PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: PURVIS PREDICTS…
It’s that time of the week again. Carl Purvis looks ahead to the weekend’s action in the Barclays Premier League.
Chelsea v Sunderland (Sat 15:00)
There might never be an easier time to take points from Chelsea. Their previous two results – defeats against Bournemouth and Leicester – were the final nails in the coffin for The Special One, who leaves behind him a dressing room of abundant quality that is utterly despondent.
This game could go either way. Sunderland should be fighting for their lives, and that could make them a frightening proposition for a squad of players with little or no experience of being in the situation they are in.
Prediction: 0-1
Everton v Leicester (Sat 15:00)
It’s got to the point now where Leicester simply have to be taken seriously. To be top of the league after facing 16 of the sides in it shows that they are where they deserve to be. Jamie Vardy got over the shock of not scoring against Swansea by ghosting in behind a Chelsea back four last week, and Riyad Mahrez is adding an extra zero to his price tag with each appearance.
This will be a great game to watch. Both sides attack with lightning speed, and Everton create chances at will. I wouldn’t be ruling them out of pushing for the top four if they can string a few results together in this ridiculously open league.
Prediction: 2-2
Man Utd v Norwich (Sat 15:00)
This won’t be the slightest bit pretty, but United should get over the shock of losing on the south coast last week with a win over Norwich. The Canaries are in free-fall at the moment, and with both Bournemouth and Newcastle picking up surprise back-to-back wins, find themselves in the bottom three.
United’s string of underwhelming performances, coupled with an injury list lengthening by the week, may give Norwich a glint of hope on Saturday, but United will have just about enough.
Prediction: 1-0
Southampton v Tottenham (Sat 15:00)
Mauricio Pochettino returns to St. Mary’s this weekend having seen his side suffer their first league defeat since the opening day last time out. His Spurs side have looked a bit jaded in recent weeks, and are without a win in three. Southampton look like they’ve hit a brick wall, losing three of their last four.
This is a big game for both sides. Spurs and Southampton will be disappointed in their recent results, and will see this as a chance to break their respective bad runs.
Prediction: 0-2
Stoke v Crystal Palace (Sat 15:00)
Stoke kept another clean sheet last week, extending their remarkable run this season of not conceding whilst skipper Ryan Shawcross has been on the pitch. They look a very good outfit at the moment, and have a very exciting front three who tore Man City to shreds a couple of weeks back.
Palace’s excellent season continued last week with a win over Southampton, and find themselves 6th in the table. This will be another good game to watch this weekend, and a very difficult one to call.
Prediction: 1-1
West Brom v Bournemouth (Sat 15:00)
Both West Brom and Bournemouth will come into this match full of confidence. The Baggies are unbeaten in four, and have picked up decent results against Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal in that run. Bournemouth will be on top of the world having chalked up back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Man Utd.
The Cherries have pulled away from the relegation zone for now, but will need to keep picking up points to keep their heads above water. West Brom will fancy all three.
Prediction: 2-0
Newcastle v Aston Villa (Sat 17:30)
The land’s most ridiculous football team continues to dumbfound. After comfortably beating Liverpool a fortnight ago, The Magpies ended Spurs’ impressive unbeaten run at White Hart Lane last week, and, like Bournemouth, pulled clear of the relegation zone as a result.
They will fancy their chances of making it three on the bounce when Villa visit St. James’ on Saturday evening, but Newcastle always have a shocking performance in them. Villa look doomed, with no quality and no ideas, but could spring a shock here against their baffling opponents.
Prediction: 0-2
Watford v Liverpool (Sun 13:30)
Watford made it three wins on the bounce at Sunderland last weekend, and sit a hugely impressive seventh in the table. I cannot give Quique Flores high enough praise for the way he has equipped his team this season, and in Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney, he has a front two who seem to know each other like the back of their hands.
Liverpool are simply not imposing themselves on the teams they’d expect to control. Jurgen Klopp has yet to find a way to do this as Liverpool manager, and his side will be in for a tough afternoon on Sunday.
Prediction: 1-1
Swansea v West Ham (Sun 16:00)
Neither of these sides can buy a win at the moment. In fact, the last time either side picked up all three points was October 24. Similar to the Southampton v Tottenham game above, both sides will see this as an opportunity to break a barren run and kick-start their season.
Swansea have lost 3 on the bounce, and will have Caretaker Manager Alan Curtis in charge tomorrow. He needs to set up his side to attack a West Ham side who have shown little in the way of a goal threat in recent weeks, and hope the crowd in the Liberty Stadium get fully behind their side.
Prediction: 1-1
Arsenal v Man City (Mon 20:00)
Arsenal will not have a better chance to end their Premier League title drought than they do this season. They seem to have added a ruthlessness to their game that has been lacking in recent years, and the addition of Petr Cech has injected an influence over the back line that has resulted in them looking much more organized.
Man City have been less than convincing in recent weeks, and despite having a hugely expensive centre-back pairing, they look very vulnerable at the back and have missed Vincent Kompany massively. An in-form Olivier Giroud could cause Mangala, Otamendi and Co. a lot of problems.
Prediction: 3-1
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