The internationals are finally over so the Premier League is back! tvnz.co.nz's Sarah Williams previews and predicts this weekend's clashes.
Saturday
Who: Arsenal v Everton
Where: Emirates Stadium
After a disastrous start to the season Everton will be looking
for a much needed win as they get set to take on Arsenal at the
Emirates on Saturday. While the Gunners have suffered somewhat of a
slump in form with a shock defeat at the hands of Hull City - and
more recently an unlucky one-all draw against Sunderland away -
with a point to prove it's doubtful Arsenal will slip up
again.
Unless the news that manager David Moyes has signed a new contract
sparks the beginning of form for the Toffees it is even more
doubtful that 15th placed Everton will find the points they
desperately need at the end of the M1.
Premier pick: Arsenal
Who: Aston Villa v Portsmouth
Where: Villa Park
Theories about the fall of fortress Bridge in Villa's last
Premier League match before the international break was very much
like SARS - a rife possibility that never came to fruition. Villa,
who in truth have made a decent start to the season, never had a
chance against a fierce and formidable Chelsea but they do against
a lacklustre Portsmouth.
Pompey seem to be gathering momentum, with new/old recruit Peter
Crouch dusting off the old bicycle kick (making the mark he wasn't
allowed to at Liverpool) but Villa's depth and home advantage
may see them taking all three points from this one.
Pick: Aston Villa
Who: Bolton v Blackburn
Where: Reebok Stadium
In their last Premier League game, Bolton shattered Gianfranco
Zola's unbeaten reign of West Ham - not to mention their 100%
unbeaten home record - with a fantastic 3-1 win that proved to be a
nightmare for West Ham keeper Robert Green. Blackburn
meanwhile succumbed to a defeat at the hands of United. There will
be no shortage of tackles and cards in this North-West derby that
could see Bolton continue their run at the Reebok.
Pick: Bolton
Who: Liverpool v Wigan
Where: Anfield
After yet another remarkable comeback in their last Premier
League game against Man City, unbeaten Liverpool are riding high.
Taking on Wigan Athletic at Anfield this weekend should be no
problem for the Reds, but it's always these 'smaller' games that
Liverpool have to watch out for.
The loss of Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel is bound to hit
Liverpool hard and with Rafa having one eye on their Champions
League clash against Athletico Madrid midweek, and the other on
their next League game against Chelsea, the Liverpool boss is bound
to switch the team up in order to rest the big guns. This
fact so often trips Liverpool up in a game that may not prove
to be as easy as everyone expects.
Premier pick: Draw
Who: Manchester United v West Brom
Where: Old Trafford
After finally getting over their new season stumble Manchester
United are climbing their way up the table, with three wins out of
three under their belt and sitting at 8th place on the League
table. The Baggies meanwhile are full of confidence with two wins
out of two.
New West Brom signing Roman Bednar is finally starting to find his
feet, while James Morrison is thriving in the midfield, but after
superb performances from a currently on fire Wayne Rooney for both
club and country, the return of Ronaldo, and the playmaking of
Dimitar Berbatov; the Baggies confidence won't last long at Old
Trafford this weekend.
Pick: Manchester United
Who: Middlesbrough v
Chelsea
Where: The Riverside
Even though Jeremie Aliadiere gave Boro their first away win of
the season against Wigan in their last League game - ending their
painful away run - Gareth Southgate's side will be glad of a
home tie this weekend, not that it should make much of a
difference against a top-of-the-table Chelsea.
Like Liverpool, Chelsea are unbeaten in the 08/09 season and will
be looking to maintain that record. So even though Scolari's
injury list, with the likes of Deco, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, John
Terry, Didier Drogba and first choice goalie Petr Cech, is longer
than Chelsea's unbeaten run, they should have enough to deal with a
struggling Boro.
Premier Pick: Chelsea
Who: Fulham v Sunderland
Where: Craven Cottage
A struggling Fulham come up against a struggling Sunderland this
weekend in a borefest of monumental proportions. Fulham had a good
home record until Zola's Hammers put an end to that, in a game that
also saw Andy Johnson see red. Fulham found it difficult without
Johnson, getting beat 1-nil by the Baggies away - meanwhile Roy
Keane's Sunderland were somewhat lucky to manage a draw against
Arsenal but no-one can take that fantastic strike away from Grant
Leadbitter.
Premier pick: Fulham
Sunday
Who: Hull City v West Ham
Where: KC Stadium
Hull City eh! Who'd of thought that a team making their Premier
League debut could be sitting third on the table, riding high with
wins over Tottenham and Arsenal, yes, Arsenal - I'm sure Tiger fans
must be feeling the need to wipe their eyes right now - but the
question remains, is this all pure luck or something deeper for
Phil Brown's side? While it is only early in the new season, Brown
knows that getting points at this stage of the race is crucial in
keeping his side out of the relegation zone come May.
West Ham meanwhile have enjoyed somewhat of a revival since Zola
took the reins, only to let it slip with a 3-1 thrashing by Bolton
and one hell of a mistake by Hammers keeper Robert Green. England's
third choice goalie Green took himself off the bench during the
national side's World Cup qualifiers and even though his absence
may make all the difference in this game, a sneaky suspicion tells
me the Hammers may be the ones to put an end to Brown's
extraordinary run.
Pick: West Ham
Who: Stoke v Tottenham
Where: Britannia Stadium
There is a joke currently making the rounds about what is the
difference between Tottenham and a triangle, but the state of this
team is no laughing matter for Juande Ramos with Spurs making their
worst start to a season since the sinking of the Titanic in
1912.
This game is the battle at the very bottom for Stoke and Tottenham,
with the stakes high for both sides. Firmly rooted to the bottom of
the table Tottenham are obviously missing the key striking
partnership of Berbatov and Keane. While they wait for Russian
'hitman' Roman Palvenchenko to finally make his mark, confidence is
at an all time low for the side and nothing but a win over Stoke
will do.
Pick: Tottenham
Monday
Who: Newcastle v Manchester City
Where: St James Park
After two losses on the run money bags Manchester City will also
have a point to prove against a dismal Newcastle at Eastland's this
Monday. Even though they managed a comeback draw against Everton on
the road in their last League game, news that Michael Owen will
miss the clash due to injury will add further woe to the third from
bottom Magpies.
Man City may have been unfortunate to get beat by a Liverpool
comeback in their last home game and there is no doubt Mark
Hughes side can turn on the Brazilian flair when the time is
right.
Pick: Man City
