EPL Preview: 2011-2012 Season of Change
It may be only the second weekend of the Premier League season, but one of the fiercest derbies is all set to take place this weekend.
Last season both teams drew with each other in this fixture. But the 5-1 hammering will certainly be still lingering on the minds of Steve Bruce. Further, it has been three years since Sunderland managed to win over Newcastle United at home, although Newcastle did spend a year down in the Championship.
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Steve Bruce will be looking to set the record straight by getting a morale-boosting win over Newcastle.
A repeat of the second half performance against Liverpool last weekend will guarantee that Steve Bruce's men take something out of this game. Newcastle will also come into the match after having drawn against Arsenal, although Alan Pardew will not be too confident of this match given that it has been seven years since Newcastle managed to win at the Stadium of light.
Sunderland's new signing John O'Shea could be available for this match, while Asamoah Gyan is also available for selection. Alan Pardew does not have any new players back from injury, which could see Shola Ameobi continue in the starting line-up.
A lot has been spoken about the future of Arsenal in the last week after the departure of Cesc Fabregas, but Arsene Wenger will know that a victory will put all the doubts behind them at least until the next week.
Arsenal come on the back of a crucial 1-0 victory over Udinese in midweek, but they also have to look forward to the second leg in a few days and the match against Manchester United next weekend. A victory over Liverpool will be the perfect start for a run-in that includes these difficult fixtures, which could determine Arsenal's season, although the season has only started.
Arsenal looked devoid of ideas in the match against Newcastle, while Liverpool looked the exact opposite, although they could not hold on to their lead against Sunderland. Kenny Dalglish will come under pressure if Liverpool do not manage to record a win given their extravagant spending in the summer.
Even though it is only early stages, it is vital to get off the blocks as quick as possible. A win against Arsenal would surely erase the memories of the draw against Sunderland. Gervinho and Alex Song start their three-match ban and will be unavailable for selection against Liverpool.
Alex McLeish will be in the Aston Villa dugout at Villa Park for the first time and he will be extremely aware that he is likely to receive an abuse or two.
The first match of the season – away to Fulham – was extremely comfortable in that McLeish did not face a lot of Villa fans, who are least interested in having the former Birmingham manager at their club. The situation would have been really comfortable had McLeish won his first game in charge, but the dull football against Fulham would have certainly angered the Villa fans. The style of play is thought to be behind one of the reasons for Villa fans not being appreciative of the decision to appoint Alex McLeish.
However, he can win over the fans provided Villa play attractive winning football against Blackburn, who are certainly the most difficult team to play such sort of football against.
The opening day defeat would not have brought the roof down at Ewood Park, but another defeat against Villa Park will certainly raise some questions over the future of Steve Kean. Shay Given will be available for selection, while Steve Kean will have Ryan Nelsen and Christopher Samba back as well.
Everton vs QPR
After the 15-year long absence from the Premier League, QPR received the most unwelcome return to the top flight at the hands of Bolton last weekend.
The 4-0 defeat raised a lot of questions over the decision by the owners not spend any money. It seems to have added an urgency in the transfer window, as QPR have been linked with a few players in the last few days.
However, it is highly unlikely that they will be available for the match against Everton, who will be starting their Premier League season this weekend after their first game of the season against Tottenham was postponed.
Everton have been known for their poor starts to the season in the last few years, which has all but ended their campaign prematurely. David Moyes will be hoping for a victory on their first match of the season after a four-year absence.
The 2-1 win over Wigan at the start of the 2007-08 season was the last time Everton won their first match of the season. David Moyes will be without Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who is suspended. Clint Hill is also suspended for QPR, while Neil Warnock will be monitoring the fitness of Kieron Dyer.
Swansea started off their Premier League campaign not in the best of ways against Manchester City. Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers, though, will be hoping that the 4-0 defeat was not a signs of things to come for the newly promoted club.
They will be having the perfect opportunity to get their first points on the board - even a win does not look beyond the possibilities – when they take on Wigan in the first home match of the season. Roberto Martinez was particularly disappointed about the lack of concentration from his team against Norwich in their opening match.
Hence, he will be looking for a good performance from his side, although an away match against newly promoted side is probably the last thing he would have been hoping for. Wigan will be facing QPR in their next match, and Robert Martinez will undoubtedly be targeting three points from both these matches.
Hugo Rodallega is just back into the squad after the Coppa America and he could be involved in the match against Swansea. Brendan Rodgers does have good news in the form of Neil Taylor, who is now available after the completion of his suspension.
Even though new manager Andre Villas-Boas failed to deliver the win on the opening day of the season, Chelsea quietly impressed against Stoke.
Even more than the performance of the team, Villas-Boas would have been certainly happy about the performance from Fernando Torres. Torres looks very much like his old self and he could yet again keep Didier Drogba out of the starting line-up against West Brom.
Roy Hodgson felt aggrieved that his side deserved something out of their last match against Manchester United. However, he will surely realise that taking three points away at Stamford Bridge is one of the toughest tasks in the Premier League, but it would not prevent him from having a go at Chelsea.
West Brom were thrashed 6-0 in this fixture by Chelsea on the opening day of last season and Roy Hodgson will be keen to avoid such a result.
Chelsea have completed the signing of striker Lukaku, although it is highly likely that he will be involved in the match against West Brom. Peter Odemwingie is a major doubt for Roy Hodgson, while Jerome Thomas has already been ruled out of the match.
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