THE FESTIVE PERIOD is always a defining one in the Premier League and this year promises to be no different. This weekend marks the start of the hectic schedule with three sets of fixtures penciled in for the next seven days.
Arsenal’s trip to Merseyside on Sunday tops the bill but there are plenty of other fascinating sub-plots on offer. Here are five talking points ahead of the action…
Can Bojan inspire Stoke to another big scalp?
Since their promotion to the top flight a couple of seasons ago, Stoke’s success has been built around their home form. They’ve made the Brittania Stadium, with it’s raucous atmosphere, open stands and invariably inimical weather conditions, something of a fortress.
Very few teams come away from the potteries with all three points in the bag and if they do, you can be sure they will have worked hard for them. Their home form hasn’t been as consistent as it was but last time out, Stoke toppled Arsenal and next on the agenda is table toppers Chelsea.
Stoke are playing a slightly different brand of football under Mark Hughes and central to that has been Bojan. It’s taken him a while to truly warm to the task but the Spaniard is finding his feet and has been hugely influential over the past few weeks. Playing between the lines, he picked holes in the Gunners defence and while Chelsea’s rearguard won’t be as vulnerable, he is a player with the ability to pull the strings and unlock the opposition with that added bit of quality.
Of course, Stoke are still just as effective with the route one approach that had served them so well under Tony Pulis. The Potters are an industrious side who, on a Monday night – a couple of days before Christmas – will prove to be a handful for Chelsea.
Hughes is likely to adopt a counter-attacking approach and Bojan will be central to that.
Will United’s run continue at their happy hunting ground?
Regardless of form, Man United have always enjoyed visiting Villa Park. The Red Devils have won their last seven league games against Aston Villa and with Paul Lambert’s side blighted by injuries and United, statistically speaking anyway, the in-form team in the Premier League, Saturday’s result should be a foregone conclusion.
But, Louis van Gaal’s side – although they’ve won six on the bounce – haven’t been convincing and have been hugely indebted to the exploits of David de Gea, particularly last week against Liverpool. That said, United are slowly starting to regain a semblance of cohesion and tenacity in their means which has encouraged the Old Trafford faithful.
Although defeat in last week’s West Midlands derby halted a five game unbeaten run, Villa are slowly regaining some impetus and will be no pushover for an United side set to be boosted by the return of Angel di Maria.
But it has been the return of Michael Carrick that has proved significant. It’s been a case of you don’t truly appreciate something or someone until they’re gone. Carrick’s worth to United had been underlined in his absence and further highlighted on his return to the side.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool desperate to avoid another setback
On the face of it, victory over Championship opposition in the League Cup is not hugely significant but Liverpool’s win at Bournemouth during the week may just be a turning point in their season. For Brendan Rodgers, it has to be.
The Reds boss has come under increased scrutiny in recent week as his side have floundered after the highs of last season. An early exit from the Champions League coupled with poor league form has meant storm clouds are gathering over Anfield.
However, just when they needed to produce a performance, Liverpool did just that and even showed some defensive steel to withstand a late Bournemouth charge. Rodgers will be hoping progress to the League Cup semi-finals can infuse the players with a new sense of confidence and belief as they desperately search for a spark to ignite their faltering campaign.
Arsenal aren’t quite at such a low ebb but Arsene Wenger’s side aren’t far off it. The discontent among sections of supporters is growing and while a comfortable and resounding win over Newcastle last time out silenced the detractors temporarily, the Gunners remain well off the pace.
Both sides, particularly Arsenal, have been frustratingly inconsistent since what feels like the start of time but with games coming thick and fast, it’s an ideal opportunity for one of them to build up a head of steam and start collecting points.
For the loser, it will be yet another step in the wrong direction.
Brittle Newcastle hoping to avoid slipping back into limbo
After lifting themselves out of a stupor, Newcastle are in danger of slipping back into limbo after heavy defeats to Arsenal and Tottenham in the last week. Defeat to their arch rivals on Sunday would cap off a miserable seven days for Alan Pardew and his side.
To be fair, they haven’t been helped by a spate of injuries while they were somewhat unfortunate to come away from the Emirates last Saturday on the end of a 4-1 scoreline. After ending Chelsea’s unbeaten run in their last home match, it’s difficult to know what to expect from the Magpies.
They’ve never lost four successive Tyne-Wear derbies but face that prospect when Sunderland make the short trip to St. James’ Park this weekend. With Tim Krul and Rob Elliot both already sidelined, Pardew was given a scare during the week when third choice goalkeeper Jak Alnwick sustained a shoulder injury at White Hart Lane.
The young ‘keeper is expected to be fit in time for Sunday but that will hardly instill much confidence given his tentative displays when between the sticks. With Alnwick nursing a dodgy shoulder, it will hardly be surprising if the Black Cats adopt a shoot-on-sight policy.
Gus Poyet’s side have drawn 10 games already this term and have turned a corner after that ignominious reversal at St. Mary’s. However, Sunderland have struggled to find the net in recent games with Steven Fletcher and Jozy Altidore, in particular, firing blanks.
Form, however, goes out the window on such occasions but Newcastle could do with reversing theirs.
Southampton out to end rotten run of results
Many people believed Southampton’s high-flying start to the season would come crashing down sooner rather than later. Alas, it has happened but not many could have expected for their fortunes to change so dramatically. They’ve now lost five games in all competitions with Tuesday’s Capital One Cup defeat to League One Sheffield United underlining their form.
Luck has also been against them. They were unfortunate to lose to Man United a fortnight ago while the concession of a late goal at the Emirates was a hammer blow to confidence. Last week, Dusan Tadic’s missed penalty at Burnley was the turning point before the hosts went onto win just their third game of the season.
While the Saints have been in free fall, such was the platform they built themselves, it wouldn’t take much for Ronald Koeman’s side to get back on track. The Dutch coach has said Europa League qualification is a realistic target for his side but they’ll want to address their slide sooner rather than later, starting with the visit of Everton on Saturday.
Fixtures
Saturday (3pm unless stated)
- Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12.45pm)
- Aston Villa v Manchester United
- Hull City v Swansea City
- QPR v West Brom
- Tottenham v Burnley
- Southampton v Everton
- West Ham v Leicester City
Sunday
- Newcastle v Sunderland (1.30pm)
- Liverpool v Arsenal (4pm)
Monday
- Stoke v Chelsea (8pm)
