Struggling Chelsea visit giant killers West Ham United knowing that Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been turned into cabbages when they faced Slaven Bilic’s tactics.
SATURDAY
WEST HAM 2-2 CHELSEA 4pm
Struggling Chelsea visit giant killers West Ham United knowing that Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been turned into cabbages when they faced Slaven Bilic’s tactics. With only stand-in keeper Asmir Begovic proving his worth for the Blues, Chelsea will be the underdogs for this fixture, but if Mour learnt some lessons from the other beaten giants, he will know better than to allow West Ham counter-attack. This is a chance for Eden Hazard to finally show that he is still the same player pundits and Mour himself compared to Messi and Ronaldo last season.
ARSENAL 3-2 EVERTON 6.30pm
Mighty Bayern Munich, unbeaten in 12 games and scoring with free will, came to this stadium and fell. It’s the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal FC. That is where Everton will be turning up at to try and upstage a high-flying Gunners side that have won five of their last six games. Despite Arsenal’s spirited duel with Bayern and subsequent victory that would see Arsene Wenger’s stooges partake in selfies for weeks on end to celebrate, Everton manager Roberto Martinez does not think there will be hangovers when the referee sounds the first whistle of the match at 6.30pm.
Everton, humbled 3-0 at home by Manchester United last weekend, are aware that they struggle against North London side Arsenal. The Toffees have beaten the Gunners just once in 17 attempts, but with Tom Cleverley, Steven Pienaar and Bryan Oviedo nearing full fitness, Martinez hopes the absence of Aaron Ramsey in Arsenal’s midfield can shake the Gunners’ stability. But beating Arsenal will be a hard call.
SUNDAY
SUNDERLAND 3-1 NEWCASTLE 2pm
Dick Advocaat quit after eight league games without a win, with Sunderland rooted at the bottom of the league table. In came Sam Allardyce, but while the Black Cats showed a new verve at West Brom last weekend, they still lost 1-0. However, the Wear-Tyne derby is a different story. Newcastle will need more than the magic that gave them the scintillating 6-2 score for their first win of the season when they face a team they have lost to in the last five meetings. Allardyce, who is the only man to take charge of both teams, is my man to edge Steve McClaren.
Man City 3-3 MAN UNITED 4pm
Louis van Gaal thinks the true test of Manchester United’s title credentials will be at Etihad Stadium when they take on their bitter rivals. Since Fergie left, the red half of Manchester has been a training partner for the sky-blue side, with City winning games with ease. This season, Van Gaal has been dreaming of the title and what better way to find out whether his has been wet dream or not than against leaders City? Skipper Vincent Kompany is fit again but could make do with the bench, while Sergio Aguero is out for a month, meaning Raheem Sterling, who scored a hat trick against Bournemouth last weekend, could partner Wilfried Bony up front again.
LIVERPOOL 3-0 SOUTHAMPTON 6pm
Jurgen Klopp will open his Anfield league account against the Saints with some relief: the availability of forwards once again. For his debut management game, he was without Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings and Daniel Sturridge. But Benteke and Firmino are back, meaning the clueless Origi could drop to the bench as Klopp seeks his first win as a Liverpool manager after two successive draws to Spurs and Rubin Kazan (in Europa).
LA LIGA
CELTA VIGO 3-0 REAL 4pm
The alleged scandal in La Liga after an assistant referee reported to Police that the referees’ chiefs were pressurising them to favour Real Madrid in El Clasico next month could overshadow the game when Madrid visit Celta de Vigo today. An assistant referee claims has been told to favour Real and that there is a conspiracy to have the Madrid side win La Liga title this season after winning just once in seven years. But Celta Vigo will not pay too much attention. The sky-blue side are title contenders and could win La Liga this season.
OTHER FIXTURES
BAYERN 4-0 KOLN
DarmStadt 2-1 WOLFSBURG
ANGERS 3-1 GUINGAMP
AJACCIO 1-3 NICE
GLADBACH 2-2 SCHALKE
DORTMUND 2-1 AUGSBURG
LAZIO 3-0 TORINO
ATLETICO 1-3 VALENCIa
Seaman is a Liverpool fan