EPL Predictions: Manchester United To Bounce Back and Other Predictions
After midweek European play, the English Premier League will continue at its usual exciting pace.
Chelsea and Arsenal gave out beatings that will reverberate around London, while Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur earned draws. With Manchester City and Liverpool triumphing, no EPL team was beaten in European play.
This week, Liverpool travels to Old Trafford in the headline fixture and Stoke City face West Ham United with both teams desperate for points.
West Ham To Be Done Up Like a Kippur
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West Ham have opened their Premier League season in disastrous fashion with four straight defeats.
Manager Avram Grant will miss the game, as he will be observing the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur; defender Tal Ben Haim will be missing for the same reason.
Britannia stadium will not be the place for West Ham's first win.
A tough Stoke team gained their first win last week with an emotional win against Aston Villa. Tony Pulis did not originally attend the game but showed up at half time to rally his team to a 2-1 victory.
Pulis did not originally plan to attend due to the death of his mother.
The long throw ins and set pieces of Stoke will be a challenge for Rob Green, who could still have frail confidence. Green has already made some big errors this season to follow up from his World Cup disaster.
PREDICTION: Stoke City 1 West Ham United 0
Injury Hit Wanderers To Be Robbed by the Villains
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Aston Villa have shown inconsistent form and are still waiting for newly appointed manager Gerard Houllier to begin his reign. Caretaker manager Kevin McDonald will take charge of his final game and is boosted by the return to health of John Carew and Stephen Ireland.
Bolton will go into the game with depleted numbers. Star forward Kevin Davies is suffering with concussion, while defender Gary Cahill and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen are suspended. Tamir Cohen will also miss the game due to Yom Kippur.
The absence of Cahill will be costly, as Aston Villa cruise to a home win.
PREDICTION: Aston Villa 2 Bolton Wanderers 0
Sparky to Return To Old Stomping Ground and Grab a Point
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Mark Hughes will return to the club he used to coach when he travels to Ewood Park with new side Fulham.
Hughes has yet to taste defeat as Fulham coach, but a tough Blackburn team led by Sam Allardyce will be waiting for them.
This game will see two teams led by managers who pride themselves on discipline and work ethic go head-to-head.
With no quarter asked or given, expect a hard fought draw with more than one booking and a potential red card added to the mix.
As the photograph shows, even the sidelines will not be safe.
PREDICTION: Blackburn Rovers 0 Fulham 0
Everton to Doon the Toon and Gain First Win
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Everton have not yet achieved a win, but their last game must certainly have felt like one.
Everton entered the 90th minute against Manchester United down 3-1. Injury time goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta will have the Toffee's in a buoyant mood.
Newcastle hammered Aston Villa 6-0, but strangely that is their only win so far. A loss at Goodison will drag them down towards the bottom end of the table.
PREDICTION: Everton 2 Newcastle United 1. The attacking midfield play of Cahill, Arteta, and Fellaini will be too much for the Toon Army.
Champions League Hangover Strikes
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Tottenham achieved a credible midweek draw at Bremen in the Champions League.
The travel and fatigue will likely lead Harry Redknapp to shuffle his pack to keep legs fresh.
Robbie Keane will likely feature against his old team with Jermain Defoe injured, but a Keane goal will not be enough as tough tackling Wolves gain a credible road draw.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has received fierce criticism from fans and the media regarding his team's style of play. McCarthy could use the draw to successfully create a siege mentality that drives Wolves on as a group.
PREDICTION: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Baggies to Bounce the Blues
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This West Midlands derby will be a hard fought and cagey affair. Birmingham have superior talent, but West Brom knows if they lay down in their home games they will stand little chance of survival.
Roberto Di Matteo said this week that "derbies have no rules, anything can happen." Expect the Italian to have his side fired up in a desperate bid to gain three precious points that could help them stay in the division come seasons end.
Birmingham could see the debut of Aleksandr Hleb, though Chilean international Jean Beausejour may not be ready for the game.
PREDICTION: West Bromwich Albion 2 Birmingham City 1
Mackems To Be Gunned Down on Home Turf
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Tough road trips against physical teams were reported to be the Achilles Heel of Arsene Wenger's excellent Arsenal side.
That may not be the case this season.
Having already beaten Blackburn 2-1 at Ewood Park, expect the Gunners to take maximum points from another tough opponent here.
The strength and hold up play of Marouane Chamakh has been a huge addition for the Gunners. They will be too much for Sunderland here.
Sunderland have an excellent strike force consisting of Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan, but simply will not see enough possession to get three points here. Ball winning Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole will miss the game having already been sent off twice this season.
PREDICTION: Sunderland 1 Arsenal 2
United To Hit Winning Stride Once More
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Despite not losing a game, United have had a poor week.
After crumbling late against Everton, the Red Devils were held to a 0-0 tie by Scottish Champions Glasgow Rangers in midweek.
United lost Antonio Valencia to a broken ankle, but have plenty of depth and will look to get a win here. Wayne Rooney will return to a hostile atmosphere, looking to leave his personal problems behind for the afternoon as he lays the boot into an old rival.
The big names will be in play, as a returning Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, and Fernando Torres are all set to feature here.
Liverpool scored a big win in Europa League play in midweek, but a tough road trip to Old Trafford will be a step too far as they fall in a low scoring affair.
PREDICTION: Manchester United 1 Liverpool 0
Struggling Wigan To Lose Again
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If any team has the depth to cope with a European midweek game, it is Manchester City. The options they have at each position are simply staggering. You can expect them to field a good lineup and gain three points here.
Carlos Tevez has scored five goals in six games against Wigan and will add to that tally here. Wigan have conceded 11 goals at home so far this season and things could get worse in this game.
PREDICTION: Wigan Athletic 0 Manchester City 3
A Drogba Hat-Trick to Help The Chelsea Juggernaut Roll On
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Blackpool are doing a fine job in their first Premier League season, and currently sit in the top four.
However, Chelsea are sweeping all before them and will continue to do so here. In two home games this season, Chelsea have netted eight goals without conceding.
Drogba will return after missing the midweek Champions League win, and will do so in style, as the Tangerines are put to the sword.
PREDICTION: Chelsea 5 Blackpool 0
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