(All kickoff times are AEST)
Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion
Kickoff: 11.45pm Saturday November 24th at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland recorded their first Premier League victory in over a month when they beat Fulham 3-1 away last weekend. They were impressive, despite playing with a one-man advantage for the majority of the game. Perhaps Martin O’Neill is finally about to change the Black Cats’ fortunes.
West Brom’s incredible 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend sent them a game clear in fourth spot. It was a fantastic victory, and fully deserved. The Baggies meteoric rise this season has been architected by Steve Clarke. He’s getting the very best out of his players, and they look a real threat for a European place this season.
Sunderland is beginning to hit some form, and I fancy them to get a point against the high-flying West Brom this weekend.
Sunderland 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Everton v Norwich
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 25th at Goodison Park
Everton is beginning to have a slight dip in form, which would worry David Moyes. The Toffees have only won one of their past six Premier League matches, and were defeated by the hapless Reading last weekend. They have since slipped out of the top four, and face a must-win clash against Norwich this week.
Norwich come into this match off the back of a wonderful win against Manchester United last weekend. Chris Houghton has fixed a once leaky defence, and they’re now reaping the benefits of building from the back. They have kept three clean sheets in a row, and Anthony Pilkington’s fantastic header got them a deserved victory against United on Saturday.
Everton needs to stablise this mini form slump they’re going through, and they should with a win this weekend.
Everton 2-1 Norwich
Manchester United v QPR
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 25th at Old Trafford
Manchester United relinquished top spot last weekend when they went down to Norwich at Carrow Road. A young United side then failed to get a point away to Galatasaray midweek. Incredibly, Manchester United has gone a goal behind in 14 of 19 games so far this season, and they have only kept three clean sheets in that time. That’s not a stat Alex Ferguson would be pleased with, and he’ll be expecting to rectify it this weekend.
The pressure built on Mark Hughes last weekend after a 1-3 loss at home to Southampton. The Rangers are now glued to the bottom of the table, and remarkably are already two games inside the relegation zone. Hughes is hanging on to his job by the skin of his teeth, which means a trip to Manchester United is the last thing he will want.
Manchester United rested almost their entire squad midweek, so they will be fit and firing and ready to take apart QPR this weekend. It could even turn out to be Mark Hughes’s last game as Rangers manager.
Manchester United 4-0 QPR
Stoke v Fulham
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 25th at the Britannia Stadium
Stoke stumbled once again away from home last weekend, unable to hold onto their lead against West Ham. It sent the Potters down to 13th on the table, but more importantly it meant they remained without an away win since the 2nd of January.
Brede Hangeland’s sending off cost Fulham dearly against Sunderland last weekend. It will also cost them this round against Stoke, where his aerial presence will be hugely missed. Stoke play a direct, combative style of football, so the big centre half would have been crucial to Fulham’s chances.
Fulham should rebound from their poor showing last weekend and pick up a decent point away from home to Stoke.
Stoke 1-1 Fulham
Wigan v Reading
Kickoff: 2.00am Sunday November 25th at the DW Stadium
After a solid first half against Liverpool last weekend, Wigan fell apart. They conceded three quick goals, and ended up being easily beaten. The lack of stability they showed in the second half at Anfield has been Roberto Martinez’s biggest flaw in charge of the Latics. They now sit just two points outside the relegation zone, and could be forced to once again fight for their survival in the Premier League.
Reading finally got off the mark in their return to the Premier League with an impressive 2-1 victory over Everton last weekend. Adam Le Fondre was the hero, scoring a tidy brace and moving the Royals out of the relegation zone.
Wigan needs to show some fight this weekend, and Roberto Martinez needs to prove he is the right man for the job in front of his home fans. I think the Latics will do enough to get all three points.
Wigan 2-1 Reading
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Kickoff: 4.30am Sunday November 25th at Villa Park
Aston Villa was trounced 0-5 by Manchester City last weekend, sending them into the relegation zone. They were terrible at the Etihad Stadium, and it left new manager Paul Lambert under pressure. Lambert won’t even be able to manage his side against Arsenal after accepting a one-match ban for abusive language directed towards an official last weekend.
For the second consecutive time, Arsenal thrashed their North London rivals Tottenham 5-2 at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. The Gunners looked their best as they hammered Spurs from one end of the ground to the other. Their problem, though, is consistency, and they’ll need to stave off a bit of complacency this weekend at Villa Park.
Arsenal is a cut above their opponents, and should record a relatively simple win this weekend.
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal
Swansea v Liverpool
Kickoff: 12.30am Monday November 26th at the Liberty Stadium
Swansea got back on the winners list with a decisive 2-1 win away to Newcastle last weekend. The Welsh side was very impressive as goals from Michu and Jonathan De Guzman sealed the points. The win saw them jump back into the top half of the table, however they will face a big test this weekend.
Brendan Rodgers returns to face the side he guided to the Premier League two seasons ago. It’s the first time he’s gone back to the Liberty Stadium since leaving in the summer for Anfield, and he’ll be desperate to get a win against his former club. Liverpool is hitting some good form. They’re unbeaten in seven league games, and recorded a huge 3-0 win over Wigan last weekend.
Swansea is always a tough place to go, but Brendan Rodgers and his Liverpool side should just have enough to see off the threat of the Welsh side.
Swansea 1-2 Liverpool
Southampton v Newcastle
Kickoff: 2.00am Monday November 26th at St Mary’s Stadium
Southampton moved themselves two games clear of bottom spot with a critical 3-1 win over QPR last weekend. Nigel Adkins virtually saved his skin with the victory, and kept his job safe for now. His tough task isn’t over though. The Saints will now have another difficult match ahead of them when Newcastle comes to visit.
Newcastle was unceremoniously booed from the pitch when they lost to Swansea at St James’ Park last weekend. It was their second Premier League loss in a row, and put them back to 12th on the table. Alan Pardew needs his side to improve drastically if they’re to once again qualify for a European place.
Newcastle needs a win, and their desire to get the three points will prove too much for Southampton.
Southampton 1-3 Newcastle
Chelsea v Manchester City
Kickoff: 3.00am Monday November 26th at Stamford Bridge
I’m not sure Chelsea fans would even remember that they have got a game on this weekend, given their week. Roberto Di Matteo, a man who guided the Blues to an FA Cup and their first ever Champions League in his first three months in charge, was sacked after a 0-3 loss to Juventus midweek. Chelsea fans were in uproar over Di Matteo’s sacking, and took Roman Abramovic’s decision to appoint former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez as interim manager even worse. It’s the week from hell at Stamford Bridge, just as the reigning Premier League champions arrive.
For the second time in two years, Manchester City was knocked out of the Champions League at the group stages during the week. It came after an impressive 5-0 win against Aston Villa in the league last weekend. Roberto Mancini is a man under pressure, and rumours are rife that his time, like Di Matteo’s at Chelsea, could soon be up.
Sometimes a change of manager galvanises a club’s players, but I’m not sure it will at Chelsea. In saying that, I think they should do just enough to snatch a point this weekend.
Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City
Tottenham v West Ham
Kickoff: 3.00am Monday November 26th at White Hart Lane
Tottenham’s 2-5 loss to Arsenal last weekend meant three losses in a row for the Spurs in the Premier League. Andre Villas Boas is starting to come under a lot of pressure, and he is quickly losing the backing of the fans at White Hart Lane. Tottenham face their London rivals West Ham this weekend, and they simply must win to stablise their season.
West Ham missed the chance to move to fifth on the table when they could only draw with Stoke City last weekend. Still, a 1-1 draw wasn’t the worst result in the world, and it kept them in a good position on the ladder. Sam Allardyce would be pleased with where his side is at going into this match.
Tottenham desperately need a win to get themselves out of this rut. They should be able to grab the three points this weekend.
Tottenham 2-1 West Ham
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.
