After a rare midweek slate of games, we have another rare occurrence as all of the big four have games on Saturday. Here is a preview of this weekends games in the English Premier League.
Everton v Fulham
It appears that Everton turned things around last week was a good week for Everton with a draw against Man United and a win at Bolton. Now they get a Fulham team at Goodison that does not travel well. Anything other than an Everton win here would be a major upset.
Chelsea v Sunderland
Chelsea lost their fabulous home record last week against Liverpool and they get to start a new one here. Sunderland is another team that doesn’t travel well, and Chelsea have too much class and skill to not win this one comfortably.
Manchester United v Hull
Tough week for Hull City with Chelsea at home on Wednesday and now a trip to Old Trafford. Hull have been a great story this season, but like on Wednesday, the difference in class between themselves and their opponents will be to much for them to overcome. I expect a home win here.
Middlesbrough v West Ham
West Ham are really going through a tough period at the moment as they adjust to Gianfranco Zola. Middlesbrough have played better this season than their record indicates, and if they can stop conceding goals in the last 10 minutes of games they could finish in the top half of the league. In a low scoring game, I expect Boro to win this one by the odd goal.
Portsmouth v Wigan
It is not very often that you find the top scorer in the Premier League (Amr Zaki) playing for a side in the bottom three of the league (Wigan). The problem at Wigan is not scoring goals, it is conceding them. Titus Bramble is once again showing that he has no right to be playing in the Premier League and his mistakes are costing Wigan valuable points. Portsmouth have to much firepower for Wigan and I expect that Crouch and Defoe will have a field day with Bramble.
Stoke v Arsenal
Arsenal do not have a strong enough defense to win the title, but that defense should be enough to beat Stoke. This one is a comfortable win for the Gunners.
West Brom v Blackburn
This is an interesting match between two teams that are struggling at the moment. Both teams need points and I expect them to each share them here in a low scoring draw.
Tottenham v Liverpool
What a week for Spurs fans. Ramos goes, Harry Redknapp comes in and Tottenham score 6 points in two games and pick up 4 points. The bad news is that they are still bottom of the table and the league leaders are coming to White Hart Lane. Liverpool have made a fantastic start even without playing their best football. This is a harder game than it looked two weeks ago for Liverpool and with a big Champions League game against Atletico Madrid coming up in midweek I can see Liverpool dropping two points here, as the Harry revival continues and Spurs grab a point.
Bolton v Manchester City
I am not a Gary Megson fan, I thought that Johan Elmander was waste of money and I expected that Bolton would struggle this year. So I am not surprised that they are back in the relegation battle. The problem with Manchester City is that they leak to many goals. Going forward they look great, but they concede possession and goals way too easily. But that should not matter here, as City have far too much class and skill that anything but an away win will be a major upset.
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Aston Villa are really playing well under Martin O’Neil and I expect them to grab all three points here. Joe Kinnear has done a much better job at Newcastle then people expected, but this is the kind of game that European contenders like Villa need to win, and I expect that they will.
