EPL Weekend Preview
Manchester United v Newcastle United – BET NOWOld Trafford
Saturday 26th November 2011
Meetings between Manchester United and Newcastle United inevitably evoke memories of the 1995-96 season and an infamous televised rant from then-Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan.
With the two clubs neck and neck in the title race, Keegan cracked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games took their toll and the Red Devils went on to claim yet another championship.
Fast forward to 2011, however and current Magpies boss Alan Pardew may be tempted to apply a little bit of mental pressure to his United counterpart given the champions’ current indifferent form.
In addition to making very heavy weather of emerging from a fairly weak Champions League group, United remain five points adrift of Manchester City in the Premier League table and were fortunate to pick up a victory at the expense of Swansea last time out.
Since crashing to that humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of City late last month, Fergie’s men have not conceded a single league goal in three games, but they’ve only scored three themselves, adding weight to the argument their midfield is lacking the kind of creativity and drive that summer transfer target Wesley Sneijder would have provided.
Whether they attempt to lure the Dutch star away from Inter Milan again in January remains to be seen, but there is little doubt that the current United squad does need an injection of extra quality if City are to be caught.
In terms of Saturday’s vital league clash, Wayne Rooney should return after being rested for the midweek draw with Benfica and Jonny Evans is expected to recover from a tight hamstring, but the versatile Chris Smalling and the exciting Danny Wellbeck will both undergo late fitness tests and Anderson, Tom Cleverley and Michael Owen are all ruled out.
Newcastle, meanwhile, remain in the top four despite last week’s defeat at the hands of Manchester City, but that result at the City of Manchester Stadium provided something of a reality check for Pardew’s side.
They came up well short in what was their first major test of the season, at least partially confirming the popular assertion that a kind run of early season fixtures has been the main reason behind their unexpectedly lofty league position.
The men from Tyneside should have enough about them to threaten a top eight finish this term, but a Champions League place is likely to prove well beyond them.
That said, they haven’t become a bad team overnight and given the strength of their defence so far this term, will fancy their chances of blunting United’s goal-shy attack.
Daniel Obertan will be out to prove a point to his former club having made a full recovery from an infected toe, Cheik Tiote should be fit enough to make the squad after overcoming a knee problem and Leon Best may also be included following a spell on the sidelines due to a groin strain.
The travelling fans will head across the country from Tyneside more in hope than expectation, however, because the historical omens could hardly be less encouraging.
The Magpies have conceded ten goals in their last three visits to Old Trafford and indeed have not managed a single victory there in almost 40 years.
They may not be firing on all cylinders or especially good to watch just at the moment, but United should still do just enough to edge out a Newcastle side whose flirtation with the giddy heights of the top four looks to be coming to an end.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle United
Liverpool v Manchester City- BET NOWAnfield
Sunday 27th November 2011
The usually poker-faced Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish almost let a satisfied grin emerge in the wake of his side’s 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend.
Almost, but not quite.
Because although that deserved victory moved the Reds level on points with the Blues and well within striking range of a top-four spot, the vastly-experienced Scot is canny enough to realise that his charges need to perform to that level on a far more consistent basis if trophies are to start returning to Anfield anytime soon.
And their ability to achieve that consistency will be given the most thorough of examinations when league leaders Manchester City swagger into town on Sunday.
Like Manchester United, City have not been at their best in Europe in recent weeks, but unlike the Red Devils, their league form has been imperious.
Still unbeaten this season, Roberto Mancini’s men will be looking for an eighth successive win when they make the short trip to Anfield and although Liverpool’s defence has been impressively tight in recent weeks, it will be at full stretch to keep out a City side that has rattled in no fewer than 28 goals in its last six league outings.
Mancini may be tempted to make one or two changes following the disappointing midweek Champions League defeat at the hands of Napoli, with Sergio Aguero likely to be given the nod to start along with Gael Clichy and perhaps Samir Nasri who was used only sparingly at the Sao Paolo.
Maverick Italian striker Mario Balotelli should also be included in the run-on side despite suffering from a stomach upset earlier in the week, but Owen Hargreaves is yet again a major doubt with a calf injury.
As for Liverpool, they did not appear to pick up any fresh injuries during their win over Chelsea, leaving Steven Gerrard as their only big-name absentee.
The England midfielder is said to be recovering well from an ankle infection but seems unlikely to be risked against City and may instead be eased back into action via next Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie at Chelsea.
Maxi Rodriguez is set to retain his starting berth after an impressive, goal-scoring display at Stamford Bridge, meaning more bench-warming duties for Stewart Downing and it will be interesting to see if Dalglish opts to make a change up front and hand another opportunity to record-signing Andy Carroll.
Any over-confidence among the travelling fans should be cured with a look at their club’s recent record at Anfield which is a little ordinary to say the least.
The Manchester club have failed to win there since 2003, losing six of the subsequent eight games and crashing to a 3-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture last season.
City may be a touch jaded after their midweek trip to Italy, while Liverpool will be fresh and full of confidence following their impressive performance last weekend and there’s every chance this could be a cracker of a contest.
Unbeaten since mid-September, the hosts will make life very difficult for the league leaders and roared on by a capacity crowd, may well pick up a valuable point.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
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