(All kickoff times are AEST)
Arsenal v Fulham
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday October 11th at the Emirates Stadium
It’s been a dreadful week for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. They were comprehensively outplayed by Manchester United last weekend and then conceded a two-goal lead to draw away to Schalke in the Champions League midweek. Wenger’s side is now nine points from the top and he’s under loads of pressure to get results.
Fulham, on the other hand, are flying. They scored a last-gap equaliser to draw to Everton last weekend, and a successful result at the Emirates Stadium would see them leapfrog the Gunners on the table.
Arsenal needs to get things moving, and fast, if they’re to make a play for not only the title, but also a European place. They should win this weekend.
Arsenal 1-0 Fulham
Everton v Sunderland
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday October 11th at Goodison Park
Everton can feel hard done by yet again after last weekend. They controlled their match with Fulham, but conceded late and had to settle for a point. They still sit inside the top four, but given some of the points they’ve dropped, they really should be up around the top.
Sunderland’s 0-1 loss at home to Aston Villa would have just sucked the life out of their fans. The Black Cats were booed off the pitch at the full time whistle, which is understandable given some of their performances this season. They’ve only scored six goals in nine games so far this campaign, the least of anyone in the competition.
Sunderland will find themselves in a relegation battle at the end of the season, so Everton should win this one comfortably.
Everton 2-0 Sunderland
Reading v Norwich
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday October 11th at the Madejski Stadium
Reading held on to a point away to QPR last weekend, but they still sit inside the bottom three. Brian McDermott has a lot of work to do, but he has a winnable match coming up this weekend, so he will have to rally his troops to get all three points.
Norwich looks past their early-season slump and is now gaining important points to keep them away from the relegation zone. They impressed me when they defeated Stoke 1-0 last weekend, holding firm and remaining solid at the back. I think Chris Houghton finally has his side on the right track.
Both sides will be targeting a win, but they’ll cancel each other out and will have to settle for a draw.
Reading 1-1 Norwich
Southampton v Swansea
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday October 11th at St Mary’s Stadium
Following his side’s 0-2 loss to West Brom last weekend, Southampton manager Nigel Adkins took the unusual path of declaring himself ‘favourite to be sacked’ first this season. The pressure is on both him and his side, which currently sits on the bottom of the table.
Swansea was very impressive against Chelsea last weekend. They controlled periods of the match, and struck a deserved, albeit late, equaliser through Pablo Hernandez. They look to be back on track following a mini-slump a few weeks ago.
Southampton will prime themselves for this clash, and although Swansea is in good form, the Saints should do enough to get a draw.
Southampton 2-2 Swansea
Stoke v QPR
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday October 11th at the Britannia Stadium
Stoke has never looked like being in a relegation battle since gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2008; however, if results don’t improve soon, they could be scrapping it out at the end of this season. A 1-0 loss to Norwich saw them drop to 15th on the table, with their last victory in the league coming well over a month ago.
QPR remains the only side without a win in this Premier League season, but it’s coming soon. Djibril Cisse scored a vital equaliser at home to Reading last weekend and they probably should have won given the amount of times they forced top-class saves from Reading’s keeper Alex McCarthy.
Both sides are struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table, and will have to settle for a point each this weekend.
Stoke 1-1 QPR
Wigan v West Bromwich Albion
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday October 11th at the DW Stadium
Wigan’s 1-0 win away from home at Tottenham last weekend was superb. Not only did they grind out the victory, but they deserved it. They played the better football, they created more of the chances and they got their reward.
West Brom’s 2-0 win against Southampton saw them jump to fifth on the table, only out of the Champions League places on goal difference. Steve Clarke has his new side playing wonderful football; however, stressed midweek that he’s still demanding more from his side.
For me, these two are the most improved sides this season and we should see a cracker of a match this weekend. I’m tipping an entertaining draw.
Wigan 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Kickoff: 4.30am Sunday October 11th at Villa Park
Aston Villa put themselves two games clear of the relegation zone when they held on to a gritty 1-0 win over Sunderland last weekend. It was a crucial victory for the Midlands side, who have really struggled to start this season. Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the game’s solitary goal, ending his 28-match dry spell.
Manchester United’s victory over Arsenal sent them to the top of the Premier League table and to be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where they stay for the majority of the season. They were brilliant against the Gunners. My only criticism was that they should have won by more. They had plenty of chances, but just couldn’t put them away. In the end, they still held on for a comfortable victory.
United should easily account for Villa this weekend.
Aston Villa 0-3 Manchester United
Manchester City v Tottenham
Kickoff: 12.30am Monday October 12th at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City relinquished the chance to go to the top of the Premier League table when they were held to a scoreless draw with West Ham. City was really poor at Upton Park and that form continued into their midweek Champions League match, which they drew 2-2 with Ajax. Roberto Mancini has a task on his hands in lifting his players and if they’re to defend their title, he must do it soon.
Tottenham are still in sixth on the table, despite their 0-1 loss at home to Wigan last weekend. However, I think that position flatters them greatly. They have been incredibly poor this season and their fans are even beginning to boo Andre Villas Boas’s substitutions during a match, proving that the manager doesn’t have the backing of the supporters. There are dangerous times ahead at White Hart Lane if Villas Boas doesn’t win over the fans, and soon.
Both sides are yet to find their rhythm this season and have looked quite disjointed. I think Manchester City should still do enough to get the three points this weekend.
Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham
Newcastle v West Ham
Kickoff: 2.00am Monday October 12th at St James’ Park
Newcastle was lucky to come away from Anfield with a point last weekend. They lost control of the match after taking the lead and could have left with nothing if not for some wasteful finishing by Liverpool. The Geordies also lost their skipper, Fabriccio Coloccini, after he was sent off for a foul on Luis Suarez. He’s now banned from this match.
West Ham should have inflicted Manchester City’s first loss of the season last weekend. Kevin Nolan had an early goal incorrectly ruled out for offside, while they spurned a host of chances throughout the match. I’m still not sold on Sam Allardyce’s long-ball tactics, but they should cause Newcastle some trouble this weekend, especially as they are without the aerial presence of Coloccini.
Expect the home fans to get on the back of West Ham striker and former hometown hero Andy Carroll, who left Newcastle in 2011. In terms of the match, Newcastle should have too much quality across the park for West Ham and should record the three points this weekend.
Newcastle 2-0 West Ham
Chelsea v Liverpool
Kickoff: 3.00am Monday October 12th at Stamford Bridge
In this weekend’s match of the round, Liverpool travels to Stamford Bridge for a game of the utmost importance.
Chelsea was coming off a big week when they drew 1-1 to Swansea last weekend, so to be honest the fact they didn’t take all three points didn’t surprise me. They’ve had another long week leading into this match, as well, with Victor Moses scoring a last-minute winner in the Champions League against Schalke.
Liverpool should have taken the win against Newcastle; however, they were once again left to rue a host of wasted opportunities. Luis Suarez scored a fantastic individual goal, however their reliance on the Uruguayan is seemingly always mounting. He’s scored well over half of Liverpool’s goals this season.
Expect the jeers to be aimed in the direction of former-Red Fernando Torres, who controversially left Liverpool for £50 million in 2011. While Liverpool is improving, Chelsea should have too much class for the Reds this weekend.
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
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.
