EPL Prognosticating: 10 Bold Predictions for Week 4

After an international break the English Premier League is ready to start up again.  Chelsea have flown out of the gate with three consecutive wins, while Stoke City and West Ham United are yet to register a point.

The international break had mixed results for EPL players.  Adam Johnson and Darren Bent scored there first England goals, whereas Arsenal star Theo Walcott suffered a nasty ankle injury and is out 4-6 weeks.

In the marquee fixture of the week Wayne Rooney will return to Everton, an always hostile reception will be revved up by recent revelations about his personal life.

Here we make "10 Bold Predictions" for the upcoming fixtures in the EPL.

Goodison Park is always a hostile atmosphere, but when Wayne Rooney comes to town as a Red Devil the crowd seems to kick up a gear.  Rooney will be suffering right now with his marriage on the rocks, and the Everton crowd will waste no time rubbing it in.

Last season, a Landon Donovan led Everton fed off the atmosphere to defeat Manchester United and put a dent in their title hopes.  This time, it will lift them to grab a point to slightly improve what has been a difficult start to the season for them.

A distracted Rooney could struggle to influence the game, as a five man Everton midfield puts Scholes and Fletcher under huge pressure.  United mat score, but you can expect the Toffee's to match it.

PREDICTION: Everton 1 Manchester United 1

The stereotypes of Arsenal v Bolton are discussed in every bar.  Arsenal play the ball around on the deck while the Trotters merely hoof it up to big Kevin Davies.

The problem with those stereotypes is, they are not paying attention to what is happening on the field.  Since Owen Coyle's arrival Bolton have played some very attractive football, and this could ion fact be a very well played and entertaining game.

Arsenal have had a good start to the season here and will put the Trotters away.  In the ultimate irony, expect Arsenal to score from headers and scrappy set piece goals, with Maourane Chamakh the tormentor in chief.

PREDICTION:  Arsenal 2 Bolton Wanderers 0

Wolves have had an impressive start to the season and find themselves in 7th place.  Fulham have opened the season with 3 consecutive draws, including an impressive comeback against Manchester United.

Bobby Zamora is becoming an impressive force at Premier League level, and should score more than one in a home win for Fulham here.

Wolves are an organized and hard working side, but lack a little in the attacking third, their success this season will be largely dictated on how impressive they can make their home form.

PREDICTION:  Fulham 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Manchester City have had a mixed start to he season.  After opening with a draw at Tottenham, City destroyed Liverpool to send what looked like a message to the rest of the Premier League.  Parts of that message were lost when Sunderland upset them before the international break.

City will get back on track here by breaking down a resolute Blackburn side for a solid win.  Adam Johnson will have sky high confidence after 2 goals in as many games for England, expect him to do damage here.

Carlos Tevez should give young England hopeful Phil Jones a tough afternoon, and will appear on the score sheet here.

PREDICTION:  Manchester City 3 Blackburn Rovers 1

After an impressive start to the season Andy Carroll finds himself in a four way tie at the top of the Premier League scoring charts.  A home tie against Blackpool will give in form Carroll the opportunity he needs to top the charts alone.

Blackpool recently completed the signing of Ghana World Cup goalkeeper Richard Kingson and will hope he can help them in their battle to stay in the division. 

Blackpool will struggle here, an expectant Toon Army crowd will create the type of atmosphere that helped Newcastle batter Aston Villa 6-0 recently.

PREDICTION:  Newcastle United 2 Blackpool 1

Jermain Defoe starred for England during the international break, but unfortunately could be out injured for up to 2 months.  Tottenham have enough depth to cope with that injury and the loss of the England hit man will not be enough for West Brom to stop Tottemham here.

West Brom play some good football, and have enough to win some home games this season, not this one though.  Roman Pavlyuchenko will be afforded a chance to shine and will take it here to help Tottenham to 3 points with at least one goal.

Many Tottenham fans will be upset Tom Huddlestone was not involved in the England squad, he should also further stake his claim with a good performance here.

PREDICTION:  West Bromwich Albion 1  Tottenham Hotspur 2

The Chelsea juggernaut will obviously stutter at some point, but it will not be this weekend.  Rampant Chelsea travel to rock bottom West Ham and will continue their winning streak.

Frank Lampard will look to star, as the excellent England performances last week without him have sparked a national debate as to whether the Chelsea man should return to the England line up.  Lampard is among the elite attacking midfielders in the Premier League and he will look to remind Fabio Capello of that here.

Expect a goal and an assist from Lampard as he lays the boot into his old club while they are down.

PREDICTION:  West Ham United 1 Chelsea 2

Darren Bent opened his Premier League account last time out with a late winner against Manchester City.  The in form hit man followed that up with his first England goal in a mid week game at Switzerland.

Wigan have had a poor start to the season defensively, but did upset Tottenham at White Hart Lane last time out.

This game will see the Sunderland debut of World Cup star Asamoah Gyan.  However, it will be veteran Bent who is on the score sheet as the Black Cats grab a point on the road.

PREDICTION:  Wigan Athletic 1 Sunderland 1

Liverpool have had a mixed start to the season, and this is no easy game for them.  Roy Hodgson's men ground out a 1-0 win against West Brom last time out and a similar result will be welcome here.

Birmingham made some exciting deadline day signings, but Aleksandr Hleb will miss out, and it is unlikely the other new faces will gel quick enough to turn over the Reds.

A confident and hard working Birmingham will fight to the end, but Liverpool will remain resolute and win with the only goal of the game.

PREDICTION:  Birmingham City 0 Liverpool 1

Stoke City could hand debuts to deadline day signings Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jermaine Pennant and Marc Wilson.  That should freshen morale among the supporters, and team spirit may receive a boost to have some players Tony Pulis has not fallen out with yet.

Aston Villa come to town with some new blood in the dugout.  Gerard Houllier is a very capable manager and is a good decision to follow the impressive reign of Martin O'Neil. 

Villa have had a strange start to the season, they sit in the top four despite being battered 6-0 by newly promoted Newcastle.  They will not lose here, but Stoke are a tough proposition at home, and this could easily end in a stalemate.

PREDICTION:  Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 0