Premier League Preview

Friday, 09/12/2011

by Ger McCarthy

Arsenal v Everton
A resurgent Arsenal side that has won five of their last six league fixtures will be anxious to continue climbing the table when Everton visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. David Moyes’ club are coming off the back of a disappointing 1-0 loss to Stoke but have managed to win three times on the road this season. Arsenal’s midweek Champions League 3-1 defeat to Olympiacos occurred without the services of many first team regulars and an in-form Gunners should prove too strong for Everton on this occasion if last weekend’s 4-0 thumping of Wigan is anything to go by.

Bolton v Aston Villa
Owen Coyle’s Bolton host Aston Villa looking to end a run of three consecutive Premier League defeats. Bolton have only managed three victories during a horrible start to their campaign and desperately need a win to move out of the relegation zone. Alec McLeish’s side produced a disappointing display at home to Manchester United last weekend despite only losing by a single goal and will be without the services of injured keeper Shay Given for the trip. The home side will be buoyed by news that defender Gary Cahill has had the recent red card received at White Hart Lane rescinded.

Liverpool v QPR
Kenny Dalglish watched his side slip to seventh following the Anfield club’s third away defeat of the season at Craven Cottage last Monday night. Liverpool remain unbeaten at home however and will look to bounce back from their first loss in six games when QPR visit. Neil Warnock’s Rangers have only managed one victory in their last five attempts with a 1-1 draw at home to West Brom solidifying their 12th place. Top scorer Heidar Helguson netted his sixth of the campaign on that occasion and will need to be at his best once again against a Liverpool back four that have excelled on their home patch.

Manchester United v Wolves
Manchester United can temporarily close the gap on title-rivals City with a home win over Wolves at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side has been far from impressive of late including a recent shock exit from the League Cup at home to Championship side Crystal Palace. Javier Hernandez is out injured and Wayne Rooney remains the club’s top scorer with 12 in all competitions but badly needs to rediscover his early season form if United are to mount a sustained title challenge. Wolves are just four points above the drop zone but registered a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Sunderland last weekend thanks to a Steven Fletcher brace.

Norwich v Newcastle United
Newcastle’s blistering start to the season has faltered in recent weeks with the Magpies managing just a single point from their last three outings. Alan Pardew will have to plan without the services of centre-back Steven Taylor for the remainder of the campaign and Newcastle desperately need a result at Carrow Road to prevent falling further behind the top six. Norwich’s stuttering form has seen Paul Lambert’s side win only one of their last six outings including a 5-1 hammering at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday.

Swansea v Fulham
Swansea’s poor run of form continued with a 4-2 defeat at Ewood Park last weekend and Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for a much-improved display when Fulham visits the Liberty Stadium. Clint Dempsey netted the Cottagers’ winner in the 1-0 defeat of Liverpool last Monday night and Martin Jol will hope for more of the same as his side look to stretch their unbeaten Premier League run to four matches.

West Brom v Wigan
The result of this relegation six-pointer will prove crucial to both side’s aspirations of remaining in the Premier League. Shane Long returned to goal-scoring form in the 1-1 draw at QPR the previous weekend and much of Roy Hodgson side’s hopes of obtaining their fifth victory of the season will rest on the Republic of Ireland striker’s shoulders. Wigan were steamrolled by a rampant Arsenal on the same weekend and with only one win on the road this term West Brom appear the most likely to emerge with all three points.

Sunday

Sunderland v Blackburn
Martin O’Neill takes charge of his new club for the first time when Sunderland host Blackburn Rovers in a pivotal fixture at the bottom of the Premier League. The Black Cats threw away a one-goal lead and missed a penalty in the 2-1 loss at Wolves last weekend with O’Neill looking on from the stands. Yakubu was the toast of Ewood Park last Saturday when the Nigerian netted all four of his side’s goals in a much-needed win over Swansea. The two sides are both in the bottom four and currently seperated by a single point suggesting a tense fixture.

Stoke City v Tottenham
Harry Redknapp’s side will be hoping to maintain their excellent run of form with a seventh straight Premier League victory at the Britannia Stadium. Spurs 4-0 trouncing of Bolton included a starring role from Gareth Bale and Tottenham will need their Wales wizard at his best to get a result at Stoke who have only lost twice at home this term. Tony Pulis’ side ended a poor run of results with a narrow 1-0 victory at Goodison Park courtesy of a Robert Huth effort and will hope their boisterous supporters can help inflict a third defeat of the season on Tottenham.

Monday

Chelsea v Man City
No doubting the Premier League match of the weekend takes place on Monday night when Chelsea host leaders Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Andre Villas-Boas’ side looked back to their best following a midweek 3-0 defeat of Valencia in the Champions League. Didier Drogba rolled back the years with a commanding individual display, scoring two and setting up a third goal. Manchester City enter the weekend’s fixtures five points clear of United in second place and on the back of a seventh consecutive home win following the Citizens’ 5-1 win over Norwich.

Follow Ger on Twitter: @offcentrecircle

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