Fulham v Arsenal:
To Saturdays games and the early kickoff 12:45 local time (7:45 am ET) sees Arsenal travel across the road to Fulham where they will face Martin Jol’s side. Last week Fulham beat Sunderland 1-0 but lost their new signing goalkeeper, Stekelenburg and so Stockdale should start between the sticks.
Arsenal after losing their opening game will be encouraged by their midweek win in Turkey although the distance traveled along with a growing injury list and suspensions will not please the Arsenal faithful. Still no signings for Arsenal but Fulham will maybe give a debut to their new capture, Scott Parker. I think it will be a tight and tense affair but I think Arsenal will have their first three points of the season come the final whistle.
0-2
Everton v West Brom:
A 3pm kick off (10am ET) sees a new look Everton face an Anelka-less West Brom. There were reports late in the week that Anelka or ‘Le Sulk’ as he was called in his earlier career, had walked out on West Brom mid training. Today we still don’t know what the situation is regarding his long term future is following the recent death of his agent, Eric Manasse.
Although the loss shouldn’t make too much of a difference as his head really wasn’t in the game last week when the Baggies lost to a last minute Ricky Lambert penalty kick.
Everton on the other hand were behind and then in front against a good looking Norwich side. To finish with a draw, although the right result, would not sit well with Martinez and so I expect this Everton side to race from the blocks.
2-0
Hull v Norwich:
Losing 2-0 last week away to Chelsea was never a game Hull would have been looking at and thinking, ‘3pts’. However, home games will be vital for their survival and picking up points here will be a must. Livermore and Huddlestone looked good when they came on last week and although Norwich looked good going forward the conceded too easily and too quickly last week.
Ricky Van did well, scoring on his debut and for sure Norwich have increased the pressure on them with the signings made in the summer. If they are to make the next step though they may just have to go to teams like Hull and grind out a result.
0-0
Newcastle v West Ham:
Alan Pardew, Newcastle manager and ex West Ham manager welcomes Sam Allardyce the current Hammers manager and ex Newcastle manager back to St James Park. Newcastle will be looking to get their first Premiership points of the season after the 4-0 defeat to Manchester City Monday night.
Pardew is in a real no win situation at Newcastle right now and is probably in line to be the first Manager to leave in the Premiership. A win for Newcastle and all their problems are forgotten for another week but a defeat. Well then the pressure really starts to pile on.
2-2
Southampton v Sunderland:
The Saints just got out of the Hawthorns with all three points thanks to a Lambert spot kick and will look to be more decisive against Sunderland. As for their opponents for this game, Sunderland were unlucky at home with the result. However if you have all the possession they had and don’t score then the sympathy runs out very quickly. In my pre season review of the teams I felt that there were too many additions at one time and that could be a distraction as they tried to gel. Well this week he added another in a Greek teenager, Mavrais.
1-2
Stoke v Crystal Palace:
Mark Hughes v Ian Holloway on the touchline, which might be the most interesting battle of the game. Holloway never shies away from telling it as he sees it and although maybe he doesn’t always see it exactly right he certainly brings Press Conferences alive.
Last weekend Stoke kept Liverpool to the single goal with fine saves from Begovic while in London Palace fell only to a Soldado penalty. The difference is that Stoke could have been beaten by more goals if not for their keeper but if Palace had been better in the final third, who knows. It certainly will be a good test for both Managers with Stoke looking at this as a certain 3pts. In the Premiership though nothing is certain as we saw from Villa last week.
1-1
Aston Villa v Liverpool:
The late game on Saturday with a kick off time of 5:30pm (12:30 ET). When David Moyes moaned about United having a tough opening fixture schedule I think Paul Lambert must have thrown his glasses at the TV. Away to Arsenal followed by an away trip to Chelsea midweek and now a home visit of Liverpool, the fact they have three points from the opening games has to be above expectations and they will be happy, despite having major decisions go against them midweek.
Benteke up front is a quality striker Lambert has done well to hold on to. Agbonlahor looked good going forward and the young side of last season seems to have matured a lot after the trials of last season.
For Liverpool, Suarez is still absent and Sturridge should keep his place up front. However the question on my mind is how will the Liverpool backline cope against the strength of Benteke and pace of Agbonlahor! I think this will be more of a test for Liverpool than last week.
2-1
Sunday
Cardiff v Man City:
The Welsh side will be looking for their first points on Sunday when they host Manchester City. Last week they lost 2-0 in London at the hands of West Ham and I think they will still be looking after Sunday.
Manchester City were rampant in Monday nights win, pretty much wrapping up the contest before the half time whistle.
Manchester City, having already lost Nastasic to injury in the pre season now have lost Captain Vincent Kompany to injury. The City captain looks to be out for a month as the backline starts to become a problem for City. Lescott should start and if Micah Richards is fit then he may also be put in to partner Joleon. If not then Garcia or Rodwell could do a job there or alternatively Pellegrini may go for three at the back with two defensive midfielders. City fans I think would prefer those options in that order and not sacrifice their attacking style.
0-3
Spurs v Swansea:
Both clubs return from midweek Europe League wins, scoring a combined 10 goals in the process. Last week in the Premiership though it was a different story. Spurs only just beat Crystal Palace by that Soldado penalty while Swansea were hammered 4-1 at home by Manchester United.
Despite Spurs being the better team on paper I think both will have a hangover from their European exploits and as a result I believe this will be a cagey affair.
0-0
Monday
Man Utd v Chelsea:
Chelsea travel to Old Trafford and will be the first team not to see Ferguson in the home dugout in Premiership football. A convincing 4-1 win at Swansea last week would have given the side confidence under the new regime. Chelsea however have a congested fixture schedule, having already played double the amount of EPL games this season that United and they have an eye on the European Super Cup on Friday. They were lucky to win against Villa midweek and didn’t win by as many goals against Hull as would have been expected.
That said, Mourinho will certainly look to this as a real test for his sides Title credentials and will no doubt leave everything on the pitch at full time.
Like Arsenal, Moyes hasn’t signed any players of note as yet, the difference is that he has tried, but been denied by his targets. A win against Chelsea could show potential signings there is life after Fergie but a loss will shut the window I think on any high profile targets.
0-3
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