English Premier League: Weekend Play Preview - Part 1
It is going to be another exciting weekend in the English Premier League as Chelsea will be looking forward to gain some lost ground on their title rivals and increase their lead at the top of the group with a game against Newcastle United while Manchester
United will be playing at home to Blackburn Rovers. Liverpool will come up against a rampant Tottenham side which is fresh from its victory against Arsenal and qualifying for the knock out phase of the Champions League.
The weekend will kick start at Villa Park where a low-on-morale Arsenal side visit to face Gerrard Houllier’s Aston Villa. Last time out in the league, Arsenal lost a chance to go top of the Premier League table as they squandered a 2 goal lead to lose against
Spurs 3-2 at the Emirates. Gunners followed that loss with another loss in the Champions league with a defeat against SC Braga. Despite the recent losses, Arsenal will be going into the match knowing that a win will see them go top of the table once again
albeit temporarily as both Chelsea and United will not be playing their game until later in the evening. Villa, on the other hand, only recently recruited a former Gunner in their ranks when they hired Robert Pires and the Frenchman will be looking to make
his debut for the Villains in the game against his former employers. Villa have only won 2 of their last 9 fixtures and their opponents are also not in the most confident of moods but the match is still likely to be a feisty encounter.
Manchester United will be fresh from securing their qualification into the next round of the Champions League in the midweek and on Saturday; they will welcome Sam Allardyce’s Rovers at Old Trafford. United are level on points with Chelsea at the top of
the table and the only team in the league that is yet to lose a match. Despite not losing a game this season, they are yet to hit top gear but tonight, they will be boosted by the return of Wayne Rooney. Rovers have failed to beat United on 8 previous occasions
and may be in for a tough night.
Also playing on Saturday will be Manchester City who travel to Stoke-on-Trent to face the Potters. City will be boosted by an impressive win last time out against Mark Hughes’ Fulham in London but tonight, they are going to Britannia Stadium and should be
ready for a physical encounter. Although, City, for the first time in the season, turned on the style in London last week but Stoke, on the other hand, have been excellent, having won their last three encounters and are currently occupying 8th spot
in the league. City are fourth in the table but will face a stiff test from Tony Pulis’ side tonight.
In another key encounter, Avram Grant will have his fate decided at Upton Park when struggling Wigan come visiting. Aram Grant’s side are rooted firmly to the bottom of the league table, having only secured 9 points in the season so far and another loss
tonight at the hands of the Latics may mean curtains for Grant as the manager of Hammers. West Ham are five points from safety but they can take some solace from the fact that their opponents tonight are not too high up above them as Wigan are only lying in
the 18th place in the standings. A win for Hammers will close the gap between them and safety. Wigan have won only once in their last 14 encounters and West Ham will be looking to pile up further misery on Roberto Martinez’s men with an agenda of
their own.
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