SATURDAY

Man city 4-1 Saints 5pm

Manchester City will look to bounce back from two straight defeats to Liverpool, a drubbing at their own turf, and Juventus in the Champions League. Luckily, they play a Saints side struggling for consistency. Sergio Aguero continues his recovery and his poaching instincts could be the difference against a Southampton side that has lead scorer Pelle suspended and Rodriguez back onto the hospital stretcher.

LEICESTER 1-1 MAN U 7.30pm

Usually when the two sides top of the table meet, the guys in second position take a beating. Except that in a strange twist of fate, the table toppers are a side who were expected to get relegated. But Claudio ‘Tinkerman’ Ranieri seems to have learnt a lot from his many wobbles at bigger clubs given how he has taken the Premier League by storm this season. Jamie Vardy is the man on song, scoring in each of the last ten games, a record he shares with Ruud van Nistelrooy. The ex-Red Devil and Dutch international will be watching Vardy with keen interest. Man United under Louis van Gaal has no sense of direction and should be undone for by Mehrez’s probing midfield play.

SUNDAY

SPURS 3-2 CHELSEA 2pm

This is going to be a brawl. Spurs are unbeaten since the opening weekend and have continued to play some scintillating football. Even when striker Harry Kane was facing a goal drought, the London side found ways of compensating for the goals. But Kane has since picked up and proved his doubters wrong. His work rate is immense and hunger for goals third to only Aguero and Vardy. Chelsea are on the ropes.

LIVERPOOL 3-0 SWANSEA 6pm

Swansea manager Gary Monk is facing the sack after this game if my result above comes to pass. The Swans board are already discussing the idea of sacking Monk, who has slumped to a terrible form since their good start. Liverpool themselves have a terrible form at home but they should be able to arrest it today. Coutinho is a doubt, as well as Sturridge but the rest of the side is doing well.

NORWICH 2-3 ARSENAL 6pm

Arsenal are in trouble. The calendar still indicates November. Bad. The Gunners don’t tick around this month.

They have not won a game but in Champions League. Alexis Sanchez has joined defensive midfield duo of Coquelin and Arteta on injury worry list, but the Chilean is expected to shake it off and help Wenger’s side win this game.

OTHER FIXTURES

SUNDERLAND 2-1 STOKEPALACE 2-0 NEWCASTLEB’MOUTH 2-1 EVERTONASTON VILLA 1-3 WATFORDLEVERKUSEN 2-1 SCHALKESWANSEA 1-2 B’MOUTHMARSEILLE 1-0 MONACO jacobs.seaman@newtimes.co.rw