(All kickoff times are AEST)
Sunderland v QPR
Kickoff: 6.45am Wednesday November 28th at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland will take heart from their 2-4 loss to West Brom on Saturday. Although they didn’t get a point, they managed to score a couple of goals and really tested a good Albion side. They have a winnable match this week, so there’s no doubt Martin O’Neill will be relishing the chance for a much-needed victory.
Just a day out from their match with Manchester United, QPR sacked manager Mark Hughes and instated former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp as his replacement. Redknapp watched from the stands as QPR took the lead at Old Trafford, only to concede three goals in eight minutes and remain winless so far this season.
Redknapp will manage QPR for the first time this week, and a fresh approach usually brings about good results. I think the Rangers will get a well-earned draw away from home.
Sunderland 1-1 QPR
Aston Villa v Reading
Kickoff: 7.00am Wednesday November 28th at Villa Park
Aston Villa secured a goalless draw against Arsenal on the weekend, however the deserved point wasn’t enough to move them from the relegation zone. This week they come up against fellow bottom three side Reading. It’s a crucial six-point match, and one both sides will be hoping to win.
Reading conceded a stoppage-time goal at Wigan on the weekend, which cost them what would have been a vital point. However it was the Royals’ first loss in over a month of Premier League football, so Brian McDermott has reason to believe things are on the way up.
It’s a winnable match for both sides, but I think the two will be forced to share the points in a high scoring affair.
Aston Villa 2-2 Reading
Chelsea v Fulham
Kickoff: 6.45am Thursday November 29th at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea fans made their feelings known when they booed new manager Rafael Benitez onto the park in Sunday’s goalless draw with Manchester City. The point at home to the champions lifted the Blues two games clear in fourth spot. However, it was a rather disjointed display, and there is still a lot of work to do for Benitez and co.
Martin Jol would perhaps be beginning to worry after seeing his Fulham side lose their second consecutive match to Stoke City on the weekend. They now have a tough game away to Chelsea, in which a third straight loss could be on the cards. If they don’t get a result, they could potentially slip out of the top half of the table.
Benitez needs to win over the Chelsea fans as soon as possible, and I think he’ll begin that process with his first win as Blues boss this week.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
Everton v Arsenal
Kickoff: 6.45am Thursday November 29th at Goodison Park
David Moyes was left lamenting Everton’s 1-1 draw with Norwich on the weekend. It highlighted the recent inconsistencies for the Toffees, who have only won one of their last seven games.
Arsenal’s goalless draw with Aston Villa last weekend saw them drop to sixth on the table, and once again saw more pressure be heaped onto Arsene Wenger. The manager was forced to defend his tactics to fans after the game, highlighting the lack of support from the stands.
Neither side is in great form, however I think this will be an entertaining clash. A draw is the likely result.
Everton 1-1 Arsenal
Southampton v Norwich
Kickoff: 6.45am Thursday November 29th at St Mary’s Stadium
From manager Nigel Adkins being under immense pressure just two weeks ago, Southampton now looks a side full of confidence. They notched up their second consecutive win on the weekend when they defeated Newcastle 2-0, and have moved out of the relegation zone as a result of their good spell of form.
Norwich got a well-deserved 1-1 draw with Arsenal on the weekend, meaning they have now gone seven games unbeaten in the league. The Canaries are in fine form, and look safe in mid-table.
Both sides are starting to hit their peak, and should settle for a draw in this midweek match.
Southampton 1-1 Norwich
Stoke v Newcastle
Kickoff: 6.45am Thursday November 29th at the Britannia Stadium
Charlie Adam scored his second goal in as many matches as Stoke cruised to a gritty 1-0 win over Fulham on the weekend. The Potters have now well and truly emerged from the mini-slump they went through a few weeks ago, and are now beginning to climb the Premier League table.
Newcastle’s 0-2 defeat at Southampton was their third loss in a row, sending them to 14th on the table. Alan Pardew is admittedly ‘concerned’ following the result, and he has reason to worry. His side sits just four points above the relegation zone, and will need to lift if they’re to match their fourth-placed finish last campaign.
Stoke has form on their side, and should take advantage of a lackluster Newcastle outfit.
Stoke 1-0 Newcastle
Swansea v West Bromwich Albion
Kickoff: 6.45am Thursday November 29th at the Liberty Stadium
Swansea secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, meaning they retained a top half place on the table. The Welsh side has adjusted seamlessly to a managerial change over the summer, and could vie for a European place under Michael Laudrup.
West Brom just continues to go about their football in a professional and slick manner under Steve Clarke. They perhaps hadn’t received the plaudits they deserved prior to their 4-2 win over Sunderland last weekend, which sent them to third on the table. They’re just four points from the top, and could end up in a title fight, let alone a battle for a European place.
West Brom’s form merits my tip this week. Even away from home, they look good, and should get all three points against Swansea.
Swansea 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
Tottenham v Liverpool
Kickoff: 6.45am Thursday November 29th at White Hart Lane
Tottenham’s 3-1 win over West Ham last weekend snapped a three-game losing streak in the Premier League. Jermaine Defoe proved his worth, scoring a magnificent double in a fantastic performance. He’s truly one of English football’s most dangerous strikers, and perhaps doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Liverpool’s goalless draw away to Swansea meant they stretched their unbeaten run to eight games in the Premier League. The Reds might not yet be in the top half of the table, but Brendan Rodgers can build on the baby steps his side has made in the last couple of months.
It should be an entertaining contest at White Hart Lane. I think both sides will battle for a point.
Tottenham 2-2 Liverpool
Manchester United v West Ham
Kickoff: 7.00am Thursday November 29th at Old Trafford
Last week I touched on Manchester United’s tendency to go behind in matches this season. That trend continued on the weekend when they fell a goal down to QPR, only to fight back and win the match. You can’t fault their ability to come back from the brink of defeat, but you can question whether they can sustain a title fight if they continue to concede early goals.
West Ham may have lost away to Tottenham on the weekend, but they still sit comfortably in the top half of the table and are well on their way to thwarting the danger of a relegation battle. They’re currently in the midst of a tricky run of games, in which they face Tottenham, United, Chelsea and Liverpool, so will do well to negate the next month.
Manchester United should prove to be a class above West Ham in the late kickoff on Thursday morning.
Manchester United 3-1 West Ham
Wigan v Manchester City
Kickoff: 7.00am Thursday November 29th at the DW Stadium
Jordi Gomez scored a sensation hat trick, including a last-gasp winner, as Wigan overcame Reading 3-2 on the weekend. It was a vital win for the Latics, however some of the gloss may have been taken away from the result following Ali Al-Habsi’s howler on goal (YouTube it if you haven’t already).
Manchester City’s goalless draw with Chelsea on the weekend cost them top spot on the Premier League table, although it maintained their unbeaten start to the season. They didn’t create too many chances at Stamford Bridge, however Roberto Mancini won’t be worried. The Italian will be confident they can recover with a win this weekend before entering a hectic Christmas period.
Manchester City will improve their title credentials with a comfortable victory in this fixture.
Wigan 0-2 Manchester City
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.
