The football world seems to have finally settled down. Wayne Rooney's got a contract, Liverpool have new owners, West Bromwich Albion is in sixth and all is right in the world. That leaves us free to do what it is we do best: watch footy. This weekend's matches are more likely to feature scrappy desperation than thrillingly equal contests, but many teams continue to surprise.
English Premier League Preview, Fixtures, Picks: Are There Any Surpises Left In The League?
Don’t forget, fans of English (and German, and Italy, and the rest) football-the countries change time a week ahead of the United States, and fall back this week. That means the matches will be 5-6-7 hours ahead, so plan your schedule accordingly. And with ten matches spread over three days, you need a way to prioritize. Here are our picks for week ten in the English Premier League:
10. Newcastle versus Sunderland, 9:30 a.m. Eastern, St. James Park (Newcastle)
Newcastle and Sunderland sit in seventh and ninth place, respectively, yet I can think of nothing I’d like to watch less. This Villa fan might just be bitter at the fact that her team has lost to both these clubs. A non-biased observer might consider Sunderland’s ability to grind out a draw against Newcastle’s last two matches, which featured come-from-behind thrills. Plus, it’s the Tyne-Wear derby, meaning the winners at least get bragging rights, no matter where they ultimately land in the table.
9. Everton versus Stoke City, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, Goodison Park (Liverpool)
Stoke have lost three matches in a row, including their Carling Cup match to West Ham, while Everton have come alive recently, winning two of their last three before drawing with Spurs at White Hart Lane. Are the Toffees finally coming to life, or will we see Stoke come back from behind to claim a win?
8. Fulham versus Wigan Athletic, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, Craven Cottage (London)
Fulham have recorded two straight losses after eking out a draw to bottom-dwellers West Ham. Wigan, on the other hand, remain unbeaten on the road, but continue to drop early leads. Wigan might be entertaining, but against a Fulham squad anxious for just a point (again), they’ll likely be stymied.
7. Manchester City versus Wolverhampton Wanderers, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, City of Manchester Stadium (Manchester)
It's a meeting of the leg-breakers this week at Eastlands. Wolves are doing little to overcome the reputation they have for physical play, although their match against Chelsea featured much more pluck than tackle. City, on the other hand, may be better known for throwing around the money than devolving into overly-physical play, but have shown no mercy when fouling. With Carlos Tevez out this match, will the home side find a goal?
6. Blackburn Rovers versus Chelsea, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, Ewood Park (Blackburn)
Having the league leaders so far down on the list seems odd, but on the other hand, there’s not much exciting about this matchup. Chelsea go to Blackburn five points clear at the top of the table, while Rovers hover just above the relegation zone. If you’re looking for a stress-free match, this is the one to watch.
5. Arsenal versus West Ham United, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, Emirates Stadium (London)
Personally, I love watching Arsenal play, but again, with the second-place Gunners facing an Irons side that couldn't even climb out of the relegation zone with a win, there's not much to ponder in this match. It's ranked this high solely for the joy of watching Samir Nasri continue to score goals.
4. Bolton Wanderers versus Liverpool, 12:00 p.m. Eastern, Reebok Stadium (Bolton)
Hey, Liverpool won last week! A win this week could see them vault ahead into midtable, reminding us all that there’s still quite a bit of season left to go. Bolton have impressed this season, moving beyond the hoof-and-chase style they were previously known for, and haven’t lost since their mid-September meeting with Arsenal. It’s Liverpool’s chance to show that they’re not ready for Championship football.
3. Blackpool versus West Bromwich Albion, 2:00 p.m. Eastern, Bloomfield Road (Blackpool)
Two freshly promoted teams occupying the third slot? This one’s up so high simply due to its ability to surprise. West Brom are coming off a 4-1 win in the Carling Cup and beat Fulham at the Cottage last week, whereas Blackpool still haven’t won at home. But I’m tipping the Tangerines for a comeback this week, and even if it doesn’t happen, their style is still worth a hat-tip.
2. Aston Villa versus Birmingham City, 8:00 a.m. Eastern, Villa Park (Birmingham)
Why drag yourselves out of bed to watch the Second City Derby? If not for the petty fouls, the clever chants, or the incessant complaining to the refs (Birmingham City were fined last year for the inability to control their players) then watch to see which Birmingham team is on the rise this season. Will the Blues earn bragging rights after six successive victories, or will the Villa finally remember how to score a goal?
1. Manchester United versus Tottenham Hotspur, 12:30 p.m. Eastern, Old Trafford (Manchester)
The match of the week features two clubs that possibly haven’t found their groove yet. Manchester United, once again without Wayne Rooney, haven’t won a league game at Old Trafford since beating Liverpool over a month ago. However, they finally beat their away-game curse against Stoke, and seek to prove that they could still be contenders. Spurs are a bit ragged around the edges, trying to cope with Champions League play while at the same time chasing the coveted fourth slot that will bring them to the tournament again.
Picks:
Saturday:
Arsenal v West Ham: 4-1
Blackburn v Chelsea: 0-3
Everton v Stoke: 2-1
Fulham v Wigan: 1-1
Wolves v Manchester City: 1-2
Manchester United v Spurs: 3-2
Sunday:
Aston Villa v Birmingham: 0-2
Newcastle v Sunderland: 1-1
Bolton v Liverpool: 1-0
Monday:
Blackpool v West Brom: 2-3
See More:
