So Round 10 of the English Premier League begins tomorrow with as many as 7 matches. The best match of the day promises to be the very first clash, to be played in the afternoon, between a Newcastle side, which couldn’t win anything, but finds itself now having won three matches in a row, against Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, who have clearly underperformed. Sunday sees two more matches, with the most anticipated clash between bitter local rivals Manchester United and Manchester City being the centre of all attention. Big matches are coming thick and fast in the EPL. Last week we had Manchester United v Chelsea, and now this. Read on for our previews and predictions of all the matches to be played this weekend.
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Newcastle v Liverpool
Nobody can take anything for certain in football. Newcastle United, which looked certain to be relegated because of a strong negativity in the club between the supporters and the management, is now 14th in the league standings after two successive wins. Alan Pardew, who looked down and out, and destined to be sacked, has turned things around – at least for the moment. Nobody expected Newcastle to beat Tottenham Hotspur at the White Hart Lane, but they did, coming from behind. Nobody expected them to beat Manchester City in the Capital One Cup either, but they still won. So this promises to be an exciting clash, with Liverpool also looking better than earlier in the season, having notched a few decent wins. Mario Balotelli opened his account as a striker for the first time this season as he scored against Swansea in the Capital One Cup midweek, and should be high on confidence for this match. Liverpool would need their main players – Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling to perform though. Both have looked out of form this season.
Our Prediction: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2
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Arsenal v Burnley
With both Newcastle United and QPR snatching victories last week, there is no question as to which is the worst team in the EPL this season. Burnley. Burnley have played 9 matches this season, not won a single one of them, have only had 4 draws, and have scored only 5 goals. This is bottom-of-the-league form, so early in the season. Unless a miracle happens from now till the end of the season, it is safe to say that Burnley will definitely be relegated and are quite a hopeless side. Arsenal should enjoy this match. We expect Alexis Sachez and company to notch at least four or five goals and simply dismantle poor Burnley. Easiest match to predict this weekend.
Our Prediction: Arsenal 4 Burnley 0
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Chelsea v QPR
Although QPR’s win against Aston Villa last weekend, only their second this season, adds a bit of colour to this match, it isn’t likely to mean much as Chelsea are expected to steamroll Harry Redknapp’s team. Jose Mourinho is known to get bored when things get too easy, and he would have earned a much needed rest after a tough match last week against Manchester United. Nobody likes one sided matches, and this match is going to be as one sided as it gets. Brace yourself up for a 4-0 or 5-0 scoreline.
Our Prediction: Chelsea 5 QPR 0
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Everton v Swansea
Everton are back and playing close to their potential after a wretched start to this campaign. Now, Roberto Martinez’s highly talented side has notched 3 wins out of the their four matches and are ranked 9th on the league table. Still not a relfection of their strength and ability, but it is a sign that Everton are making a comeback. Martinez started with Samuel Eto’o and Romelu Lukaku in the last match – one a veteran who has done everything in football, and the other a supremely talented young striker full of promise – and the combination worked. We are expected to see more of the duo and Everton should make their way back to the top-5. Swansea had a win after a long time last week, but one can’t see them beating Everton this weekend.
Our Prediction: Everton 2 Swansea 1
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Leicester City v West Brom
This is a match between two very similar sides, but Leicester have faded after a bright start, while West Brom are slowly making their way up. West Brom have a talented young striker in Saido Berahino, who has been getting goals regularly, and they are marshalled by the veteran Argentinian defensive midfielder Esteban Cambiasso who has achieved a lot in football over a long illustrious career and would want to bow out with pride. This promises to be a tense clash between two equals, so any of the 3 results are possible.
Our Prediction: Leicester 1 West Brom 1
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Hull v Southampton
Ronald Koema’s Southampton have been the best team of the season so far and there is no question about it. While Chelsea are ranked no.1 on the league standing, they were expected to be in that position. Nobody expected Southampton to be second on the league standings 10 matches in the season, especially having lost their highly regarded manager Mauricio Pochettino and several important players at the beginning of the season. But players like Graziano Pelle have been simply sensational and there seems to be no stopping the brilliant team from the south of England. We don’t fancy Steve Bruce’s Hull City at all, and we expect Southampton to get another win. Southampton in the Champions League? Who would have thought that? But it looks more and more likely with every match.
Our Prediction: Hull 1 Southampton 2
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Stoke City v West Ham
If Southampton have been a revelation this season, Sam Allardyce’s West Ham are not far behind either. After a torrid start to the season, which saw many West Ham supporters asking for Big Sam’s ouster, the manager has turned things around completely, winning 4 matches on a trot. West Ham are placed fourth in the league standings, which is simply unbelievable. Stewart Downing and Mark Noble have been outstanding in the midfield and Enner Valencia and Sakho have been ruthless up front. There is no place in the side for veteran Kevin Nolan or star striker Andy Carroll. Does Stoke City have it in them to upset West Ham’s apple cart? Unlikely. But they do have an excellent central midfielder in Geoff Cameron, who should provide some resistance.
Our Prediction: Stoke City 0 West Ham 1
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Man City v Man Utd
Manchester City have lost their last two matches and are third in the league table, while Manchester United are eighth, just four points behind. Nobody expected either of the two sides to perform so poorly before the start of the season, and one would have expected this to be a clash between the top two sides in the league. Not so! Still, Manchester United have done well to come back from their worst start ever in the Premiership, and they owe this to the one and only Angel Di Maria. Di Maria was the costliest purchase every made by a side in the EPL, but the way he is playing and single handedly rescuing Louis Van Gaal’s side time and time again, even at 60 million pounds, he seems to been acquired at a bargain. Manchester United would be bolstered by last week’s draw against Chelsea, thanks to a late, late injury time goal by Robin Van Persey. Wayne Rooney is expected to be back, but Falcao may not have recovered yet from his injury. A defeat here for Manuel Pellegrini’s side would be demoralizing and potentially put an end their title challenge for this season. Manchester City have no choice but to win this match. The pressure on Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero is simply immense. But we expect a surprise!
Our Prediction: Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3
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Aston Villa v Tottenham
After a decent start to the season, it hardly needs to be stated that Aston Villa has come apart. Their form has been horrible and they are now 15th in the league standings. Villa have lost their last five matches on a trot and not scored a goal in any of them. This is nothing short of relegation form. One would imagine that manager Paul Lambert and his assistant Roy Keane would be hurting. Tottenham have had a tepid season as well, and are ranked only eleventh in the table. Manager Mauricio Pochettino was upset at his side’s performance last week against Newcaslte, and would expect a much better show from his team in this match. Spurs have a fine forward line, with strikers Adebayor or Soldado, leading an attacking midfield trio of Eriksen, Lamela and Chadli. But they would want to shore up the defense.
Our Prediction: Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 0
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Crystal Palace v Sunderland
This late Monday night clash between two sides down on confidence isn’t likely to be an attractive game of football to watch. Both Crystal Palace and Sunderland are in relegation form, and Sunderland still look devastated as the after effects of the horrendous 8 – 0 loss at the hands of Southampton still linger on at the club. Sunderland manager Gus Poyet looks helpless and desperate, seemingly unable to stop the down slide. Crystal Palace may lose goalkeeper Julian Speroni because of an injury, but Wilfried Zaha is expected to start in midfield along side the captain of the Australian national side, Mile Jedinak. We expect the home side to nick this one and send Sunderland into further depression.
Our Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Sunderland 0
