Premier League: Man Utd host leaders Chelsea, while Liverpool face HULL
Manchester United look to inflict Chelsea’s first defeat of the season in the live Super Sunday clash, while Liverpool welcome Hull City to Anfield on Saturday.
United’s bitter rivals Manchester City get the weekend underway when they travel to an in-form West Ham United side, knowing that victory for Manuel Pellegrini’s men will at least temporarily close the gap on league-leaders Chelsea to two points.
Two teams also in need of a morale boosting victory meet at the Stadium of Light, with Arsenal looking to earn only their third league win of the season, while Sunderland must appease angry fans following their 8-0 demolition at the hands of Southampton last time out.
The Saints will be hoping to build on that momentum when they host Stoke City on Saturday, West Bromwich Albion welcome Crystal Palace to The Hawthorns, with Swansea City playing host to Leicester City in the Saturday Night Football.
Before the encounter at Old Trafford, Tottenham Hotspur welcome lowly Newcastle United to White Hart Lane, and Burnley aim to secure their first win of the season at home to Everton as they kick off Sky Sports’ Super Sunday coverage.
Queens Park Rangers complete the gameweek’s action when they take on Aston Villa at Loftus Road.
Louis van Gaal claimed this week that hisManchester United side are capable of mounting a title challenge despite their far from impressive start to life under the experienced Dutchman, and victory over a so far imperious Chelsea will go a long way to proving the numerous doubters wrong. Jose Mourinho, who spoke of his admiration of Van Gaal, knows that his side will have to be at their best with the likes of Angel di Maria capable of being the match-winner against any calibre of opposition, but with his side in such impressive form, winning seven of their opening eight games of the season, the Portuguese will be confident. United have won just six of their last 22 Premier League clashes with Chelsea, and pundit Paul Merson cannnot see them bettering that statistic in front of the Sky cameras.
West Ham have been this season’s surprise package, and are currently performing well above expectations and sit in a lofty fourth place. There was pressure in the summer from the Hammers’ hierarchy to improve the standard of the attacking play at Upton Park, and the influx of new faces have provided just that. Diafra Sakho has been somewhat of a revelation since arriving in the capital, and has now notched in each of his five starts since arriving from French side Metz. Manchester City represent as tough a challenge as any to the Hammers' recent form, and with Sergio Aguero in prolific form in front of goal after regaining full fitness, Manuel Pellegrini’s men may take some stopping.
Liverpool endured a difficult night at the hands of Read Madrid in their midweek UEFA Champions League encounter, and never looked on the same level as the European champions. The pressure is mounting on boss Brendan Rodgers, and summer signing Mario Balotelli’s actions are not aiding the matter. Balotelli has been criticised from several quarters for swapping shirts as he left the pitch at half-time, seemingly unfazed by Liverpool’s toils at the hands of Los Blancos. Victory over a Hull side buoyed by an impressive performance at Arsenal last week is imperative, with competition for the Champions League qualification places hotting up. The Tigers have won just one of their 18 meetings with the Reds in all competitions, and never at Anfield.
Arsenal are another side in need of three points to appease their disgruntled fans. If The Gunners were to not emerge victorious from their encounter with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light then it will be the worst start (after nine games) in Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal reign. A dramatic late win in Anderlecht in midweek will certainly have boosted the Gunners’ confidence ahead of a clash with a side who have just suffered a demoralising 8-0 defeat. Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has spoken about how he has “learned about some of his players” after the embarrassing defeat on the south coast, and will be looking for a response against an Arsenal team under much pressure themselves.
Swansea take on Leicester in this weekend’s Saturday Night Football, hoping to put last weekend’s controversy behind them. Swansea boss Garry Monk has alerted the disciplinary panel at the FA for his comments after The Swans defeat at Stoke, describing Michael Oliver’s decision to award Stoke a first-half penalty a “disgrace”. That defeat means it is now five games without a win for the Swans, after making such an impressive start to the season. Leciester have also faltered after a positive start to life back in the Premier League. One point from the three games since the Foxes’ incredible comeback victory over Manchester United has taken the shine off their early-season form.
Super Sunday kicks off with two teams desperate to improve on their own early-season form. Burnleyare the only side in England’s top four divisions without a win, with a lack of goals the crux of the problem. Four strikes is the joint-worst record in the league, with talisman Danny Ings as guilty as anyone in front of goal. Ings has mustered just one shot on target so far this season. Everton have suffered from inconsistency so far, with Europa League action affecting their Premier League performances. Both league matches directly after European excursions have resulted in defeat for the Toffees, and another at Turf Moor could be detrimental to their hopes of making the top four.
Tottenham take on Newcastle on Sunday following a Europa League clash on Thursday night, with the entire footballing stratosphere seemingly talking about Erik Lamela’s “rabona” goal. The incredible strike from the Argentine forward certainly has got Spurs fans hot under the collar, but it remains to be seen if Lamela can replicate such ability on a regular basis. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino still called for improvement despite a 5-1 victory over Asteras Tripolis at White Hart Lane, and with several changes to the side predicted, Spurs fans will be hoping that momentum is not lost. Newcastle finally got a win on the board against Leicester last time out, and boss Alan Pardew will be hoping for a similar resolute display in north London.
Southampton exceeded their fans’ wildest dreams last time out in the rout over Sunderland, and supporters will be hoping for more of the same against an inconsistentStoke side on Saturday. The Saint’s record of W5 D1 L2 is their best at this stage of a top-flight season since W5 D2 L1 in 1983-84 (the season in which they went on to finish second). And all of this comes on the back of a difficult summer of much change on the south coast. Stoke have yet to win back-to-back games this season, and in a fixture that has seen four draws in the last four meetings, that may be the best that the Potters can hope for.
West Brom will be hoping to build on their impressive performance against Manchester United last time out when they welcome lowly Crystal Palace to The Hawthorns on Saturday. The naysayers were out for Alan Irvine from the beginning, but a return of nine points from their opening eight matches is very respectable. New Palace boss Neil Warnock has also masterminded more points than many expected since taking over at Selhurst Park. Eight points from their eight matches, having already faced Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea certainly could have been much worse.
Finally, QPR will be hoping to get over their late heartache at the hands of Liverpool last time out when they welcome Aston Villa to Loftus Road for the Monday Night Football. The Rs looked to have snatched an unlikely point when Eduardo Vargas headed in from close range in stoppage time last Sunday. However, on the counter attack, a Steven Caulker own goal gifted the Reds all three points. The result saw Harry Redknapp’s men remain bottom, with just four points and the worst goal difference. Monday’s visitors to Loftus Road are also in a bad run of form, with profligacy in front of goal the main cause for concern. Villa’s total of 12 shots on target is fewer than three players after eight matchweeks (Aguero, Costa and Pelle).
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