going for a draw, I am tempted to go for a straight win for the Hammers. However, Sam Dykes and his men have had two weeks of practice prior to this encounter. Therefore, I tip them to give a battling performance and earn at least a point against Allardyce’s surprisingly attack-minded team. 1-1

Aisha: Burnley are having a really difficult time in the league at the moment while West Brom are in the top half of the log. Kayode and Sunday tip a draw in this game. I think this will end in a draw too. 1-1

CRYSTAL PALACE V CHELSEA

Crystal Palace derailed Liverpool and Chelsea title challenges last season. Against Crystal Palace, John Terry put the ball into his own net to hand Palace victory. Kayode, do you see that happening again?

Kayode: It wouldn’t be bad to see Selhurst Park reduce Terry, like Luis Suarez last season, to tears (smiles at Aisha, a true Blues) yet again! Diego Costa is a doubt for the game and they will miss him. I see Palace performing another miracle, albeit a minor one. 1-1

Aisha: Chelsea are in imperious form and currently boast the only unbeaten record in the league. Crystal Palace will remember that against all odds they defeated Chelsea last season while the Blues will want to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. Chelsea should win this. 0-2 (brings out the club’s branded cap; places it on her head)

Sunday: (still laughing) This is the kind of banana-peel ‎game that puts a temporary stop on a team’s title challenge, and I think Chelsea will drop points here (avoids Aisha’s face). Their star players have been on international duty and the rigours will make them slow starters this weekend. Such situation will definitely give Palace and Warnorck the belief to go for it. 1-1

EVERTON V ASTON VILLA

Everton have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League games with Villa. Aisha, will the status quo be maintained? A win for Everton, right?

Aisha: Doubt it. Everton are surprisingly hovering over the relegation places at the moment but were unlucky not to come away from Old Trafford with at least a point when they played Manchester United. Aston Villa’s run of difficult games continue with this trip to Goodison Park. This will likely end in a 2-2 draw.

Sunday: Do not weep for Aston Villa. They are made for mid-table and neither Roy Keane’s new book nor his mere presence on the bench would change that. Everton, on the other hand, need the points. After facing some top teams, this is the time to pick apart the smaller teams. Lukaku needs to step up his game and I hope he uses this match as a springboard. 3-1

Kayode: I’ll pitch my tent with Sunday on this – I go for a win for the home side as well. 2-0

We’ll be right back after this commercial break.

We are back! Chelsea to drop points; Arsenal to win. What about the remaining games?

NEWCASTLE UNITED V LEICESTER CITY

Sunday, I know you still have your ‘Pardew Out’ banner with you. But Newcastle United are unbeaten in their last eight league matches with Leicester City with four wins and four draws. So surely, they should win this. No?

Sunday: Finally, Newcastle United to win a league match‎. As a fan, I am genuinely ecstatic but on the other hand not happy that it’s going to be Alan Pardew in the dugout for this historic win. Leicester will from this week onward slip into the bottom part of the league table where they belong as their bubble is now well and truly busted. No King Power to save them at the St. James’ Park! 2-1

Aisha: Pardew is still hanging on as Newcastle’s manager largely due to the goals of his striker, Papiss Cisse. The hit man will have to be at his best again if Newcastle are to get a much-desired win against a decent Leicester City side. Like Sunday, I’ll go for a home win. 2-1

Kayode: Pardew has been handed a series of boosts as he prepares for this game. Dutch keeper Tim Krul has shaken off an elbow injury while compatriot Daryl Janmaat (hamstring) and fellow defender Paul Dummett (muscle strain) are also fit. I go for a home win as well. 2-0

SOUTHAMPTON V SUNDERLAND

Graziano Pelle and Ronald Koeman were awarded Premier League player and manager of the month following Southampton’s excellent start to the season. Kayode, do you think they will remain in third position after this game?

Kayode: I hope they do. I am so impressed with Koeman. He steered the Saints to victory in all three of their BPL games last month, with a 4-0 win over Newcastle (smiles at Sunday) followed by a 1-0 away at Swansea and a 2-1 at home to QPR. They will beat Sunderland. 3-0

Sunday: Like Kayode said, I am enjoying Ronald Koeman’s work at Southampton as well and I believe they still have a couple more weeks to stay up there in the table before slipping back to the ‘Intertoto’ position. Sunderland, on the other hand have another struggle on their hand and regardless of the garrulous statements of manager Gus Poyet about his side, they look every inch like a bottom club despite the talents of Fletcher, Wickham, Johnson et al. They are just too inconsistent and several players are out of form. 3-1

Aisha: The Saints suffered only their second loss of the season when Tottenham Hotspur beat them 1-0 at White Hart Lane. Sunderland have not had the kind of season I expected of them so I’m going for a Southampton win. 2-1

QUEENS PARK V LIVERPOOL

Harry Redknapp, the Queens Park Rangers boss, is favourite to be the next top-flight boss to be sacked after a disappointing start to the season. Sunday, do you see Liverpool compounding his woes?

Sunday: Will this be Liverpool’s renaissance? Or QPR’s redemption? Daniel Sturridge should be back fit and hopefully Raheem Sterling is no more tired (general laughter). If both perform, the Kop should further confirm QPR as relegation boys. 1-2

Aisha: Sturridge is likely to return for Liverpool this weekend and his presence will surely lift the Reds. Queens Park Rangers are bottom of the league and it’s difficult to see them getting anything from this game. Liverpool to win this. 1-2

Kayode: The uncertainty over the future of Redknapp will persist after this game. A resounding win for Liverpool. 1-4

STOKE CITY V SWANSEA CITY

This is a tale of two cities! Sunday, which city do you fancy?

Sunday: A game between two very good sides who have played marvelous football at some point this season and also have had the odd day off. Stoke City should see out this encounter, though, as they’d bank on an intimidating crowd and Swansea’s occasional lapse in concentration in defence. 2-1

Aisha: Stoke had a bad result losing 3-1 to Sunderland last time out but they are usually strong at home. I fancy them to beat Swansea. 2-1

Kayode: I fancy Stoke as well. Swansea started the season like a house on fire but are gradually finding their level. The worst is ahead! 3-1

WEST BROM V MANCHESTER UNITED

Kayode, your team started disastrously with defeat by Swansea at Old Trafford. With back-to-back wins in their last two games, do you see this trend continuing?

Kayode: Louis van Gaal has been at United for three months – three torrid months. Things have not gone as expected, but the Red Devils headed into international break in fourth place. I expect an away win but the real baptism will start when United play Chelsea and Manchester City before next break. 1-2

Aisha: Manchester United have won two back-to-back matches for the first time this season, but doubt remains about their ability to defend. United also have serious injury worries so I will give West Brom a chance to draw this. 1-1 (smiles at Kayode)

Sunday: The Baggies have earned enough points to last them a few weeks of defeat, and Manchester United should hand them the second defeat in the series. Striker Berahino is in form but United’s defence has kept on improving and it’s only a matter of time before they get everything right. The Van Gaalacticos to be at their best again this weekend as United will consolidate on their top-four position. 0-3 (accepts the outstretched hand of Kayode)

Our football analysts have spoken but let’s know what you think through our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Join us next week for another interesting edition of the BPL preview.

Bye for now!

WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS

MATCH	KAYODE	AISHA	SUNDAY	RESULTS
Hull City v Crystal Palace	3-1	1-1	2-1	2-0
Leicester v Burnley	1-1	2-1	3-1	2-2
Liverpool v West Brom	3-0	3-1	3-1	2-1
Sunderland v Stoke	1-3	1-2	1-1	3-1
Swansea v Newcastle	1-2	2-1	3-1	2-2
Aston Villa v Manchester City	0-3	2-2	0-3	0-2
Manchester United v Everton	4-1	2-2	3-1	2-1
Chelsea v Arsenal	1-2	3-1	2-0	2-0
Tottenham v Southampton	3-0	1-1	3-1	1-0
West Ham v QPR	3-1	2-1	3-0	2-0

PUNDITS LEAGUE TABLE

PUNDITS	WK 7 CORRECT RESULT (1PT)	WK 7 CORRECT SCORE (2PTS)	WK 7 TOTAL POINTS	CUMULATIVE POINTS
Sunday Omeike	7	2	9	35
Aisha Falode	3	0	3	34
Kayode Tijani	7	0	7	27

 

SCREEN SCROLL OF KEY MATCH STATS (supplied by Opta)

ARSENAL V HULL

Arsenal have won their last five Premier League games against Hull City, since losing their first ever PL meeting in September 2008.

Nikica Jelavic has already equalled his Premier League goal tally from 2013-14 in just seven games this season (4). He played 25 times last season.

Jelavic now has eight goals in 23 Premier League games for Hull City – only Geovanni (11) has more goals in the competition for the Tigers.

The Gunners have won just one of their last six Premier League matches (W1 D4 L1); this after winning their previous six in a row.

PALACE V CHELSEA

Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in their last league meeting. They haven’t won back to back league games against the Blues since March 1982.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in 10 Premier League matches; winning eight and drawing two.

Since Jose Mourinho returned to the club as manager on the eve of the 2013-14 season, Chelsea have kept more clean sheets than any other side in the Premier League (21).

The Blues have the leading goalscorer (Diego Costa – nine goals) and the leading assist maker (Cesc Fabregas – seven assists)

Diego Costa already has more goals this season (9) than any player has for Crystal Palace in the Premier League since their return to the top-flight at the start of last season.

CITY V SPURS

Manchester City have won six of their last seven Premier League meetings with Tottenham (L1).

Tottenham have secured 20 wins against Manchester City in the Premier League – only against Everton (20) have they won as many.

The last six Premier League games between Man City and Spurs have produced 30 goals (five per game on average), with City scoring 22 of these goals.

Edin Dzeko has scored six goals in six Premier League games against Spurs; more than versus any other opponent. Four of these goals came in one game (August 2011).

Sergio Aguero has netted five goals in five PL apps against Tottenham – only against Norwich City (5) has he scored as many in the competition.

QPR V LIVERPOOL

Queens Park Rangers have picked up the fewest yellow cards (8) and have committed the fewest fouls (60) in the Premier League so far this season.

Liverpool have won five and lost just one of their last six league meetings with QPR, keeping a clean sheet in four of these games.

After a run of 11 successive Premier League wins in between Feb-Apr, Liverpool have won just four of their last 10 matches in the competition (W4 D2 L4).

The Reds have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League matches.