EPL Preview: BlockBuster Gameweek 6

Exciting weekend has arrived for big clashes in the EPL. The most watched league in the world is back for classic matches, where teams will give there all to win matches and get to top of the table. There are two London Derbies this week where Arsenal face toppers Chelsea and another one where QPR are against West Ham United. There is also another big game between Manchester United and Tottenham, also a tough game away for Man City against Fulham.

1. Arsenal v Chelsea at Emirates Stadium – 29th Sep 2012 – 12:45 BST/ 17:15 IST

The big game of the week is the London Derby between Arsenal and Chelsea. Both opposition are on unbeatable run as both London teams have not lost a match in this season. Arsenal have been very impressive with their newly organized defense and on-form attackers, performing excellent last week at Etihad against Man City deserving a draw, not letting Man City win on their home. Chelsea are table toppers as they have great start to the season but they are able to score only 1 goal in last 2 matches, last week they had to work hard against Stoke at Stamford Bridge, winning with a late goal from Ashley Cole. Arsene Wenger’s side will look to win this derby against title challengers and get near to Blues on points tally as they are in-form team and its home advantage to the Gunners.

Roberto Di Matteo will look to keep great defensive record as they have not conceded a goal in last 3 league matches. The Pride of London is on stake and supporters of both sides will want the bragging rights to be the best team in London, so both teams will go for a win and it will be anyone’s to win but my prediction of this London derby is an entertaining scoreless draw. Also this is the first match after Terry’s international retirement and hearing of case where he was found guilty so it will add more spice to the match.

Players to watchout for Arsenal – Podolski, Cazorola, Diaby and Koscielny

Players to watchout for Chelsea – Hazard, Lampard, Terry and Cech

Prediction – Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea

2. Everton v Southampton at Goodison Park – 29th Sep 2012 – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Everton host Southampton at Goodison Park, the fortress for Everton. Toffees will want to keep their league form after mid-week loss where they were knocked out of the league cup by Leeds United, they will bank on home advantage as they have great results on home soil. Everton last week thrashed Swansea on road by 3-0 which was very impressive performance from Toffees and they will look for another win.

On the other hand, Southampton will look for second consecutive win as last week they surprised winning against Aston Villa with brilliant second-half display and a also mid-week victory over Sheffield Wednesday by 2-0. Nigel Adkins will look for good work to be continued but he knows it will be a difficult task at Everton. Everton are firm favourites to win this match.

Players to watchout for Everton – Fellani, Jelavic and BainesPlayers to watchout for Southampton – Lambert, Lallana and Ramirez

Prediction – Everton 3-1 Southampton

3. Fulham v Manchester City at Craven Cottage – 29th Sep 2012 – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Champions Man City travel to Fulham where City will find it difficult to get a result. Man City are unbeaten but the performance is not upto standard, they are not getting results as wanted and their form is stuttering where Man City are winless in last 4 matches in all competitions. In mid-week Man City were knocked out from Cup by Aston Villa at Etihad by 4-2 which must be embarrassing result for Mancini. Fulham are riding high on last week win at Wigan by 2-1 so their confidence must be high as it’s a rare away victory for Cottagers. Martin Jol’s side will look to continue good home form and keep the Man City attack at bay as Cottagers are playing well and opposition is out of form so they should take advantage, but they have to make it without their talisman Berbatov as he got injured in training and he will be out for 2 weeks.

Players to watchout for Fulham – Rodallega, Kacaniklic and HangelandPlayers to watchout for Man City – Aguero, Yaya Toure and Kompany

Prediction – Fulham 2-2 Man City

4. Norwich City v Liverpool – 29th Sep 2012 – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Winless teams will be up against each other as both teams have not won a single match this season. Liverpool has one of the worst start to the season in their history. Liverpool tasted victory in mid-week against West Brom on road where Reds won by 2-1 thanks to Nuri Sahin scoring both goals. Brendan Rodgers will look to keep the good work of the cup into the League where they are eagerly waiting for the first win of season as there fans are getting restless after their loss to rivals Man Utd last week at Anfield where they were leading but conceded two goals. Norwich will want to improve after last week’s performance where they lost at Newcastle by 1-0. The teams are unpredictable as they are lying in the bottom half of the table so it’s tricky to choose and can go on any side but I am going for an away win and first 3 points for Reds.

Players to watchout for Norwich – Holt, Hoolahan and RuddyPlayers to watchout for Liverpool – Suarez, Gerrard and Johnson

Prediction – Norwich 1-2 Liverpool

5. Reading v Newcastle United at Madejski Stadium – 29th Sep 2012 – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

The match is between newly promoted team Reading and Newcastle. Reading are yet to win a match this season in 4 matches and will look to get first win of the season at home where they had great record in Championship last season. Brian McDermott will look for 3 points as they would like to surprise Newcastle but the team effort is not upto mark so they must improve. Reading last week lost away to West Brom by 1-0 and it makes a hat-trick of losses but they must have gained some confidence by winning a Cup tie match during midweek against QPR on road by 3-2. Newcastle are unbeaten in 3 league games and they would like to continue their good form and win an away game and start climbing at top of table. Last week, they won against Norwich by 1-0 at home but lost out during midweek Cup tie against Man Utd by 2-1. Alan Pardew’s spirit must be sky high after getting a contract till 2020.

Players to watchout for Reading – Pogrebnyak, Kebe and Guthrie

Players to watchout for Newcastle – Cisse, Demba Ba and Cabaye

Prediciton – Reading 1-1 Newcastle United

6. Stoke City v Swansea City at Britannia Stadium – 29th Sep 2012 – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Two mid-table teams play against each other for 3 points at Britannia Stadium. Stoke is one of the difficult places to get any result as the atmosphere, support of fans and pitch is totally different for an away team. Stoke are looking for their first win of the season as they have drawn 4 and lost the last match at Chelsea by 1-0, a late goal from Cole ruined the good defensive work by Potters. Stoke are on a 11 match winless streak so they would like to take home advantage and also Swansea will face difficulty against strong and physical play from Stoke.

Swansea had a great start to the season but the form has a dip and have not won in last 3 matches, last week they lost to Everton in front of home fans by 3-0 which was surprising outcome. Michael Laundrup’s Swans will be hoping to bounce back and get some result but it will be very difficult for them to overpower Stoke side.

Players to watchout for Stoke – Crouch, Walters and ShawcrossPlayers to watchour for Swansea – Michu, Routledge and A Williams

Prediction – Stoke 2-1 Swansea

7. Sunderland v Wigan Athletic at Stadium of Light – 29th Sep 2012 – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

The two mid-table teams are facing off at Stadium of Light. Sunderland are “the draw specialists” as they have drawn all 4 matches they have played this season and can create history if they draw this match. Sunderland are looking for the first win of the season and with home advantage they will want to win 3 points. Both teams had good mid-week in Cup round as both won and advanced to next round. Wigan have lost 2 consecutive matches as last week they lost to Fulham in front of home fans by 2-1. Roberto Martinez was furious with his side and will look for improvement in performance with a win. Martin O’Neil side look to have a win in the bag at home as it would be boost for them, having Steven Fletcher as their in-form goal scorer and he can help them pick up their first win of the season.

Players to watchout for Sunderland – Fletcher, Sessegnon and O’SheaPlayers to watchout for Wigan – Boselli, McCarthy and Al-Habsi

Prediction – Sunderland 1-0 Wigan Athletic

8. Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford – 29th Sep 2012 – 17:30 BST/ 22:00 IST

Second big match of the week is between Manchester United and Tottenham. Manchester United are on a great winning streak as they have won 6 matches on trot in all competitions and 4 consecutive in league after their first day loss at Everton. Red Devils have great record against Spurs where they have not lost a single match from 22 games, also Man Utd have very good home record so they will like to continue Old Trafford as fortress. The spirits will be high after winning at Anfield last week by 2-1 and in mid-week against Newcastle by 2-1 to advance in next Cup round.

On other side, Tottenham are also looking to make hat-trick of wins as they won last 2, last week they won against QPR in front of home crowd by 2-1 and in mid-week they cruised pass Carlisle Utd by 2-0. AVB’s side will look to improve their performance and record at Old Trafford as they have not won since 1989 so it will be very difficult for them to get any result. This match so often enthrals and bleeds goals, with the amount of attacking talent on both side coupled with defensive problems it would hardly be surprising if this meeting follows a similar pattern. Man Utd will cruise pass Spurs as its the likely outcome of the match with home advantage.

Players to watchout for Man Utd – Robin Van Persie, Rooney, Carrick and RafaelPlayers to watchout for Tottenham – Defoe, Bale, Dembele and Friedel

Prediction – Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham

9. Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park – 30th Sep 2012 – 16:00 BST/ 20:30 IST

The Midlands derby is very intense between Aston Villa and West Brom. Aston Villa are not in good form as they lost last match against Southampton by 4-1 where they had a forgottable second half. But Villans will be looking to build up on mid-week victory overMan City at Etihad where they won by 4-2 in the Cup West Brom has the best start to the season in top flight after many seasons so they would like to continue the good form. Steve Clarke will look his side to get a result in the derby but they have hit an injury crisis in defence which they have to sort out, also in mid-weekthey lost out to Liverpool by 2-1 in Cup round in front of home fans after playing well. Paul Lambert will look to continue impressive win over Man City and get 3 points in this derby.

Players to watchout for Aston Villa – Bent, Agbonlahor and VlaarPlayers to watchout for West Brom – Lukaku, Brunt and Foster

Prediction – Aston Villa 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

10. QPR v West Ham United at Loftus Road Stadium - 1st October – 20:00 BST/ 00:30 IST

Second London Derby of the week as QPR face West Ham. QPR are in poor form as they have got only 2 points from 5 matches which is the worst start for QPR in top flight. They lost out in mid-week Cup against Reading by 3-2 in front of home fans and last week on road they lost against Spurs by 2-1. It seems there is no team work within players as they are not gelling together and performing well also luck is playing its part. Mark Hughes will want to improve and win there first match of the season having home advantage and also poor record of West Ham at Loftus Road which can play a part in derby. West Ham United are in good form as they are unbeaten in 3 league games drawing in last league game against Sunderland in dying moments but they were beaten in Cup tie in mid-week by Wigan with 4-1 scoreline. Sam Allardyce will look to continue league form and atleast take a point at QPR. The form doesn’t count in derby game and thus I am going for first home win for QPR as Hammers have poor record on road.

Players to watchout for QPR – Zamora, Park and GraneroPlayers to watchout for West Ham – Cole, Nolan and Jaaskelainen

Prediction – QPR 1-0 West Ham United