Premier League previews: Tottenham v Aston Villa
Rafael van der Vaart can’t have had many more eventful nights than the one he experienced at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.
A missed penalty, an excellent goal and a red card ensured that the Dutchman was the name on everyone’s lips as his compatriots from FC Twente were seen off 4-1 in the Champions League, but – the goal aside – he might be hoping for a quieter time of it in north London on Saturday.
The club might not be in the north of the capital for much longer, as Spurs registered their interest in the Olympic Stadium in Stratford this week. It remains their second choice behind redeveloping White Hart Lane, but would be a radical departure for a north London institution.
Spurs are a Premier League institution too, and welcome another of the select group of seven teams to have featured in every Premier League season this weekend when Gérard Houllier’s Aston Villa pitch up buoyed by good recent results.
Emile Heskey’s late winner at Wolves last week hinted at a resurgence for the former England man under his old boss at Liverpool, and with the likes of Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and Carlos Cuellar – “he’s like Jamie Carragher,” said Houllier – all hitting top form, Villa are sure to provide a tough test for a Spurs side who have struggled to shake off Champions League hangovers this season.
Elsewhere in London, West Ham – another bidder for the Olympic Stadium and surely the most logical – face a club from across the capital in unbeaten Fulham.
The Hammers’ will look to continue where they left off after last week’s win over Spurs, but keeping Avram Grant’s promise of getting “better and better” will be tough against the Premier League’s draw specialists, who will however be forced to partner makeshift strikers Zoltan Gera and Clint Dempsey upfront due to injuries.
Further north, Manchester United will go level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table if they can win at Sunderland.
Wayne Rooney won’t play at the Stadium of Light despite his belief that he should be allowed to, while Sir Alex Ferguson will assess the fitness of Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick after both made rare appearances in the Champions League win at Valencia in midweek. Sunderland – for whom defender Michael Turner will hope to have a better day than the one he experienced at Anfield last week – won’t be allowed to field loanee Danny Welbeck against his parent club.
High flying West Brom will hope to build on last weekend’s win at Arsenal when they take on Bolton at The Hawthorns.
Boss Roberto Di Matteo is likely to name the same side that triumphed at the Emirates – and rightly so – but he also has Roman Bednář and Gabriel Tamas available again. Bolton will have Gary Cahill back from a three match suspension after his slightly more painful memory of Arsenal’s home – a red card.
Premier League doormats Everton will continue their search for a first win at the season at St. Andrew’s, where hosts Birmingham City haven’t lost for a year.
Craig Gardner – Birmingham’s top scorer this season – is out after being sent off against Wigan last week, with Keith Fahey likely to come in to replace him. Everton could be unchanged from last week’s draw at Fulham, although Tony Hibbert is available again.
The fitness of Andy Wilkinson and Jermaine Pennant are Stoke boss Tony Pulis’ main concerns ahead of the visit of Blackburn, especially after it was revealed that Ricardo Fuller’s shoulder injury isn’t as bad as first feared. The Jamaican will be on the bench, while Rovers could welcome back Jason Roberts and Keith Andrews on Saturday, but David Dunn and Vince Grella are still out.
Liverpool could well be in the relegation zone by the time they kick off their match against Blackpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Boss Roy Hodgson faces a left back trouble after youngster Martin Kelly picked up a knee injury in the Europa League draw at Utrecht. Kelly was already the Reds’ fourth choice in the position after injuries to Paul Konchesky, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurélio, which means that either Stephen Darby or 17-year-old Jack Robinson will come in. Steven Gerrard will be back after injury.
Visitors Blackpool may start youngster Matt Phillips after his goal against Blackburn last week, while Rob Edwards is fit again.
“This is probably a good time to play Liverpool,” according to the Tangerines’ Liverpudlian midfielder Gary Taylor-Fletcher. He’s probably not wrong.
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