At the bottom of the league pressure is now fully on Dick Advocaat at Sunderland and only recently appointed Steve McLaren at Newcastle. My pick for the first guy to go, Tim Sherwood, is also not in a comfortable position right now. How will the weekend shape up?
SATURDAY:
Tottenham v Manchester City:
City fell to a shock defeat last weekend to West Ham, which came on the heels of European disappointment. Midweek saw Pellegrini with decisions to make and, had City won at the weekend, it may have been a very different team at the Stadium of Light. As it is Sergio Aguero now found his scoring touch, City got that victory and DeBruyne and Sterling looked like they had been playing together for years.
Tottenham have had one day less to prepare for this game and their season hasn’t been that great so far. Two wins and four tied games sees them in ninth position and eight points behind the visitors.
Prediction: 1-3.
Leicester v Arsenal:
Claudio Ranieri and his Leicester City side have been one of the surprise packages so far this season. With six games gone the Foxes find themselves in the top four.
Arsenal, who beat Spurs in the League cup midweek, have Gabriel back after his red card was overturned.
If Arsenal fans are to be kept happy this season then Wenger needs to drop no more points as the already trail top place City by five points already. Certainly the lack of activity in this past transfer window means now they have to challenge for that top spot.
Prediction: 1-1.
Liverpool v Aston Villa:
Both managers are under pressure for different reasons. For the visitors it is a case of needing to show a little passion and getting themselves out of the relegation zone. Personally I thought Tim Sherwood would be a good appointment for the situation they found themselves in last season. As with Tottenham, Sherwood gives a quick injection of confidence, but long term I am not sure how effective he can be.
Brendan Rodgers is slightly different. Three years in charge, without a trophy and the finishing positions, with the exception of the title run, have not been great. Failure to get all three points against a Villa side devoid of confidence may see Dodgy Rodgers replaced by Klopp at the Kop.
Prediction: 2-0.
Manchester United v Sunderland:
Everything seems to be coming together for United at the moment and, I must admit, the youngster Martial has impressed. I wasn’t entirely convinced the guy would be able to do it in the Premiership but he has hit the ground running.
For the Sunderland fans they will remember a couple of seasons ago and that Carling Cup Semi Final, when they beat United. Can they recreate that kind of high intensity and pressure United as they did that day? They need t because anything else will surely be a comfortable United win.
Prediction: 3-0.
Southampton v Swansea:
Another side I expected to push on from last season, and yet, Southampton find themselves in the bottom five rather than the more expected top five. Can they kick start their season against Swansea on Saturday. A much needed win could see the Saints propelled to a more respectable position.
Prediction: 2-1.
Stoke v Bournemouth:
A tough one to call. Stoke, the home side, would be expected to win this tie but the Potters are without a win so far this season and in the bottom three. Meanwhile, a projected to be struggling Bournemouth, have two wins and a very good seven points.
It certainly is a case of now or never for Mark Hughes to get his side moving in the right direction, or face the beginnings of a relegation zone.
Prediction: 1-0.
West Ham v Norwich:
What a start to the season West Ham have had. A win against some of the biggest sides in the Premier League, including last weekends win away to Manchester City, sees the Hammers in third place and touching distance of the top spot.
Norwich haven’t been too shabby this season either but I cannot see them winning this one. A draw would be a great result for the Canaries and they are more than capable of coming away with that kind of result.
Prediction: 0-0.
Newcastle v Chelsea:
Steve McLaren must be wondering why he said yes to this job. Two points from the opening six games with only three goals scored. The money spent in the transfer window would have had the Newcastle fans a little more excited heading into the season. Six games in and it’s the same old story for the Magpies.
Chelsea are without Diego Costa for this game, after retroactively being suspended. That said, despite this and the poor start also by Chelsea, I think the London side will have too much for McLarens side and will come away with the victory.
Prediction: 1-2.
SUNDAY:
Watford v Crystal Palace:
Crystal Palace have fell off the boil a little, after a fantastic start, are ahead of their hosts in the league on goal difference only. I think that after this game there will still be nothing to be chosen between them, and that will be enough to lift them in the table, with Chelsea’s goal difference being negative and Everton playing on the Monday.
Prediction: 1-1.
MONDAY:
West Brom v Everton:
Scott Carson is out but I don’t think he would have made a difference had he been fit. West Brom have been stingy with conceding goals again this season as you would expect. Two wins, two tied games and two defeats see them in twelfth position heading into the weekend, possibly down to fifteenth before kick off.
Everton start the weekend in sixth spot and will no doubt be boosted by any dropped points or shock results from teams around them.
Prediction: 0-1.
So after Saturdays games you will see the two Manchester sides increase their lead at the top of the league while Chelsea and Southampton make up ground on the top four. At the bottom, Spurs continue a miserable season while Stoke finally move out of the bottom three at Aston Villa’s expense.
Sunday and Monday results see no real movement with Everton up to fifth with Palace and Watford cancelling each other out.
Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979
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