The first match of the 3rd round of the Premier League was played a couple of weeks back, the rest follows this week. Great Dane Football Blog gives you his predictions!
Chelsea - Aston Villa
2-1
Stamford Bridge
21-08-2013 @ 19.45 UK
Lineup:
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Lampard, Mata; Oscar, Ba, Hazard.
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Luna; El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph; Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor.
Goals:
6' 1-0 Antonio Luna
45' 1-1 Christian Benteke
73' 2-1 Branislav Ivanovic
Manchester City - Hull City
City of Manchester Stadium
31-08-2013 @ 12.45 UK
Probable lineup:
Manchester City (4-4-2): Hart; Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy; Navas, Touré, Fernandinho, Silva; Aguero, Dzeko.
Injuries: Kompany (Groin), Richards (Hamstring). Doubts: Jovetic (Lack of match fitness). Bans: None.
Hull City (4-3-3): McGregor; Elmohamady, Chester, Davies, Figuero; Huddlestone, Koren, Livermore; Aluko, Graham, Brady.
Injuries: Faye (Calf), Quinn (Hamstring). Doubts: None. Bans: Sagbo.
Manchester City has the chance to shake off the shock loss against Cardiff when Hull visits the Stadium of Manchester on Saturday. Meanwhile, Hull fighted their way to a 1-0 win against Norwich and know that it will take even more to take 3 points with them from Manchester. That said, not many gave Cardiff a chance last week. Furthermore, the last time the two teams met Hull pulled out with a 2-1 victory, but that was back in 2010. On Saturday, Hull will have to do their best to keep City from scoring goals, and despite Manchester is missing Kompany and Richards they will be the dominant side in this match.
Cardiff City - Everton
Ninian Park
31-08-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Probable lineup:
Cardiff City (4-3-3): Marshall; Connolly, Caulker, Turner, Taylor; Gunnarsson, Medel, Bo-Kyung; Bellamy, Cornelius, Whittingham.
Injuries: None. Doubts: None. Bans: None.
Everton (4-3-3): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Barkley, Fellaini, Osman; Mirallas, Jelavic, Pienaar.
Injuries: Alcaraz (Hamstring). Doubts: Gibson (Knee), Hibbert (Knock). Bans: None.
Cardiff was the big surprise last round, and showed that they are not to be underestimated. This week Everton is visiting Wales with two draws in their bag. The T
offees has managed to keep their profiles, but doesn't seem to work well under their new manager. That said they were almost drowning with chances against West Bromwich Albion but just couldn't get it in the back of the net. From a Danish view, this match is very exciting as Andreas Cornelius can get his first Premier League starter, and he will be eager to show the fans that he is worth the money. Cardiff is flying after last week, and I believe that can get a great result against Everton; perhaps a 2-0 win.
West Ham United - Stoke City
Upton Park
31-08-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Probable lineup:
West Ham United (4-3-3): Jääskeläinen; Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien; Diamé, Nolan, Noble; Downing, Maiga, Jarvis.
Injuries: Carroll (Foot). Doubts: McCartney (Knee). Bans: None.
Stoke City (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Walters, Wilson, N'Zonzi, Etherington; Adam; Crouch.
Injuries: Palacios (Illness), Shea (Leg). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
West Ham has started well with a win against Cardiff and a draw against Newcastle while the Potters lost against Liverpool and won against Crystal Palace. Both teams are expected to have a struggle staying in the Premier League, but at the moment
Stoke seems to be the side having the hardest time. In my opinion, West Ham is favorites for this match, despite an injured Andy Carroll. They just seem to have more decisive players than Stoke, and will do their best to try and stay at their current position in the Premier League.
Norwich City - Southampton FC
Carrow Road
31-08-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Probable lineup:
Norwich City (4-4-1-1): Ruddy; Martin, Bassong, Turner, Garrido; Snodgrass, Tettey, Johnson, Redmond; Fer; van Wolfswinkel.
Injuries: Bennett (Knee), Hooper (Shin). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
Southampton FC (4-4-1-1): Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Ward-Prowse, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Lallana; Osvaldo; Lambert.
Injuries: None. Doubts: Shaw (Knock). Bans: None.
Big spending
Norwich hasn't had the start of the season that they hoped for, with a draw and a loss in the first two matches. So far the Dutch partnership between Leroy Fer and Ricky van Wolfswinkel has so far only produced 1 goal, but this can change against Southampton. The Saints has started the season with a win and a draw and are determined to stay midtable. With no current injuries, the situation looks good for Southampton manager Pochettino before this match. However, if Norwich can get Fer and Wolfwinkel started I only see the Canaries in this match.
Newcastle United - Fulham FC
St James Park
31-08-2013 @ 15.00 UK
Probable lineup:
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Krul; Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon; Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux; Ameobi, Cissé.
Injuries: Taylor (Knee), Remy (Calf). Doubts: Gutiérrez (Hamstring), Tioté (Groin). Bans: Taylor.
Fulham FC (4-4-1-1): Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Duff, Sidwell, Parker, Taarabt; Berbatov; Bent.
Injuries: Amorebieta (Knock), Richardson (Hamstring), Stekelenburg (Shoulder). Doubts: None. Bans: None.
Newcastle is one of the teams expected to be fighting for their existence in the Premier League this season, and the pressure did not get any lesser on Alan Pardew after drawing with West Ham. Meanwhile, Fulham is midtable after last week's loss to Arsenal and will be eager to get back on the horse against Newcastle. The new man in the white shirt, Darren Bent, will be preferred in front while Berbatov will be given an 8'ers role against Newcastle. There is no doubt in my mind that Fulham are favorites for this match, but Newcastle is definitely not ready to just give up. This could very well end in a draw.
Crystal Palace - Sunderland AFC
Selhurst Park
31-08-2013 @ 17.30 UK
Probable lineup:
Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Speroni; Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey; Campaña, Dikgacio, Jedinak; Williams, Chamakh, Gayle.
Injuries: Bolasie (Hamstring), Murray (Knee). Doubts: Parr (Lack of match fitness). Bans: None.
Sunderland AFC (4-4-1-1): Westwood; Celustka, O'Shea, Diakité, Colback; Johnson, Larsson, Gardner, Giaccherini; Sessegnon; Altidore.
Injuries: Bardsley (Foot), Brown (Knee). Doubts: Cattermole (Knee), Fletcher (Ankle). Bans: None.
Just as expected Crystal Palace has had trouble from the start of this season. The newly promoted Londoners was unlucky in their first match against Tottenham while Stoke simply was better in the second match.
Sunderland, on the other hand, has managed to get one point from their first two matches, drawing against Southampton. Marouane Chamakh, on loan from Arsenal, scored in his debut for Crystal Palace and showed several times what he was capable of, and he will be interesting to follow in this match. However, Sunderland has more routine than Crystal Palace, and I think they will work their way to a comfortable victory.
Liverpool - Manchester United
Anfield Road
01-09-2013 @ 13.30 UK
Probable lineup:
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique; Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas; Coutinho, Sturridge, Aspas.
Injuries: Allen (Hamstring), Coates (Knee), Touré (Groin). Doubts: Skrtel (Knee). Bans: Suarez.
Manchester United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Jones; Giggs, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia; Welbeck; van Persie.
Injuries: Fletcher (Illness), Hernández (Thigh), Nani (Knock), Rafael (Hamstring), Young (Knock). Doubts: Powell (Leg). Bans: None.
It is almost as there is a goal guarantee when these two sides meet; at least 1 goal has been scored in the last 10 matches. This one should be no exception, and we can expect both of the teams to play some great attacking football. Liverpool's pacey front line will without a doubt cause problems for United's two veteran central defenders Ferdinand and Vidic. On the other side,
Manchester United has one of the best strikers in the Premier League, and we know he can cause problems for all teams. Furthermore, Manchester United's midfield might not be the best in the history of the club, but Carrick and Cleverley have shown to work together just fine.
West Bromwich - Swansea City
The Hawthorns
01-09-2013 @ 13.30 UK
Probable lineup:
West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Morrison, Yacob, Mulumbu, Dorrans; Long, Rosenberg
Injuries: Anelka (Personal issues), Gera (Knee), Reid (Knock), Thorne (Knee). Doubts: Foster (Foot). Bans: None
Swansea City (4-4-1-1): Vorm; Rangel, Williams, Chico, Davies; Routledge, Britton, Shelvey, Hernández; Michu; Bony.
Injuries: None. Doubts: Dyer (Hamstring). Bans: None.
None of the two teams have lived up to last years performances so far in the season;
WBA have started with a draw and a loss while Swansea has lost their first two matches. It has to be said though that Swansea have met Manchester United and Tottenham. Now, last years big surprises meet each at The Hawthorns for a promising match. Swansea has spent the summer bringing in some interesting names while West Bromwich have been more relaxed with their signings. Michael Laudrup has an almost fit squad for the match, and as I see it they are favourites for the win.
Arsenal - Tottenham Hotspur
Emirates Stadium
01-09-2013 @ 16.00 UK
Probable lineup:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Ramsey, Wilshere; Walcott, Rosicky, Cazorla; Giroud.
Injuries: Arteta (Thigh), Diaby (Knee), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Knee), Podolski (Hamstring), Vermaelen (Back). Doubts: Miyachi (Rib), Ramsey (Groin), Wilshere (Ankle). Bans: None.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose; Capoue, Paulinho, Dembélé; Townsend, Soldado, Chadli.
Injuries: Bale (Foot). Doubts: Lennon (Foot). Bans: None.
It's the first North London Derby of the season, and
Arsenal is going through an injury crisis after last nights Champions League match. Last week's double goalscorer Lukas Podolski is injured, along with players as Arteta and The Ox. Furthermore, the midfield duo Ramsey and Wilshere are rated doubtful, but are expected to be ready for the match. Tottenham, on the other hand, has an almost fit squad towards the match. Gareth Bale is injured, but he is also expected to have transferred to another club by Sunday. Arsenals midweek match against Fenerbache and the number of injuries might help Tottenham to a victory on Monday, and I expect them to win by a 1 goal margin.
