4 upsets that could happen in the Premier League this weekend

Arsenal v Vorskla Poltava - UEFA Europa League - Group E
Arsenal had a great start to their UEL campaign

After an exhilarating midweek of European football where the Champions League offered us two highly entertaining matchdays on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Europa League followed that up with Thursday night football, domestic league football returns this weekend.

All attention would rightly be turned back to the domestic scene, as the biggest clubs in Europe return from their continental exertions and resume their assault on the national leagues.

One of such would be the Premier League, as its wide appeal and the presence of some of the best players and coaches in the world ensures the league has more than its own fair share of market appeal.

The league is home to some of the most prestigious clubs in the world such as Manchester United and Chelsea, ditto players and coaches such as Eden Hazard, Paul Pogba, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho.

Despite the stature of these clubs, the extremely competitive nature of the EPL means that upsets are a regular occurrence in the league, as even the smallest clubs in the country are no respecter of status or pedigree.

None of the big teams are immune from such upsets, and almost every weekend of Premier League football offers at least one shock result, with some weekends offering us more than one.

With all the top six teams returning from their continental duties, this would be a prime weekend for upsets to occur. Here are the four biggest upsets that could happen in the Premier League this weekend.


#4 Cardiff vs Manchester City

Manchester City v Olympique Lyonnais - UEFA Champions League Group F
Manchester City suffered a defeat to Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Champions League

Manchester City are one of the most feared teams in Europe right now, their procession to the the league title last season is well documented, as they almost strolled their way to being champions, breaking a plethora of records along the way, and in Guardiola they have arguably the best manager in world football at the moment.

Their Champions League campaign last season however ended in disaster with Liverpool emphatically knocking them out with victory in both legs of their quarter-final clash, the second of which got Guardiola a red card and suspension.

Their poor European campaign last term is one they would have set out to amend this season, but it got off to the worst possible start, as City lost 1-2 to an inspired Lyon at the Etihad, with Guardiola looking on from the stands.

That defeat made Manchester City the first English team in history to lose four consecutive Champions League matches, and they head into their weekend clash with Cardiff suffering from damaged confidence.

Cardiff City were one of three promoted teams from the Championship last season, after finishing second behind Wolves in England's second tier of club football, but have found it hard to adapt to the demands of a higher competition.

The Bluebirds are yet to register a victory in 5 EPL matches thus far, and find themselves lying in 17th spot with just 2 points garnered from a possible 15.

Although the bookmakers would have Manchester City heavily installed as the overwhelming favorites to win this clash, Cardiff City's desperation for points and City's vulnerable state could see one of the biggest upsets of the season take place at the Cardiff City stadium on Saturday.

#3 Brighton vs Tottenham

FC Internazionale v Tottenham Hotspur - UEFA Champions League Group B
Tottenham Hotspur threw away a one goal lead to Inter Milan

Another team who have made very impressive gains in recent seasons is Tottenham. The Lily Whites have moved on from being Champions League hopefuls to firmly establishing themselves as top four material, and immense credit should go to Mauricio Pochettino for his work.

However, financial policies at the club are threatening to undo all of the hard work and progress made over the years. The club were the only Champions League participating team not to make a summer addition, as well as the first EPL club not to buy since the summer transfer window was made official in 2003.

After recording impressive victories in their opening three Premier League games, including at Manchester United, Spurs have now lost three on the trot for the first time since Tim Sherwood was manager at the club.

Those defeats have come at Watford and at home to Liverpool in the Premier League, with the most recent and shocking being the 2-1 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League where they threw away a 1 goal lead with four minutes remaining.

There are rumors of player unrest in the Tottenham camp, and with Hugo Lloris suspended due to his drunk driving charge and Harry Kane uncharacteristically off form, the usual camaraderie and calm associated with Tottenham seems to have dissipated.

They travel to the Amex to face a Brighton side who lie 14th on the table having picked up 5 points thus far this season. A victory at home against Tottenham would represent a real coup for The Sea Gulls who only returned to the Premier League last year.

However, it would not be out of place as it seems, with Brighton having pulled off another shock earlier on matchday two when they defeated Manchester United 3-2.

#2 Manchester United vs Wolves

Watford FC v Manchester United - Premier League
Jose Mourinho

After all the turbulence stirred up courtesy of back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Brighton, Jose Mourinho seems to have calmed the storm at United, and has master minded three straight away victories to Burnley, Watford and Young Boys in the Champions League.

Manchester United have fallen some way off the highs experienced under Sir Alex Ferguson, and Mourinho was hired to get them back to top spot. The Red Devils currently find themselves struggling in mid-table.

Saturday's clash at Old Trafford sees 8th face 9th with one point separating them, as Manchester United seek to start racking up the points and gain ground on the early pace setters.

They would however come up against a very resilient Wolves side who have earned rave reviews for their performances since returning to the Premier League.

The Wanderers won the Championship in emphatic fashion last season, and haven't been unfazed by the step up to the big time.

Nuno Espirito's men have been one of the most entertaining sides in the league, and till date are the only team to have picked points against City, doing so with their impressive 1-1 draw at the Etihad in August.

Although there has been an improvement in the fortunes of Manchester United in recent weeks, the clash with Wolves represents a potential banana skin which Mourinho's men would be desperate to avoid stepping on.

#1 West Ham vs Chelsea

Chelsea FC v Cardiff City - Premier League
Hazard was the hat-trick hero for Chelsea FC v Cardiff City

Maurizio Sarri was announced as Antonio Conte's replacement in the summer, and a lot of skepticism was raised over his suitability for the role, as despite his attractive style of football, it was felt that he did not have the requisite CV befitting a club the stature of Chelsea.

Two months into his tenure though, and the doubters are slowly being won over, as Chelsea are one of only two teams with a 100 percent record in the EPL after five games, and sit top of the table on Liverpool with goal difference.

They come up against a West Ham side who were one of the window's biggest spenders, and announced PL winning manager Manuel Pellegrini as their new gaffer in a bid to take the club to the next level.

Things did not however go according to plans for The Hammers, as they are without a point in their first four games, with that miserable run only coming to an end last week at Everton.

With the pressure of getting the first points on board now behind them, the club can now focus on climbing up the league, and Sunday's clash against Chelsea represents a perfect opportunity to achieve their second victory of the season.

The Blues will arrive the Olympic Stadium in a fatigued state, having traveled to far away Greece to play their Thursday night Europa League clash with Paok, and as if that wasn't bad enough, they had to contend with the misery of having their flight back to the UK delayed.

Chelsea are undoubtedly one of the in form teams in the league at the moment, but West Ham's desperation to climb up the table as well as Chelsea player tiredness are factors which could see the East Londoners upset their West London neighbors on Sunday.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.
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