Match reviews

Arsenal 3–0 Nottingham Forest
Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 | Actual: 3–0 | Score: 1.5 pts — What’s One Goal?
We said Arsenal would control it, and they did. Zubimendi volleyed the opener on 32 minutes, Gyökeres scored seconds after half-time, then Zubimendi headed in with 11 minutes left. Ange Postecoglou’s first Forest game never settled. Arsenal’s new signings set the tone.

AFC Bournemouth 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Prediction: Bournemouth 2–1 | Actual: 2–1 | Score: 3 pts — Genius
We leaned on home edge, transitions, and set-plays. Scott smashed the opener after Semenyo’s work. Mitoma levelled with a header just after the break, before Semenyo converted a penalty following Van Hecke’s trip on Evanilson.

Crystal Palace 0–0 Sunderland
Prediction: Palace 2–1 | Actual: 0–0 | Score: 0 pts — Sacked in the Morning
We called a narrow Palace win. Instead, Sunderland’s keeper Roefs made a string of stops to deny Kamada and Mateta with Pino also missing key chances. Our read on a tight game was right, but the score was too far off.

Everton 0–0 Aston Villa
Prediction: Everton 2–1 | Actual: 0–0 | Score: 0 pts — Sacked in the Morning
We forecast a single moment of quality could have been the difference. Martinez had other ideas, producing big saves at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Grealish created, Keane went close, but Everton could not finish. Villa’s goal drought continued.

Fulham 1–0 Leeds United
Prediction: 0–0 | Actual: 1–0 | Score: 0.5 pts — Wrong but Close
We flagged a low-scoring grind. It broke on 90+4 when Gudmundsson headed a Lukic corner into his own net. Leno held firm earlier as Leeds’ best chances faded. One goal from our call.

Newcastle United 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Prediction: Newcastle 3–0 | Actual: 1–0 | Score: 1 pt — Right Result
Woltemade nodded in Murphy’s cross on 29 minutes. After that, Newcastle managed the game, and Wolves’ early bursts fizzled out. We had the winner right, the margin wrong.

West Ham United 0–3 Tottenham Hotspur
Prediction: Spurs 2–0 | Actual: 3–0 | Score: 1.5 pts — What’s One Goal?
We said Spurs would be comfortable. Sarr headed the first two minutes into the second half, Souček saw red on 54 after a reckless challenge on Palhinha, then Bergvall and Van de Ven finished it. A VAR-checked Romero header was ruled out earlier but would prove insignificant in a dominant Spurs display.

Brentford 2–2 Chelsea
Prediction: Chelsea 3–1 | Actual: 2–2 | Score: 0 pts — Sacked in the Morning
Schade put Brentford ahead, Palmer equalised on his return, and Caicedo blasted Chelsea in front in the 85th minute. Carvalho levelled in added time from a long throw. We expected Chelsea’s extra gear, but the Bees refused to get beat.

Burnley 0–1 Liverpool
Prediction: Liverpool 3–0 | Actual: 1–0 | Score: 1 pt — Right Result
Unlike we predicted Liverpool laboured until stoppage time. With Burnley down to ten, Hannibal handled Frimpong’s cross and Salah scored the 90+5 penalty. Four wins from four for the champions but they are still far from convincing.

Manchester City 3–0 Manchester United
Prediction: City 2–1 | Actual: 3–0 | Score: 1 pt — Right Result
Foden headed the opener from Doku’s cross. Haaland struck twice after the break, with Donnarumma solid on debut. City dominated the duels and punished United’s errors. We had the direction right, the margin not.

Game of the Week
Manchester City 3–0 Manchester United
We teed this up as a goalkeeper story. City started Donnarumma, United kept Bayındır, and that choice framed the day. Foden’s header from Doku’s second delivery set the tone. Haaland then dinked a second, hit the post, and still found a third on 68 minutes. City’s press forced mistakes, with Maguire’s loose pass leading to the killer goal. United’s midfield was outnumbered, and their transitions died on poor touches. No cards in a spiky derby told its own story about control. City close the gap and reset their campaign. United leave with questions about selection, structure, and chance creation. Our preview flagged fine margins, but City’s level erased them.

Weekly points summary

This Week
Genius (3 pts) x1
Almost (2 pts) x0
What’s One Goal? (1.5 pts) x2
Right Result (1 pt) x3
Wrong but Close (0.5 pts) x1
Sacked in the Morning (0 pts) x3
Total points this week: 9.5

Scoring:
3 points - Goal
You predicted the exact scoreline.
Example: predict 2-0, actual 2-0.
2 points - Post and Out
You predicted the correct result (win, draw, or loss) and the correct goal difference, but not the exact score.
Example: predict 3-1, actual 2-0 (both wins by 2).
1.5 points - What’s One Goal?
You predicted the correct result, and your margin was just one goal off the actual margin.
Example: predict 2-1, actual 3-1 (pred margin = 1, actual margin = 2).
1 point - Right Result
You predicted the correct result, but your margin was clearly off (by more than one goal).
Example: predict 1-0, actual 4-0.
0.5 points - Close but Wrong
You got the result wrong, but your predicted goal difference was only one away from the actual goal difference.
Example: predict 2-1, actual 1-1 (pred margin = 1, actual margin = 0).
0 points - Sacked in the morning
None of the above apply.
Example: predict 2-0, actual 0-3.