Posts
Last
weekend was a record-breaking gameweek for the Premier League. 39 goals were
scored amongst the ten games, taking the season’s goals-per-game average to
2.98 – the highest since 1967/68.
A
quite incredible 38 games out of the 99 played so far have included four goals
or more, while the four games between the Champions League sides – normally
tight and nervy affairs – have resulted in 29 goals.
Freak
scorelines such as 6-1, 8-2, 5-3 and 3-3 have appeared on the Premier League
vidiprinter already. But it is not just the top teams who are scoring plenty:
Blackburn threw away a two-goal lead last weekend to draw 3-3 with Norwich
while Fulham beat QPR 6-0 a couple of weeks ago. Whether attacking in the
Premier League is getting better or defending worse, the football is certainly
entertaining.
Manchester
City, the highest-scoring side this season, have scored an astonishing 17 in
their last four games. Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are both on nine league
goals this term and both look set to start against struggling Queens Park
Rangers. Dzeko did not play in the 3-0 win over Villarreal midweek so Mario
Balotelli could be rested.
City’s
key player this year – and arguably the Premier League’s best – David Silva
could also be rested after picking up a knock on Tuesday night despite Roberto
Mancini saying the Spaniard should recover for the late kick-off. Samir Nasri
is the most likely to replace him.
QPR
have only scored three times at home this season while City have struck at least
twice in all 10 of their games. The match does see Shaun Wright-Phillips and
Joey Barton face their former club, while Anton Ferdinand is expected to play
despite the ongoing race row with John Terry.
After
the 6-1 demolition two weeks ago Manchester United put in an efficient
performance against Everton, beating David Moyes’ side 1-0 before easing
past Romanian side Otelul Galati in midweek.
With
Jonny Evans struggling in recent weeks Saturday’s match-up with Sunderland
could see the return of the Rio Ferdinand-Nemanja Vidic partnership in central
defence, despite Sir Alex Ferguson suggesting that Ferdinand may not be a first-team starter anymore. Wayne Rooney is expected to return to the forward position after his
midfield endeavours against Galati, while Darren Fletcher is expected to return
after being rested.
Sunderland
are without their first two goalkeeper choices with Simon Mignolet joining
Craig Gordon on the sidelines, so Kieren Westwood looks set to start. Connor
Wickham, following
his fine goal last week, is also likely to start, with Stephane Sessegnon
either playing behind Wickham and Nicklas Bendtner or out on the right wing.
Sunderland
have failed to score in 7 of their last 9 Premier League games against
Manchester United and the Red Devils have never lost to Sunderland at home in
the league, so the omens are far from good. John O’Shea is a doubt for the
Black Cats and so may miss the opportunity to come up against the club he left
in the summer, but Wes Brown, Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson all have the
chance to face the side managed by Ferguson, who celebrates 25 years
as United manager on Sunday.
Chelsea
will be looking to rebuild after the hammering from Arsenal and the poor
showing midweek, with John
Terry expected to start.
Yakubu
and Mauro Formica could pose some problems for the Chelsea back-line which
looked so poor against Robin Van Persie and co. At the other end, Didier Drogba
is injured leaving Fernando Torres as the main striker, with Juan Mata and
Florent Malouda likely to play down the wings to support the Spaniard who
hasn’t scored in the league since September 24.
Blackburn
manager Steve Kean will be hoping for some sort of reaction against the Blues
on Saturday after the disastrous way in which they lost two points against
Norwich,
Norwich
face Aston Villa this weekend, with Grant Holt expected to start on the bench
again despite scoring last week. Emile Heskey isn’t expected to play in central
midfield this week as Alex McLeish sees various options return to
full-fitness, notably Jermaine
Jenas, who could make his first start for the club.
Newcastle’s
Demba Ba is currently fifth in the Premier League goalscoring charts having
scored more than half of the Toon goals this season. The Frenchman scored a
hat-trick against Stoke on Monday and looks in scintillating form as Alan
Pardew’s side host Everton.
Everton
have had a worrying start to 2011/12 but an impressive showing in the last
half-hour against Manchester United and some promising signings – Royston Drenthe
(Everton score every 36 minutes with the Dutchman on the pitch) and Apostolos Velios (a goal every 58 minutes) – means this weekend’s early kick-off with the Toon shouldn’t be too
daunting.
Arsenal
appear to be slowly turning a corner, which is especially helped by the return
of Thomas Vermaelen. This should sure up a defence that has looked so poor
and lacking in fight in recent weeks, although Laurent
Koscielny looks to have settled into English football now and looks a lot
more suited to the game than Per Mertesacker.
Van
Persie, seven goals in three league games, should start for the Gunners against
West Brom after sitting out most of the 0-0 draw with Marseille on Wednesday.
Arsenal have been strong at home this season, winning four of their five league
games at The Emirates, but West Brom have looked strong away from home, Swansea
and Chelsea matches aside.
Roy
Hodgson’s side may have to defend deep and play on the counter attack if they
are to beat Arsenal – if André Santos
starts at left-back for Arsenal, James Morrison could end up being
the Baggies’ main man on the right wing.
The
news that Steven Gerrard faces more time on the sidelines has lead many to
question how
long the midfielder has left at the top level, but Charlie Adam and Lucas
Leiva have looked more than adequate in the centre for Kenny Dalglish’s side.
Danny
Graham has scored in his last four games so should retain his place ahead of
Leroy Lita, but it could be a difficult afternoon for the striker: Swansea are
yet to win away from home this season, while Liverpool have scored in every
game at Anfield this term.
