With the All-Ireland final on Sunday, it would be easy for many to let the Premier League float to the background for one weekend. However United travel to Anfield, Arsenal are looking to topple the champions, Chelsea are attempting to stretch their lead at the top and some managers are already feeling the heat. It promises to be a fascinating weekend of action.
By Declan Whooley
Liverpool v Man Utd
For both sets of supporters this is the stand-out fixture of the season (apologies to Everton and City fans). United have surged past their Merseyside rivals in league successes and the rivalry shows no signs of easing up.
Both teams have called on their fans to refrain from abusive chanting given the sensitivities over Hillsborough and Munich, a rally cry that promises to be the calm before the storm.
The Suarez/Evra handshake debacle will again be the focus of attention having become a huge sideshow last year. Liverpool have stuttered in the league thus far and lie only one place outside the relegation zone. They will rely on Suarez to provide the main attacking threat with Raheem Sterling showing signs that he could feature prominently this season.
Alex Ferguson has a goalkeeping dilemma with David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard hoping to claim the number one jersey, though the Spaniard appears to have the upper hand following a solid display midweek. Both are coming off European wins that saw frailties in their performances and serious bragging rights are at stake at Anfield. Let’s hope that the headlines arising from the game come from something that happens on the pitch as opposed to off it.
Can Arsenal continue their early promise?
Arsenal supporters are experiencing the full roller-coaster of emotions this season. Following the doom and gloom surrounding the departures of Alex Song and Robin van Persie, the mood was cautious/downbeat, depending if you are a glass half-full person or not.
However, a win away to Liverpool followed by the demolition of an admittedly poor Southampton side gave the Gunners reasons to be cheerful. The midweek win in France was further evidence that the season may turn out better than previously anticipated. The performances of new signings Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, coupled with the impending return of Jack Wilshire, has fans giddy with excitement. One particular JOE writer is dreaming of Champions League glory in Wembley next year.
The true litmus test will come on Sunday when they travel to the Etihad Stadium. The champions are not exactly water-tight at the back and there could be disharmony in the camp judging by the post-match comments at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night. Given the form of the Arsenal attack at the moment they will fancy their chances of causing an upset against the side with 29 wins in their last 31 home matches.
Managerial pressure at White Hart Lane
It is very early for supporters to get antsy with their manager if results are not going well, but Andre Villas-Boas and Mark Hughes are under different types of pressure. The Tottenham manager has yet to convince Spurs supporters that Chelsea made a mistake to sack him last year, and the cautious approach at home saw the White Hart Lane faithful boo their team off against Norwich last time out.
Hughes, as has been mentioned here already, is taking the Championship manager approach this season. They have invested heavily in experienced players who have not come cheap. The merits, for example, of offering large contracts to Rob Green and Julio Cesar have been questioned by some at Loftus Road.
They have picked up just two points and found the back of the net twice, with the opening day scars from the hammering at Swansea still not fully healed. The encounter at White Hart Lane will reveal more about the season ahead. Prepare for excuses from two of the most self-assured managers in the league.
Can Southampton turn the corner?
Zero points. 15 goals conceded. A 6-1 defeat last time out. On the face of it, Southampton fans can rightly feel that the season has not gone according to plan. The stats, however, don’t tell the entire story. The fixture list dealt the Saints a tricky hand as they have played both Manchester giants and Arsenal before the end of September.
They led in both games against United and City but naivety cost them late on, while they were simply wretched against Wigan and Arsenal. If they play like that against Villa then the poor run will continue, but anything like the effort shown against the top two teams in the country could see Nigel Adkins pick up their first point, or points, of the season.
Chelsea look to pile misery on Tony Pulis
Roberto di Matteo’s men are sitting pretty after four games and the early signs are that the new signings are adapting rather nicely to the Premier League. Eden Hazard has been outstanding, Oscar showed midweek what he is capable of and the defence has conceded just two goals, though they do appear suspect from set-pieces.
Stoke, on the other hand, are on a dreadful run of 11 games without a win stemming from last season. Tony Pulis will rightly point out that his side are unbeaten after four games, but the signs are not good.
Granted they have played Arsenal and City, but the football is not easy on the eye. Supporters chose to ignore this when results were going their way, but now that the opposition have got to grips with their unique style, the grumblings from the crowd are getting louder. Another poor showing against the Champions League winners will have the Potters looking over their shoulders. At least they have Michael Owen.
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