EPL Preview
Manchester City v Newcastle UnitedCity of Manchester Stadium
Saturday 19th November 2011.
It’s fair to say that come the first week of December, we’ll know whether Newcastle United are set to be this season’s Premier League surprise package, or whether a comparatively easy run of early-season fixtures is the real reason behind their unexpectedly lofty league position.
The Magpies face by far their sternest test of the campaign so far when they visit Manchester City on Saturday and following their clash with the league leaders, they then travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United and follow that up with a home game against Chelsea.
A tough run indeed, but boss Alan Pardew’s men will approach it in confident mood having won seven of their eleven league games, conceding just eight goals in the process.
That form has seen them climb to third in the table, just a point behind Manchester United and has managed to overshadow yet another controversial move from widely-reviled owner Mike Ashley who last week announced that the club’s historic St James’ Park home has now been re-named the Sports Direct Arena.
Financially, of course, the decision makes perfect sense as it is set to drive around $15 million a year into the club’s coffers, but it has not gone down at all well with one of the most proudly traditional fan bases in the country.
There has been more positive news for those fans on the injury front, however, with influential midfielder Cheik Tiote declaring himself fit to face City having missed the last two league games with a knee injury.
Danny Guthrie looks set to drop to the bench should the Ivorian come straight back into the run-on side, while fellow midfielder Yohan Cabaye is expected to shrug off a minor groin strain in time for Saturday.
In other injury news, Shola Ameobi’s hamstring injury rules him out of the selection equation, Mike Williamson, Alan Smith and Gabriel Obertan are also definite absentees and in-form striker Leon Best is a major doubt as he battles the toe and groin problems that forced him to withdraw from the Ireland squad last week.
As for City, although the Carlos Tevez saga continues to rumble along in the background, the last few days have been remarkably uneventful at Eastlands.
None of the club’s stars appeared to pick up serious injuries while away on international duty, although several may be a bit jaded after lengthy flights and of the existing casualties, both Samir Nasri and Owen Hargreaves could be fit enough to earn squad places this weekend.
Even Mario Balotelli managed to attract some positive headlines, scoring his first goal for Italy against Poland and not unveiling a slogan t-shirt or burning his hotel room down.
City do of course come into the game in sensational form having won their last eight games on the bounce, scoring no fewer than 30 goals along the way and it will be fascinating to see if the league’s best attack can successfully unpick the league’s tightest defence.
Historically Newcastle have not enjoyed much success from this fixture, with their last victory in Manchester coming back in September 2000 and despite their strong showing so far this season, it’s hard to see them improving upon that record this weekend.
They will doubtless make City work hard to break them down, but Mancini’s men have proved that they can be patient and eventually they should find their way through and claim another vital victory.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
Chelsea v LiverpoolStamford Bridge
Sunday 20th November 2011.
Chelsea and Liverpool have been involved in something of a saga in recent years and will lock horns in yet another high-stakes showdown at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The two clubs have met a staggering 28 times in all competitions since 2004, producing an almost even split of ten wins for the Blues, eleven for the reds and seven draws.
Neither side has looked overly-convincing thus far this term and it already appears that the West Londoners and the Merseysiders will be concerning themselves more with securing a top four place than claiming the Premier League title.
Form-wise, Chelsea are in the midst of a sticky spell during which they have won only two of their last five league, Carling Cup and Champions League games and having had the international break in which to ponder his selection options, it will be interesting to see what side boss Andre Villas Boas sends out at the Bridge on Sunday.
John Terry looks sure to be included despite the distraction of the ongoing investigation into allegations of racial abuse made against him by QPR defender Anton Ferdinand and he may well be partnered at centre-back by Alex rather than the unpredictable David Luiz.
Frank Lampard will be looking to continue his recent resurgence after bagging England’s winner against Spain in midweek, but Fernando Torres may have to settle for a place on the bench against his former club.
Florent Malouda, meanwhile, will undergo a late fitness test after picking up a knock in the Blues’ most recent outing at Blackburn.
From the visitors’ perspective, Sunday’s trip to the capital represents an opportunity to send out the clear message that owner John Henry’s significant recent investment will ultimately be rewarded with a return to the Champions League next season, along with perhaps some silverware this term.
Currently lying sixth in the table three points behind their hosts, the Reds have blown hot and cold in recent weeks, mixing solid away wins at West Brom and Everton with disappointing draws against the likes of Norwich and Swansea.
Boss Kenny Dalglish still hasn’t quite managed to bring the best out of his talented and expensively-assembled squad and may opt to make a few changes for the Chelsea clash, with Stewart Downing’s midfield place under pressure, Jamie Carragher set to return to the defence after recovering from a calf strain and Craig Bellamy widely tipped to earn a promotion from the bench.
Steven Gerrard could also come into the reckoning, although the best the England man can realistically hope for is a place among the substitutes as he battles his way back from an ankle infection.
Bellamy’s inclusion would certainly ask some questions of a Blues defence whose lack of pace has been cruelly exposed on a number of occasions this season, most recently by Arsenal, while Luis Suarez should get the nod to join the Welshman up front after recovering from a minor back strain.
And the Uruguayan striker should be bubbling over with confidence having scored four times for his country in their recent win over Chile.
With neither side quite hitting their straps or finding any real consistency in terms of results and performances so far this season, this is a tricky game to call and it’s therefore tempting to sit on the fence and back the draw.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Recent Comments