Premiership football fixture reviews
It’s clearly unfair to make any definitive statements about the 20 Premiership teams after 5 weeks of the season. It would be immature, trivial and crude. It wouldn’t be noteworthy. I wouldn’t write it. You wouldn’t read it. Simple.
So, thank god 6 weeks have almost passed.
This week’s Premiership fixtures will stamp some authority on the early season verdicts. Are Portsmouth already doomed for the drop? Can anybody win at Turf Moor? Are West Ham ‘too good’ to go down? Is Craig Bellamy misunderstood? Is Darren Bent a better finisher than Harry Redknapp’s grandmother?
Man United v Sunderland
Teacher and pupil collide at Old Trafford. Ok, collide might be overstating the animosity of the relationship between Alex Ferguson and former United centre-back Steve Bruce or the importance of the tie but this is a preview! Get excited!
Mr D Bent, he of the 6 goals in 7 league games, will carry the torch alongside less prolific but far more exciting Mr K Jones, Kenwyne to his friends. United have won 10 and draw 2 of their past 12 home games in all competitions and have slowly evolved as the season has with new boys Valencia and Owen have settled and old boys Giggs and Scholes have surged.
Is Nani the most frustrating player in the league? Do you think he cooks a great meal and then drops it as he carries it to the table? Or perhaps charms the pants off a girl only to put them back on before getting a taxi home alone? End product kid, that’s what it’s all about.
United win, Sunderland lose, Berbatov scores? Anything could happen. 2-0 to Bruce’s old team.
Chelsea v Liverpool
The second meeting of big-4 monopolisers comes a week after Chelsea’s first setback of the year and Liverpool’s most resounding victory. Then again the Blues won their European tie while the Reds got beat. Does form really matter? If it doesn’t then past history probably won’t either although it is worth remembering that it was Liverpool that ended Chelsea’s long, long, Wimbledon-long-ball long undefeated home record with their victory at the Bridge last October. They also helped shift Luiz Felipe Scolari by defeating them at Anfield 2-0 in February.
Chelsea were poor versus Wigan. More than poor, they made Wigan look very, very good and the Latics were dispatched with ease by Arsenal and Man Utd in recent encounters. Liverpool have their own concerns; they were desperately slow starters in Florence on Tuesday night, have been vulnerable defensively all season and seem far less confident without the departed Xabi Alonso and the injured and under performing Javier Mascherano.
Drogba v Torres, Lampard v Gerrard, Terry v Carragher, Cech v Reina, Essien v Mascherano. The guess would be that such stars cancel each other out but Chelsea, at home and more consistent, should be favoured. 2-1 to the Blues.
Aston Villa v Man City
This must be like a cup final for ESPN’s Monday night broadcast. With apologies to Spurs and Everton, Villa and City may be the two most likely invaders of those coveted, over-promoted Champions League spots and have both won 4 of their last 5 in the Premiership.
While both teams managed a home victory in the 08/09 campaign, City have prospered and progressed far more since last season ended. Adebayor, Tevez, Lescott, Santa Cruz and former Villain Gareth Barry have headed to the City of Manchester Stadium. Headed to Birmingham? Promising yet untested Fabian Delph, James Collins, Habib Beye and former City defender Richard Dunne. You may have noticed I’ve missed out England hopefuls Stewart Downing and Stephen Warnock but I’m making a point.
City have only been beaten the once so far – the wild Manchester Derby if you recall – and, that game and moments against Arsenal aside, have looked the part of a top tier side. Aston Villa have been more susceptible; defeats to Wigan and Blackburn have undermined a strong start.
Martin Petrov is back, Craig Bellamy is playing as well as he may have ever, Santa Cruz is back, Tevez looks pretty decent, the defence is stable…so…City to win? Possible, but I’ll shelter under the prediction of a draw. 1-1.