Already this season there are no teams in the Premiership still with 100% records and only two teams, Everton and Liverpool who remain undefeated. That is under half the amount at the same time last season where, although no teams still had 100% record, five still remained undefeated.
Courtesy:stonewall.org.uk
At the beginning of the season I produced an article regarding Homophobia in the British game. This weekend the charity Stonewall has sent rainbow laces to all the clubs in the hope that players will wear them out on the pitch. So far as this goes to press only Joey Barton from QPR has openly said he will wear them. It will be interesting to see how many other players make the statement over the weekend.
With that said now let’s look at the games in the Premiership this weekend.
Saturday (All times 3pm local time, 10am ET unless stated)
Norwich v Aston Villa (12:45 BST, 7:45 ET)
Paul Lambert returns to Carrow Road once more but not with the confidence the opening win against Arsenal had suggested he might have. A defeat last weekend at home to a struggling Newcastle means that that initial win on opening day has been followed up by three straight defeats.
Norwich City on the other hand spent a lot of money in the close season and although find themselves only one point ahead of their visitors going into Saturday’s game. With Van Wolfswinkel, Hooper and Elmander available for selection and after the manner of the defeat at Spurs last week will be looking for a response. That said Benteke and Agbonglohor will not be taking it easy either as their Villa side look to repeat the score of this fixture last season when the visitors left Norfolk with all three points.
Prediction: 1-2
Liverpool v Southampton
The last side in the Premiership with the 100% record before the Shelvey show last Monday at Swansea in which the ex Liverpool player was involved in all four goals in the 2-2 draw. Probably the worst news coming out of that game was the injury to Coutinho who injured his shoulder, and initially carried on playing, before eventually being replaced. He is now out until the end of next month and will be missed in that midfield area but after this game Suarez returns so the Football Gods giveth and they taketh away too!
You have to worry for Southampton after last Sundays bore draw against West Ham. At home and with no real strike threat from the Hammers it was disappointing to see no goals at all from Southampton. That is the story of the season so far though for Pochettino’s men who have struggled to score and no goals have come from open play.
Prediction: 3-0
Newcastle v Hull
Newcastle, the anti Villa in that they started the season terrible but have brought it back in the last few games. After that 4-0 defeat away to Manchester City the Geordie nation now find themselves up to 8th position and on the same amount of points as the team that dished out that hammering on opening day. It was widely thought, and I was one, that Pardew would be one of the first names out of in the drama that is the managerial revolving door. It was nothing against Pardew but more a reflection on the politics and behind the scenes movement at Newcastle. A win here would lift them above either or both of the Manchester clubs after the weekend completes and that is all credit to Pardew.
Hull City stand in the way and Steve Bruce has to be reasonably happy with the start. A defeat against City and Chelsea were expected and Hull did give a good account of themselves. A win against Norwich was great for them but might have expected to hold onto the lead last week at home to Cardiff.
Prediction: 2-1
West Brom v Sunderland
This is a meeting between the bottom two sides in what promises to be another frustrating one for fans of both sides. A last minute equalizer from McAuley last week against Fulham meant that not only did the Baggies secure their second point of the season but more tellingly their first goal. It could have all been different though with Fulham having at least one legitimate goal disallowed. It could just be that bit of luck, followed by the end result to really kick their season into gear.
If you look at my predictions at the beginning of the season, and probably every review too, I have questioned DiCanio and the amount of signings brought in to the Stadium of Light. Where West Brom were fortunate with the disallowed goals last week, Sunderland were unlucky. The Altidore strike, had it stood, would have made the game 2-2 and who knows what could have gone on from there.
Neither side have won all season so far and certainly everything points to West Brom being the more likely to break that on Saturday. It is a home game, along with the fact that the recent meeting between the two have favored West Brom. Add to that the fact Sunderland ship goals, two a game through the whole season and three in each of the last two and there is only one winner. But this is football and it doesn’t always work that way.
Prediction: 0-2
West Ham v Everton
West Ham struggles up front continue with Maiga not really getting too much to work with last time out against Southampton. After the initial 2-0 win against Cardiff the Hammers have not scored since, but with six shots on target all season what do you expect?
Everton though are looking pretty good after a stutter start against Norwich on the opening day. Last time out Everton defeated Chelsea which was no little result. That came on the back of the opening three draws to leave Martinez’s side undefeated. I expect that to continue in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
Chelsea v Fulham
The Special One will be looking to get his side back on track with a win against Fulham in what has been their worst start to a season. I don’t just mean the defeat against Everton and then the relinquished lead in the Champions League Wednesday.
Had Benitez still been in charge what would the Chelsea fans have said? Right now the majority it seems are still on board but for how long? Can Mourinho turn it around and when exactly will he use Juan Mata?
Despite this I still think it will be a tough ask for Fulham who have their own problems in the win department. They were unlucky last weekend but the fact is that result is was only their second game in which they got points. Darren Bent should be back for Martin Jol and if Berbatov is fit then they will stand a chance but a draw this time out would not be a bad result.
Prediction: 3-1
Sunday (all times 1:30 BST/8:30 ET unless stated)
Arsenal v Stoke
After that initial defeat at home to Villa in the opening game Arsenal now find themselves in second position after a run of three straight wins. A win in the Champions League midweek kept that winning tradition going and who would bet against it continuing Sunday.
Despite Stoke City’s performance against Manchester City last weekend I think Arsenal will bring a different, higher intensity game to Mark Hughes side. Maybe City had one eye on the Champions League but whatever the reason the fact was they didn’t press Stoke and the 2012 Champions even looked like they could lose the match.
Prediction: 4-0
Crystal Palace v Swansea
Ian Holloway decided not to appeal the suspension of Dikgacoi after he was sent off against United last week which is probably because of the increase to the ban if the appeal failed. With this I think it is the best solution as everyone feels it was harsh but now a line has been drawn underneath the incident and the Palace side can now move on.
Swansea will not be a push over but hopefully the midweek exploits will have tired the Welsh side out a little bit and hopefully the infamous European hangover could help out Crystal Palace and see them return to winning ways.
Prediction: 2-0
Cardiff v Spurs (4pm BST/11am ET)
Like Palace, Cardiff would be hoping for a certain midweek hangover for the London side. That said, they didn’t travel for the game, but still had to put in a performance. If Malky Mackays side can recreate the performance they had against City a few weeks back then AVB could be in for a long game.
Tottenham are currently third going into the weekend and will be looking to get back to back wins. For sure they look batter at the back but up until the Norwich game last week they hadn’t scored in the league with anything but penalties. It will be interesting to see if Spurs can make it three from three on Sunday.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester City v Manchester United (4pm BST/11am ET)
This fixture has always been a big event for the fans of both clubs but since the City rise to top four dominance the fixture has gained more National and International attention. It will be the first meeting between the two without Ferguson in charge of United since the 26th October 1986, which was at Maine Road and finished 1-1. Ferguson was appointed United manager two weeks later and as United went on to do and win everything they have City went through several managers and several leagues. Now they are back on a par and the 6-1 win at Old Trafford eclipsed the 5-1 Maine Road massacre of September 23rd 1989. That’s right, almost exactly 24 years after that City host United again, can they get a similar result this time around?
That was Fergusons first game against City as United manager at City’s ground and this is David Moyes first game at City as United manager. As Everton boss he enjoyed success at the Etihad with four wins from the last six.
For Pellegrini the bad results and performances against Cardiff, Hull and Stoke will be forgiven if City send United away empty handed. Kompany is back for City which is fantastic news and you feel United are the kind of team this City will enjoy playing as they will attack, not be willing to sit back and as a result leave spaces at the back for Navas in particular to exploit.
Prediction: 3-1
