Frank Lampard is out. Michael Essien is suspended, and when the week's news told us John Terry and Alex would miss Saturday's match at Birmingham City, the title race in England changed. Again. Whereas Chelsea was merely wounded after last Sunday's loss, now they're cornered. With two more matches until their regulars begin returning, Chelsea will likely be looking up at Arsenal and/or Manchester United when Michael Essien returns on December 4 versus Everton.
English Premier League Fixtures, Preview, Picks: Injuries To Chelsea Could Shake-Up Premier League Leadership
Even as I type, I feel so alarmist, but it's true. While Chelsea can be expected to improve on their Sunderland performance, they're going to the Midlands and Newcastle (next weekend) with the same weakened squad that got run through at The Bridge. "They'll be better" - fine, fine. I agree with you, but they've a lot of ground to make-up to get six points from these next two matches. They'll be able to hold first place with four, but at a Birmingham team whose attack has been nearly as potent as Sunderland's (12 goals scored versus 13) and a Newcastle them that's already won at The Bridge (in League Cup), two points should be considered a resourceful result. Without Lampard, Essien, Terry and Alex, expectations need to be adjusted.
But look in the review mirror, Chelsea fans (as if you need me to tell you). There are two, huge red bandwagons tracking down your own, and over the next two weeks, you’re going to get caught. Manchester United (third place, three points back) gets Wigan then Blackburn - both at Old Trafford. How’s that for the schedule evening out? If Chelsea only get draws at Birmingham City and Newcastle, they could be one point behind United come December.
They could also be behind Arsenal, though that looks less likely, given the Gunners’ fixture list. Arsenal hosts Tottenham on Saturday in the weekend’s marquee match, the second North London Derby since the season started. Next week, they’re at Villa Park, a match that seems dangerous until you see Arsenal has not lost at Villa since 1998. That combines with the 17 years it’s been since Spurs won at Arsenal to make four points expected, six points viable.
While Tottenham’s Saturday visit to their North London rivals will highlight the weekend’s fixtures, it’s not the only game of note on England’s 14th matchday. We’ve mentioned Chelsea’s and Manchester United’s, but the Reebok also hosts one of the weekend’s noteworthy match-ups: Newcastle’s visit to Bolton.
As has become custom, we start the weekend by counting down the matchday’s 10 fixtures, from least-to-most interesting:
10. Blackburn versus Aston Villa, Ewood Park (Blackburn), Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Eastern - Convinced by Gerard Houllier steering Villa to five goals in their last two matches? Unless Villa can prove that was their doing when they face Blackburn, I'm going to assume their offensive output was part Blackpool being Blackpool, part Manchester United being ... well, this year's Manchester United. If my assumption proves true, this could be a 0-0.
9. Fulham versus Manchester City, Craven Cottage (London), Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Eastern - I can't believe this isn't number 10. Before I compiled the list, I assumed whatever match featured City would be ranked as least interesting. After all, how wants to watch the product the citizens have been producting? Particularly against the Cottager draw machine (league leading eight draws).
8. West Bromwich Albion versus Stoke City, The Hawthorns (West Bromwich), Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Eastern - Admittedly, this match has little name value, but a contrast of styles pitting teams headed in opposite directions puts contrast on its side. West Brom's fallen to 12th whereas Stoke, despite having the second-most losses in the league, sits 10th.
7. Blackpool versus Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bloomfield Road (Blackpool), Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Eastern - Another contrast of styles, but while Wolves lean conservative, they always manage to be interesting, even if at times controversially. With Mathew Gilks out with a broken kneecap, we will get a chance to test the theory that a strong two months from Gilks was disproportionately responsible for Blackpool's strong-ish start.
6. Liverpool versus West Ham United, Anfield Park (Liverpool), Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Eastern - Liverpool's tendency to sit deep and play conservatively could some back to hurt them. West Ham, two weeks ago at a conservative 4-4-2 Birmingham, got the first two goals before being drawn. Against a Liverpool team without Steven Gerrard, the Hammers could get a surprise result.
5. Birmingham City versus Chelsea, St. Andrews Stadium (Birmingham), Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Eastern - Ramires and Yuri Zhirkov should start in midfield. Branislav Ivanovic and (probably) Paulo Ferriera will start in central defense. Those are your league leaders, folks. With the likes of Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Ashley Cole, Chelsea's still the more capable side, though a draw Saturday should shock nobody.
4. Sunderland versus Everton, Stadium of Light (Sunderland), Monday, 3:00 p.m. Eastern - Looking to rebound from last week’s disappointing performance against Arsenal, Everton goes to the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland side dealing with new expectations. Winning comfortably at The Bridge will do that to you. Those expectations my cause Sunderland to overlook a Toffess side which, when injuries are considered, may be more talented than the Chelsea team Sunderland beat Sunday.
3. Manchester United versus Wigan Athletic, Old Trafford (Manchester), Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Eastern - Though you never know with United, I expect the Red Devils to win this match. Along the way this will be entertaining, as is almost any Wigan match. The Latics will be without defender Gary Caldwell, out until Christmas, a loss that will be particularly felt if Wayne Rooney comes back closer to his usual self.
2. Bolton Wanderers versus Newcastle United, Reebok Stadium (Botlon), Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Eastern - The league's fifth place team, Bolton. comes into this match with seven points in their last three games. Newcastle has gotten more publicity, having beat Arsenal at the Emirates during that time, but stumbles to Blackburn (loss) and Fulham (draw) have the Magpies in need of a win.
1. Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspur, Emirates Stadium (London), Saturday, 7:45 a.m. Eastern - SB Nation Soccer should have more on this match Friday morning, but injuries in Spurs' midfield and central defense could prove too much as the visitors face Cesc Fàbregas, Samir Nasri, and Marouane Chamakh.
Picks
| Day | Time (EST) | Home | Road | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 7:45 a.m. | Arsenal | Tottenham | 3-1, Arsenal |
| 10:00 a.m. | Birmingham City | Chelsea | 1-1 | |
| Blackpool | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1-1 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | Newcastle United | 2-1, Bolton | ||
| Manchester United | Wigan Athletic | 3-0, United | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | Stoke City | 2-1, Brom | ||
| 12:30 p.m. | Liverpool | West Ham United | 2-1, West Ham | |
| Sunday | 8:30 a.m. | Blackburn Rovers | Aston Villa | 0-0 |
| 11:00 a.m. | Fulham | Manchester City | 1-1 | |
| Monday | 3:00 p.m. | Sunderland | Everton | 1-1 |
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