Strange that one of Rafa Benitez’s most derided policies – rotation – could be the trump card in his Chelsea career if he handles it well

Stalemates in derbies

West Ham 1 Chelsea 1

Strange that one of Rafa Benitez’s most derided policies – rotation – could be the trump card in his Chelsea career if he handles it well. Chelsea released way too many senior players, so the gaffer must keep the young team fresh to extract the required results and ward off fans’ pressure.

Arsenal 2 Swansea 1 `

Michael Laudrup has the Welsh club playing even better football than they did under Brendan Rodgers as they are solid away from home. Albeit, the Gunners will be trying to atone for their insipid display at Villa Park which saw them drop two valuable points.

Fulham 1 Tottenham 1

Spurs old boy Dimitar Berbatov will be a key figure as the Cottagers try to overcome the North Londoners in a local derby. Martin Jol’s side have stuttered of late so they are keen to return to winning ways. Their vast array of attacking talent in both sides guarantees goals.

Liverpool 2 Southampton 1

Nigel Adkins’ side is enjoying a mini revival and doing it while playing an attractive brand of football. The Kop are however in imperious form and should take care of business against a team that was tipped for relegation before the season’s commencement.

Man City 2 Everton 1

Roberto Mancini survived the managerial upheavals that accounted for two of his colleagues last week precisely because of his strong home record. I expect the champions to continue with their imperious home form against a Toffees outfit eager to show they can live with the big boys. Being Everton, it will be a hardly fought contest.

QPR 1 Aston Villa 0

Queen’s Park Rangers are due a win. Their battling performances in recent weeks and Harry Redknapp’s lucky charm are a lethal combination that is enough to propel them to their first victory of the season. Adel Taraabt is a player that doesn’t deserve to be mired in such a relegation mess.

West Brom 1 Stoke City 0

Who would have believed the Brummies can challenge for European football? Sometimes belief is more important than ability and Steven Clarke has West Brom living in the clouds. It goes without saying that he has instilled a spirit of self belief in journeyman footballers and they are rewarding him abundantly.

Match Forecast

Chelsea 2 Man Utd 2
Twice I have called draws for Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea at difficult away grounds, and twice they have won at a canter. Wins at the Emirates and White Hart Lane suggest the European champions are genuine title contenders. Sir Alex’s Red Devils will be their sternest test yet.

Everton 2 Liverpool 1 `
Although the Reds have traditionally bossed the derby, I can’t fathom them winning this one. The Toffees are energetic, inventive and combative; attributes that are not yet in abundance at Anfield. Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini will be sorely missed but I still fancy the Toffees to nick it.

Man City 3 Swansea 1
As is usually the case when a team is floundering, word on the gravepine points to dressing room anarchy at the Liberty Stadium over Michael Laudrup’s unorthordox training methods. Victory over Wigan calmed the storm, but I can’t see a team with such a poor defensive record taking anything from the Ettihad.

Arsenal 2 QPR 0
Mark Hughes’ Rangers are doomed for a relegation slugfest. They are creating enough chances to win games, but are profligate and cannot keep a clean sheet. They come up against an Arsenal outfit that will be determined to erase a 0-1 defeat to Norwich from their system.

Aston Villa 1 Norwich 0
Paul Lambert is feeling the heat, as Aston Villa have won just one of their last 18 Premier League games going back to last season. He needs to bury the hatchet with Darren Bent, and pair him with Christian Benteke if he is to overcome his rejuvenated former side.

Reading 1 Fulham 1
Brian McDermott’s Championship winners are one of only two sides – the other is QPR – that is yet to win a Premiership game. Bulky front runner Pavel Pogbrenyak must attack the ball better since Reading are the best crossers in the league. Fulham will relish exploiting their defensive frailties.

Stoke City 1 Sunderland 0
Expect a war of attrition at the Brittania Stadium. Stoke are the thoroughbreds of the league but they do not score enough goals and neither do Sunderland. I can’t see the Black Cats getting onto the score sheet when they average just one and a half shots on target per game.

Wigan 2 West Ham 2
Roberto Martinez’s side is back in the slumber that almost cost them their Premiership status last season. They play good football, but must find a way of getting strikers Franco di Santo and Arouna Kone more involved. West Ham will provide a stern examination of their survival credentials.

Newcastle 1 West Brom 0
Steve Clarke has the Brummies playing the football of their lives but they showed naivety in conceding two late goals against ten-man Manchester City. Newcastle are equipped to provide a further reality check for what is arguably the team of the season so far. A Papiss Demba Cisse goal is long overdue.

S’thampton 2 Spurs 3
It is time for Southampton to grow up to the realities of Premiership football. Their expansive game is routinely being creamed off by experienced campaigners like old boy Gareth Bale. The Saints are leaking an average of three goals per game, which makes them cannon fodder for a team like Spurs.

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Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1
Arsenal start as favourites in this mouthwatering London derby. Roberto Di Matteo is struggling to handle the transition in the absence of departees Raul Meireles, Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa, Didier Drogba and Solomon Kalou. Conversely, Arsenal look stronger even in the absence of Robin Van Persie and Alexander Song.

Everton 3 Southampton 1 `
Nigel Adkins must be cursing his fixture list. The Saints have already faced and lost to the top three from last season. Just when they are supposed to be gaining momentum following a 4-1 win over Villa, they come up against an Everton that is full of goals despite Nikica Jelavic’s injury.

Fulham 1 Man City 1
Champions City are out of sorts. The decision to sell Nigel De Jong was ill-advised as Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell are both struggling to find their feet. Fulham have meanwhile been energized by new signings Dimitar Berbatov and Hugo Rodallega. Expect a thoroughly engrossing encounter at Craven Cottage.

Norwich 0 Liverpool 1
The club’s worst start in over a century has piled the pressure on Brendan Rodgers. The Kop only have two points to show despite dominating both Man City and Man United. But they have bottomed out. The law of averages dictates that they will put their first three points on board.

QPR 1 West Ham 0

Rangers surprised many a pundit with their boundless energy against Spurs last weekend. Mark Hughes will have earmarked this as the fixture to get his side off the mark. Many of QPR’s top signings have previously played for big clubs, which should hold them in good stead against the fired up Hammers.

Reading 1 Newcastle 2

Defensive lynchpin Fabricio Coloccini and midfield enforcer Chiekh Tiote should return to make life difficult for a Reading side that simply cannot win a game. Form has deserted Papiss Demba Cisse but his indifference in front of goal is more than compensated by Demba Ba’s return to prolific form.

Stoke 2 Swansea 0

For all their attacking flair, Michael Laudrup’s Swansea are weak defensively. Stoke are not a high scoring team, so don’t expect a goals deluge at the Brittania. Tony Pulis’ charges pushed European champions Chelsea all the way and should take full advantage of their considerable physical prowess.

Aston Villa 1 West Brom 1

Can someone tell me why it took so long for any team to offer Steve Clarke a full managerial job. His impact on the Brummies is clear for all to see. Villa need the points and will throw the kitchen sink at West Brom, but I expect them to emerge unscathed.

Sunderland 2 Wigan 1

This is Martin O’Neil’s opportunity to put three points on board. Four straight draws, including ones against Arsenal and Liverpool are a good foundation for victory. Marquee summer signing Steven Fletcher is good for a goal a game, and should punish a Wigan side not noted for their travel phobia.

Man Utd 1 Tottenham 1

Sunderland 0 Vs Liverpool 0
A dearth of goals is threatening Brendan Rodgers’ nascent managerial career at Anfield. Luis Suarez remains erratic while the jury is still out on Fabio Borini. The Kop’s best chance of getting a result at the Stadium of Light might thus lie in keeping out Sunderland.

Norwich 2 Vs West Ham 2
There is a championship feel about this fixture. Norwich and West Ham are two of the most direct teams in the league. Big, bustling and full of heart; they should cancel each other out in an aerial duel. Andy Carroll is a big miss for the Hammers as he tormented Fulham.

Arsenal 2 Vs Southampton1
Abou Diaby had poise, control and vision as he guided the Gunners to a 2-0 victory over Liverpool. A winning central midfield partnership with Santi Carzola is brewing. Nigel Adkins’ spirited visitors have already pushed the two Manchester giants, but a result at the Emirates Stadium is out of reach.

Aston Villa 2 Vs Swansea 1
Paul Lambert’s influence was visible in the one-all draw with Newcastle. They created a hatful of chances and expect the same against a Swansea-lona side that is brimming with confidence following a dream start to the season. Swansea recruited wisely though I can’t see them taking anything from Villa Park.

Fulham 1 Vs West Brom 1
Ordinarily strong at home, the Cottagers are struggling to cope with the departure of their two most influential players – Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey. Dimitar Berbatov will be pushing for a starting slot after that lovely Cameo against West Ham but the Brummies will prove hard nuts to crack.

Man United 3 Vs Wigan 1
Any perceived Red Devils title assault is incumbent on them starting to keep clean sheets. I don’t expect them to keep out a Wigan side hell-bent on proving that their 1-0 win at the back end of last season was no fluke. Fortunately for United, Robin van Persie is firing on all cylinders. But will he be fit?

QPR 1 Vs Chelsea 2
Chelsea may be table-toppers but Atletico Madrid proved they are a work in process in the Super Cup. They come up against a QPR that is struggling to find rhythm having made too many changes. Chelsea players will have an axe to grind, following their bitter 0-1 defeat last season.

Stoke 0 Vs Man City 1
This is a repeat of the 2011 FA Cup final. On that occasion, a less powerful City brushed aside Stoke 3-0. Roberto Mancini has publicly stated he wants a clean sheet even though that will only come if the defense gets better cover and the midfield keeps the ball better.

Reading 1 Vs Tottenham 1
Andre Villas Boas’ White Hart Lane revolution is not going according to plan. Conceding late goals is proving perilous to his ambitions. AVB might have to abandon the 4-3-3 as the two wide players are not giving Jermaine Defoe adequate support. It is time for Emmanuel Adebayor to justify his astronomical wages.

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West Ham 1 Fulham 1
These are two teams with contrasting styles. Sam Alladyce’s Hammers like to exert their physicality while Martin Jol’s Cottagers fancy themselves as a ball playing side.

Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1
Liverpool are buzzing after dominating champions Man City in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw. Teenage prodigy Raheem Sterling caught the eye with his boundless energy and free dribbling. Conversely, Arsenal will be looking to exploit the defensive frailties that gifted City two goals.

Southampton 2 Man Utd 3
Nemanja Vidic’s long lay off and the absence of a recognized centre-back to partner him has made United vulnerable. Still, they should have enough to shake off the Saints.

Swansea 2 Sunderland 1
Michael Laudrup is building an exciting team on a shoestring budget. Maximum points and eight goals in two games while playing free-flowing football has won Swansea hordes of fans. The Swans’ three-goal hero Miguel Perez Cuesta ‘Michu’ pits his wits against Sunderland’s new boys.

Spurs 3 Norwich 1
Andre Villa Boas has Spurs playing the high octane, high line, pressing, expansive game that he preached but couldn’t get Chelsea to practice. Signing Dembele is a masterstroke.

West Brom 2 Everton 2
The manner in which they disposed of Liverpool 3-0 and dug in to pick a point at White Hart Lane suggests Steven Clarke has given the Baggies real bite. Nevertheless, in Everton they come up against a good away side that is being powered by the form of Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic.

Wigan 2 Stoke City 0
Roberto Martinez scored a major coup when he bought Arouna Kone. Road wins at Southampton and Nottingham Forest should be complimented by a victory over a tired Stoke City.

Man City 3 QPR 1
Roberto Mancini will be hoping there is no repeat of the laissez faire defending that has seen the champions concede two goals in each of their last three games. QPR are at sixes and sevens and I don’t expect Brazilian shot stopper Julio Cesar to arrive in time to stem the rot.

Newcastle 4 Aston Villa 1
Paul Lambert took a poisoned chalice when he accepted to take over at Villa Park. Newcastle’s attacking pair of Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse should be too good for Villa side.

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