Courtesy: Bleacher Report
The final Premiership weekend before the International break takes place this weekend. Chelsea and Aston Villa are the only two teams not in Premiership action this week. Chelsea’s participation in today’s Super Cup Final meant that game was played nine days ago.
After this weekend each team will be back to three games before the League resumes again on September 14th. So what will the League throw up this weekend, well let’s take a look.
SATURDAY (all games 3pm BST/10am ET unless stated)
Manchester City v Hull 12:45 local (7:45ET).
After last weeks disaster of a game against Cardiff it is vitally important that City get back to winning ways against Hull in the first game of the weekend. The questions surrounding City’s backline, which was the pride of the league a few seasons running, looked suspect. Certainly the injuries to Richards, Nastasic and Kompany would affect any team, but mistakes being made by Mr Dependable, Joe Hart and Pab Zab had to be seen to be believed.
Hull held on for all three points at home to Norwich despite going down to ten men. At the beginning of the season Hull would not be looking at this fixture as a source of points but after last weekends wobble it certainly would have given Hull a little more encouragement.
Hopefully Nastasic will be back to add some steel to the backline and maybe a shout for Pantilimon to take over in the goal after last week. Personally I think Hart will be given the start and City will dominate Hull in Manchester.
Prediction: 4-0
Cardiff v Everton
I think the Welsh side will have a much more difficult time against Everton than they did last week against City. The reason for this? Martinez has been in charge of a struggling team, he has managed to get results against the bigger sides and against the odds.
That said two draws against Norwich after they had been winning and against West Brom in a game they should have won along with the struggle against Stevenage midweek means Martinez will be desperate to get his first three points of the season.
You have to feel a bit for Martinez though as all the talk of transfer disruption has been of Bale, Rooney and Suarez but talk has been rife that Fellaini and Baines could be following their old manager to Old Trafford. Whatever the result against Cardiff and wherever the Toffee duo are after Mondays transfer deadline I think you will then start to see more of what Martinez can do at Everton after the International break.
Prediction: 1-2
Newcastle v Fulham
Both these teams have already an injury list more appropriate for later on in the season. Remy may be okay to warm the bench but Tiote, Taylor and Gutierrez are out. As for Fulham, they will be without goalkeeper Stekelenburg, Richardson and Amorebieta.
Fulham do still have a lot to offer though with Bent and Berbatov the striking options and Adel Taarabt looking lively and busy in the early goings.
Prediction: 1-1
Norwich v Southampton
Two of the second tier big spenders meet up in this fixture. Sure they haven’t spent the money Manchester City or Chelsea have but certainly enough to raise expectations. Norwich return to Carrow Road where they were ahead, then behind to Everton before getting the tie. Last week they failed to get any points despite being against ten men for over an hour. Hughton will be demanding another three points against Southampton to get the Canaries back on track.
In Southampton though they find a team who are making their best start to the Premier League. That said, they did spend seven years out of the top flight, and with all their off field troubles it is good to see them doing good again.
In Lambert, Lallana and Rodriguez meeting Van Wolfeswinkel and Elmander it certainly has the potential for goals.
Prediction: 3-2
West Ham v Stoke
West Ham, like Southampton, have made a really good start to the season. They have not conceded a goal as yet and you have to feel it will be another three points today. Mark Hughes has continued where Stoke left off last season, frustrating but solid.
It all seemed so different in the opening game when they pushed Liverpool close and only a Mignolet penalty save denied them a point in the end. In fact stretching back into last season you have to back to April for their last away win.
Hughes has a knack of taking a team and make them under perform. At Blackburn he was steady but at City he had Robinho, Elano, Sturridge, Ireland,SWP, Dunne and Kompany and eventually finish mid table. From there he went to Fulham where he continued to be the king of the draw. Less than 11 months he moved to QPR and spent money on players Redknapp is now trying to offload less than two seasons later.
Prediction: 0-0
Crystal Palace v Sunderland (17:30 BST/12:30 ET)
This is certainly one of those games where I wish they would have a ‘Manager Cam’. To see the interaction between the flamboyant expressive diva that is Paolo Di Canio and the tell it like it is Bristol born Ian Holloway would be fantastic.
Again I go back to Di Canio’s quantity of purchases as being a distraction on the pitch as they all try to gel. The single point from two games simply isn’t good enough although the four goals in the last 12 minutes of the midweek League Cup match when 2-0 down could be a sign the turnaround has begun. Saturday will be interesting.
Prediction: 1-1
SUNDAY (Kick Off 13:30 BST/ 8:30 ET)
Liverpool v Man Utd
After a boring 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea on Monday it will be a tougher test in store for Moyes when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
Liverpool did have a midweek game against Notts County which they only got through after extra time, but I wouldn’t read into that too much. Manchester United may not see Liverpool as one of their main rivals, certainly not like in the 1990’s but Liverpool will certainly be up for it.
Sturridge is playing well and even with the loan departure of Reina they still have a good man in between the sticks. I wouldn’t be surprised if Liverpool won this and convincingly.
Prediction: 3-0
West Brom v Swansea
Anelka should be back but questions remain about the where his head is. Foster is also out with a broken foot and it will certainly be a longer, tougher season for the Baggies this time around, with the return of Lukaku to Chelsea coinciding with their lack of goals.
Swansea are also finding the early season tough going, although to be fair they have played Man Utd and Tottenham. The Swans will really be hoping for the full three points this time around with the Europa qualification destined to be more of a distraction this season I think.
Prediction: 0-2
Arsenal v Tottenham
Both sides for this North London derby have not been as good as expected at the start of this season. Arsenal of course lost to Villa on the opening day which, along with the lack of new faces, opened the wrath of the Arsenal fans. I doubt fears would have been eased though with the free signing of Mathieu Flamini, who may not be exactly in the position that needed strengthening.
Yes Spurs have two wins from two games but relied on penalties both times, and in fact 100% of their League goals so far have been from Soldado and from the spot. Away to Palace and home to Swansea with the money spent you would have thought would have given them bigger and more convincing victories than that.
Prediction: 0-0
