Joshua Oha, Author at Matchplug Blog

West Ham vs Newcastle: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Eddie Howe and his high-flying Newcastle United side will travel to London this Wednesday to take on relegation-threatened West Ham United.

The Hammers remain embroiled in the relegation battle in the Premier League despite a narrow 1-0 win over relegation battlers Southampton last time out. The win was their second in their last four PL games (D1, L1) and their second clean sheet in that period.

While the win was not enough to move them more than two points above Leicester in 19th position, it at least relieved some pressure on David Moyes and bought him more time. But given the raft of managerial dismissals we witnessed this past weekend in the English top-flight league, Moyes will know he cannot lose more games.

West Ham will host Newcastle, hoping their form at the London Stadium will help them as they are unbeaten in five PL home matches (W3, D2), their longest run of the season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle will look to make it four consecutive wins in the league when they travel to London, having beaten Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United in the last three rounds of league games.

The most recent outing, which saw them exert revenge over Man United with a 2-0, moved them into the top four places on goal difference. So their top four destiny is now in their hands, and they will be desperate to take it.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe urged his side to “build on” as their push for a first PL top-four finish since 2002/03 gathers momentum. His side won’t mind hitting the road in search of rising to the challenge, with their only defeat across their last ten travelling PL games coming at the hands of Manchester City (W5, D4).

The Magpies have been similarly high-flying on their visits to London, too, avoiding defeat in all four PL visits to the capital so far this season (W2, D2), last piecing together a longer such unbeaten run over nine years ago.

Meanwhile, West Ham are the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to score a goal inside the opening 15 minutes this season. So, a first-half goal could be an anomaly here. A low-scoring encounter is also expected, given Newcastle’s solidity in defence.

Click here to get accurate football predictions.

Manchester United vs Brentford: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

High-flying Brentford will look to continue their impressive quest for a top-six finish this Wednesday when they travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.

The Red Devils are looking to get back to winning ways after another poor outing last weekend when they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United. The loss made it three league games without a win for Erik ten Hag, whose side has shipped in nine goals without reply in that period.

After the latest loss, the coach criticised his players, claiming that their opponent wanted the win more than his stars. The coach will hope that his words will be enough to motivate his players and get his side back into the top-four race.

The hosts currently sit outside of the top four on goal difference but can claim their place if they win here. After playing two of their last three league games away from home, returning to Old Trafford will be a welcome development for United. Moreover, their record on this ground will be a confidence booster as Ten Hag’s men are unbeaten on home soil in all competitions since September (W19, D3).

Also, no side in the division has conceded fewer than the eight PL home goals they have conceded at home this season. So they will be confident that their fortunes could change in this game.

However, their visitors Brentford aren’t pushovers. The London club are one of the best-performing clubs in the PL this year, with just one PL loss since October (W7, D8). However, they will travel to the North disappointed over their inability to hold on to the lead in their last game.

The Bees could not beat fellow top-six hopefuls Brighton last time, squandering the lead thrice in a pulsating 3-3 draw. However, boss Thomas Frank admitted that “you hope for more” in the circumstances after the game.

He will be desperate to return to winning ways at Old Trafford as his side battles to secure a history-making top-seven finish. However, if those dreams are to become a reality, they will have to do better on their road trips, as the Bees have won just one of their PL away games in 2023 (D3, L1).

Meanwhile, Man Utd have scored 16 of their 24 PL home goals this season after half-time. So a ‘Goal First Half‘ prediction will be correct for this game, while a BTTS/GG bet will also be sufficient.

Graham Potter TURNS DOWN Leicester’s approach

Graham Potter has reportedly rejected Leicester City after the Foxes approached him to take over at the King Power Stadium.

It has been a whirlwind few days in the Premier League, with at least three coaches sacked since after the international break. Antonio Conte left his post at Tottenham before action returned this weekend, while Potter and Brendan Rodgers were relieved of their duties at Chelsea and Leicester, respectively.

However, Potter has already been offered a job less than 48 hours after his exit was confirmed at Stamford Bridge. According to talkSPORT, Leicester approached the former Brighton coach to take over the vacant seat at the King Power Stadium, but he turned down the offer because he wants to take a break from football.

Potter’s Chelsea sacking is the 13th managerial departure in the Premier League this season–three more in-season departures than in any previous campaign.

For now, both clubs are managed by their assistant coaches until they can find permanent replacements. Chelsea have been linked to former Bayern coach Julain Nagelsmann, while Leicester are yet to decide who they want to hire.

The Blues will return to action on Tuesday with a visit from struggling Liverpool, while Leicester City will play Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Wolves ready to make a huge offer for Dani Ceballos

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly planning to make an audacious bid for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos.

The Spanish midfielder’s contract at Santiago Bernabeu will end this summer, and he can negotiate terms with interested parties over a potential move.

Present club Real are in talks with the 26-year-old about extending his contract, who is said to be happy in Madrid. The club are confident or renewing his deal, but there are ongoing concerns about his playing time at the Bernabeu.

Madrid have a swathe of quality options in midfield, including Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, to name just four. The La Liga giants are also looking to add further steel in their midfield this summer as they reportedly have a strong interest in signing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.

That could mean even less game time for Ceballos. The player has recently enjoyed a run in the first team, putting in several impressive performances. Yet, he has never started more than 13 La Liga games in a season for Real since arriving from Real Betis in 2017.

Ceballos is reportedly attracting interest from England again, this time from Wolves, who are looking to bolster their central midfield options and are managed by former Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui.

The Spanish coach knows and admires Ceballos very much, given that both men spent a couple of months together during Lopetegui’s brief stint as Madrid’s boss. The 26-year-old could help fill the potential voids left by Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes in midfield, as both players could be sold this summer.

Leicester vs Aston Villa: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Leicester City will begin life after Brendan Rodgers this Tuesday when they welcome high-flying Aston Villa to King Power Stadium for the rescheduled seventh Round fixture of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

The Foxes sacked their FA Cup-winning manager Brendan Rodgers last weekend after a narrow 2-1 away loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday. According to the club board, they were “compelled to take alternative action” to get back on track after a poor run of form that saw them lose six out of their last seven games (D1).

The latest defeat lowered them into the Premier League’s relegation zone, as they now sit just two points ahead of rock-bottom Southampton.

It is now or never for the Foxes, who will be desperate for maximum points here as they fight to avoid the drop for the first time since their return to the league in the 2013/2014 season. First, however, they must sort their attitude to holding on to leads if they want to stay up.

The Foxes have dropped more points (22) from winning positions this season than any other team following their 2-1 loss to Palace at the weekend.

As the assistant manager and now interim boss Chris Davies will know, a leaky defence has played a big part in that inability to see games out. Next, it will be his job to try and fix the Foxes’ record of conceding in 13 straight PL games, notably the longest such active record in the division.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa put the final nail in Graham Potter’s Chelsea reign last weekend with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, leading to the former Brighton’s coach sacking.

The win was Villa’s fifth consecutive game without defeat (W4, D1), pushing them into the Premier League top half. For a team that was in danger of relegation early this season, they have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround under Unai Emery and can start dreaming of a place in Europe.

The former Sevilla and Villarreal coach has insisted that a tp-half finish is his aim this season, but he knows that his side can crack the top seven given how solid they have been recently.

The visitors’ form has been led by a strong defence which has kept four clean sheets in their last five games. They head into this clash just two points outside of the top six, but having played two games more than sixth-placed Brighton, they know they can’t afford to take their foot off the pedal.

Click here to get accurate football predictions.

Chelsea vs Liverpool: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Another huge Premier League clash comes up this Tuesday as Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge for the rescheduled eighth Round fixture of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

The Blues come into this tie on the back of a disappointing 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, which led to the dismissal of Graham Potter. The former Brighton boss is the second Chelsea manager sacked this season, following the firing of Thomas Tuchel earlier.

Yet, the hosts remain far from their quest for a place in the top four. Their latest loss pushed them down to eleventh position, 13 points behind the top four, having played a game less.

With a place in the top four seemingly impossible now, the Blues can still pursue a top-six finish that will qualify them for the Europa League next season.

Usually, a return to Stamford Bridge would provide a platform for immediate improvement and a return to winning ways, but confidence among the home crowd might be low as their side has failed to score in four of their seven home PL games this year (W2, D2, L3).

Like Chelsea, Liverpool are also in dire form following a run of three straight losses without a goal. Manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he is lucky to keep his job following the raft of sackings in the PL in the past week.

While his job is safe for now, given his achievements at Anfield, the German knows he is not immune to being sacked. However, the fans have been patient with him and the team, and Klopp will be desperate to repay their faith with a big performance on Tuesday.

However, the Reds have suffered five losses from their 11 PL fixtures in 2023 (W4, D2), which is already more than their total of four PL defeats across the entire 2022 calendar year (across two seasons). Furthermore, each of those five 2023 PL losses were all away from home, and looking across the entirety of their PL campaign, their eight away defeats (W3, D3) equals their tally from the previous three seasons combined.

Any points would be welcome from their visit to Chelsea, and considering the last five H2Hs have all been drawn (after regulation time), a share of the spoils might not be viewed as a surprising outcome.

Click here to get accurate football predictions.

Saudi Arabian club preparing a bid to sign Coutinho

A Saudi Arabian club have reportedly set their sights on signing Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian midfielder is facing an uncertain future at Villa Park following the arrival of Unai Emery.

He has struggled to make an impact under the Spanish coach and is likely to be sold this summer for the good of the club and the player.

Coutinho is the top earner at Aston Villa after signing from Spanish side Barcelona for an initial loan fee. His performance in the first six months of his arrival under Steven Gerrard made the club sign him permanently.

But since his deal was made permanent, the Brazilian has been off-colour. As a result, Villa wants to cut their losses and are ready to sell him for cheap.

However, his wages appear to be a stumbling block for interested teams in Europe. But according to Football Insider, things could change this summer as an unmanned Saudi Arabian club wants to sign the player.

The club has reportedly prepared a mega bid to make the Brazilian join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.

Man United preparing bid for Benjamin Pavard

Manchester United have reportedly shown interest in signing Bayern Munich full-back Benjamin Pavard.

The Red Devils are interested in upgrading their right-back department this summer and have identified the French star as the ideal candidate for the job.

Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are the two first-choice right-backs currently at Old Trafford, but Erik ten Hag considers Pavard, a better all-round player than the duo.

According to The Athletic, United are already preparing a bid to bring the World Cup winner to Old Trafford next season. Given his experience and the fact that he is nearing the end of this contract, the Red Devils consider him a safe gamble as he would only cost a little to acquire.

Pavard’s contract with Bayern runs until 2024, and the player has yet to hold talks with the Bundesliga giants over a contract extension. However, with just one year to go in his contract after this season, the Bavarians could be tempted to sell him if they receive the right offer from the Red Devils.

Pavard has made 33 appearances in all appearances for Bayern this season. He has six goals to his name and one assist.

The 27-year-old can play as a right-back and also as a central defender. He joined Bayern in the 2019/20 season from Stuttgart for a reported €35million and has enjoyed remarkable success in his time.

Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Valencia will welcome Rayo Vallecano Estadio de Mestalla on Monday in the 27th Round of the 2022/23 La Liga season.

Before the season started, the hosts were one of the clubs expected to compete for the top six places after a strong pre-season. However, after 26 rounds of league games, Valencia are deeply rooted in the La Liga bottom three, having lost 14 league games already this season (W7, D5).

So they come into this tie desperate to get a win and pull out of the red line. They will fancy their chances of doing so at home, where they have enjoyed some positive results recently.

Meanwhile, new manager Rubén Baraja kickstarted Valencia’s desperate fight for survival by toppling two then-top-half clubs (Sociedad and Osasuna) by 1-0 margins in his first two La Liga home assignments.

That has helped them build momentum ahead of a trio of La Liga games against relegation rivals to follow this match. Baraja was also buoyed by the return of three previously injured first-team players during the international break.

Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano have outperformed clubs better than them this season and have defied the odds placed on them. The visitors were among the six clubs expected to battle for relegation this season. However, they are currently in the running for a top-six finish. They come into this tie sitting in eighth position, eight points behind sixth-placed Villarreal.

Yet, a run of six games without a win ahead of this game (D4, L2) threatens to undo all the work they have put in this season. To achieve that, they have to sort their finishing after failing to score in their last two La Liga away trips, which followed a streak of ten consecutive La Liga away games in which they found the net.

Click here to get the best football prediction for today.

Everton vs Tottenham: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Tottenham will begin life after Antonio Conte this Monday when they travel to Liverpool to face relegation-threatened Everton.

The hosts are looking for a win that will keep them just above the relegation zone, while Spurs are desperate to hold on to the fourth position.

But Everton enter this tie in a better mood as they headed into the international break on the back of their first three-game unbeaten Premier League (PL) run (W1, D2) since October.

Only five PL sides have picked up more league points since manager Sean Dyche arrived in early February (11) than the hosts ahead of this round of games. So, they will fancy their chances here.

However, the ongoing probe into Everton’s finances could derail the growing feel-good factor at the club ahead of this game against a Tottenham side they’ve beaten in just one of their last 20 PL meetings (D9, L10).

Meanwhile, Tottenham, like Everton, are also suffering from off-field distractions. After Conte was sacked, managing director Fabio Paratici was given a worldwide by FIFA last week, effectively removing him from his role at the club.

These distractions will certainly not sit well with interim head coach Cristian Stellini. First, however, the Italian must draw up a plan to deliver a result at Goodison Park as they seek to keep their place in the top four of the Premier League.

To do this, Stellini must focus on finding a way to stop his team from leaking goals, as Spurs have already conceded as many goals this season as they did in the whole of the last (40).

However, with more PL clean sheets against Everton than any other side (24), they may be set to face the ideal opponent to get back on track.

Click here for 100 Percent winning tips.

Joshua Oha

West Ham vs Newcastle: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Manchester United vs Brentford: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Graham Potter TURNS DOWN Leicester’s approach

Wolves ready to make a huge offer for Dani Ceballos

Leicester vs Aston Villa: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Chelsea vs Liverpool: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Saudi Arabian club preparing a bid to sign Coutinho

Man United preparing bid for Benjamin Pavard

Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Everton vs Tottenham: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Instagram Feed

Stop Playing and Start Wining.

Contact us

Quick Links

Categories

Information

Follow Us