Premier League Preview With Emmanuel Nwachukwu
It’s so lovely to come your way again as we talk about the beautiful game of football. We have seen the England derby (Liverpool vs Manchester United), we have enjoyed the rivalry of the north London derby(Arsenal vs Tottenham). This week, we look forward to enjoying the Manchester derby, a contest that until 3 seasons ago was a match the red side of Manchester always enjoyed as they were assured 6 points in the end. Now it’s a contest, one the blue side enjoys as much as the reds. For the 1st time in about three decades, Manchester United wont have the knight of England, Sir Alex Ferguson barking tactical orders from the dugout, while Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes make their 1st appearance in this historic derby.
While that game is without a shred of doubt the highlight of this weekend, not a few of us would have our eyes on the west London derby between Fulham and stuttering Chelsea. A draw and 3 defeats in their last 4 matches has raised eyebrows at the bridge. How “Happy” is the “Only” “Special One”? He is a man whose spirit of sportsmanship has very little space for anything other than victory, hence we all can be assured that he would be demanding nothing more than an emphatic victory over their neighbours.
Despite the poor run of form, Chelsea remains my favourite for the title, but to win the EPL, every point counts! Those who say it’s too early to raise alarm forget that a point dropped in August, could just be the difference between the winner and the other 19 teams.
Arsenal seem to be on a cruise, Ozil has raised hope and belief amongst players at London Colney and fans alike, Flamini has brought in steel and a battling spirit, Ramsey is on a fairytale run. Are they back in business or is it just a moment of bliss like the one a woman feels at the point of orgasm? I don’t see them as genuine title contenders, but, don’t think many would be willing to bet against a more comfortable campaign to finish in top 4.
It’s time for the real flakes, join me as I look at all 10 matches and predict what in my humble opinion would be the outcome of all games while I hope I finally hit perfect scores.
SATURDAY
NORWICH vs ASTON VILLA
Venue: Carrow Road
Time: 12:45
After beating Arsenal at the Emirates on opening day, Villa has inexplicably bungled 3 of their last 3 matches. While it’s not gloomy yet, they simply are inviting undue pressure on themselves. Paul Lambert has done well since leaving Norwich for the midland club, but he would need to find the spirit and performance that saw them beat Arsenal comprehensively a month ago if he is to have same result at Carrow Road as he had last season.
Chris should be proud of the job he has done at Norwich. They score enough goals for a team yet to be established as a premier league campaigner, but they must also perfect the art of winning games of this sort, especially if it’s at home. Today, it would be hard to separate them, and I don’t feel confident enough awarding Villa the 3 points. So I’ll settle for a draw.
Match Facts: Norwich City have won just one of the last 11 meetings in all competitions with Aston Villa (W1 D5 L5).
Christian Benteke scored in two of his three meetings in all competitions with Norwich last season.
Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored three goals in four Barclays Premier League appearances against Norwich, including a brace in his last appearance against them in May.
Benteke has scored 18 Premier League goals in this calendar year, more than any other player.
Aston Villa have gone 26 Barclays Premier League games without a clean sheet; a longer run than any other side currently in the division.
Villa have collected the most yellow cards (13) in the Premier League this season, but have also seen their opponents receive the most too (12).
Norwich have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League home games (W4 D6), however, that sole defeat was against Aston Villa in May.
These are the two sides to have recorded the lowest average possession in the Premier League this season (both 42%).
Aston Villa have won four of their last seven Premier League away games (L2 D1).
Villa are the only side to have conceded an own goal this season in the Premier League.
Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa have scored the same number of Premier League goals as his Norwich City side did (52) but have taken four more games to do so.
Prediction: 1-1
LIVERPOOL vs SOUTHAMPTON
Venue: Anfield
Time: 3:00
Liverpool is on a cruise this season and that is without doubt a testament to the massive rebuilding project Rodgers is undertaking at the Merseyside club. However, they must thank old boy Jonjo Shelvey for generously gifting them a point last week against Swansea. While Sturridge who couldn’t find a place at Chelsea is gradually making sure Suarez’s potential exit is not such a big issue with consistent performances, it is Belgian Minoglet who has caught my eye this season.
Southampton would hate Jussi Jaaskelainen as his heroics in goal last week denied them victory. They would certainly give Rodgers a cause to worry about as their goal threat is real. Coutinho’s injury is a massive blow to Liverpool, but if they would mount a challenge for UCL place, then they must learn to win without him as they have done without Suarez, and that must start today.
Match Facts: Daniel Sturridge is the first player in Liverpool’s Premier League history to score in the team’s opening four games of the season.
Southampton have won four of their last six Barclays Premier League games against Liverpool, but the Reds have won the last two at Anfield by a 1-0 scoreline.
In the last five Premier League meetings between the Saints and Liverpool, the Merseysiders have scored three goals, all between the 43rd and 45th minutes.
Southampton have scored just four goals in their last nine Barclays Premier League matches.
The Saints have played three teenagers in two of their Premier League fixtures this season, something Liverpool did six times last season (a divisional high).
Lucas has been booked in each of his last three Premier League appearances. He has never been booked in four successive PL games.
Southampton have averaged the second highest possession figure this season (59.1%), Liverpool are only ninth (48.1%).
Southampton have allowed only nine shots on target this season – fewer than any other side, while Liverpool have conceded the second most (22).
Sturridge has scored the third and fourth fastest goals of the season so far (versus Man Utd and Swansea respectively).
Rickie Lambert has had eight headed shots in the Premier League this season; three more than Liverpool have in total (5).
All five of Liverpool’s goals in the Barclays Premier League this season have come before half-time.
Prediction: 2-2
WEST BROM vs SUNDERLAND
Venue: Hawthorms
Time: 3:00
When I stated that losing Lukaku and Osaze in one window would hurt Albion greatly, I wasn’t exaggerating. That it took them over 360mins (4 matches) to score their 1st goal of the season highlights how blunt their attack line is without both men. Sunderland is my big name candidate for relegation and Di Canio is my leading candidate for the sack. They simply lack shape! While many say they were unlucky to have Altidore’s goal ruled out, I doubt if the result would have been anything other that an Arsenal victory.
Di Canio’s passion and management skills helped them last season, but it seems his antics and human relations might be their Achilles’ heel. Segsesson is cleared to play for West Brom and I tip him to hurt his former friends.
Match Facts: Nicolas Anelka has scored seven goals in 10 Barclays Premier League appearances against Sunderland.
Steven Fletcher has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances against West Brom.
The Baggies have won six and lost none of the last seven Premier League meetings with Sunderland.
WBA are the only side to have started in a 4-4-2 formation in all of their PL fixtures this season. It has brought them a total of only one goal.
Sunderland have conceded more second half goals than any other side this season (6).
Jonas Olsson has made more clearances than any other Premier League player this season (53).
The Baggies have won none of their last eight Premier League games; they last went on a longer Premier League winless run in April 2009 (11 games).
West Bromwich Albion have conceded a total of 14 goals in their last six Barclays Premier League games at the Hawthorns.
Sunderland have won only two of their last 19 games (L11 D6) – equivalent to half a Premier League season.
The Black Cats have scored a total of seven goals in their last nine league games with six of those matches seeing fewer than three goals netted overall.
MATCH ODDS
Prediction: 2-1
NEWCASTLE vs HULL CITY
Venue: St James Park
Time: 3:00
Not a few persons would have wondered what exactly was Wenger’s aim when he made a £10m bid for Cabaye 24hours before they were due to play. Was he really keen on having the lad or was he just trying to unsettle the club? While that bid did unsettle Cabaye and Newcastle, it does appear they have managed the situation fairly well.
The window is closed and Cabaye appears to be back to his senses, Pardew’s men are gradually getting their groove back. Hull, on the other hand, seem to understand how to do everything right in football aside from scoring goals. I don’t think I am the only pundit who has marked them for relegation and a defeat against Newcastle.
Match Facts: Hatem Ben Arfa has mustered more attempts from open play than any other Premier League player this season (13).
Hull City have won on three of their last four visits to St James Park in all competitions (one defeat).
Reformed bad boy, Cheik Tiote, has picked up only one yellow card in his last nine Barclays Premier League appearances (after collecting 31 yellows and one red in his previous 67 caps).
Hull have won only one of their last 11 games in the Barclays Premier League, drawing four and losing six.
St James’ Park has only seen one league goal this season, only Goodison Park has seen as few.
The Ameobi brothers (Shola and Sammy) are yet to record a shot on target this season in 206 minutes of play.
Danny Graham has now gone 20 Premier League appearances without scoring, with his last Premier League goal coming on January 1st.
Newcastle haven’t won three Premier League games in succession since a spell of six on the spin in March-April 2012.
The Magpies have kept clean sheets in their last two Premier League home games, but have also scored just one goal in their last five PL games at St James Park.
Since the start of last season, just two of the 46 Premier League goals scored by Newcastle players (exclusive of own goals) have been netted by Englishmen (Perch & Bigirimana).
Prediction: 2-0
WEST HAM vs EVERTON
Venue: Upton Park
Time: 3:00
Everton’s 3 points against Chelsea was won on transfer deadline day when Martinez told Barry whatever he told him to get him switch from Manchester blue to Merseyside blue. Gareth Barry is a calm, strong, experienced and quality midfielder, the sort that would automatically become an Everton legend when he leaves the club.
West Ham, for all their industry, lack a real goalscorer. This game is one that would have more of midfield battle than a goals party. Martinez hasn’t convinced me he has the consistency to be a top manager, so I go for a draw.
Match Facts: West Ham have managed just six shots on target so far this season, fewer than any other side in the league.
Everton have won six and lost none of the last 10 Barclays Premier League meetings with West Ham.
There have been three red cards in the last three Premier League meetings between the Hammers and the Toffees.
The Hammers also have the worst shooting accuracy in the league so far, finding the target with just 20% of their shots.
West Ham have not scored a Premier League goal in 284 minutes. The last time they failed to score in four successive PL games was back in October 2006 (five games).
West Ham’s four games this season are in the bottom seven for total ball in play time.
Ross Barkley has had more shots blocked by the opposition than any other player in the Premier League this season (7).
The Hammers’ four Premier League games this season have produced a total of only three goals.
Everton have attempted (681) and completed (517) more passes in the final third than any other side this season.
Everton are in the top six for final third passes per game in Europe this season (behind Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Roma, Napoli & PSG) with 170 per game.
Prediction: 1-1
CHELSEA vs FULHAM
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Time: 5:30
A whole lot of Chelsea fans are going to disagree or even hate me for this, but, Stamford Bridge is missing a certain “Spanish waiter” called Rafa Benitez!
All Rafa had wanted was a fat squad of talented players like Chelsea has now, and judging him based on what he did last season with a lean squad, I strongly feel he would have done better with this team. This is no indictment of Jose Mourinho– his quality and class as a coach is rivalled by few, but it seems he has just too many players that he isn’t sure what his starting XI should be.
The sort of players Jose has appear to me as not strong enough to play the ever-tasking brand of football Jose plays. Fulham don’t appear to me as strong enough to inflict pain on Chelsea, but I also said same prior to the Basel game. Jol is doing a good job at the Cottage, the fans want more, and rightly so. But the “Jolout” chants I heard during their draw against West Brom seems harsh to me. Both managers need the result, maybe Jose needs it more considering Abramovich’s track record and his body language on Wednesday. Benitez did promise that Chelsea fans would miss him when he is gone.
Fulham could bring back those memories.
Prediction: 3-0
SUNDAY
ARSENAL vs STOKE CITY
Venue: Emirates
Time: 1:30
With a record 10 straight away victory, you would forgive Wenger if he wished this game was at the Britannia and not the Emirates. There was a time this fixture would have scared any Arsenal fan, but, recently, Wenger’s boys seem to understand how to make Stoke play it their way.
Arsenal fans like Piers Morgan, have long clamored for a big signing and you just can see what such a signing does to a team with the new confidence level in the team since September 2nd with the £42.5m capture of Mesut Ozil. Flamini has brought steel and some level of fighting spirit to the team, but the star of Wenger’s team is the once maligned Aaron Ramsey. His new found form has stunned both his manager, fellow players and fans.
His career almost went downhill against Stoke, and you can be assured he would seek to bury the demons by scoring and winning against them tomorrow. Hughes has massively improved Stoke, but credit must go to Pulis for all he did. They should have beaten Manchester City and I am sure they would cause Arsenal much problems. Arsenal gets alive in the 2nd half of games, Stoke must stay awake as the game goes to bed less they are denied sleep.
Seems a home win to me.
Match Fact: The Gunners have won all five Premier League matches against Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium.
Peter Crouch has scored seven Barclays Premier League goals against Arsenal; only against Blackburn (8) has he been more prolific.
Stoke will be the fifth team Mark Hughes has coached in an away game against Arsenal in the Premier League, but he has lost on all six previous visits to north London to play the Gunners.
Mathieu Flamini has been booked in both of his appearances for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal have scored all eight of their 2013-14 Premier League goals from open play, whereas two of Stoke’s three goals have come from set-plays.
Stoke have completed 79% of their passes in the Premier League this season; more than in any of the five Premier League seasons under Tony Pulis.
The Potters have also averaged more passes per game this season (397) than in any of the previous five Premier League seasons under Pulis.
Olivier Giroud is one of only nine players to score in his team’s opening four games of a Premier League season and the second Arsenal player after Jose Reyes in 2004-05.
All four of Giroud’s goals this season have come before half-time and all before the 24th minute.
Without Giroud’s goals this season Arsenal would still be seventh, only two points worse off than they are in reality.
Prediction: 3-1
CRYSTAL PALACE vs SWANSEA
Venue: Sehurst Park
Time: 3:00
Crystal Palace is one of those newly promoted clubs I give a chance to stay up. Hollaway has done a very good job with this team, and anyone who knows him won’t be surprised.
I felt Mourinho’s decision not to loan Ba to Arsenal hurts him as he missed out on Bendtner, a player who would have added to what he has in his attack. Swansea gave too much respect to Liverpool last week and only realized what quality they had in the final 30mins. Against Valencia, they showed their true quality and won convincingly. But the big question is if the players have the mental strength to play every 3 days. Bony must get involved more, Michu isn’t the same man we saw last season, but in De Guzman and Shelvey, Swansea has some strength and guile to win games.
Match Facts: Crystal Palace have failed to score in each of their last four league games against Swansea City, losing the last three in a row.
Swansea have conceded a BPL-high four goals before half-time this season (level with Aston Villa).
Palace have fashioned more chances from counter attacks than any other side in the Barclays Premier League this season (4).
The Eagles have only delivered four crosses successfully to team-mates this season; fewer than any other side.
Swansea won only one of their six games against newly-promoted sides last season in the Premier League (D4 L1).
There have been 22 penalties (14 won, eight conceded) in Crystal Palace’s last 41 games in the Premier League.
Last season there were a total of 19 penalties in Palace’s 46 Championship games.
Swansea did not win a penalty in 2012-13 and are yet to win one this season either.
Jonjo Shelvey has made two errors leading to goals this season, more than any other player in the Barclays Premier League.
Swansea’s average possession figure this season is only the sixth best in the Premier League (55.8%).
Prediction: 1-2
CARDIFF vs TOTTENHAM
Venue: Millenium stadium
Time: 3:00
Spurs are yet to go guns blazing this season, but credit to them, they are scrapping points. They clearly miss the quality and inspiration of Bale, but in Eriksen and Lamela, I think they have two players who would give them a huge lift in their battle for 4th position. Whatever his sins, AVB should consider bringing back Adebayor. He is a premier league battle ready player; something they are yet to ingrain into Roberto Soldado. I think not using Defoe more is absurd, his goal ratio is impressive. Cardiff is another side I think might just have to do more if they would be here next summer.
Upsets are a core part of football, but I guess I am not always brave to put my money on such upsets. So I’ll go for a Spurs victory.
Cardiff City have played the highest proportion of long passes in the Premier League this season (15.4%).
Christian Eriksen has created four goals in his five league appearances in 2013-14 (Premier League and Eredivisie combined).
Match Facts: Cardiff City has played the highest proportion of long passes in the Premier League this season (15.4%).
Christian Eriksen has created four goals in his five league appearances in 2013-14 (Premier League and Eredivisie combined).
Tottenham Hotspur have only been caught offside once in total in their opening four games.
Tottenham have scored exactly two goals in five of their last seven Premier League away games.
Andre Villas-Boas’ outfit have hit more shots than any other side this season (59 excl. blocked) but have scored only four times.
Jordon Mutch has made four appearances this season, but all of them as a sub coming on in the closing minute.
Three of Tottenham’s four goals this season have come in the 15 minute spell after half-time.
Cardiff City are one of five Barclays Premier League sides yet to score a first half goal this season.
No player has assisted more Premier League goals than Cardiff’s Don Cowie this season (2).
Tottenham won all six of their Premier League games against newly-promoted sides in 2012-13.
Prediction: 0-2
MANCHESTER CITY vs MANCHESTER UNITED
Venue: Etihad
Time: 5:45
It’s a game of debutants. Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes would for the 1st time, experience the battle for the soul of the city of Manchester. Both managers have an embarrassment of talent at their disposal, but while Manuel is tested on the biggest stage and a proponent of expansive and attacking football, Moyes is having his 1st taste of football management at the very top.
Moyes is a little more conservative and safety conscious, but that must not be mistaken for cowardice and he is more of a predator. Against Bayer in the champions league, Manchester United played their best game of the season and interestingly though, it was Rooney and Valencia’s best game so far. United thrives on width, Moyes prefers a compact middle. Pellegrini is trying to enforce a 4-4-2 formation against the 4-5-1 Mancini built the team to play.
I feel Yaya Toure has been inhibited by asking him to play deep. Nevas must stay wide and run behind defenders, Nasri, Jovetic and Silva must discover their creative side.
Felliani isn’t the man Moyes should have signed, but his physical presence would suit Moyes theory better and also help nullify the threat of Pellegrini’s creative artistes. This fixture once ended with about 6 goals or more, now, I would be delighted to see 2. It has a draw written all over.
Match Facts: Manchester City have scored four of the 14 Premier League goals from outside the penalty area this season; more than any other side.
Since his Premier League debut in August 2006, Ashley Young has won a joint-league-high 12 penalties (level with former team mate Gabriel Agbonlahor).
Manchester City have scored in each of their last 52 Barclays Premier League home games. The all-time record for the competition is 66 set by Man Utd last season.
Six of the last seven meetings between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium have seen fewer than two goals scored.
Wayne Rooney has now either scored or assisted 40 goals in his last 44 Premier League games.
Marouane Fellaini has won five times against Man City in the Premier League (only against Sunderland – six wins – has he won more often).
Since the start of 2012-13, no side has kept more clean sheets in the Barclays Premier League than Manchester City (21).
Six of these clean sheets have come in Manchester City’s last eight Premier League games.
Robin van Persie has hit more shots off target than any other Premier League player this season (10).
Yaya Toure has made 347 passes this season, 30 more than any other player in the division and 65 more than Utd’s leading passer Michael Carrick (282).
Prediction: 1-1
I have a feeling that we are in for an exciting week in the beautiful world of English club football. Do all you can to enjoy the feast of football on the dinning table.
Don’t forget to get back to me either through the comment section or twitter. My handle is @emma_dele
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