Barclays Premier League - Gameweek # 9 - Preview

The Premier League continues on Saturday with two standout fixtures lined up on Sunday. The patterns set before the international break were largely continued last week and it would be interesting to see what this weekend’s Premier League action has in store. Here is a preview for all the clashes.

CRYSTAL PALACE VS ARSENAL

In the early kick off on Saturday, league leaders Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park for a London derby. They get the chance to move five points clear of Chelsea while Crystal Palace who lie nineteenth in the table need a win over Arsenal to close the gap on their fellow relegation battlers. A point would not do for both sides and both will hence be going all guns blazing.

Ian Holloway quit as manager of Crystal Palace and hence caretaker boss Keith Millen will be looking to have an instant impact. Quite what went wrong for Holloway, we’ll never find out but it simply hasn’t been good enough from Palace. Arsenal, meanwhile , are reeling from a defeat to Borussia Dortmund in midweek that have prompted people to say "Ha, here starts the slide for Arsenal" and hence will be looking to silence their critics with yet another imperious performance

Man To Look Out For - Olivier Giroud. The hitman’s partnership with his compatriot Bacaray Sagna is proving lethal. Yet another goal in weekend will prove how much he loves playing in London (all his Premier League goals last season came in London)

ASTON VILLA VS EVERTON

Aston Villa entertain Everton in an intriguing clash on Saturday evening. The Villains have had a decent enough start to the season with ten points from eight games (the projection for the end of the season sees them safely above the drop zone). While it has been one of the best Everton starts in a long time , Roberto Martinez will look to extend Everton’s form into the next phase of the season.

It is also the battle of the two big Belgian strikers - the returning Christan Benteke for Villa against the in form Romelu Lukaku of Everton. The strikers are battling directly for the starting spot in the national team and both have the chance to show the other "how it’s done".

Man To Look Out For - Christian Benteke. His call up to the Belgian squad infuriated manager Paul Lambert but at the same time , he gained some match fitness.

LIVERPOOL VS WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Liverpool are heading back to familiar territory. The talk of a title challenge was in the air at Merseyside after the incredible winning run at the start of the season but after dropping points to Swansea, Southampton and Newcastle, the Scousers seem to be content with a top 4 finish. The opposite is true for West Brom. The Baggies had a bad start to the season but are now undefeated in five games and will head to Anfield with great confidence especially after they got a win at Old Trafford and held Arsenal.

Man To Look Out For - Steven Gerrard. The England captain is finding his form. After an awful start to his season, goals for England and the equaliser at Newcastle last week sees Gerrard heading into Saturday’s clash with confidence.

MANCHESTER UNITED VS STOKE CITY

It cannot be stressed how importantly David Moyes’ Champions needs a league victory right now. Whatever the results on Saturday, the best Manchester United can do is retain their eighth position. This has left many fans infuriated but there is reason for optimism. Ryan Giggs, Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia all linked up well in the Champions League match against Sociedad on Wednesday and United played some expansive football. Stoke for their part are as physically imposing as ever with Steven N Zonzi and Charlie Adam in the centre of the park - both can be really feisty when they want to .

Man To Look Out For - Shinji Kagawa - Kagawa will at least hope for an appearance from the bench on Saturday. The Japanese playmaker played like a man possessed against Sociedad and was unlucky not to score.

NORWICH VS CARDIFF CITY

It is all going wrong for Chirs Hughton and Norwich City. Defeats are piling up and they are now in the drop zone and face direct relegation rivals Cardiff on Saturday. Whether the contest would be as aerial as "Canaries against Bluebirds" remains to be seen but both sides would love a win. I suspect the mentality would be ‘safety first’ from both managers and they wouldn’t be too disappointed with a point especially in the dying stages. Expect a tactical drab game.

Man To Look Out For - Ricky Van Wolfswinkel. Norwich City splashed out a record fee on the striker but he hasn’t set the Premier League alight. Several fans have already started to miss Grant Holt and a strong performance from their new star will appease them.

SOUTHAMPTON VS FULHAM

Southampton are reaching dizzying heights at the moment. Lying in sixth place, Mauricio Pochettino exuded optimism when asked about a possible Europa League spot at the end of this campaign. He has every reason to after a win at Anfield and holding the Champions Manchester United at Old Trafford. Martin Jol and Fulham however, are in a mini revival of their own. After sinking into the relegation zone and getting booed by their own fans, Jol’s Fulham have hit back with successive victories , the last coming over direct relegation rivals.  It will be a midtable clash but a spectacle nonetheless

Man To Look Out For - Dejan Lovren. Pochettino’s Southampton have repeatedly been criticised for bad performances against the weaker sides after beating the big boys. And the defence in particular has been guilty of underestimating their opponents. Can Lovren , the excellent Croatian who leads their defence now keep Fulham at bay?

SUNDERLAND VS NEWCASTLE

Big game number one on Sunday. The Wear-Tyne derby is a riveting rivalry that has some memorable moments. However, there is no Paolo Di Canio on the sidelines to slide and celebrate a Sunderland victory this time. Instead it is the new manager Gus Poyet who will oversee just his second game in charge (his first was a 4-0 hammering to Swansea). The new manager will be immensely helped if the Mackems who are rock bottom can conjure up a win over their rivals. Newcastle are sitting relatively comfortably in mid table. They showed admirable spirit to hold Liverpool though down to ten men.

Man To Look Out For - Yohan Cabaye. The transfer saga, the fans booing him , everything is finally over and the Frenchman can finally focus on his football. A screamer against Liverpool reminded the fans how good a footballer they would be losing if he were to leave.

CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER CITY

Big game number two. In a weekend where there is El Classico, there is El Cash-ico too as two former Premier League Champions owned by billionaires go head to head at Stamford Bridge. In his second big game of the season, Mourinho will possibly be more attacking than last time around (when he started striker-less at Old Trafford). This is Pellegrini’s second big test (he passed the first rather easily against United) and will hope his side’s second consecutive game in London is a success like the first one. And this also is the clash of the two former Real Madrid bosses both of who will be familiar with the pressures that a big game can bring.

Man To Look Out For - Fernando Torres. ‘El Nino’ showed glimpses of his old self after a sharp brace in midweek away at Schalke. But we’ve been here before. Torres has scored goals in Europe and has gone on goalless for months together in the league. Can he break the trend and blow Manchester City away?

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS HULL CITY

Yet another vital home game for Tottenham. It is easy to think these games are easily winnable but in recent seasons Wolves, Wigan and West Ham (this season) have gone to White Hart Lane and completely surprised Spurs. They won their Europa League game quite comfortably and would hope for an easy ride. Hull, however, are unlikely to oblige. The Tigers are level on points with Manchester United and will prove a stern challenge , especially with the return of star man Robbie Brady.

Man To Look Out For - Roberto Soldado. His rival for the striker spot, Jermain Defoe, keeps scoring in the Europa League and Soldado will want a couple of goals under his belt. He did score in the last league game though and will look to start a scoring run.

SWANSEA VS WEST HAM UNITED

Swansea’s perfect European record was blemished due to a draw on Thursday night . However the Swans were clinical last time around as they put four past Sunderland. Can they beat the tiredness that one associates with the Europa League and its associated travails? Sam Allyardyce and West Ham would hope not . The Hammers were well beaten last week against Manchester City and will look to bounce back immediately. Games like these (opposition returning tired after European games) are a must win if Allyardyce is to cement their position as a Premier League club.

Man To Look Out For - Chico Flores. He has been in sparkling form this season and was imperious in defence last week, albeit against meek Sunderland. Flores will have his hands full against Vaz Te and Cole and will look to assert his dominance early.