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| (Courtesy of DavidKenny - Flickr) |
Newcastle v Man City
Today’s
early kick off comes from St. James’s park where Newcastle, on their worst run
of form in recent memory, will not be glad to welcome Man City. Especially a
Man City who are coming into the game off the back of a stinging last minute
defeat at home to local rivals Man United. The only positive The Magpies can
take into this game is that their last home match was a win, their only points
from the last 6 games. However, this was against lowly Wigan who, while not
averse to making life difficult for some teams, do not provide much of a stern
test away from home. The problem for Alan Pardew is that these poor results
have come against, forgive me for saying, average opposition. This game against
City sees the start of a tough 5 game run in which they also face Man United,
Arsenal and Everton, so Newcastle are battling against the odds to pick
themselves up over the Christmas period. City’s defeat at the hands of United
last weekend was their first of the season and, while they have been drawing a
few too many games I can’t see this being a banana skin for Mancini’s men who
will be keen to get back to winning ways. 1-3
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Liverpool
have been doing a lot better recently and as a result are in the top half for
the first time in a long time. Only 1 defeat, away to Tottenham, in the last 10
games has been a clear indicator of the progress the club have been making
under Brendan Rodgers. Unfortunately they have also drawn 5 of those 10 games,
which is rather too many if, as Brendan Rodgers claims, the club is targeting a
top 2 finish. For me this ambition is one step too far for this season.
However, with a congested mid-table, The Reds are only 4 points off 4th
place and if they can continue their good run with a third consecutive win, the
first time they would have done this since 2010/11, these ambitions might not
seems so ridiculous. Aston Villa are a different kettle of fish altogether.
They too find themselves in a congested area of the table, but this area is the
places just above the relegation zone. Villa are balanced precariously in 17th
position, but only 2 points of 14th. Paul Lambert’s men have been
playing very inconsistently this season and, despite being unbeaten in 4, I can’t
see them coming away from Anfield with anything today. 2-1
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| Martin O'Neill faces a tough task this afternoon (Courtesy of Dagur Brynjolfsson - Flickr) |
Man United v Sunderland
Alex Ferguson’s
men will be riding high after another dramatic win away at title rivals and so
will provide extremely stiff opposition for Sunderland today in Manchester. The
Red Devils have won 9 of their last 10 games and are in devastating attacking
form, with 40 goals from their 16 league games so far, 10 more than the second
highest scorers Man City. Sunderland have, however, received a recent
confidence boost in the shape of a 3-0 battering of Reading at the Stadium of
light just 4 days ago. Perhaps playing again so soon will be exactly what
Martin O’Neill would have wanted to keep the momentum going. That was their
only win in their last 5 games though, so The Black Cats fans should not be
expecting too much from their trip to Old Trafford today. Sunderland’s defence
hasn’t been too poor away from home this season, conceding 11 in 8 away games
but I think it will be sorely tested today. 4-0
Norwich v Wigan
The
Canaries have been on outstanding form of late; 5 wins, 4 draws and a defeat in
their last 10 games, including wins against Man United and Arsenal. Consequently,
despite being in 12th place, they are actually only 4 points off of
the top 4. This is, of course, not something that Chris Hughton will be
seriously thinking about; his target will be to get to 40 points and then see
if a push for the top half is viable. But seeing their team in this position
only the most pessimistic of Norwich fans could predict relegation from here.
Wigan on the other hand find themselves in a familiar place; the relegation
zone. The Latics can take solace from the fact that this is a familiar position
and they have yet to be relegated from the Premier League in their 6 years
there. However there is no team immune to the drop and, with only 4 points from
their last 6 games, Roberto Martinez will be desperately hoping that his side
can pick up at least one point here before his side face a tough Christmas
period including Everton, Arsenal and Man United. Unfortunately for him I can’t
see this happening against an extremely efficient Norwich side. 2-1
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| Redknapp looking for his first win at his new club (Courtesy of thesportreview - Flickr) |
QPR v Fulham
QPR are
unbeaten under new manager Harry Redknapp so far but, while this is
encouraging, The R’s are long past the point where averaging 1 point a game
will save them. Redknapp needs to get some wins on the board and fast, as his
side are now 8 points from safety. Today they face a Fulham side who have been
very poor of late after their good start to the season saw them rise into the
top 7. The Cottagers have only managed 2 wins from their last 10 games,
admittedly the most recent of those came in impressive fashion at home to Newcastle
on Monday. Fulham manager Martin Jol will see this as a good opportunity to get
another 3 points but will be wary of the fact that, under a new manager, QPR a
still a somewhat unknown quantity. I fancy QPR, in front of a home crowd to
edge a win in this match. 3-2
Stoke v Everton
Everton
face the near impossible task of scoring at The Britannia Stadium today. Stoke
have, incredibly, only conceded 2 goals in their 7 home games in the league so
far this season. This fantastic defence has been the foundation for a run which
has seen Stoke unbeaten in their last 6, with 4 wins, and they currently sit in
9th place. Everton have drawn a staggering 7 of their last 10 games
but, thanks to the indifferent form of the teams below them, still sit in 4th
place. If David Moyes’ side have any real aspirations of playing Champions
League football next season this has to be 3 points, especially owing to the
fact that The Toffees are only 4 points ahead of 12th place and a
few poor results could see them slip down the table very quickly. Despite this I
am going to have to go with the form books and say there will be nothing
between these two sides tomorrow. 1-1
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| Andre Villas Boas wants to get his run back on track(Courtesy of thesportreview - Flickr) |
Tottenham v Swansea
Here we
have two teams who saw their good runs come abruptly to an end last weekend.
Spurs will certainly fancy themselves as the favourites going into this game
tomorrow, having won their last two home games; against West Ham and then
Liverpool, but AVB will be wary of Swansea’s decent away form recently;
unbeaten on the road since October. Michael Laudrup’s men have been one of many
sides who would have been happy with a finish in the upper echelons of the
bottom half but instead find themselves with realistic chances of qualifying for
European football. Before their surprise defeat at home to Norwich last weekend
The Swans had been on a 6 game unbeaten run and were looking very healthy
indeed, Laudrup will be hoping that that defeat was just a blip and that they
can pick up a respectable point today, or even sneak a win. With midfield maestro
Michu still firing on all cylinders Spurs will have to be wary of how to deal
with the Spaniard and I can see that being a difficult task. Tottenham to just
edge it. 3-2
West Brom v West Ham
After a
phenomenal start to the season, which saw them rise as high as 3rd
at one point, Steve Clarke’s West Brom have gone off the boil. 3 consecutive
losses have seen The Baggies fall into 6th position, albeit on goal
difference, and Clarke will be hoping that his side can regain one or two
places with a renewal of their previously fantastic home form. Their opponents
tomorrow are West Ham, who have also found themselves slipping down the table
of late. Admittedly their last 4 games have been against Tottenham, Man United,
Chelsea and Liverpool; not an easy run by anyone’s standards. Their 3-1
dispatching of Chelsea was very impressive indeed and Sam Allardyce will be
hoping that his side can reproduce that kind of performance to cause an upset
at The Hawthorns tomorrow. Unfortunately for The Hammers their away form has
been quite poor this season, only 7 points from as many games on the road and,
facing a West Brom who have won 6 of their 8 home games this campaign,
Allardyce’s men might find life quite difficult tomorrow. 3-1
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