PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW – PURVIS PREDICTS…
IT'S that time of the week again, and this week’s action in the Barclays Premier League throws up a couple of intriguing prospects.
Leicester City sit top of the pile, and they welcome second-placed Manchester United to The King Power on Saturday evening. Sunday sees Tottenham, who will be looking to make it 13 games unbeaten in the league, host Chelsea in a London derby that usually delivers.
Carl Purvis gives his take on how things will go…
Aston Villa v Watford (Saturday 15:00)
Villa were well, well beaten by a rampant Everton side last week, and look devoid of the quality to lift themselves off the bottom of the table. In addition to this, Remi Garde will be without Jack Grealish this weekend following his breach of club discipline. Watford were hugely unlucky not to take anything from Manchester United last weekend, and will be confident of leaving Birmingham with all three points tomorrow.
Watford are well-organised enough to put a very poor Villa side away.
Prediction : 0-2
Bournemouth v Everton (Saturday 15:00)
Bournemouth were impressive last week against Swansea, and left South Wales with a well-deserved point. Their injury depleted squad will have a huge task on their hands this week, as they welcome an Everton side currently scoring a lot of goals. Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu are all in scintillating form at the moment, and if they can pick up where they left off at home to Villa last week, Bournemouth’s goal difference could take a hammering.
Everton have far too much going forward for a spirited Cherries side.
Prediction : 1-4
Crystal Palace v Newcastle (Saturday 15:00)
After a shock home defeat to Sunderland on Monday night, Alan Pardew will be even more determined to inflict more misery on his former side. Newcastle were powerless to stop a free-scoring Leicester side chalk up a 3-0 victory at St. James’s Park last week, and rumours of training ground bust-ups between manager and captain suggest all is not well at the club.
Palace will bounce back from Monday’s result, and Newcastle will be on the receiving end.
Prediction : 3-1
Man City v Southampton (Saturday 15:00)
Man City were met by a superb Liverpool performance last week, and suffered their second 4-1 defeat of the season. For a side with the quality they have, they can too often be complacent. They can’t afford to be against a side as good as Southampton, and their high-intensity, pressing game could well cause problems for a defence including the always fragile Eliaquim Mangala and Bacary Sagna.
Sergio Aguero is fit again, and the Etihad is his playpen. He will be the difference.
Prediction : 2-1
Sunderland v Stoke (Saturday 15:00)
The Black Cats picked up a massive result at Selhurst Park on Monday night, and their defensive performance was outstanding. John O’Shea, Sebastien Coates and Younes Kaboul were flawless, and the predatory Jermain Defoe only ever needs a sniff. They are notorious for following up highs with spectacular lows, though, and with the exception of a defeat to Watford in October, Stoke are in great form.
If Sunderland show the concentration that they did on Monday, they might pick up a point.
Prediction : 0-0
Leicester v Man Utd (Saturday 17:30)
Leicester have been simply brilliant all season, but now have a run of fixtures that could define their season. They start this daunting run by welcoming an underwhelming United side to the Midlands. Underwhelming or not, United are just one point off the top going into Saturday’s game, and will be expecting to finish the weekend leading the way. This is a mouth-watering prospect, with the league’s leading scorers trying to break down the tightest defence.
Can Jamie Vardy make the record his own? I reckon so.
Prediction : 2-1
Tottenham v Chelsea (Sunday 12:00)
I cannot impress how good of a job Mauricio Pochettino is doing at Spurs. Every one of his players knows their role in the team, his back-four is settled and comfortable, and his side is playing fluid football. Harry Kane now has nine in his last six in all competitions, and his record in big matches, particularly London derbies, is sensational. Chelsea have had a good week, but it’s going to take a while before harmony is completely restored.
Kane will score, and Spurs will be too much for a rehabilitating Chelsea side.
Prediction : 2-0
West Ham v West Brom (Sunday 14:05)
I fear for West Ham a little bit, and think they’ll keep sliding down into mid-table over the next few weeks. They’ve lost Dimitri Payet for a couple of months, and everything went through him. They were exposed by an excellent Spurs performance last week, and although no Premier League side is a one man team, West Ham are significantly less of a threat without Payet. West Brom came from behind to beat Arsenal last week, and will be confident of taking something here.
Hammers’ morale will be plummeting whilst The Baggies will be on a high.
Prediction : 1-2
Liverpool v Swansea (Sunday 16:15)
Jurgen Klopp has started to impress his own, scintillating style on this Liverpool side, and it was in full flow at The Etihad last week. Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino were far too much for a shaky Man City defence, so Ashley Williams and company will need to be at their very best to keep them under control. Swansea are better than they’re showing at the moment, and their players will need to pull out a good performance to relieve some of the pressure on Garry Monk.
Liverpool look like they’re really buying into Klopp’s philosophy, and will win this weekend.
Prediction : 3-0
Norwich v Arsenal – (Sunday 16:15)
Arsenal will be furious with last week’s result. Surrendering their lead against West Brom is typical of the criticisms long levelled at a Gunners side with all the talent to win the league, and something they can’t afford to do this weekend. Norwich have only avoided defeat once in their last six outings, and Arsenal need to be ruthless if they want to be considered as genuine title contenders this season. They were certainly that against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.
Arsenal should pick up where they left off in the Champions League.
Prediction : 0-3
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