Football Special Report: Premier League Preview (Part 1)
In recent weeks, the sale and court battle of Liverpool Football club has shamelessly hogged the headlines but the gloom is over as Premier League returns today with another footballing feast.
Ironically, the biggest match of the weekend will be played in Liverpool only as the 18 time English Champions travel to Goddisson Park to take on Everton in a high octane clash. The first match for John W Henry’s regime will perhaps be the toughest as Liverpool
face their bitter rival in Everton. Liverpool are in relegation zone but have received a huge boost with the sale to NESV going through and manager Roy Hodgson will be looking to put things back on track after a dismal start to the season and there will be
no better way to do that than a victory in the Merseyside derby.
West Bromwich Albion have been hugely impressive this season and currently occupy the 6th position in the table and are only two points behind their rivals tonight Manchester United. The baggies have amassed an impressive 8 points from their last
four outings and after beating Arsenal on recently at the Emirates, Roberto Di Matteo’s men will be in confident mood going into the match. On the other hand, things are not all rosy for Manchester United as they have drawn 4 of their 7 fixtures this season
and have struggled away from home but the good news is that they are playing at home tonight. Sir Alex Ferguson faces a selection dilemma in deciding whether to opt for Wayne Rooney up front or not, as the England striker has looked terribly out of sorts in
recent games. In addition, after his claims that contradicted his manager’s about his ankle injury, it will only be interesting to see if his manager decides to play him tonight or not.
Chelsea returned to winning ways against Arsenal after being humbled by Manchester City a week before that and the Blues have looked impressive if not imperious this season. Currently they have a four point cushion at the top of the table but that lead can
be cut to one point as United play before them tonight and if that be the case, Chelsea will have to respond against Aston Villa. Villa are going to be no pushovers tonight and will have home advantage tonight against Ancelotti’s men. Houllier knows that there
can be no better way of getting back to winning ways than beating the Champions but he will have to address his side’s impotency in the attack, if they are to beat a side that scores goals for fun.
Arsenal have not been very impressive in recent weeks and will welcome Alex Mcleish’s Birmingham City to the Emirates on the back of two defeats. A third defeat in as many games will spell disaster for the club and Wenger will be aware of that. The gunners
will be boosted by the fact that Cesc Fabregas is fit and will play tonight. Birmingham have only one of their last 17 games and tonight’s match is not what Mcleish had hoped for to get the better of that stat.
Fulham have been the draw specialists this season and tonight they welcome their city rivals Tottenham Hotspurs to Craven Cottage. Fulham manager Mark Hughes has drawn last 14 of the 18 matches that he has took charge of and 6 of those have come since he
took charge of the Fulham. But Fulham along with Manchester United are the only unbeaten side in the league and Hughes will be somewhat pleased with that stat. Tottenham on the other hand will be looking to head off to Milan for a mouth watering Champions
League clash with Internazionale on the back of a win and Redknapp will do anything and everything in his powers to ensure that.
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