Premier League Preview: Round 13

The best league in the world has once again succeeded in throwing up some interesting storylines, as with about a third of the season gone, teams both up and down the table look to both solidify their position and assert themselves.

With the Premier League fixture list once again throwing up some intriguing matchups, from top-four contenders to relegation-threatened sides, here is a brief preview of this weekend's slate of action.

Stoke City vs. Blackburn Rovers

These two teams have been struggling to capture any kind of consistent form this season.

For Stoke, who have a mere 10 league goals to their name, last week’s defeat to QPR marked their fourth consecutive Premiership loss.

A dramatic late penalty gave Blackburn a share of the spoils at home last week against Wigan (the only team lower than Rovers in the league table), but Steve Kean’s side need to start defeating such struggling opposition if they wish to haul themselves out of the relegation zone anytime soon. 

Another opportunity to grab a precious three points will present itself this Saturday against a City team dangerously low on confidence, whose dire lack of effectiveness in front of goal may stop them from taking advantage of Blackburn’s fragile defense.

Look for the visitors to prolong the Potters' misery, and to come out on top in a league fixture for just the second time this season.

Stoke 1–2 Blackburn

Bolton Wanderers vs. Everton

A crucial home victory against Wolverhampton finally gave Everton fans something to celebrate after several weeks of poor form saw them slip into the relegation zone.

Bolton are still in the bottom three, but could move out with three points on Saturday, a result that is certainly not beyond the home side.

A positive first-half performance against West Bromwich had Wanderers supporters dreaming of their first back-to-back wins of the season, but a muted second-half performance consigned them to their league-high ninth loss of the season.

Surprisingly, Bolton haven’t had too much trouble scoring (they’ve found the net more often than the likes of Newcastle and Liverpool), but they have been crippled by the worst defensive record in the league.

Luckily, that might not be too much of a problem against an Everton side that is notably devoid of much attacking flair or potency.

Bolton 1–1 Everton

Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

The first few months of the season have not gone according to plan for Chelsea and their bright young coach Andres Villas-Boas.

Last week’s loss against Liverpool marked the first time the Blues had lost consecutive games at home since 2002.

Already 12 points adrift of the league leaders Manchester City, and with a midweek loss in the Champions League throwing their advancement from that competition’s group stages into jeopardy, Chelsea’s fans are already murmuring about the need to effect wholesale changes in the squad, both on and off the field.

Luckily for the Londonders and their porous defense, they should be able to get back on track against Wolves. Mick McCarthy’s charges have won only once in their last six league fixtures, and will be missing the likes of captain Jamie O’Hara (suspension) and key forward Kevin Doyle (injured).

If Chelsea can’t come away with the full share of the spoils against the visitors, than they really are a team in crisis.

Chelsea 3–1 Wolverhampton

Manchester United vs. Newcastle United

Newcastle’s fairytale start to the season was brought to an abrupt close in the blue half of Manchester last Saturday, but they will be up for the challenge at Old Trafford this week.

The Red Devils certainly seemed to have lost the intimidating form they displayed at the start of the campaign, and have had a look of vulnerability about them since their now historic shellacking at the hands of City last month.

Some of United’s defensive frailties were exposed during a 2-2 draw with in a Champions League fixture against Benfica midweek, and the Magpies certainly have players capable of exploiting such weaknesses.

However, while there is certainly potential for the visitors to come away with at least one point this weekend, one gets the feeling that United and Sir Alex will be raring to make a statement and show the rest of the league (namely their cross-town rivals) that they are still very much a force to be reckoned with.

Manchester United 2–1 Newcastle

Norwich City vs. Queens Park Rangers

Two newly promoted sides who have largely exceeded expectations by establishing themselves in the middle of the table do battle in a tie that both will fancy themselves winning.

The Canaries let a brief lead slip last week against Arsenal, but managed to give another good account of themselves, as they have all season with a squad assembled largely from players picked up from lower league sides.

Neil Warnock’s QPR, however, will arrive with some degree of confidence after their road win against Stoke last week; with five goals in their last two league games, the London outfit are in some good attacking form.

While Norwich’s home support will be loud and passionate as ever, the visitors will have just enough quality to come away with all three points.

Norwich 0–2 QPR

Sunderland vs. Wigan Athletic

Both teams played out rather disappointing draws in their last outings.

For Sunderland, who hosted Fulham, a number of promising chances went wasted as they recorded their fourth straight draw at home, while Wigan conceded a penalty eight minutes into second-half stoppage time to share the points against Blackburn.

Wigan will be desperate for the opportunity to vault themselves out of the foot of the table, while Sunderland, with only one win in their last six, will need a win to placate the growing discontent of fans, who hoped at the start of the season for at least a repeat of last year’s top-10 league finish.

Whether the Black Cats have the necessary quality in their squad to end in the top half of the Premier League by spring, they should be good enough to see off a Wigan team that, even at this early stage of the season look almost a lock to be in the Championship next year.

Sunderland 1–0 Wigan

Tottenham vs. West Bromwich Albion

An Emanuel Adebayor-powered victory against Aston Villa on Monday night extended Tottenham’s unbeaten run in the league to nine games, a streak that now trails only Manchester City’s in its longevity.

10th-placed West Bromwich have won three out of their last five games, but those wins have come against largely mediocre sides, while the two losses in that stretch came against top-four aspirants Liverpool and Arsenal.

Albion are disciplined and moderately talented, and a top-half finish is certainly not beyond their reach, but with Hotspur in the sort of form they are, it looks like it will take a team of much greater quality than West Brom to hand the North Londoners their first loss since August.

Tottenham 3–0 West Bromwich

Arsenal vs. Fulham

The troubles and crisis of the first month of the season seems like ancient history to Gunners fans, who have seen their team run off five straight wins in the league and secure first place in their Champions League group.

Although Robin van Persie has, justifiably, taken much of the credit for Arsenal’s resurgence due to his magnificent scoring record of recent times, the team is functioning well as a unit.

Perhaps their one remaining weakness is their defense, which is still susceptible to making the odd error, but Fulham are not likely to be the team to take advantage of such a state of affairs.

Martin Jol’s side have found the net only three times during their six road games, and failed to find much attacking flow last week against a Sunderland side much less talented than Arsenal.

Fulham will need to be much more clinical if they have any hope of stopping van Persie and co. at the Emirates on Saturday.

Arsenal 2–0 Fulham

Swansea City vs. Aston Villa

Both teams have three wins apiece, but their respective satisfactions with such records are different.

For Villa, a season in which mid-table mediocrity beckons once more is something of a letdown, whereas Swansea—whose sole aim is to finish outside the bottom three—are content with such a position.

Still, the Swans are only four points clear of the relegation zone, and will look to solidify their position with another three points on Sunday.

The Swans' impressive home record (last week’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United was their first at Liberty Stadium since March) combined with the Villans' less-than-stellar away form (they are winless on the road this season) will give the Welsh side high hopes of a win.

Swansea 1–0 Aston Villa

Liverpool vs. Manchester City

Last week was something of a mixed bag results-wise for City; after putting previously unbeaten Newcastle to the sword last weekend, a mediocre performance in southern Italy in the Champions League left their hopes of advancing past the group stages dangling by a thread.

Liverpool are still riding the high of a 2-1 win at Chelsea, sealed by a fine solo effort from former Blues player Glen Johnson, a result that had reluctant Reds fans believing that Kenny Dalglish’s team may finally be beginning to gel after a mixed start to this Premier League season.

The atmosphere at Anfield is sure to be loud and electric, but its impact on Liverpool’s performance is debatable; the Merseysiders' last three home games were draws, including less-than-impressive efforts against newly promoted sides Norwich and Swansea.

Liverpool may very well try to replicate the sort of counterattacking game plan that Napoli used with great success to neutralize City’s high-powered attack in midweek, but look for the sky blues to vent their frustrations at their European failings in the form of another fine victory in the league.

Liverpool 1–3 Manchester City