English Premier League Preview, Fixtures, Picks: Forget Wayne Rooney, Let Manchester City, Arsenal Bring Us Back To The Pitch

The champions may have dropped points to Aston Villa last week, but Chelsea are still in full control of the league. Wolverhampton, meanwhile, have a mere six points, but they can find comfort in the fact that they’re on top of West Ham and Liverpool. Wolves haven’t won since the opening game of the season when they took all three points from visitors Stoke, and it’s nearly impossible to believe that streak will change this weekend. With Didier Drogba fit after last week’s fever, and Jose Bosingwa returning to the lineup, Wolves will be happy to walk away from Stamford Bridge without doing too much damage to their goal difference.

Projected Linuep, Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech—Cole, Terry, Ivanovic, Bosingwa—Mikel, Zhirkov, Essien—Malouda, Drogba, Anelka

While Newcastle striker Andy Carroll’s week has been a tumultuous one, a week that’s seen him charged with assault and witnessed his Range Rover torched to ashes by unsuspecting assailants, it’s also a massively important week in the grand scheme of Newcastle’s ability to avoid the drop in their first season back to the Premier League.

While the Toon travel to Upton Park in London to face bottom of the table West Ham, it’s the Hammers, although in the midst of a terrible season, who are currently unbeaten in four matches. The late match on Saturday featuring 20th and 16th in the table has early season relegation implicatins written all over it while it’s ability to thrill Premier League fans may prove a step too daunting.

Don’t expect boring football here, folks. Despite Everton’s injuries, David Moyes’ side will still look to attack. With the attacking personnel at his disposal, Harry Redknapp’s team will too. To use a college/high school football cliche, it’s going to be a barn burner. If you’re an American, get your rear end out of bed at the crack of dawn and flip on the telly, it’ll be worth it.

Projected Lineup, Birmingham City (4-4-2) Foster— Ridgewell , Johnson, Dann, Carr,—Fahey, Ferguson, Bowyer, Larsson—Zigic, Hleb

Projected Lineup, Blackpool (4-3-3) Gilks—Crainey, Evatt, Cathcart, Eardley—Adam, Vaughn, Taylor-Fletcher—Varney, Campbell, Grandin

Roberto di Matteo has no excuse. He’s not some neophyte Italian manager that’s been brought to England. The former Chelsea midfielder is familiar with English football. Thus, he should know: West Brom is not made to succeed in the Premier League.

I say that with no expertise beyond history. Since 2003, West Brom has been relegated three times (he types as Baggies supporters roll their eyes: “How original, Richard!”). The maximum number of times a club could be relegated in that time: Four. A glass half-full person would see that as West Brom dominating the English Championship. The glass half-empty type would suggest they stay there.

Manchester United are coming off a narrow 1-0 midweek victory in Champions League at home against Turkish Champions Bursaspor thanks to an early strike from Nani while the league’s fourth place team looks to get their Premier League campaign back on track with what would be their first away win of the season.

Tony Pulis’ Stoke City sit in a respectable ninth while they’ve the same number of overall wins as United with three. Their four match unbeaten run ended last weekend when a late Bolton strike secured all three points for Owen Coyle’s side at The Reebok Stadium.