SillySeason look at this weekend’s Premier League matches
After Champions League and Europa League ties took centre-stage during the week, all focus returns to the Premier League with a rammed schedule, including two fierce derbies on Sunday.
Before looking at the derbies however, SillySeason will look into the Saturday matches, with 12 teams in action.
With no lunch-time kick-off this Saturday, the Premier League kicks off at 3pm, with five games being played.
At Villa Park, Aston Villa host Swansea City in what is surely being deemed as a must win game for both sides. Villa are struggling for form under Tim Sherwood, while Garry Monk‘s men haven’t won a game in their last five.
Elsewhere, in form Leicester City host Crystal Palace and with both teams dropping points last week, they will both want to ensure of a better result this time around.
However, Claudio Ranieri‘s men did come from two goals down once again to pick up a point last weekend away at Southampton.
In a potential relegation battle, Norwich City take on West Bromwich Albion at Carrow Road, with the Canaries looking to bounce back from their horrific 6-2 defeat to Newcastle United last weekend.
Stoke City host Watford, and Jose Mourinho takes his Chelsea side to West Ham United which completes the 3pm matches.
The evening kick-off on Saturday sees Arsenal host Everton with the Gunners looking to continue their brilliant form. Wins against Manchester United and Bayern Munich have boosted the morale around the camp in North London.
Sunday Games
First up on Sunday is one of two derbies with Sunderland hosting Newcastle United.
It’s a game with a lot of passion and emotion, made even more so this year with Sam Allardyce taking charge of his first game at the Stadium of Light, against one of his former-clubs.
Sunderland have the beating of Newcastle if you consider recent results in the derby, but as everyone knows, a derby is just about on the day and who performs best.
After the Tyne-Wear derby, AFC Bournemouth host Tottenham Hotspur, who suffered a defeat in Belgium last night to Anderlecht in the Europa League.
Kicking off at the same time however is the big one. The Manchester derby as United host City at Old Trafford.
Both teams have enjoyed good starts to the season, with City top and United third, but it will be interesting to see how Louis van Gaal‘s men respond to their big-match loss to Arsenal.
They have since beaten Everton and drawn away to CSKA Moscow however.
Wrapping up the weekend is Jurgen Klopp‘s first Premier League home game as Liverpool boss as the Reds host Southampton.
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
