Prime
Arsenal to pull rank on Spurs
Ramsey in flight against Fenerbahce during the Champions League second leg qualification match. He scored both goals as Arsenal won 2-0
Cardiff 1 Everton 2
Championship winners Cardiff are over cloud nine after last weekend’s exploits. Mickey Mackay’s battlers were worthy winners over the former champions Man City but they should take a hard fall against the Toffees. This is because Everton have played well over 180 minutes, without getting ample reward. They were desperately unlucky not to beat West Brom.
Newcastle 1 Fulham 1 `
Newcastle can’t buy a goal. Perhaps they will borrow one! They were clueless at home to West Ham and I don’t expect any better. With Papiss Demba Cisse out of sorts, their best chance of finding the net is in on-loan Loic Remy returning from injury. With Fulham yet to find their oomph, the Magpies should be good enough grab a share of the spoils.
Norwich 3 Saints 2
Norwich played out of their element away to Hull City and paid the price. Chris Houghton’s side is full of goals and I expect him to be bold when he comes up against the slick Saints. It is a measure of Southampton’s abundance of options that 15m pound striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo starts on the bench.
West Ham 1 Stoke 0
Both Sam Allardyce and Mark Hughes are changing their teams’ styles, by adding some dexterity to their customary directness. With Andy Carroll out injured, the blitzkerig (aerial bombardment) that you would normally associate with this encounter will not materialize. The Hammers are very strong at home, and I expect them to edge a very competitive, feisty affair.
Arsenal 2 Spurs 1
Two Spurs victories on the trot courtesy of Roberto Soldado penalties are not fooling anyone. Andre Villas-Boas’ side is solid in the centre where Paulinho, Dembele and Etiene Capoue are dominant but they traditionally struggle in this fixture. Arsenal are on a roll, having put the opening day capitulation to Aston Villa out of their system.
West Brom 2 Swansea 2
Though it is still early days, Steve Bruce and Michael Laudrup are experiencing the proverbial second season syndrome. Having punched above their weight last season, the two sides find themselves in relegation positions ahead of this clash. Swansea did not lose any players in the summer and strengthened well. They should register their first points of the season.
Man City 3 Hull 0
Steve Bruce will have got plenty of encouragement from fellow newcomers’ Cardiff City’s smash and grab victory over the moneybags. However, despite talismanic skipper Vincent Kompany’s absence through injury, I can see no repeat of last Sunday’s upset as Matija Nastasic should be available. Without the surprise element, Hull City will be devoured by the ruthless Royal Blues.
Liverpool 1 Man Utd 1
Liverpool are keen to do well against the side that toppled them as English football’s most successful side. Their 100 percent record faces its sternest test yet. Man United bettered Chelsea in last Monday’s thrilling barren stalemate without hurting the Londoners. The Red Devils don’t look like a side that can score more than once against Liverpool at Anfield.
Palace 1 Sunderland 1
Ian Holloway’s Crystal Palace are the only newly promoted side that are yet to get out of the blocks. They will consider Paolo di Canio’s Black Cats a good target to register their first points of the season. Super fit Sunderland are possessing the ball better but do not carry enough menace to carry the day.
