EPL Week6 Preview of Saturday Action

1. Manchester City v Sunderland at Etihad Stadium – 12:45 BST/ 17:15 IST

The two unbeaten teams in the Premier League clash at the Etihad. Both are undefeated this season and look to remain unbeaten after this match, but it will be a difficult task for Sunderland as Man City haven’t lost at home in the last 18 months but they will take an inspiration from their last visit to Man City, where they drew 3-3, being the only team to get a point against Man City on their home turf during title winning season. Man City come into this match undefeated, but they have made a hugely disappointing start to the season and just claimed a draw in midweek against Dortmund which finished 1-1.

Roberto Mancini’s side will want to bounce back with a win on home soil; but they are not consistent this season and haven’t kept a clean sheet in the league thus, need to improve their overall performance. Martin O’Neil will look to continue the good work, as they are confident against Man City and they have an in-form striker Steven Fletcher. Man City must win this home fixture and get on track, adding 3 points to the table. It will be a tight match where City will win by a narrow margin.

Players to watchout for Man City – Aguero, Yaya Toure and HartPlayers to watchout for Sunderland – Fletcher, Johnson and O’Shea

Prediction – Man City 2-1 Sunderland

2. Chelsea v Norwich City at Stamford Bridge – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Unbeaten Blues face winless Norwich at the Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are aiming to extend their unbeaten run in the EPL as they are table toppers with 16 points from 6 games. Chelsea are in a superb form, as they won in midweek against FC Nordsjaelland by 4-0 in Denmark. Chelsea are very good at home, and with home support they will look to continue their winning run against the Canaries. Norwich are at the other end of the table, as the Canaries are one of the three teams who have yet to win a match in the league as they have only got 3 points drawing 3 games.

Last week, Norwich were thrashed at home by Liverpool with scoreline 5-2 as Norwich looked out of sorts. They will look for their first win but it will be very difficult to get a result at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have started this season well in the PL under Roberto Di Matteo, while Norwich have struggled under Chris Hughton. Little to suggest anything other than a home win and can have banker on the result as Chelsea will add 3 points and stay on top of the table.

Players to watchout for Chelsea – Torres, Mata and ColePlayers to watchout for Norwich – Holt, Snodgrass and Ruddy

Prediction – Chelsea 3-0 Norwich

3. Swansea City v Readin at Liberty Stadium – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Both sides are in a desperate need of a win at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea and Reading are in a poor run of form as Reading are yet to win a match in PL and Swansea after the flying start winning first 2 games, have got only 1 point from last 4 games losing 3 consecutive matches. Last week, they lost at Stoke by 2-0. Swansea have conceded more goals where they have not scored a single goal in 3 matches which they lost, so they are very low on confidence. Michael Laudrup has described the game as ‘six-pointer’ and will view this match as return to winning ways.

Reading are winless and looking for first win of the season. They are in the relegation zone with 2 points on table, and Brian McDermott will look to improve performance and try to get a result and they will be hopeful to get in this fixture. Reading last week drew with Newcastle at home where they took the lead twice but finished at 2-2. The game is very tricky as teams out of form are facing but the Swans have a strong record against Reading and have a good chance to shake off their poor run of form against a side yet to record a win, as they have better attacking talent than Reading. A narrow home win for Swansea looks the best bet.

Players to watchout for Swansea – Michu, Dyer and VormPlayers to watchout for Reading – Pogrebnyak, McAnuff and McCarthy

Prediction – Swansea 2-1 Reading

4. West Bromwich Albion v QPR at The Hawthrons – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Bottom club QPR face tough challenge against an in-form West Brom at The Hawthrons. Baggies are the season’s surprise package as they have made a great start to the season having 11 points from 6 games and are 6th in the table. Baggies have lost only 1 match this season and thus have made West Brom’s best-ever start to the Premier League. In their previous outing, West Brom had to settle for a draw 1-1 against Aston Villa in the Midlands derby. QPR are one of the three teams yet to win a single match this season as they have only 2 points from 6 games lying bottom of the table.

Mark Hughes have spend big but the results are not showing as he want to and they will look to improve their performance and get some points. In their previous outing QPR lost at home to West Ham by 2-1 in the local derby. West Brom have enjoyed a terrific start to life under Steve Clarke and have a perfect record at home after 3 games and conceding no goals, while QPR are still yet to post a win this term so all signs are for a comfortable home victory for West Brom.

Players to watchout for West Brom – Long, Gera and McAuleyPlayers to watchout for QPR – Zamora, Park and Julio Cesar

Prediction – West Brom 2-0 QPR

5. Wigan Athletic v Everton at DW Stadium – 15:00 BST/ 19:30 IST

Lacklustre Wigan face an in-form Everton at the DW Stadium. The Toffees are currently 2nd in the table with 13 points from 6 matches, just three points behind the leaders Chelsea. This is one of the best start of the season for Everton after many seasons. David Moyes hope to continue an impressive start of the season with a win against out of form Latics. Last week Everton defeated Southampton 3-1 at Goodison Park to register their 4th win of the league campaign.

On the other hand, Wigan are struggling for points and are yet to win at home in the league this season. Last week Wigan lost at Sunderland by 1-0 and have lost 3 matches on trot. Roberto Martinez’s side will look to improve their home performance and get some result but it will be an unlikely scenario against Toffees who are in a superb form. An away win is the likely result as Everton are on winning run and Wigan are low on confidence and Toffees will be too good for Wigan so easy but tricky win for Everton.

Players to watchout for Wigan – Kone, McCarthy and Al HabsiPlayers to watchout for Everton – Jelavic, Fellani and Baines

Prediction – Wigan 1-3 Everton

6. West Ham United v Arsenal at Upton Park – 17:30 BST/ 22:00 IST

West Ham and Arsenal are the in-form teams, facing each other in the London Derby at the Boleyn ground. West Ham have enjoyed a great start to the season having 11 points from 6 matches and specially at home where they have won 2 and drawn 1 match this season. Sam Alladryce will look to continue good home form against local rivals and remain in top half of the table. In the last outing Hammers won in the London derby at QPR by 2-1 and will hope to repeat that result, also they will use Carroll’s strength and set pieces to find a crack in the Gunners defense.

Arsenal also had very good start but last week break was applied as they lost at home to Chelsea by 2-1 in the London derby, but in midweek they won against Olympiakos by 3-1 and will look to continue winning form and add 3 points to the table. Arsene Wenger’s side hope to bounce back in the league with a win and climb up in the PL table as they are looking good defensively and are good in an attacking third. This is a derby match which both side can win it and anything can happen as both teams are in good form but I will go for an entertaining draw where they will try to get a result but have to settle for a draw.

Players to watchout for West Ham – Carroll, Nolan and JaaskelainenPlayers to watchout for Arsenal – Gervinho, Arteta and Vermaelen

Prediction – West Ham 2-2 Arsenal