Manchester United VS Manchester City
20/09/2009, 20:30
20/09/2009, 20:30
Manchester United
Manchester United have had 5 days to prepare for this match after wining their first Champions League game of the season in Turkey. They have started well since the departure of Ronaldo and will look to put their city rivals back in their place after this game.
United have a 4-0-1 record in the Premier League this season which puts them in 2nd place in the table. Of these 5 games, only 2 have taken place at Old Trafford, both resulting in home wins with 3 goals scored and only 1 conceded.
United have won 4 games in row since they lost at Burnley in only the 2nd game of the season.
There were no new injuries resulting from the game at Besiktas. Paul Scholes, who scored the winner in Turkey, is suspended after his sending off at Tottenham and Rio Ferdinand is a doubt after pulling a muscle last weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson will still be expected to make changes with the likes of John O'shea, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs expected to come into the side.
Manchester City
After all the expectation of the Summer, Manchester City have not failed to live up to such demands. However, after their impressive win over Arsenal, all of the newspaper talk has been about Emmanuel Adebayor and the 'stamp' on Van Persie.
That talk has begun to subside somewhat, especially in Manchester, as the most eagerly anticipated Derby in 40 years comes round.
City sit in 3rd in the Premier League as one of 2 clubs with 100% records. They are 4-0-0 and have kept clean sheets in 3 out of 4 games they have played in the League. City have a 2-0-0 away record where they have scored 3 goals and are yet to concede.
The Citizens have won 5 straight games in all competitions this season.
Emmanuel Adebayor has been suspended for his actions from last week and misses out alongside Robinho, Roque Santa Cruz and Benjani. Carlos Tevez is going to need a late fitness test to play against his former side, but Stephen Ireland should be fit to start.
Head-to-Head
This is a new era in terms of the money that City have spent to close the gap to United.
Recent seasons at Old Trafford have seen a range of results with United wining 3, City wining 1 and 4 draws from the last 8 Premier League games at the stadium.
Prediction
Manchester United will be focused on this game as could be seen from the team selection at Besiktas and the early withdrawal of Rooney in that game. United had their best performance of the season so far last week at Tottenham, and confidence should be high.
Another side with a lot of confidence will be Manchester City although the loss of Adebayor could prove to be crucial here. While they have had the results so far this season, they are still allowing a lot of chances against themselves and United are capable of taking advantage.
I think, and feel, United are going to be too good for City here and will go forward with the 3 points here. City are going to a lose some of their threat with the injuries they have to attacking players and this leaves the edge in United's favour.
From: AULS
AULS Recommends:
Take the Manchester United @ Handicap
Correct Score: Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City
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Chelsea FC VS Tottenham Hotspur
20/09/2009, 23:00
20/09/2009, 23:00
Chelsea FC
Chelsea have made a strong start to the new season in similar fashion to the start they made last season under Luiz Scolari, but this has to be seen as the biggest test of their mettle so far.
The Blues are keeping their flag flying high as they sit on top of the Premier League with a 3 point gap to 2nd place Manchester United. They have a 100% record of 5-0-0. Chelsea are 2-0-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League and they have scored 5 goals in those games with only 1 conceded. However, it must be stated that these 2 wins have come against Hull City and Burnley.
Chelsea have won 6 games in all competitions this season. They have won 10 competitive games in a row following on from last season and are unbeaten in their last 20 games in all competitions. The last team to beat them? Tottenham Hotspur.
Joe Cole will not take part here as he is expected to start in their Carling Cup game on Wednesday. Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa are available after suspension in Europe. Deco is a doubt and will have a late fitness test.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur are another side that have made a fantastic start to the new campaign, although they suffered a comfortable defeat to Manchester United last weekend. This is a tough place to bounce back historically for Spurs.
Spurs are 4th in the table at the moment but will likey start in 5th after other results over the weekend before they kick off. They have a 4-0-1 record in the League, leaving them 3 points off the pace set by Chelsea. They are 2-0-0 away from home where they have scored 7 goals and conceded 2.
Spurs had won 5 straight games in all competitions before the visit of United last weekend. It is interesting to note that Tottenham have only drawn 1 of their last 15 games in all competitions.
Heurelho Gomes has returned to fitness and will compete with Carlo Cudicini for a place in goal. Gareth Bale has made his return to the first team squad after recent injury.
Head-to-Head
It is interesting to see that Chelsea have failed to win any of their last 4 matches against Tottenham in all competitions, including 3 Premier League games in a row.
Chelsea had won 3 Premier League games in a row at Stamford Bridge against Spurs before the 1-1 draw last season.
Prediction
Chelsea have looked good so far this season, but have also been in the position of losing a game in 3 of their 5 Premier League matches so far this season including against Hull at home. While they overpowered these sides, I think it will be a lot tougher against Spurs if they go behind here.
Tottenham will have been disappointed with their performance last week after going a goal up against United before being comfortably beaten. They have played Chelsea a lot tougher in recent meetings and should still feel confident in what they want to achieve this season.
Chelsea have played well as I have stated, and while I admire the fight they have shown, they will have a real test here. I am going to play Tottenham on the handicap as I think it is possible that this match could end in a draw.
From: AULS
AULS Recommends:
Take Tottenham @ +1 Handicap
Correct Score: Chelsea 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Take Tottenham @ +1 Handicap
Correct Score: Chelsea 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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Everton
Everton are looking to get their season kick started as soon as possible and will be hoping that their new signings bed in since the departure of Joleon Lescott. They also had the misfortune of losing Phil Neville for a few months and Mikel Arteta has had a setback in his recovery.
The Blue half of Merseyside see their side sitting in 19th spot in the Premier League with their 1-0-3 record. At Goodison Park, Everton are 1-0-1 so far with 3 goals scored and 7 conceded although that is skewed by their opening day 1-6 loss to Arsenal.
The Toffees are lacking any real consistency at the moment which is preventing them moving up the table although they have won 3 games in a row at home since that loss to Arsenal.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is a doubt and Neville is out. Lucas Neil just signed but is unlikey to start on limited training.
Blackburn Rovers
Sam Allardyce is getting his Blackburn Rovers team back into full fitness now as they bid to move up the table. As with any Allardyce team, they are a tough team to beat although scoring enough goals may present a problem of its own.
Blackburn sit in 15th position in the table with a 1-1-2 record. Due to the number of European commitments that other sides have had this season, Blackburn have only played 1 away game so far this season in the League. On that occasion they lost 2-1 at Sunderland but could have got a point with a little more luck.
Rovers are unbeaten in 3 matches in all competitions, wining 2 of those games.
Another positive for Allardyce is the return of Benni McCarthy from injury. Steven Nzonzi is also available meaning the manager has a full squad to choose from.
Head-to-Head
Everton have only won 1 of their last 7 matches with Blackburn in all competitions. Blackburn are also unbeaten in their last 4 Premier League matches with Everton.
Blackburn are also unbeaten in their last 2 visits to Goodison Park, wining this fixture 2-3 last season.
Prediction
Everton have begun to play a little better in recent weeks but they are not performing over the course of 90 minutes to warrant results. I am sure David Moyes will get this team turned around, but this is going to be a difficult test for them.
Blackburn have proven difficult to beat under Sam Allardyce since he took over last season, and they have a full squad to pick from. Goals are always a concern but the return of McCarthy could be the difference between a relegation scrap and a mid-table finish.
I think this is a close game to call but cannot back Everton at odds on. Blackburn have a good recent record against the Merseysiders and I will pick them not to lose.
From: AULS
Everton VS Blackburn Rovers
20/09/2009, 22:00
20/09/2009, 22:00
Everton
Everton are looking to get their season kick started as soon as possible and will be hoping that their new signings bed in since the departure of Joleon Lescott. They also had the misfortune of losing Phil Neville for a few months and Mikel Arteta has had a setback in his recovery.
The Blue half of Merseyside see their side sitting in 19th spot in the Premier League with their 1-0-3 record. At Goodison Park, Everton are 1-0-1 so far with 3 goals scored and 7 conceded although that is skewed by their opening day 1-6 loss to Arsenal.
The Toffees are lacking any real consistency at the moment which is preventing them moving up the table although they have won 3 games in a row at home since that loss to Arsenal.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is a doubt and Neville is out. Lucas Neil just signed but is unlikey to start on limited training.
Blackburn Rovers
Sam Allardyce is getting his Blackburn Rovers team back into full fitness now as they bid to move up the table. As with any Allardyce team, they are a tough team to beat although scoring enough goals may present a problem of its own.
Blackburn sit in 15th position in the table with a 1-1-2 record. Due to the number of European commitments that other sides have had this season, Blackburn have only played 1 away game so far this season in the League. On that occasion they lost 2-1 at Sunderland but could have got a point with a little more luck.
Rovers are unbeaten in 3 matches in all competitions, wining 2 of those games.
Another positive for Allardyce is the return of Benni McCarthy from injury. Steven Nzonzi is also available meaning the manager has a full squad to choose from.
Head-to-Head
Everton have only won 1 of their last 7 matches with Blackburn in all competitions. Blackburn are also unbeaten in their last 4 Premier League matches with Everton.
Blackburn are also unbeaten in their last 2 visits to Goodison Park, wining this fixture 2-3 last season.
Prediction
Everton have begun to play a little better in recent weeks but they are not performing over the course of 90 minutes to warrant results. I am sure David Moyes will get this team turned around, but this is going to be a difficult test for them.
Blackburn have proven difficult to beat under Sam Allardyce since he took over last season, and they have a full squad to pick from. Goals are always a concern but the return of McCarthy could be the difference between a relegation scrap and a mid-table finish.
I think this is a close game to call but cannot back Everton at odds on. Blackburn have a good recent record against the Merseysiders and I will pick them not to lose.
From: AULS
AULS Recommends:
Take Blackburn Rovers @ +0.5 Handicap
Correct Score: Everton 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Take Blackburn Rovers @ +0.5 Handicap
Correct Score: Everton 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
