A special weekend in the Premier League: and not just because, for the first time this season, all of the recent “big four” are playing at 3pm on Saturday. No, it is of course Alex Ferguson’s silver jubilee. And there are far more pressing questions than whether he will retire any time soon (not likely).
Arsenal v West Brom
Can Robin van Persie keep up this ridiculous strike rate of over a goal a game in 2011 (28 in 27)?
Or will West Brom do what they should have against Liverpool last week and close up tight to their box, making life difficult again for Arsenal?
Aston Villa v Norwich City
Can Villa leapfrog Norwich in the table by claiming their first win in four and staving off some of the resurgent criticism for Alex McLeish?
Or is this game destined to finish a draw? Villa, after all, have lost more points from winning positions than any other team this season (nine) while Norwich have hit a series of equalisers.
Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea
Can Chelsea get back on track and end a run of two straight defeats against an eminently beatable Blackburn Rovers?
Or will Rovers accentuate signs of recent improvement and attack a Chelsea team that seem to be there for the taking?
Will John Terry start after so much turmoil?
Can Chelsea keep a cleansheet for the first time in 10 games? And if not now, when?
Liverpool v Swansea City
Will the dam break for Liverpool? After creating so many chances recently, can they start to put them away – particularly at home?
Can Swansea take inspiration from Norwich’s draw at Anfield and improve their relatively poor away form this season?
Manchester United v Sunderland
Can Manchester United recapture their thrilling early season form and produce a performance worthy of Alex Ferguson’s 25th anniversary?
Or can Steve Bruce break a habit and get an unlikely first win over his old boss? It’s perhaps unlikely given that Ferguson is said to particularly hate dropping points to his former players.
What price Sebastian Larsson to hit a long-range effort today? The midfielder has a superb conversion rate of late and United – up until last week – have allowed an inordinate amount of long shots.
QPR v Manchester City
Can QPR repeat their heroics against Chelsea and destabilise Manchester City?
Can City thrive without David Silva, who is likely to miss out today with a back problem incurred against Villarreal? With him, City have scored more goals after 10 games of a Premier League season (36) than any team since 1992.
Can City keep their defensive solidity without the suspended Vincent Kompany?
