EPL Teams for whom this weekend will be extremely important
Although, the Premier League season is only 12 matches old but the table has started to take shape. Chelsea are the runaway league leaders but Manchester United are also hot on their heels.
It looks like the real battle will be fought for Champions League's 4th
spot. Such close is the game between the sides this season that one victory can change the whole scenario.
Like every weekend, this weekend will also be of pivotal importance to some teams. Below is a list of all such teams:
Manchester United:
The beauty of football stats is that anyone can use them in whatever amount to prove whatever you like.
Every Manchester United fan will boast about the fact that they are the only team in the league that has not lost a single match this season but on the flip side, they have only won one of all their away fixtures this season.
Obviously, staying unbeaten is a good thing but Manchester United are the 'King of Draws' this season and they will have to start turning some of these draws into wins or else they will end us ruing another season of missed opportunities.
United have secured 24 points from 12 games and simple mathematics will conclude that at this pace, they will conjure up 76 points which were only good enough for a third place finish last season and a fourth the season before.
On Saturday, United will visit Aston Villa and Villa have proved to be United’s bogey team in recent past. With a depleted squad, their task is even more difficult but United will have to notch up a win at the weekend or else they will find themselves trailing
Chelsea by 7 points. By the looks of things, Chelsea do not look like they will squander such a big lead.
Manchester City:
Manchester City parked an expensive bus in front of the goal in the midweek that kept Manchester United out. Although, it was a good result to get a draw against United but their tactic of playing three defensive midfielders looks fundamentally flawed and
is under criticism from all circles.
Obviously, they will not be employing such tactic in the game against Birmingham at the weekend but still playing Yaya Toure in an advanced role in the presence of other attacking players in the squad is just inexplicable.
Roberto Mancini is a manager who is increasingly under pressure and if results do not start flowing for his team, he may find himself out of the job soon. Birmingham at home are his best opportunity.
Tottenham Hotspur:
Spurs have not won a single of their last four fixtures and although, they have injuries but so have many others. Chelsea have been doing without Essien, Lampard and Kalou in recent times. Valencia, Rooney and a few more have been injured for United and
Arsenal’s injury woes are also clear for all and sundry to see. But for a team that is playing in the Champions League and have title aspirations, a winless run is just not acceptable.
Newcastle United:
Newcastle were everyone’s first pick for the drop from the moment they secured automatic qualification into Premier League but since arriving, their form has been awry. They have lost against the likes of Blackpool, Stoke and Blackburn and gone on to beat
Sunderland, Arsenal and Villa.
Surely, their fans want some level of consistency and stability from their team.
They were on the back of three consecutive wins before the loss in the midweek and are currently in the top half of the table. Although, their odds for the drop have reduced sharply but they still need to find their feet on the pitch and sort out their defensive
frailties.
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