English Premier League Week 9: 3 Teams on Upset Alert This Week in EPL

The English Premier League heads into Week 9 after a huge week of UEFA Champions League and Europa League fixtures, but teams must now put that behind them and concentrate on their domestic league matches at hand.

We've been stunned and surprised at a whole host of results already this year—the most recent of which being Arsenal's loss to Norwich City at Carrow Road last week.

Are we in for more upsets this week in the Premier League?

Read on to see which teams are most likely to be the victims of an upset, and which teams are capable of pulling off a stunning result this week.

3. West Bromwich Albion vs. Newcastle United

West Brom were the No. 1 team on my upset alert article last week and very neatly got the job done against Manchester City, with only a last-minute Edin Dzeko goal salvaging three points for the visiting Citzens.

And whilst West Brom are on the road this week, I'm still happy to put them as an upset candidate this week—a move that could be viewed by many as insane. They are, after all, on the road to Newcastle United, with the trip up north proving to be one of the more difficult fixtures on any Premier League calendar.

Yet, for some reason, Newcastle simply haven't been as dominant this year at home, and could be shocked by the Baggies' solid defense and effective counterattack through the middle of the pitch, provided they can get good service from the back.

West Brom haven't won on the road yet this year and have only scored two goals through their three away matches—meaning that they are unlikely to beat the Magpies in a high-scoring affair, like they did Queens Park Rangers earlier this year.

Having said that, this is a Newcastle team that haven't won a Premier League match in over a month, and have already dropped points to Manchester United and the lowly Aston Villa at St. James Park this season—proving that they are not yet the dominant force that they were last season.

Don't go rushing in and backing the Baggies here, but don't be completely surprised to see Steve Clarke's men pick up the points here.

2. Liverpool vs. Everton

The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool is always a wonderful football match when it comes around, and whilst the home side will enter this match as the clear favorites, there is a strong argument to be made for Brendan Rodgers' men here.

The Reds don't have to contend with the feeling of playing away from home, with Goodison Park only a stones throw away from Anfield, and will take heart from their midweek Europa League victory against big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.

Everton have the form and the Premier League success so far this year to suggest that they are the team to beat, and with an attack that features the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Mirallas and Nikica Jelavic, they are indeed the team to beat.

But Liverpool did manage to win both Merseyside derbies last year and could be primed for an upset win in the derby again this year. They haven't been beaten in over a month in the Premier League, and haven't conceded in their last two matches.

This could be Rodgers most important match as Liverpool's manager so far this year, and his side might just lift towards victory because of it.

1. Reading vs. Fulham

Perhaps I'm going out on a limb a little bit here, but if you want an upset to watch out for this week, have a look at Reading at home to Fulham this Saturday.

The Royals haven't won a single game this year and welcome the Cottagers to town—a side that could very well have gone through their last five matches undefeated were it not for late goals to Dzeko and Jose Fonte.

However, it must be noted that the Royals are a real chance at picking up the win here—their first since their promotion to the top-flight English league.

They've been good at home—picking up two draws, with the latter being a 2-2 affair against Newcastle United that saw Demba Ba win the match in the final 10 minutes.

But, perhaps, even more important is Fulham's inability to get the job done away from home—winning less matches, scoring less goals and conceding more at the back. They have netted significantly less goals away from Craven Cottage and have conceded over four times as many goals when playing on the road.

Reading are due for a win, and have to get their debut Premier League result some time. They're playing a Fulham side at their home ground, who barely managed to get past Aston Villa at Craven Cottage last week.

Big chance for the Royals here.

Who's on your upset alert this week in the EPL?

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