All seemed rosy for Man City after they thumped United in the derby, but since then they have seen back to back defeats against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. Adding to this, there are question marks over Joe Hart as he was culpable for at least 2 of the goals conceded in the Champions League midweek. Pellegrini, Hodgson and Zabaleta have all publicly backed Hart but what happened midweek is sure to have knocked his confidence back.
Hapless Hart: Errors creeping into the game of England's number 1
Having conceded 6 times in those 2 defeats, Everton will fancy their chances at getting something from this game. What won't help City is that Everton are arguably their bogey team of recent years having lost 9 of their last 12 against them and 4 of their last 6 at home. The leaking City defense are also going to have to contend with one of the in form strikers at the moment in Lukaku. He scored twice and assisted the their in their 3-2 win against Newcastle on Monday. This a win that meant they kept their status of being the only unbeaten team left in the Premier League. It is a tough one to call. City are hugely strong at home and Everton are bang in form. I fancy both teams to score with Lukaku and Toure the most likely candidates.
Score Prediction: Man City 1-1 Everton
Cardiff vs Newcastle 15:00
Jordan Mutch scored a late winner last weekend for Cardiff as they beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage. This means Cardiff sit tantalisingly close to the top half of the table in 11th place. No fresh injury concerns means Cardiff have pretty much a full squad to select from. They have also been rather impressive at home and the atmosphere at the Cardiff City Stadium is enough to unsettle the nerves of the most seasoned professionals.
Bellamy could become first player to score for 7 different Premier League clubs
No team has been as hot and cold as Newcastle have been so far. They played very well to beat Villa away from home and considerably improved in the 2nd half against Everton on Monday. Newcastle are however leaking goals left, right and centre. Whilst at the other end, striker Papiss Cisse has gone 12 league games without a goal. These are worrying signs for the Magpies who are just two spots above the relegation zone. Alongside this you have Newcastle's dismal away record, notching up just 3 wins from their last 23. For me it looks more than likely that Cardiff will collect another 3 points today. If the "hot" Newcastle turn up then they will definitely make a game of it but I fancy Cardiff to edge it still.
Score Prediction: Cardiff City 2-1 Newcastle
Fulham vs Stoke 15:00
As just mentioned, Fulham conceded a late goal to lose at home to Cardiff last Saturday. As a result, they find themselves in the relegation zone and pressure is mounting on boss Martin Jol. In fact this is a match up between two sides that are both struggling of late. Fulham have lost 4 in 5 and Stoke have not won in 3 after a bright start. In theory Fulham have one of the strongest striker partnerships in the league with Berbatov and Bent. They are both getting on a bit admittedly and haven't really gelled together yet. But form is temporary and class is permanent so I think Fulham will be safe this season just about.
Hughes returns to his former club to face an under pressure Martin Jol
Stoke are in a well documented period of transition under Mark Hughes. They are trying to play more attractive passing football as opposed to the long ball "ugly" football that Pulis had them playing. Signs early on were that they have adapted well to the change of style yet they still find themselves 15th in the league. This has all the signs of a snooze-fest at Craven Cottage today. This fixture rarely provides lots of goals and I don't think that will change today. The sides are pretty even so I think it will end as a draw, possibly a goalless one but I am going to predict 1-1 today.
Score Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Stoke
Hull vs Aston Villa 15:00
This a match up between an in form home team and an in form away team at the KC Stadium. Hull have picked up 2 wins and 1 draw from their 3 home matches so far, conceding just the one goal as well. Villa play very well on the counter attack and this is perfect for away fixtures seeing them pick up 5 wins from 8 away from home. Both teams will be without their star strikers for today's match. Benteke (Hip) and Brady (Hernia) will both miss the match.
Fortress? Hull are unbeaten at home so far, conceding just 1 goal
This match could end up any score to be honest. I expect Hull to battle hard and create a fair few chances and they will be looking for Aluko to continue his scoring form. Villa are always a threat on the counter attack and scored 3 against City without Agbonlahor or Benteke. VIlla don't keep clean sheets so I think both teams will score today but I fancy Villa just to edge it.
Score Prediction: Hull 1-2 Aston Villa
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace 15:00
This game is barely worth deliberating on the result. The only question is by what scoreline Liverpool will win by today. With the return of Luis Suarez from suspension, Liverpool look a really dangerous side and coupled with Sturridge there is plenty of goals in them as well. Concerns over whether the two of them can play together soon evaporated after their away win at Sunderland. The two of them were truly world class and they proved the difference between the two sides.
Goal Machines: Suarez has 18 in 21 games and Sturridge has 18 in 24
Crystal Palace on the other hand look out of their depth in the Premier League so far. They come into this game on the back of three successive defeats (all three without scoring a goal). They have also lost all four away fixtures in league and cup so far as well. The problem is they don't have a goalscorer in their ranks. Chamakh is an okay signing for Palace but no more than that. He has only scored the 1 goal so far as well and they will need him to score much more than that if they have any hope of surviving this year. I am expecting a dominant Liverpool win comfortably today with Suarez and Sturridge both scoring again.
Score Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace
Oh dear Oh dear. As a United fan myself what more can you say. The defeat to West Brom was truly shocking. As well as West Brom played, United played as bad. Everyone knew it would be a rocky road after SAF left and after seeing United's opening fixtures this season. Nevertheless to see the champions in the bottom half of the table after 6 games is simply not good enough and they have to win against Sunderland this evening to retain some of the faith in United fans. United have not lost three league games in a row for 12 years or so and have never lost at Sunderland in the league. There was a slight improvement in the Champions League on Wednesday but they still couldn't win that game and were at times clinging on just to get a point from the game.
Under pressure Moyes has demanded a response from lacklustre United
Sunderland are still bottom of the league but showed glimpses of improvements against Liverpool on Monday night. They had 23 shots that night, the most in a game since December 2011. It will take time for Sunderland to know their best 11 and to find out which of the mass influx of players has what it takes to cut it in the Premier League. For now though they look a pretty average side and under normal circumstances you would expect United to sweep them aside. If United turn up then this should happen but Sunderland will be well up for this and will sense an opportunity to grab something from the game.
Score Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Man United
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