1. Can Liverpool get out of their slump?
IT IS OFFICIAL; there is something wrong with Liverpool. Three defeats in their opening six league games already has Brendan Rodgers’ men on the back foot in the race for the top four, but they have a winnable home game against West Brom at Anfield to try and reverse their downward slide.
But in their current form, can they even beat the Baggies? Rodgers has said repeatedly over the last few days that Balotelli needs to be scoring more goals and given that the Italian has only hit the net once in the league from his last 63 shots, it wasn’t an exaggeration from the Liverpool boss.
Balotelli isn’t the only issue, of course. Lazar Markovic has looked lightweight so far and Rickie Lambert is playing like the lower league striker he used to be rather than the Premier League striker he became. Liverpool will need more from these players, as well as a much stronger defensive display – particularly at set-pieces – if they are to secure all three points on Saturday.
2. Have Arsenal recovered from last year’s Stamford Bridge hammering?
This week Arsene Wenger has spoken of the mark that was left on his side after their 6-0 drubbing away to Chelsea last year. Both sides have strengthened since then, so where does that leave Arsenal?
Another shellacking would be disastrous for Wenger’s men after bringing in a world-class star like Alexis Sanchez and he has probably been targeting this game all year to lay down a marker. But he will be without Aaron Ramsey after the Welshman’s injury against Spurs so the onus will fall on Mesut Ozil to carry from his recent good performances against Aston Villa and Galatasaray.
And while their attack has been potent so far, scoring in every league game, they have only kept one clean sheet this term. Will they be able to handle Diego Costa this Sunday?
3. How will Cesc fair against his old side?
Cesc Fabregas was reportedly very surprised that Arsene Wenger decided not to pursue the midfielder last summer, and now the Spanish international has a chance to show him why he was wrong.
Not that he hasn’t already done that to some degree by setting up six goals for Chelsea in their first six league games. Fabregas will be going up against former teammates Mathieu Flamini and Jack Wilshere in midfield and it will be interesting to see what the English international can do to stifle Fabregas.
4. Is this the week that the House of Pards collapses?
You could probably pencil this in as a talking point every week given how precarious Alan Pardew’s position has been all season. After last week’s loss to Stoke many thought that was it for the Newcastle boss but Mike Ashley has given Pardew another week at least, possibly because of Jack Colback missing a sitter that would have gotten the Magpies a point at the Britannia Stadium.
https://vine.co/v/OZlgI3z9BJm
They are away to Swansea this weekend which is another tough game, although the Swans are in poor enough form themselves, having gone winless in their last three.
You don’t want to call this a must-win game since that has been the case for a few weeks now and Ashley hasn’t acted, but surely Pardew cannot survive another loss?
5. What does Neil Warnock have brewing at Crystal Palace?
Granted, Crystal Palace came into the season expecting to do okay under Tony Pulis, but his resignation before the season left the club was in disarray.
Warnock has come in and after initially steadying the ship with draws against Newcastle and Burnley, he has since pushed down the throttle and claimed good wins over Everton and Leicester.
Mile Jedninak and Jason Puncheon have both been key contributors since Warnock took over and they will be very confident travelling to Hull this weekend.
Hull have conceded at least two goals in their last four games while Palace have scored eight over the same stretch, so the visitors know that the Tigers can be exploited at the back.
Predictions (all games kick-off Saturday 3pm unless stated otherwise)
Hull 1-1 Crystal Palace
Leicester 2-0 Burnley
Liverpool 2-0 West Brom
Sunderland 0-0 Stoke
Swansea 0-1 Newcastle
Aston Villa 0-2 Man City (17.30 Saturday)
Man United 2-1 Everton (12.00 Sunday)
Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (14.05 Sunday)
Spurs 2-2 Southampton (14.05 Sunday)
West Ham 3-1 QPR (16.15 Sunday)
