Saturday’s Matches – English Premier League

Over the coming weeks we are going to be treated to a festive feast of football with the English Premier League going into overdrive over the holiday season. Just a few days after the conclusion of week 16 we get struck straight into the next match week, but we’ll get into that in another preview. 

Stay tuned at the bottom of the preview for our tips and best bets of the week. 

Some quality matches are in store for us this weekend, most notably though is Manchester City v Arsenal at the City of Manchester Stadium. This match is like David v Goliath in terms of the way each football club is run. Manchester City with their moneybags and Arsenal with their reliance on youth, this will be an intriguing match to say the least. Last season Arsenal were unbeaten against City with a 3-0 in Manchester, and Man City played out a 0-0 draw at the Emirates.

To add to the hype surrounding this match, it’s made even more tasty by the fact that two of Arsenal’s best players jumped ship in the summer, their destination, you guessed it, Manchester. For any player to say that their sole reason for going to Manchester City is the chance to win trophies is a crock of you know what. It all came down to money and everybody knows it.

Money though, hasn’t been able to buy Manchester City progression to the knock out stages of the Champions league, something Arsene Wenger has managed for Arsenal for 15 consecutive years, on what many would call a shoestring budget. A win for Arsenal here would almost vindicate all of the decisions Arsene has made in recent seasons. Not many have given them a chance here but that’s the beauty of the English Premier League, upsets are common.

The disappointing thing after last weeks loss against Chelsea is that we won’t get to see Machester City’s Gael Clichy turn out against the club he called home for over 7 years. Samir Nasri is no guarantee to start the match either, condemned to the bench for many of City’s games so far this season, most notably the important games too, he’s moved from being an integral part of Arsenal’s first team, to being a bench warmer, not about the money my ass!

Anyway, back to the preview, the Manchester City v Arsenal match isn’t on our screens until Monday morning, in fact only one of the top 6, Chelsea, are in action on Saturday this week, all of the others play on Sunday, until then we have the following matches to keep us busy. 

First up on Sunday morning our time is Blackburn v West Brom at Ewood Park. Blackburn went down 2-1 to Sunderland last weekend and are currently sitting second last on the ladder, West Brom went down 2–1 to Wigan and dropped to 15th on the table. It’s safe to say that both these teams are not in good form at the moment and relegation looms should it continue.

Blackburn’s manager Steve Kean must be on his last legs at the club, he apparently has the backing of the board but the fans are less impressed with a number of protests already taking place to try and oust Kean. This can’t be good for the club and the lack of unity only seems to be making things worse. I can’t see much more than a draw in this game, both teams in poor form should cancel each other out.

Next up we have Everton hosting Norwich City at Goodison Park. Everton are coming off a 1-0 loss against Arsenal thanks to a piece of van Persie magic, but didn’t really look like threatening at the other end, they actually looked better going forward when Saha went off and was replaced by Distin. Norwich got up over Newcastle in a goal fest, winning the match 4-2 to condemn Newcastle to their 3rd straight defeat.

Norwich overtook Everton as a result of last weeks matches and Everton will no doubt like to climb back into the top half of the table after dropping to 12th this week. A win for Everton will see them go ahead of Norwich on goal difference and that’s the way I see this one heading.

Bolton travel to London next to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage. Bolton currently sit dead last on the table and really look void of any confidence at the moment. Fulham have dropped down to 15th after their 2-0 loss to Swansea on the weekend and the news didn’t get any better for them midweek with the news that Mark Schwarzer will miss the next 6 weeks with an injury.

Bolton, they went down 2-1 to Aston Villa at home, they still have just the one win at home and that really says it all about their season so far. Despite Schwarzer’s injury I still think Fulham will get the win here.

Newcastle United and Swansea City lock horns next and this may just be the best chance for Newcastle to get some much needed points and stay in touch with the top 6. Newcastle have lost their last 3 matches and have just 1 point from the last 12 available which saw them drop from outright 3rd on the table to now being outside the European places. They’ll also be without Dan Gosling after he got himself sent off against Norwich on the weekend.

Swansea got a 2-0 victory over Fulham at the Liberty Stadium and they’ll fancy their chances in this one, although their away form has been dodgy to say the least with just 2 points from 7 matches on the road. I think Newcastle will get their season back on track with a win at home.

The Molineux Stadium is the scene for our next English Premier League encounter with Wolves hosting Stoke City. Wolves are coming off a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Manchester United last weekend, but in all fairness anyone was going to struggle against a Unted side hell bent on taking out their UCL exit frustrations on someone. Stoke City handed Tottenham their first loss since the end of August and Tony Pulis’ men currently sit in 8th place on the table.

Wolves have been fairly good at home with 10 of their 14 points coming at the Molineux, while Stoke have been less than convincing away from home picking up just 7 of their 21 points on the road. I fancy this one to end in a draw to be honest, I’ll go with 2-2.

The only top 6 side to take part in English Premier League action on Sunday morning, Chelsea, take on Wigan at the DW Stadium. Chelsea’s confidence would have skyrocketed during the week following their fantastic 2-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday morning. Andre Villas-Boas has turned his Chelsea side around in recent weeks, qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League and culminating in that win over high flying Manchester City, their first loss of the season.

Wigan came away from the Hawthorns last week with a win, beating West Brom 2-1. It wasn’t enough to get them clear of the relegation zone but they are definitely improving. The problem is that Chelsea tend to give them a walloping each season and I think this may just be the case again this weekend, Chelsea by a few goals seems a good bet here.

Sunday night our time sees QPR host Manchester United from Loftus Road. QPR are coming off a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend, the first win Liverpool have had this season against the 3 promoted sides. Manchester United put 4 past Wolves with both Rooney and Nani scoring braces, Wolves goal merely a consolation in an emphatic win for United.

Manchester United have moved to within 2 points of neighbours Manchester City at the top of the table and a win here will actually see United go top for the first time this season as Man City don’t play until the following day. I can’t see any other outcome here to be honest, but there won’t be many goals, I think we’ll see one of Man United’s customary 1-0 wins on this occasion.

Liverpool travel to Villa Park on Monday morning our time, they take on an Aston Villa side who are coming off a 2-1 win away to Bolton last weekend. Liverpool themselves are coming off a win, a 1-0 victory at home to QPR. Liverpool currently sit in 6th place on the ladder and a win could propel them to 5th if they win by 3 goals or more with Arsenal not playing until later that day.

Liverpool will still have the services of Luis Suarez as the FA have granted the Uruguayan a stay of execution, he now has more time to prepare a defence for the two charges that have been laid against him. That’s great news for Liverpool heading into the busy festive period, they can use all the firepower they can get and Suarez is a match winner. I just hope that he will eventually learn to stay on his feet as he is a better player than all the diving lately would suggest, it’s not something we need in the game!

I think Liverpool will win at Villa Park, their away record isn’t too bad with 4 wins from 7 games, there shouldnt be too many goals in this one either and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another 1-0 on our hands here.

Just prior the the match of the week, Tottenham will be looking to get their season going again with a clash against Sunderland at White Hart Lane. Tottenham suffered their first defeat since the end of August when they were taken down 2-1 by Stoke last week. Sunderland were on the other end of that same scoreline defeating Blackburn at the Stadium of Light.

Tottenham’s loss let Chelsea overtake them on goal difference although they do have a game in hand still to come against Everton, they do say it’s better to have the points on the board though as there’s no guarantee they’ll come out of that game with anything. I think Tottenham should hit back this week and could put a few goals past this Sunderland outfit that is still getting used to the way that Martin O’Neill wants them to play.

Last but definitely not least, the big one, Manchester City v Arsenal. I’ve already previewed the match so I guess all that’s left is to give my tip. Well I wouldn’t be loyal to my team if I tipped against them, and I actually think they are a big chance in this one given the recent disappointments Man City have had to endure. For that reason, and a player named Robin van Persie, I think the Gunners will get the points and continue this season’s resurgence.

English Premier League – sportsbanter.com.au Tips:

Blackburn v West Brom – #brfcvwba – Draw
Everton v Norwich – #efcvncfc – Everton
Fulham v Bolton – #ffcvbwfc – Fulham
Newcastle v Swansea – #nufcvscfc – Newcastle
Wolves v Stoke – #wolvesvstoke – Draw
Wigan v Chelsea – #wiganvcfc – Chelsea
QPR v Man Utd – #qprvmufc – Man Utd
Aston Villa v Liverpool – #avfcvlfc – Liverpool
Tottenham v Sunderland – #thfcvsfc – Tottenham
Man City v Arsenal – #mcfcvafc – Arsenal

English Premier League – Banter’s Best Bets: