English Premier League Previews: Arsenal, City, Liverpool And Chelsea Highlight Sunday Fixtures

Maybe not as dominant as they were in earlier weeks, Chelsea have still won three out of their last four in the league and will look for nothing but three points to keep distance from Arsenal and United as their fixtures begin to toughen.

Ranked number nine on our matches to watch list, we seem to be hinting that West Ham’s visit to Brum is one to avoid. Actually, we’re not only hinting it, at all. We’re outright saying “Don’t watch,” but in this preview, we change out tune (while acknowledging we have some work to do). Why, after telling you not to watch, should you devote time to a match between the English Premier League’s 15th and 20th placed teams?

5. Every point counts - Every once in a while, you’ll hear somebody claim (usually with the false arrogance of ignorance) most matches in England don’t matter. The thinking goes: Before the season starts, you know which three or four teams are going to contend for the title, and without playoffs, what do the other matches matter? Tell that to two teams who are struggling to avoid the drop. If you’re relegated, you’re kicked out of the freaking league, and when you have two possible relegation candidates facing each other, it’s beyond trite to reduce it to “every point counts.” Regardless, Birmingham versus West Ham certainly matters, even if the match-up is something less than romantic.

After reeling off five successive wins Arsenal were shocked in midweek by Shakhtar Donetsk. The Gunners had taken an early lead through Theo Walcott, but sloppy defending cost them a pair of goals and the victory. Newcastle, by contrast, are still on a high after hammering a very poor Sunderland side 5-1 in the Tyne-Wear Derby. Kevin Nolan, who has been in good form the last few weeks scored a hat-trick, and the Magpies have looked good going forward for most of the season so far.

These two sides met just a week and a half ago in the Carling Cup, when Arsenal came out four-nil winners at St. James’ Park. That result should certainly give Newcastle some extra motivation, and they’ll be buoyed by the knowledge that the scoreline flattered the Gunners, who took the lead through an own goal by Tim Krul and needed some excellent saves by Wojciech Szczesny to keep a clean sheet.

Sunderland’s players will be anxiously awaiting their chance to take the field against Stoke come Saturday in hopes they can prove to their home support they’re no mugs after going down emphatically to their bitter rivals Newcastle last weekend. Steve Bruce looks set to unleash record signing Asamoah Gyan upon Stoke on Saturday in hopes the Ghanaian can soon settle into life as an Premier League footballer.

Before the 5-1 thrashing away to Newcastle last Sunday, Sunderland had become quite the draw specialists again in the Premier League having drawn five of their last seven to earn a point in each. Steve Bruce and Co will want nothing along the lines of the abysmal performance witnessed in the Tyne-Wear derby where Sunderland lacked any form of cohesion as a unit both in defense and attack.

Maybe not the weekend’s most exciting match on paper, but a match that could prove fantastic when the whistle blows. Manchester United are still unbeaten in all competitions while Wolves, although still in the relegation zone, played some fantastic football last weekend at home to claim a much needed and deserved three points against Manchester City.

Wolves’ Matt Jarvis has been in sparkling form in recent weeks, many even speaking his name in the same sentence as ‘England’ and ‘call-up’, while Republic of Ireland internationals Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt have also impressed with their probing runs and work ethic in attack.

Projected Lineup, Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer - Salcido, Hangeland, Hughes, Kelly - Duff, Etuhu, Baird, Davies - Dembele, Dempsey

Projected Lineup, Aston Villa (4-4-1-1): Friedel - Warnock, Dunne, Collins, L.Young -Downing, Sidwell*, Reo-Coker, Albrighton - A.Young - Delfouneso