After a week of sad news across Europe and the world at large following the Paris bomb attack which claimed 120 lives, club football is back to at least put smiles on our faces. The premier league is back with scintillating fixtures with Manchester City versus Liverpool the pick of the pack.
Watford Vs Manchester United – 12:45 GMT
Watford will welcome Manchester United to the Vicarage Road in the lunch time kick-off. Statistics available suggest this game will be a boring one as Watford have managed only 3 goals at home this season with Man United on the other hand going 555 minutes without conceding. Manchester United will be without strikers Wayne Rooney and Martial due to illness and injury respectively. The home side will have lead striker Idion Ighalo assessed after having returned late from international duty. With Watford’s profligacy in front of goal and the unavailability of Man United’s strikers it will be surprising to see the game producing goals.
Chelsea Vs Norwich City – 15:00 GMT
If any club needed the international break, then its Chelsea. The Blues suffered a third successive defeat in the EPL at Stoke before the international break. Last season by this time, the champions had lost only one game but this season hasn’t gone according to script with Mourinho’s team losing seven games already. Thibaut Courtois is back training with the squad but itis unlikely Mourinho will rush him onto the field. Fit again Ivanovic is likely to start at right-back with Cesar Azpilicueta at the opposite side as Ghana’s left-back Baba Rahman didn’t do himself any good with a poor showing in his last game, the defeat to Stoke City at the Britania. Time and tide waits for no man, Chelsea will do themselves a favour and win this relegation battle lest the talks of relegation dogfight becomes reality.
Everton Vs Aston Villa – 15:00
Rami Garde wouldn’t have asked for a better start to his life in England picking one point from his first game against no side than league leaders Man City in a game the Villains came out the better side. On Saturday afternoon Garde will be engaged in the most played fixture in England when Aston Villa face Everton. On from scoring for Ghana in the midweek world cup qualifiers, Jordan Ayew is expected to lead the Villa attack in the absence of Agbonlahor and Rudy Gestede, both injury doubts for the game. With the toffees playing at home, they are favourite to win.
Newcastle United Vs Leicester 15:00 GMT
High flying Leicester travel to the north to meet Newcastle as they look to continue with their impressive run. The magpies are now getting their season back on track after very abysmal start. A win on Saturday will see them record their first back-to-back win in the year 2015. High flying Leicester occupy the 3rd position on the league log. Claudio Raneiri’s side has treated EPL fans to a free flowing attacking football. A goal from top scorer Jarmie Vardy will see him equal Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in ten consecutive games, a feat the Man United man achieved at the St. James park. Ghana’s left sided player Jeff Schlupp is expected to play a part in the game.
Swansea City Vs AFC Bournemouth – 15:00 GMT
This game was supposed to be a duel between Ghana’s two high flying wingers, Andre Ayew and Christian Atsu but unfortunately unlike the Swansea winger, life at Bournemouth hasn’t gone as expected for the Chelsea loanee who is yet to make a single EPL appearance for the Cherries. Swansea have won only one game since August ending while their opponents Bournemouth have secured only a point in their last six games. Gary Monk and Eddie Howe are both under fire making this game very crucial for them as they seek to secure their job.
WBA vs Arsenal – 15:00 GMT
At the Hawthorns Arsenal will look to temporally move top of the premier league when they lock horns with the Baggies. The Baggies have won only one home game all season with the gunners holding the record as the best travelers in the league with five wins out of six games. It’s always been difficult for Wenger to face a Tony Pulis side because of their contrasting style of play. The gunners will still be without injured Ramsey and Oxlade Chamberlain but Joel Campbell has been an able replacement on the right side of the gunners attack. Tony Pulis lost the fixture before the international break against Man United and wouldn’t want to lose this one. A draw will be a welcome result for the home side.
Manchester City Vs Liverpool – 17:30 GMT
The last game amongst the Saturday fixtures will see Liverpool come fact-to-face with Man City. Jurgen Klopp looked to have revived Liverpool’s season till he suffered his first defeat before the international break, a home loss to Crystal Palace. This game will pitch Raheem Sterling against his boyhood club having dumped them for greener pastures in Manchester.
Manchester City have been boasted by the return of Kun Aguero but will still be without their dependable captain Vincent Kompany and David Silva. Daniel Sturridge is back training and it’s left to Klopp to decide on whether to call him for the game. Lovren looks set to step in for Sakho at the back. Coutinho needs to be at his magical best for Liverpool to stand any chance of winning this game. Even without Kun Aguero, City’s attack is potent. His return will make it too hot for Liverpool to handle.
By: Rahman Osman/citifmonline.com/Ghana