Another week and another game down in the League and European competition for the English sides. Make no mistake if you are a supporter of a club in European competition and the Capital One Cup then the games will start to come thick and fast for your team. My Manchester City, for example, have 15 games in the next nine weeks and that would increase by one if they beat Newcastle next Wednesday.
Another Manager has departed the Premier League with Ian Holloway quitting his post as Crystal Palace head coach. When you hear this normally bubbly guy talk about tiredness then you know what kind of a stressful job the guys at the head of clubs have. The Ex Stoke manager Tony Pulis is the man the Palace chairman has selected as his number one target but the question is would Pulis want the job? At Palace is where we start at our look for the Premier League preview for the upcoming week.
SATURDAY: (All kick off times 3pm BST/10am ET unless stated)
Crystal Palace v Arsenal (Kick off 12:45pm BST/7:45am ET):
It was always going to be a tough long season for Crystal Palace and their summer signings were experienced but not exactly on the youthful side. I had mentioned in the pre Premiership table prediction that the combined age of four of their strikers came to 130 years. That just is never going to give you what you need for survival in the Premiership now, especially this season where everyone is beating everyone else, more so than any season before I think.
With Holloway gone it means that Assistant Keith Millen gets to select the team for the visit of the League leaders. Even with Podolski, Sanogo, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Diaby sidelined I think Wenger’s men will still have too much for the Londoners.
The way Arsenal played against Norwich last week was just phenomenal and if they reproduce anything like that kind of performance then I really fear for Palaces goal keeper.
Prediction: 1-4
Aston Villa v Everton:
Roberto Martinez takes his Everton side to Aston Villa and if he manages to get the win it will lift his side up into the top four. Once again I thought the Everton move for Martinez was not as much of a risk as the United move for Moyes. Martinez have loosened the reigns on his Everton side, given Ross Barkley a chance to express himself and possibly got Baines playing some of the best football of his career.
Villa beat Arsenal in the first game and then beat Manchester City a few weeks later but have lost half their games so far this season, leaving them thirteenth on just ten points. A win could lift them to eighth in the League, depending on other results, but with Benteke and Agbonlahor up front they should be giving sides more trouble than they have.
It will be a battle of the Belgians com Saturday with Lukaku trying to outshine his National teammate Benteke.
Prediction: 1-1
Liverpool v West Brom:
Steven Gerrard was the subject of some controversy this week when Sir Alex Ferguson’s new book was released. In that he said that Gerrard was not top class. I think you have to wonder what you would have to do other than get 100 caps for your country, scoring 27 goals from midfield. He has scored more World Cup goals than Wayne Rooney and won the FA Cup twice, League Cup three times, Champions League and UEFA Cup winners as well as winning the Super Cup twice. The real truth is that Manchester United would kill for a player like Gerrard in their midfield right now, but I doubt these comments will do nothing but motivate the England captain.
The real problem for Rodgers going into this fixture will be the way the side played against ten man Newcastle for the majority of the game last week. A defeat at home late September combined with the draw last week has taken a little bit of the shine off the start to the season. Sturridge and Suarez have struck up a great understanding in front of goal but were both guilty of relaxing in the recent game. At the back Mignolet can be fantastic or frightening depending on the day, this is the weakness on Merseyside.
In West Brom the face a side who started slowly but now find themselves undefeated in the last five, including a win against the top class eleven of Manchester United. Anelka returns to his old side Liverpool and will be looking to get off the mark, and who would bet against it?
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester United v Stoke:
No matter what happens on Saturday United will still be 8th, and that makes me happy. The midweek Champions League game was unimpressive from the point of view that after they were gifted a goal in the opening minutes they failed to increase that and put the game to bed. In fact toward the end they were really holding on with Sociadad hitting the post.
It is so bad at Old Trafford right now that even though Stoke have not been doing to well, a win Saturday would see them level on points with United. Two wins for United in their last six Premier League games is just not good enough for United fans, and both those two wins were against the bottom two clubs.
The pressure is fully on Moyes right now with every game seemingly the one that could be the tipping point for the majority of the fans. The question is will Mark Hughes, the United legend, be able to go to United and do more damage to his old side? With Begovic in goal I think they will have a great chance to make Moyes life that little bit more difficult, but what a way to get your 100th Premier League win.
Prediction: 1-1
Norwich City v Cardiff
Malky Makay has issues going on in the back room which has done nothing to help the guys out on the pitch. After great wins against Manchester City , Fulham and a draw against Everton it was a surprise to see the Chairman press the self destruct button as he has.
Malky will get a great reception by the City faithful, after being with the Norfolk club for a good six years, and coming second to Grant Holt in the Norwich City player of the year in 2002. If however he leaves with three points then he may not be welcomed back. The same could be said for Bellamy, who also played for the Canaries from 1996-2000.
Norwich City had made a significant investment in the close season and have yet to realize their potential. Ricky Van Wolfswinkel has not been as prolific in front of goal as had been expected and Hooper cannot get a start.
The two City’s are in danger with Norwich just in the relegation zone and Cardiff one spot higher and just out of the zone. A draw will be of help for neither team but be assured the pressure is more on the home side and Chris Hughton right now.
Prediction: 2-0
Southampton v Fulham (Kick off 5:30pm BST/12:30pm ET)
The home side are currently sixth in the Premier League and undefeated in the last five. Pochettino has certainly made great signings this season and got his team playing very well but you get the impression that this form will not last.
I personally think Fulham can put a spanner in the works with two wins from the last two. Going behind to Palace Monday night was not the best start but fantastic goals from Kasami and Sidwell shows exactly what kind of quality the Jol has assembled in the team. You certainly wouldn’t bet against them making it three from three.
Prediction: 2-2
SUNDAY (All Kick off times 4:00pm BST/11am ET unless stated)
Sunderland v Newcastle (1:30pm BST/ 8:30am ET)
I like Gus Poyet, I liked Paulo DiCanio, but there is a massive job to be done at Sunderland right now. Halloween is coming up and the Black cats will have to show more grit and determination than they have so far. A single point in eight games is worse than poor and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
The bonus for Poyet is that a win in this game will be a twofer for the Sunderland fans. A win over their rivals would certainly ease the pressure at the bottom. The other side of the coin is that a defeat, a heavy defeat would probably be the last straw for the fans and I expect the board and Ellis Short in particular to be called into question.
Sunderland do have the experience to be in a better position than they are right now and will look to ex Manchester United duo Wes Brown and John O’Shea to be stronger at the back. Also Altidore has been disappointing so far up front but really everyone has for Sunderland, including Steven Fletcher who only has the single goal.
Prediction: 2-0
Chelsea v Manchester City:
This will be Manchester City’s third consecutive away fixture and so far they are two for two. The parking of the bus was the most difficult thing for them at West Ham and the pitch was the biggest obstacle in Russia. Pellegrini will probably welcome a side like Chelsea and if Kompany is back and we do not see Garcia at center back then who would bet against it becoming three from three.
Chelsea will be debating whether to start Torres on Sunday with his impressive performance midweek in Europe contrasting to his poor league form. Both sides have just had the one defeat in their last six games but Chelsea are a point better off than their visitors at kick off.
Prediction: 1-3
Swansea v West Ham:
Last weeks win against Sunderland was very much needed by Michael Laudrups Swansea side and lifted them up to 11th position. Another win Sunday will move them up further and close out the month in a healthy position.
West Ham on the other hand are struggling and struggling badly. The 3-0 win away against Tottenham was a fluke and probably said more about the oppositions failure to finish rather than West Hams dominance. A freaky 13 minute spell saw West Ham get all three of their goals and secure the unlikely win. At home last week though they could do nothing against Manchester City and I think Swansea will be a similar result.
Prediction: 2-0
Tottenham v Hull
Tom Huddlestone returns to White Hart Lane with his Hull City side level on points with Manchester United and Newcastle and only five behind Spurs. Livermore will not make the team though with his loan deal not allowing him to play for his parent club.
AVB will have his side switched around again with the side having Europa League commitments in Moldova on Thursday. They won 2-0 against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday and that followed a 2-0 win away to Villa in the League.
Steve Bruce can get his side set up to be tight against Tottenham but I doubt Villas Boas will allow his side to be as relaxed as they were earlier in the month against West Ham.
Prediction: 3-1
