Just thought I'd add a preview of all games. Hope it's of use...
Manchester City v Everton
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 12:45 at The Ethiad Stadium
Saturday’s early kick off sees Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City side take on David Moyes’ gutsy Everton. Following a slightly disappointing 2-2 draw at Fulham, the City boss has been bemoaning his lack of strength in depth in midfield. I’m slightly confused by this considering the amount of money the Italian has spent on midfielders since taking charge.
If anyone has a right to moan about a lack of players it’s David Moyes. The results he gets from his bare bones squad is quite incredible and it would be interesting to see what he could achieve given the funds Mancini has at his disposal. Coming off the back of a 3-1 home win against Wigan, I expect Everton to cause problems for Man City but it will be a surprise if the home side don’t come out on top.
Arsenal v Bolton
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 15:00 at The Emirates Stadium
Could this be considered a relegation six pointer even at this early stage of the season?! Probably not but with both sides in such woeful form, both Arsene Wenger and Owen Coyle are under serious pressure to get some points on the board. The Gunner’s scraped a 1-0 win in their last home game against Swansea but their defending was once again shocking in a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Wenger’s panic buying during the recent transfer window appears to have done little to address the club’s serious problems. Bolton have had a tough run of fixtures to start the season but would have expected to collect all three points at home against Norwich so to end up with nothing from the game will have got to the fans making it four league defeats on the bounce. Arsenal are probably going to edge it on balance but this is by no means a confident shout.
Chelsea v Swansea
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 15:00 at Stamford Bridge
The away defeat to Manchester Utd was a very strange game for Chelsea and manager Andre Villas-Boas’. Having had the bulk of the chances, Chelsea were unable to turn shots on target into goals and went down to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Rooney and co. They can take a lot of positives from the performance however and I believe they will improve throughout the season and mount a serious title challenge.
Swansea scored their first goals of the season and in the process picked up their first win, beating West Brom by three goals to nil. The trip to Stamford Bridge will be a different ball game however and I think they will struggle to get anything here.
Liverpool v Wolves
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 15:00 at Anfield
Following some impressive early season results, Liverpool were looking like serious contenders for a top 4 place and Champions League football. Their last couple of results suggest there is still work to be done and while they are likely to be challenging at the upper end of the table, Liverpool are far from a shoe in for the all important 4th place.
King Kenny will be desperate to erase the memory of the heavy 4-0 loss at White Hart Lane with a win against Wolves. Mick McCarthy’s men also come into this game on the back of two defeats. I fancy the home side to run out comfortable winners.
Newcastle v Blackburn Rovers
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 15:00 at St. James Park
Alan Pardew’s Newcastle side continued their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought point away to Aston Villa on Saturday and it took an in form Shay Given to deny the Toon Army going back to St James Park with all three points. The in form Leon Best scored on 57 minutes to cancel out Agbonlahor’s early goal.
Blackburn gained a much needed win against Arsenal and took the pressure off manager Steve Kean in their most recent outing. Blackburn should be able to build on that result, especially at home, but I think Newcastle might have just too much for them at St James’.
West Bromwich Albion v Fulham
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 15:00 at The Hawthorns
West Brom have had a terrible start to the 2011/12 Premier League season and sit bottom of the table with only three points to their name. Admittedly they have been involved in some tough fixture including Chelsea and Manchester United, but defeats at the hands of Stoke and Swansea makes this encounter will Fulham a huge game for manager Roy Hodgson.
Fulham are also in the bottom three and don’t have much more to get excited about but a battling performance in the home draw against Manchester City will have lifted some of the doom and gloom around Craven Cottage. This looks very much like it could end in a draw.
Wigan v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 15:00 at The DW Stadium
Despite some decent early season form, Wigan have shipped six goals in their last two Premiership games and will not be looking forward to the arrival of an in form Tottenham side who are coming off the back of a 4-0 win over Liverpool. Having said that, Roberto Martinez’s side were slightly unlucky against Everton, having held the home team up until the 84th minute.
Spurs look right back to their best after wins against both Wolves and Liverpool. I strongly fancy them to make it three on the spin this coming weekend.
Stoke v Manchester United
Saturday 24th September 2011 KO 17:30 at The Britannia Stadium
Stoke City’s excellent run this season came to an end with a heavy defeat at the hands of Sunderland on Sunday afternoon. The 4-0 loss probably flattered the home side slightly and I think Sunderland were due a decent win in front of their home fans after a slightly under par run.
Stoke will be looking to put that game well and truly behind them and they are capable of giving any side a tough match at the Britannia Stadium. Manchester United kept up their 100% record this season with a 3-1 over Chelsea. They have played some amazing football so far but I think this will be a very difficult game for them and Stoke might just be able to take a point off the reining champions.
Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa
Sunday 25th September 2011 KO 16:00 at Loftus Road
Following some very good looking signings from manager Neil Warnock in the recent transfer window, Queens Park Ranger have managed to move themselves right up the Premier League table and continued a decent run of results with victory over Wolves by three goals to nil.
The heavy defeat against Bolton on the opening day of the season now seems like a distant memory and QPR appear to have a decent shout of staying in the Premier League next season. Aston Villa are still unbeaten this campaign and manager Alex McLeish has definitely turned round the club’s fortunes since his arrival. That being said, I quietly fancy QPR to continue their good form and inflict Villa’s first defeat of the season.
Norwich v Sunderland
Monday 26th September 2011 KO 20:00 at Carrow Road
The Monday Night Football this week sees Steve Bruce’s Sunderland side travel to a Norwich team full of confidence after an excellent away win at Bolton. Sunderland will also be buoyed after their 4-0 home win over Stoke and will be looking to avoid defeat and put a run of games together after a slightly shaky start to the season.
I think this will be a close game, and it could well end up with the spoils being shared at the 90 minute mark.