English Premier League Week 8: 5 Teams on Upset Alert

The English Premier League is back after a two-week break, due to international matches, and it could not have returned at a more opportune time.

The football world is craving more action, more drama and more fascinating matchups, and the Premier League is back to satisfy all three of those desires.

Week 8 of the EPL provides a whole host of interesting fixtures, and knowing that we can never be completely right, one or two of those is bound to throw up a result that few saw coming and expected to occur.

Which matches are the most likely to throw a curve ball this week? Let's take a look at the five teams that need to be on upset alert this week in the Premier League.

5. Manchester United vs. Stoke City

Sir Alex Ferguson's men come in at No. 5 on this list, despite their strong start to the Premier League season and their statement victory against Newcastle Untied at St. James Park on October 7. 

The Red Devils have a whole host of attacking options, as we all know. But against a Stoke City side that has conceded the second fewest number of goals this season and held the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool to draws, they cannot be counted out.

Consider also the defensive pieces that United are missing, with captain Nemanja Vidic the biggest omission from their side that will line up Saturday.

Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are also both unavailable for selection, giving the Red Devils boss few options in defense against a side that is led in attack by Peter Crouch.

United should win this match, especially given that it's at Old Trafford, but you simply never quite know.

Stoke rarely turn in a poor performance and are likely to push the Red Devils for the full length of this match for the win.

4. Fulham vs. Aston Villa

Anyone who watched Fulham's first half against Southampton two weeks ago will know that, without Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey, this is a team that can seriously lack direction and fluidity throughout the midfield.

Granted, the Cottagers turned it around in the second half and, to their credit, almost walked away with three points that they definitely didn't look like winning in the opening 45 minutes of the match. They were lethargic, their passes were poor and they simply turned the ball over at will.

And while they return to Craven Cottage to take on lowly Aston Villa, don't expect manager Martin Jol to think that everything will come easy for his side in this one.

Villa boss Paul Lambert is desperate to show that his team has everything in order, but I think striker Darren Bent could be the real factor in this one.

Bent's name has been floating around as a possible departure during the January transfer window, given his volatile relationship with management at the club so far this season—which could make for a big game from him against Fulham.

The striker could be doing everything he can to impress his potential suitors; or he could be doing everything he can to convince his current manager not to sell him during the transfer window. Either way, he'll be trying to find the back of the net and prove himself as a world-class striker—which could lead to a big upset on the road here. 

3. Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Whichever way you want to look at this match and whichever club you want to deem as the favorite to win, there's a strong argument for the other side winning as well, which means that this matchup has to be a potential upset result this week.

Oddschecker.com (at the time this article was written) had the home side as a very slight favorite ahead of the Premier League leaders, though, as mentioned previously, Chelsea obviously have a very strong case to be considered the favorites here.

First of all, they have just been traveling around London, so don't think that this match has the same feel to it like an away fixture would if they were playing at, say, Newcastle. 

Blues management will want current manager Roberto Di Matteo to go one-up on his predecessor Andre Villas-Boas, and they'll no doubt want their team to continue their excellent start to the Premier League season, as they have yet to lose a single match.

Spurs will no doubt be firing for this London blockbuster, but it's hard to ignore the class and depth of talent that exists in this Blues side.

The likes of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard can open up a defense seemingly at will.

While the North London side do have good defensive strength, they only recorded their first clean sheet of the season on October 7 against lowly Aston Villa.

If they're not completely tight at the back, Chelsea will make them pay. Judging from the season that we've witnessed so far, that could very well take place in this match. 

2. Newcastle United vs. Sunderland

Coming in at no. 2 here is the Tyne-Wear Derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United, which sees the away side as favorites.

The Magpies were demolished by a dominant Manchester United side two weeks ago and will be looking to bounce back with a win here to stay in touch with the top sides of the Premier League. They currently sit in 10th position on the ladder.

But while they might be dominant at St. James Park, Newcastle simply aren't as good away from the road, and the trip to Sunderland presents a very difficult fixture.

Last year, the Stadium of Light was the second toughest place to travel in the Premier League, and it seems that it remains equally hard this year—the Black Cats have yet to be beaten and only conceded one goal in front of their home fans.

Newcaslte certainly have the strike power necessary to threaten Martin O'Neill's men defensively, but don't be surprised if the home side continue their strong start to the season, in which they've only lost one match.

1. Manchester City vs. West Bromwich Albion

The side that ranks highest on upset alert this week is reigning champions Manchester City, who face a very difficult trip away to The Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion—two sides that, together, have just one loss so far this year.

First, let's talk about West Brom, who have surprised many with their excellent start to the 2012-13 English Premier League season.

They are four wins from four matches at home, including results against Liverpool and Everton, and have only conceded goals in one of their four matches at home. The Baggies have failed to score only once this season and have conceded the fourth fewest goals across the entire league.

Now, let's talk about Manchester City, who, despite remaining undefeated, face a very difficult assignment away from the Etihad this weekend.

Their away form has been poor for a couple of seasons now, and with just one win from their three away matches this year—thanks to an 87th-minute winner from Edin Dzeko—it seems that their road form is still under a stack of criticism.

The reigning Premier League champions score half as many goals away from home and have yet to record a single clean sheet away from the Etihad this season, despite boasting one of the top defensive units in the Premier League.

The Baggies know this is their biggest match of any time soon, but you get the feeling that City aren't in the same mindset—especially when they have a Champions League fixture that they need to win next week to stay in the competition.

Don't expect Roberto Mancini's men to relax as a result of that, but they may well switch off late (or early), providing the Baggies with a chance to capitalize on opportunities, something they've been very good at this year.

Definitely an upset chance in this one.

Which teams do you think should be on upset alert this week?

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All statistics courtesy of WhoScored and SoccerStats