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English Premier League Weekend Preview [Fri Aug 26th, 2005]
It looks like being another cracking weekend of Premiership football. Chelsea play their first Saturday fixture of the season as they travel to local rivals Spurs, while winless Newcastle host Manchester United in a game that is already looking like a must win for the manager.
The top two meet at White Hart Lane on Saturday as champions Chelsea make the short journey to Spurs. Martin Jol will be hoping to celebrate his new 3-year contract with victory over the team that just don’t lose at the moment.
After a disappointing draw at Blackburn, Spurs are likely to recall Defoe, Carrick and Davids to the starting 11. Chelsea will again have the luxury of picking from an almost full squad which could easily field 2 different competitive teams.
The early Saturday kickoff is a second city derby as West Brom host Birmingham. West Brom looked good at home when beating Portsmouth, yet were totally outplayed by Chelsea in the 4-0 defeat midweek. Birmingham don’t seem to be gelling at the moment and could be in danger of making it no wins from their first four games of this season. Steve Bruce will be desperate to get the media off his back and get one over former team-mate Bryan Robson.
Aston Villa will be hoping new signing Milan Baros can give them the quality to push on for a European place this season. He faces a tricky debut against a ‘physical’ Blackburn team who seem destined to get booked and kick their way through the season.
Baros is a good signing and if he can form a partnership with either Angel or Phillips, then Villa could be in business. Blackburn are struggling for goals in the absence of Bellamy and set pieces looks like their best chance of scoring. Villa to win.
Everton will be thinking about what might have been as they travel to Fulham this weekend. After going out of the UEFA Champions League, they will have watched the draw with envy. Fulham need to bounce back after being out classed at Highbury in the week.
Two of the Premiership new boys play each other at the JJB Stadium, safe in the knowledge that they can’t both remain pointless after the final whistle! Neither team has got off to the best of starts and after just 3 games, they are both in need of points before they get isolated at the foot of the table.
Sunderland lost their 3rd straight match at home to Manchester City, while Wigan who are desperate to sign a new striker, have lost their opening 2 fixtures by just a single goal. Wigan have looked more solid so far and should take the points.
The final two games see Portsmouth travel to Manchester City still in search of their first win of the season, while West Ham host Bolton, fresh from beating Newcastle.
On Sunday, Middlesborough host Charlton in the early kickoff before the mouth watering clash between Newcastle and Manchester United. Middlesborough have been boosted by the return to form of Viduka who, if fit, is one of the best strikers in the Premiership - his second goal in the win at Birmingham was straight from the top draw.
Charlton have their own goal machine in Darren Bent, who has made the step up to Premiership football with ease so far. Another close game on the cards, yet home advantage should be enough to secure the second win of the week for Middlesborough.
Surely it is too early to be talking about sacking managers yet with both the two previous Newcastle manager’s departing before the end of August, Souness is in real danger of the chop should they fail to get at least a point against Manchester United.
Newcastle are desperate in their search for a striker and the ongoing Michael Owen saga looks set to drag on right until the transfer deadline. Meanwhile, Manchester United have started the season very well, with Rooney and Van Nistelrooy both in great form.
By Mark Taylor
News headlines from around the world.