The BPL is now getting into full gear as the teams enter week six looking to grab points. This weekend will see champions Manchester United trying to bounce back from a derby demolition at the hands of Manchester City last weekend while leaders Arsenal travel to the Liberty Stadium to tackle Swansea City.
The BPL is now getting into full gear as the teams enter week six looking to grab points. This weekend will see champions Manchester United trying to bounce back from a derby demolition at the hands of Manchester City last weekend while leaders Arsenal travel to the Liberty Stadium to tackle Swansea City.
Aston Villa vs Man City
Villa welcomes a City side to Villa Park that is riding high after a scintillating display against rivals and champions Man United with a 4-1 victory. City will no doubt have confidence running through their veins after such a dominant display. Villa on the other hand are coming off a road victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road last week but it came at a cost as the star striker Christian Benteke limped off injured and will be out for 6 weeks. City will fancy their chances of getting all three points but this Villa team can pull off an upset to keep the three points at home.
Fulham vs Cardiff City
Martin Jol saw his team lose to Chelsea last weekend but would have gotten some encouragement as the blues struggled to break them down and he would consider his team unlucky as they didn’t make use of their chances. Cardiff lost to Tottenham late in their match last week and will be looking to make it right this time around. Gary Medel has been a key figure for them so far and so he must carry on his good form if Cardiff will get a result. Fulham should run out winners but take nothing for granted as this is a Cardiff team that has beaten title favourites Man City.
Hull City vs West Ham
Steve Bruce welcomes West Ham to the Kingston Communication Stadium high on confidence after a 3-2 away victory over Newcastle. Hull put in a very work-man like performance against the Toon Army and Bruce will be hoping for more of the same from his team. The Hammers on the other hand suffered defeat to Everton courtesy of two brilliant free-kicks from Leighton Baines. Sam Allardyce will be hoping his team can bounce back and get all three points against the newly promoted side.
Man United vs West Brom
Champions Man United will seek to get an immediate response after defeat in the Manchester Derby as they welcome West Brom. The champions find themselves in unfamiliar territory in 8th place and will be looking to change that as soon as possible. West Brom got a vital home victory last weekend and travel to Old Trafford knowing the task facing them. It will be very hard to get a result at Old Trafford against the wounded champions and Man United.
Southampton vs Crystal Palace
The Saints are riding high after they inflicted a defeat to this term’s surprise package Liverpool at Anfield and will be going into this fixture looking to build on a fantastic result last weekend. Crystal Palace on the other hand lost at home to Swansea City and Ian Holloway will be rallying his troops to bounce back and get a result. Southampton is very much a hard team to beat since Mauricio Pochettino took charge. Ian Holloway’s side will have a hard time at the St Mary’s Stadium but the Saints will fancy themselves getting all three points.
Swansea City vs Arsenal
The Swans will be looking to save their faces after crashing out of the Capital One Cup in mid-week to Birmingham City and there is no better way to bounce back than to get a victory over the league leaders. The Gunners on the other hand have brushed off their first week defeat to Aston Villa by winning all their matches after that and the addition of Mesut Ozil is sending a flow of belief and confidence throughout the entire club. Arsenal will be without Theo Walcott this weekend but they should be strong enough to come away with all the points but at the Liberty the Swans are hard to beat and so it should be a thrilling encounter.
Stoke City vs Norwich City
The Potters have adapted a new playing style under Mark Hughes and have so far look solid but went down 3-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates, conceding all three goals from set pieces. That cannot be pleasing to Hughes so he will be looking to put more pressure on Chris Hughton by defeating the Canaries. Hughton may find himself without a job should he lose this fixture and will be hoping his team can find some form and get a result at the Brittania.
Sunderland vs Liverpool
Sunderland will enter this game without Paolo Di Canio who was sacked after losing last weekend. The Black Cats is struggling after recruiting fourteen new players over the summer. Liverpool on the other hand saw their perfect start come to an end last weekend losing to Southampton. Brendan Rodgers now has Luis Suares back in his ranks, which is a timely boost for the Reds. Both teams will see this fixture as a must win game and this may well turn out to be the fixture of the weekend.
Everton vs Newcastle
Leighton Baines lifted the Toffees to victory last weekend with two sublime free-kicks against West Ham. The 28 year old left back is now a very influential figure at Goodison Park and a big part of Roberto Martinez’s plans. Alan Pardew’s men are proving to be inconsistent and this has caused Newcastle to lose to newly promoted Hull City last weekend. Pardew’s ‘French Revolution’ is not clicking at the moment as Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sissoko are not being influential enough and they will need to step-up their game if they are to get anything at Goodison Park.
Writer: Yashiema Love
Photo: Arsene Wenger (Getty Images)
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