Liverpool to hit EPL summit

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1

It is hard to reconcile with the fact that Chelsea could go above Arsenal if they maintain their impressive head to head record against the Gunners. While Arsenal have set the Premier League alight, the West Londoners have stuttered, with victories in their games built primarily on the sheer will to win. Strikers Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Etoo have particularly been disappointing.

Man Utd 2 West Ham 0 `

The rate at which club chairmen are dismissing managers should be a source of concern for David Moyes. The champions need to put together a run of victories to address the inconsistency that is threatening to derail their season. They have been impressive in the Champions League and were at their lethal best at Villa Park.

Liverpool 2 Cardiff 0

No player evokes emotions as extreme as Luis Suarez. A goal poacher per excellence, he is brilliant, provocative and devious. The 16-goal hit man is making a mug of even very adroit defenders. Mickey Mackay’s Championship winners are organised to the man, but will find the trip to Anfield daunting. Liverpool will seize the summit.

Palace 1 Newcastle 1

Tony Pulis’ effect on Palace is already evident. The early signs point to him protecting his 19-year record of never having been relegated. The Londoners are confident, fearless and competitive, and could have left Stamford Bridge with a share of the spoils. Unfortunately for them, they don’t score many goals yet I can see Newcastle scoring at least one goal.

Fulham 1 Man City 2

Enthusiastic Dutchman Rene Meulensteen’s Cottagers were desperately unlucky to concede four at Goodison Park. For 70 minutes, they stood toe to toe with Roberto Martinez’s high-flyers, only capitulating to late awkward goals. They will thus give Manuel Pellegrini’s high scoring visitors a good run for their money. Slow motion genius Dimitar Berbatov is finally wreaking havoc on opposition defences.

Stoke City 2 Aston Villa 1

Aston Villa’s counter-attacking game could pose problems for Mark Hughe’s powerfully built Stoke City who are usually strong at home. Nevertheless, I am calling a narrow Stoke victory. Marko Arnautovic, Stephen Ireland and Peter Crouch have forged a useful partnership as an attacking triumvirate.

Sunderland 1 Norwich 1

Chris Hughton’s Canaries are enjoying a mini-revival courtesy of the goal-scoring heroics of summer signing Gary Hooper. While the highly rated Ricky van Wolfswinkel is blighted by poor form and injuries, the former Celtic goal machine is very much among the goals. Gustavo Poyet has organised Sunderland into a competitive outfit, but they simply don’t score enough goals.

West Brom 2 Hull 1

I felt sorry for Steven Clarke when he was given his marching orders by West Brom. They have not been vastly inferior to their opponents in their dismal run of four defeats on the trot. And yet this poor run was preceded by games in which they were denied by harsh refereeing decisions.