Liverpool (7th) vs Spurs (5th), SingTel TV Ch102, StarHub TV Ch227 0400am (SG)
Form
|
|
Liverpool
(11-6-7)
|
Spurs
(13-4-7)
|
Last 5 games: DWWWD
Last 5 home games: WDDDW
|
Last 5 games: WLWWW
Last 5 away games: WDLDW
|
Injuries/Suspensions
|
|
Liverpool
|
Spurs
|
Injuries: Lucas (thigh)
|
None
|
Liverpool will see the return of Adam Lallana after missing the Merseyside derby with an injury, while Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho have recovered from knocks.
Spurs are not only a good steak, their physio has practically nothing to do as well, as they have a full squad to choose from.
Brendan Rodgers have sucessfully stirred things up by claiming that Daniel Sturridge is better than Harry Kane. Well, I think he is only half right there. Experience wise, Sturridge definitely triumphs, but Kane is truly having a blast this season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions to lead all Spurs players. Additionally, Spurs will be in a slightly happier mood after coming from behind to win in their North London derby, whereas Liverpool didnt gave their beloved captain Steven Gerrard a win in his last Merseyside derby, only getting a drab 0-0 draw.
For me, if you look beyond their impressive form of late, Liverpool actually have drawn plenty of games, and that Spurs on their travels have not been spectacular either. However, I sensed that Rodgers might have an eye on this week's FA Cup, and might be tempted not to go full strength from the onset. Thus, I am predicting a Spurs "upset" (well it might not be that much of an upset) and that they will win thanks to their talisman at the moment, Harry Kane.
Prediction: 2-1 win to Spurs
Key Men: Daniel Sturridge, Harry Kane
Sunderland (14th) vs QPR (19th), SingTel TV Chn105, StarHub TV Chn230, 0340 (SG)
Form
|
|
Sunderland
(4-12-8)
|
Spurs
(5-4-15)
|
Last 5 games: LLLWD
Last 5 home games: LWLDW
|
Last 5 games: DLLLL
Last 5 away games: LLLLL
|
Injuries/Suspensions
|
|
Sunderland
|
QPR
|
Injuries: Rodwell (groin), Giaccherini
(leg), Cattermole (knee)
|
Injuries: Onuoha (hamstring), Austin
(ankle), Dunne (knee), Faurlin (ACL)
|
Sunderland will still be without their midfield trio of Jack Rodwell, Emmanuel Giaccherini and Lee Cattermole.
Good news for QPR? Their key midfield anchorman is slowly regaining full match fitness. Bad news? Their leading scorer Charlie Austin will be out for 2 weeks with an ankle injury.
Well, this match could either be a super boring game, or a game where both teams go all out. On one end we have the Black Cats, who have only scored 6 goals in their past 8 home matches, and on the other we have QPR, who became the first team in nearly 60 years to lose their first 11 away games. Judging from what I can see, I'm will be going out on a limb by saying that QPR's wretched away form might just come to an end, but they wont win either. This have the makings of a drab 0-0 draw, since both teams cant score, and Sunderland love to have their games to end in a stalemate (drawing 12 out of their 24 games).
Prediction: 0-0 draw
Key Men: Jermain Defoe (hopefully for the fans watching this game)
Hull (18th) vs Aston Villa (16th), SingTel TV Chn104, StarHub TV Chn229, 0340 (SG)
Form
|
|
Hull
(4-8-12)
|
Villa
(5-7-12)
|
Last 5 games: WLLLD
Last 5 home games: DLLWL
|
Last 5 games: DLLLL
Last 5 away games: WLLLL
|
Injuries/Suspensions
|
|
Hull
|
Villa
|
Injuries: Diame (knee), Snodgrass
(knee)
|
Injuries: Senderos (calf), Kozak
(broken leg)
|
Hull will have both new signing Dame N'Doye & Nikica Jelavic in contention to start the game. Howeer, Mohammed Diame will still be missing in action.
Villa have no major injury concerns, and will be motivated by their 2nd half display against champions-elect Chelsea, although they still lost eventually. Christian Benteke could start this game after being dropped in the previous game due to a poor run in form.
This game is crucial to both teams, with what could well be a relegation battle for Hull, and possibly for Aston Villa if they dont start to pick up points soon. Both teams will aim to improve on their performance, with Hull having lasted till the 92nd minute before James Milner broke Hull's resistance with a truly well taken free kick.
As for Villa, they will also be heartened by their 2nd half display, having watched the game against Chelsea. They will hope that Fabian Delph can continue his good form that had gotten him raving reviews earlier this season. However, given Villa's poor away form of late (1 win out of 5, losing the other 4), and also Hull's inspired performance against City, I predict Steve Bruce's team to give Paul Lambert more to worry about, and even possibly his last game as manager for Aston Villa (yes, I predict Villa to sack Lambert if they lose this game) by winning this one.
Prediction: 2-1 win for Hull
Key Men: Nikica Jelavic, Fabian Delph
Arsenal (6th) vs Leicester City (20th), SingTel TV Chn 104, StarHub TV Chn 229, 0340 (SG)
Form
|
|
Arsenal(12-6-6)
|
Leicester
(4-5-15)
|
Last 5 games: LWWWL
Last 5 home games: WWWWW
|
Last 5 games: DWLLL
Last 5 away games: LWDWL
|
Injuries/Suspensions
|
|
Arsenal
|
Leicester
|
Injuries: Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin),
Arteta (ankle), Diaby (calf), Debuchy (shoulder)
|
Injuries: Schmeichel (foot), Wood
(ankle)
|
Arsenal will welcome back Alexis Sanchez after he had missed the defeat to Spurs through injury
Leicester City fans should expect Robert Huth to make his debut for the Foxes after completing his ban for breaching social media regulations.
The last time they met, it was a credible 1-1 draw. How times have changed, with Leicester rock bottom. Arsenal would hope to comeback from their disappointing 2-1 loss to bitter rivals Spurs. To me, the previous match shows how important Alexis Sanchez has now become to Arsenal. They seem to be a different team without his guile, hard work, and that moment of individual brilliance that even Mesut Ozil haven't been able to provide on a more regular basis.
Leicester City's top brass should have handled the Nigel Pearson sacking incident slightly better, with even Gary Lineker having thought that Nigel Pearson was gone as a result of this somewhat bizarre encounter Pearson had with Crystal Palace James McArthur during last Saturday's game in which they lost 1-0. Leicester City's management took a long time before issuing a statement, saying that he has not been sacked.
With all the ongoing drama away from the pitch, I sense even more trouble for Perason's squad, with the impressive Arsenal home form (5 wins in past 5 games) enabling them to coast through this game without much of a hassle. I felt that Nigel Pearson has lost his plot as a manager (just look at the impressive work Sean Dyche at Burnley) and it won't be long before Leicester starts their search for a saviour to prevent them from relegation doom.
Prediction: Arsenal to win 3-0.
Key Men: Alexis Sanchez
So that's it from me Mr Paokaliao. I sincerely apologize for missing out on the 3 Sunday games last week, and I will do my best to cover the other 6 games on Wednesday. Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment