Premier League Preview : Game 4 September

Manchester United VS Crystal Palace

Record so far this season: 
Manchester United W D L

Crystal Palace         L L W

Manchester United will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing result at Anfield against a Crystal Palace side eager to build on their 3-1 home win against Sunderland before the international break.

Photos By Mike Trevlyan, Editing and Graphics By Conor Rees

With the addition of Marouanne Fellani to the United team plus the possibility of Wilfred Zaha playing against his old club, United could use their Summer transfer window recruits to full affect in this game.

Palace on the other hand had an unlucky start to the season. A dodgy penalty given against Spurs and a tight defeat against Stoke, previous to their first win of the season, Ian Holloway has brought in a host of names to try and keep the newly promoted team in the Premier league.

For me I don’t see this one going anyway but a home win, but Palace will fight until the end.

Prediction: Manchester United 3- 1 Crystal Palace

Aston Villa VS Newcastle

Record so far this season: Aston Villa:  W L L

                                       Newcastle:   L D W

Paul Lambert’s insistence on playing youth rather experience will always have its negatives, but the job he has done at Villa since taking over last season has been extraordinary.  Surviving last year with help from the goals of Christian Benteke, they have a chance to really build on their finish to last season and become stable rather than struggle.

It has been a different story at Newcastle however, confusion in the boardroom, lack of signings, disillusioned players, these are all things Alan Pardew has had to deal with dating back to the back end of last season.  Newcastle need stability, keeping Yohan Cabaye was a massive plus from the transfer window but the lack of signings might prove costly.

For me I see these teams cancelling each other out.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1- 1 Newcastle

Fulham VS West Bromwich Albion

Record so far this season: Fulham: W L L

                                         WBA:     L D L

Fulham are in a bit of a confused state at the moment. Unsure of what their best team is and losing two games on the spin won’t help the team’s confidence. They have a very decent attack and in Brede Haangeland, they have a quality central defender, but they need to get the right balance and pick up some wins.

West Brom have had a poor start to the season but have added pace and strength to their attack, an area Steve Clarke knew need strengthening.  The signings of Anichebe and Sessegnon along with Nicolas Anelka will help fill the void left by losing Romelu Lukaku.

I think both teams will want to push for a win they desperately need, however I don’t see this one finishing in a win either way.

Prediction: Fulham 2-2 West Bromwich Albion

Hull City VS Cardiff City

Record so far this season: Hull:     L W L

                                       Cardiff: L W D

A battle of the two new boys at the KC Stadium on Saturday, with both teams strengthening their squads in the summer, this one will certainly be more competitive than if it were a Championship game.

Hull haven’t played too badly this season, most notably their second half against Chelsea and their display against Manchester City- unfortunately they lost both games with their only win coming against Norwich at home. They are playing decent football and with the quality the two signings from Tottenham have brought to the team, they might not struggle as much as people thought they might have.

Cardiff have spent well also. Bringing in Chile international Gary Medel and Steven Caulker from Spurs along with various other signings, they have a recipe for sustaining a good challenge in retaining a place in this league. A win against Manchester City in their first home game of the season has given their confidence a whole world of good and with a draw in their next home match against Everton, Cardiff proved they will not be easy prey this season.

I have a feeling it will be a tight game with Cardiff just sneaking it, gaining their first away win in the process.

Prediction: Hull 1-2 Cardiff

Stoke City VS Manchester City

Record so far this season: Stoke: L W W

                        Manchester City: W L W

Stoke were unlucky not to at least get a point in the first game of the season at Liverpool, with Jon Walters missing a last minute penalty, but Mark Hughes has come in with intention of changing the teams style and at the moment it is not going too badly.

Following the result at Anfield, they have won the last two and look like they are set rather soundly for a good season.

Manchester City look poor without Vincent Kompany at the back and with the captain not coming back for a while they need to rally the troops. The signing of Martin Demichelis looked to have solved the problem, only for him to be ruled out injured as soon as he started so that again leaves them struggling at the back.

Stoke will always have that physical advantage over teams in this division so that will work in their favour against a frail City defence. However, quality runs through the City Squad, so I think they should just about come away with the points here.

Prediction: Stoke City 1-2 Manchester City

Sunderland VS Arsenal

Record so far this season: Sunderland: L D L

                                          Arsenal:    L W W

Sunderland look like they are going to struggle badly this season. A lot of new players in, not many of the old guard still there, and in Paolo Di Canio, although an exciting, hungry manager, he has very little experience in the top flight and that will come back to bite them in my opinion.

Arsenal fans were buoyed at the signing of Mesut Ozil on deadline day and, with a win over North London rivals Tottenham last time out, the Gunners have a little bit of wind in their sales. My only worry is that they haven’t improved the squad fully. It might be ok for games like these against the strugglers of the division, but might be found out against bigger challenges.

I think however they will keep up their winning form and condemn Sunderland to more misery.

Prediction: Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal

Tottenham VS Norwich

Record so far this season: Spurs: W W L

                                       Norwich: D L W

We haven’t really seen the best of Tottenham as of yet, now that Gareth Bale has gone and all of their new signings have come in, they will now be able to kick start their season.

Norwich were very unfortunate not to get all three points last time these teams met last season, and with an average start, they will also want something from this game to get their engine running.

I feel Tottenham, with their new additions and being home will edge this one, but Norwich will go down fighting.

Prediction: Spurs 3- 2 Norwich.

Everton VS Chelsea

Record so far this season: Everton: D D D

                                       Chelsea: W W D

Everton have endured a sticky start under Roberto Martinez, but there have been positives with the surprise loan move for Lukaku on deadline day and the fact they haven’t lost this season. It will be interesting how they will get on without Marouanne Fellani, but with James McCarthy coming in from Wigan, they have the chance to push on with someone who has already impressed at the top level, this along with the signing Gareth Barry, Everton have done well to replace the Belgian.

Chelsea have made a steady start to the season being second only to Liverpool who have a 100% record. Their purchases in the window will fit well into their squad and they have the right balance of youth and experience to be a very good choice for the title this season.

Chelsea will have a tough test at Goodison Park. It will be interesting to see what team they will play and how they will do against a strong Everton side.

Prediction: Everton 2-2 Chelsea.

Southampton VS West Ham

Record so far this season: Southampton: W D L

                                       West Ham:       W D L

Both teams have similar results so far this season and have played decent football in their games.

Southampton will want to win this one as they would feel West Ham are a team in their little “mid-table mini league.” Their manager has spent big on players he feels will improve specific positions in the squad and they will go into games more positively than they did last year.

West Ham will find goals hard to come by this season. They have excellent creative players, but with Andy Carroll injured again and them not re-signing Carlton Cole, it’s difficult to see where the goals will come from.

I think Southampton will win this, just because they will have more of a determined mind-set to do so.

Prediction: 2-0

Swansea City VS Liverpool

Record so far this season: Swansea:  L L W

                                       Liverpool: W W W

Swansea had a tough start with the champions at home and then an away trip to Spurs. But with their win at West Brom in their last outing, they will feel they can put the results of the first two games of the season behind them and push on for a place in Europe this season.

Liverpool have had a cracking start with three one- nil wins and three Daniel Sturridge goals. They’re looking good.  Mignolet has been decent, as have the whole team. They were very good against Manchester United last game, and feel that, with their newly found confidence they could beat Swansea.

Sturridge should be fit after missing the England games against Moldova and Ukraine, and his influence might be the pivotal factor in this game.

Prediction: Swansea 1-2 Liverpool.

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