(All kickoff times are AEST)
Manchester United v Arsenal
Kickoff: 11.45pm Saturday November 3rd at Old Trafford
In the weekend’s match of the round, Manchester United welcomes Arsenal to Old Trafford for Saturday’s early kickoff.
Manchester United has had a huge week. They were fortunate to defeat Chelsea 3-2 in the Premier League, before succumbing 4-5 to the same opposition in the League Cup midweek. Defence is still their biggest issue, and there’s no doubt it would be worrying Alex Ferguson. They have conceded 11 goals in their last four fixtures; however have staggeringly still managed to win three of them. If Ferguson can tighten up his backline, his squad will look just about impossible to beat.
Arsenal has also had an interesting week, full of goals. After going four goals down after just 37 minutes to Reading in the Capital One Cup, the Gunners made a stunning comeback to win the match 7-5. Arsene Wenger would have been pleased to see Theo Walcott net a hat trick in the fightback, however like Ferguson he would be worried about Arsenal’s leaky defence.
Neither of these sides look like keeping a clean sheet any time soon, so expect a match full of goals. I’m tipping Manchester United quite comfortably.
Manchester United 3-1 Arsenal
Fulham v Everton
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 4th at Craven Cottage
Fulham missed a brilliant chance to move within striking distance of the top four when they conceded a last-minute equaliser to Reading last weekend. The Cottagers had worked their way in front, and looked to be continuing their fine run of form before a defensive lapse saw them drop two crucial points. Still, the signs are good for Martin Jol’s men.
Everton was involved in a high-octane affair with Merseyside rivals Liverpool last weekend. After going two goals down early in the match, the Toffees fought back and leveled the scores by half time. The match finished as a draw, however Everton were probably the better side and looked more likely to grab a winner throughout the match. David Moyes’ side sits just one point outside the top four and is in a great position to mount a European charge.
Both sides will be happy with their early season starts and will settle for a draw at Craven Cottage.
Fulham 1-1 Everton
Norwich v Stoke
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 4th at Carrow Road
Norwich’s horrendous run of form looks to be over, with really positive results coming from their last three matches. A Grant Holt winner against Arsenal stemmed the flow for the Canaries, who have since recorded a draw with Aston Villa and a win over a strong Tottenham side in the Capital One Cup.
I feel for the fans that were made to sit through Stoke’s goalless draw with Sunderland last weekend. It was a game of few chances, and one that will quickly be forgotten by all of those who attended. Marc Wilkinson unfortunately broke his leg in the bore draw, which is a real shame for both the player and Stoke City.
I wouldn’t bet against this one being another tiresome encounter, with a draw the likely result.
Norwich 1-1 Stoke
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 4th at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland was dumped out of the Capital One Cup by local rivals Middlesbrough midweek, with Australian Scott McDonald scoring the game’s solitary goal. Yet again the Black Cats were held goalless, meaning no Sunderland player has scored in over a month (their goal against Newcastle was an own goal). Martin O’Neill has some serious problems to rectify up front against his former side.
Aston Villa threw away the lead against Norwich last weekend after being reduced to 10 men early in the second half. Joe Bennett was the man sent off, with his dismissal costing Villa the chance to grab just their second league win this season.
If Sunderland can find an outlet to goal, they should be able to grab the three points against a struggling Villa side.
Sunderland 2-1 Aston Villa
Swansea v Chelsea
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 4th at the Liberty Stadium
Swansea has enjoyed a mini-revival of sorts after going through a troubling spell of form. The Swans failed to win a game in five attempts, however victory over Wigan two weeks ago was followed by a good display at the home of the champions, Manchester City. They defeated Liverpool at Anfield midweek in the Capital One Cup, and will go into a match at home to Chelsea with renewed confidence.
Chelsea exacted revenge for their unlucky defeat to Manchester United in the league last weekend, defeating the Red Devils 5-4 in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night. The headlines have been taken off Chelsea’s performances though, instead focusing on the explosive claims surrounding referee Mark Clattenburg, who officiated Chelsea’s Premier League match with Manchester United on Sunday.
Although Swansea are getting back to their best, Chelsea will still shade them for quality and should win this match.
Swansea 0-2 Chelsea
Tottenham v Wigan
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 4th at White Hart Lane
Tottenham returned to the top four of the Premier League last weekend when they defeated Southampton away from home. Although it wasn’t a fantastic performance, the win has continued to prove that Tottenham are getting results even when they’re not at their best. They look a scary proposition at the moment, and will only continue to get better under Andre Villas Boas.
Wigan was unceremoniously dumped out of the Capital One Cup midweek when they lost to League Two strugglers Bradford City. Although it wasn’t a full strength Wigan side, the result still would have worried manager Roberto Martinez. In the league, their form hasn’t been too bad, but results will need to come soon to keep them from a relegation battle at the end of the season.
Tottenham will remain in the top four with a comfortable victory this weekend.
Tottenham 2-0 Wigan
West Ham v Manchester City
Kickoff: 4.30am Sunday November 4th at Upton Park
West Ham suffered a setback last weekend when they went down 1-2 to Wigan. It was a really poor performance from the Hammers, who never looked like being in the game until James Tomkins scored a last-minute consolation goal. They have the perfect opportunity to put things right this weekend though, when the champions roll into Upton Park for the late Saturday kickoff.
Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Swansea last weekend was soured by a sickening knee injury to defender Micah Richards. The England international could now miss up to five months after having surgery, which will no doubt put a dent in City’s title chances. Although they’re only a point off top spot, the champions don’t look quite at their best. They’ll only get better though, which is a worrying thought for opposition sides.
West Ham will put up a fight, however Manchester City should do enough to seal the victory.
West Ham 1-2 Manchester City
QPR v Reading
Kickoff: 12.30am Monday November 5th at Loftus Road
QPR was unlucky away to Arsenal last weekend. They conceded an 84th minute goal to Mikel Arteta, which had a hint of offside about it. Mark Hughes can’t seem to take a trick at the moment, with his side still sitting on the bottom of the table without a win from nine games.
Reading lost the high-scoring thriller to Arsenal 5-7 just days after drawing 3-3 with Fulham at the Madejski Stadium. It proves two things: that they can find the back of the net, but they can’t protect their own. Pavel Pogrebnyak has proven to be a fantastic signing, and his scoring rate is first class, but they need someone to help sure up their leaky defence if they’re to stay in the Premier League.
QPR had the luxury of a midweek break, and at home they should come out refreshed and ready to grab their first win of the season.
QPR 2-1 Reading
Liverpool v Newcastle
Kickoff: 3.00am Monday November 5th at Anfield
Liverpool can count themselves very unfortunate after drawing 2-2 with Everton in the Merseyside Derby last week. Luis Suarez found the back of the net with the very last kick of the match, only to be wrongly adjudged as offside. Brendan Rodgers has been in the headlines midweek for lamenting Liverpool’s paper-thin squad, and it remains to be a very big problem with two months still remaining until the January transfer window.
Papiss Cisse’s deflected stoppage-time winner saw Newcastle narrowly account for West Brom last weekend. In all honesty, the Magpies probably didn’t deserve the three points, however the win lifted them into the top half of the table. There seems to be a bit of unrest within St James’ Park at the moment, particularly surrounding Cisse and Demba Ba, so Alan Pardew will need to quickly address that matter if they’re to challenge for a European place.
The two sides look even across the park, so a draw is the likely result at Anfield.
Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton
Kickoff: 7.00am Tuesday November 6th at the Hawthorns
West Bromwich Albion didn’t deserve to lose to Newcastle last weekend. It’s unfortunate, because the draw would have taken them to within a game of the top four. Steve Clarke has his troops in a position where they can strike for a European place, however they must remain consistent throughout the season.
Southampton sit second from the bottom after nine games, and Nigel Adkins’s life wasn’t made easier when they were knocked out of the Capital One Cup 0-3 midweek by League One side Leeds. They will be in a relegation battle at the end of the season, and their fans know that, so they must get as many points on the board now to give them the best possible chance at staying up.
Albion look good, and at the Hawthorns they should easily account for a poor Southampton side.
West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Southampton
Riley Beveridge is a first-year Bachelor of Sports Journalism student at La Trobe University. You can follow his Premier League views at his Twitter account: @RileyBev.
