Teams for whom this EPL weekend will be important
After the international sabbatical, English Premier League will return on Saturday as normal service resumes but it won't be normal for some as it will be a mammoth week for some teams who have to get things right on the pitch.
Here is a list of teams for whom the weekend will be important:
Tottenham
Tottenham will face their city rivals Arsenal in the north London derby this week. Whenever Spurs play against a top four opponent, only one stat comes to mind: Spurs have not won a game against the so-called top four English sides for 68 games.
It’s an unwanted record that Harry Redknapp’s men will be eager to get rid off especially after their recent rise to the top and their champions League aspirations.
Spurs have not won against Arsenal since May 1993 and Harry’s men will do anything in their power to get the better of their city rivals this weekend. But, it won't be easy for them as they are crippled by injuries and have more than 5 players unavailable
for this match due to various reasons.
Usually it is Arsenal side that cries about injuries to their players but for once in this fixture, Tottenham’s injury list dwarfs that of Arsenal.
Arsenal will be without Abou Diaby, Aaron Ramsey, Thomas Vermalen, and Manuel Almunia while Tottenham will be without the services of Robbie Keane, Ledley King, Tom Huddlestone, Michael Dawson, Jermaine Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Jonathan Woodgate.
But despite all their injury worries, Harry’s men will have to come up with the goods on Saturday’s early kick off if they are to seriously mount a challenge for the title.
Arsenal
Arsenal have not been the form side this season, one match they play like they are the best side in the world and the next they go out and lose to West Brom or Newcastle. Their form has been at best inconsistent and if they are to beat Spurs on Saturday,
there would be no place for any complacency.
Wenger only last week commented that his side is maturing mentally and peeking at the right time but such is their inconsistency this season that nothing can be expected from them. After claiming second spot in the league only last week and cutting Chelsea’s
gap to only two points, losing any points on Saturday will not be an option for Wenger.
Liverpool
LFC branded the England management as incompetent, amateurish and disgraceful for their treatment of Steven Gerrard on international duty that saw the England midfielder picking up a hamstring twang that rules him out for at least 4 weeks. His absence at
such an important time in the league could prove to be detrimental for Roy Hodgson’s side.
Perhaps it was not a wise call from LFC to criticize Capello and his management, blaming him for Gerrad’s injury as he did what he thought was in the best interest of the national side. Nonetheless, the consequences could be dire for Hodgson’s side.
Although, Liverpool face an opposition this weekend that is at the bottom of the table but such is the importance of Gerrard in their side that it is difficult for them to do without their inspirational skipper in any match irrespective of who their opponents
are.
Liverpool are trying hard to make their way upwards in the table. After beating Chelsea only recently, they need a good run of form but without their skipper, it will not be easy and Roy Hodgson will have to pull some trick out of his hat to keep the momentum
going.
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