After a mixed week for the English clubs in Europe, the focus reverts back to domestic matters with ten games spread across Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Sit back, put your feet up and watch the action unfold…
Can high-flying Hammers dent City’s title bid
Such has been the pace set by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea during the first eight games of the season, those hoping to keep chase have been afforded little margin for error. Man City have been the only side to keep tabs with the Blues and even then they’re already five points adrift.
With their Champions League interest already hanging by a thread, Manuel Pellegrini will want to avoid giving Chelsea the opportunity to pull further clear as the defending champions visit Upton Park in the opening game of the weekend. While the spotlight will be on City and how they respond to Tuesday’s disappointing draw in Moscow, West Ham will be confident of taking advantage of any uncertainty in the visiting ranks.
The sides are no strangers to each other having met four times last season. Although City won all four with an aggregate score of 14-1, the Hammers are a different proposition this term. The arrival of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho has added firepower to their ranks as Sam Allarydce has ditched the death-by-attrition approach and adopted an easy-on-the-eye formula which is already paying handsome dividends.
West Ham currently lie fourth and having already toppled Liverpool at home. They’ll fancy their chances of doing the same to the defending champions.
Sunderland look to bounce back from St. Mary’s humiliation
There would have been a lot of soul-searching in the North-East this week. An ignominious 8-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton last week raised doubts over Gus Poyet’s future while causing questions to be asked about the players’ commitment.
Things don’t get any easier for Poyet and the Black Cats this weekend but perhaps a home fixture against Arsenal is the perfect opportunity for a positive response. But, Sunderland’s confidence and team morale must be at rock bottom and the Uruguayan will need all his managerial skills to infuse a sense of belief back into the squad.
They are just a point above the drop-zone and if Arsenal were to expose the hosts’ defensive frailties early-on, things could get messy for Poyet and Sunderland. That said, the Gunners aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders themselves. They were fortunate to come away from Brussels with the points on Wednesday and continue to be beset by a lengthy injury list.
However, the passionate Sunderland fans will want a reaction and more importantly three points. Anything less and the pressure on Poyet would crank up a notch.
The managerial sack race intensifies
As of yet, no Premier League manager has been given his P45 this season but there are a couple threading on thin ice. As mentioned above, Poyet could be in the firing line on the back of the St. Mary’s capitulation but there are others nervously looking over their shoulder.
Alan Pardew has been hanging on by a thread for a number of weeks now and the pressure on him shows no sign of subsiding despite a narrow win – their first of the season – over Leicester last time out. With the fans firmly on his back, Pardew seems to be in a lose-lose situation but a string of positive results would do his cause no harm.
Having not won away from home in the league since last March, the Magpies face a stiff task if they are to come away from White Hart Lane on Sunday with anything. Pardew, however, can barely afford another abject reversal.
Harry Redknapp could prove to be Pardew’s rival for the infamy of first managerial casualty. His QPR side remain rooted to the foot of the table and there are growing concerns at Loftus Road that unless a change his made their fate could be set in stone before Christmas. The R’s and Redknapp desperately need a win on the Monday Night Football.
All eyes on Mario
It would be harsh to pin all of Liverpool’s problems on Mario Balotelli but the case for his exclusion from the squad, let alone starting XI, is gathering weight with every passing game. It doesn’t matter how much Brendan Rodgers tries to divert the focus away from the striker, his impassive demeanor and ineffectual performances are hindering the team.
The fans and pundits have turned on the Italian after Wednesday evening’s episode and Rodger’s faith in his £16 million recruit – labelled as a bargain at the time – is dwindling. Is it time to take Balotelli out of the firing line? But, should Rodgers opt for Rickie Lambert ahead of him against Hull, further questions will be raised over his Anfield future.
Either way, Balotelli will be the subject of much debate over the weekend and beyond. He could go someway to silencing the detractors and winning the crowd over with a determined display, or even a goal.
Can misfiring United provide Chelsea with first litmus test?
Ten years ago to the weekend, Arsenal – who had gone 49 games unbeaten – came unstuck at Old Trafford as their incredible run ground to a halt. This Chelsea side have a long way to go until they achieve that feat but having won seven of their opening eight games, they are drawing comparisons to the Invincibles.
Jose Mourinho’s side have been imperious thus far, swatting aside anything thrown on front of them and drawing at the Ethiad. That game against City apart, they have yet to be truly tested, particularly on the road, and perhaps a misfiring United will provide a significant appraisal of their credentials.
It remains to be seen if Diego Costa will be fit enough in time but it would be a surprise if the prolific striker wasn’t involved given Mourinho’s options in attack are limited.
Conversely, Louis van Gaal has wealth of attack resources at his disposal but Robin van Persie’s form remains a worry. The Dutchman has scored just twice this term and with Rooney suspended, van Gaal might opt for Falcao in the lone striker role instead.
That said, with United’s defensive deficiencies well documented and no evidence to suggest they’re going to be addressed anytime soon, attack is most definitely the best form of defence especially against a side of Chelsea’s calibre. If the hosts adopt a conservative approach and sit tight they will be sitting ducks against the Blues.
Conversely, if they take the game to Chelsea then they may well blow the title race wide open and kick-start their faltering campaign.
Fixtures
Saturday (3pm unless stated)
- West Ham United v Manchester City (12.45pm)
- Liverpool v Hull City
- Southampton v Stoke City
- Sunderland v Arsenal
- West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace
- Swansea City v Leicester City (5.30pm)
Sunday
- Burnley v Everton (1.30pm)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (1.30pm)
- Manchester United v Chelsea (4pm)
Monday
- QPR v Aston Villa (8pm)
