EPL Preview – Week Three

After three rounds of games, the table is starting to take shape both up the top and at the bottom. Defending champions Chelsea sits at the top of the heap, while Sunderland and Wigan Athletic are yet to collect a solitary point in their campaigns. How will this weekend’s English Premier League action influence those situations?

Chelsea hasn’t lost a London derby to Tottenham Hotspur since 1990, and when the two teams clash at White Hart Lane tonight, it is hard to see that changing despite Spurs’ encouraging start to the campaign.

Martin Jol’s men have yet to add a striker to replace the departed Fredi Kanoute, but they have an array of talent in the midfield that may allow them to choke Chelsea’s star-studded middlemen. There has to be question marks on the ability of a Ledley King-less Spurs defence of Michael Dawson and Anthony Gardner to hold the likes of Didier Drogba and Hernan Crespo.

I can’t see the hosts keeping a clean sheet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Jose Mourinho’s men left North London with only a point – Tottenham has enough options up front to score an equaliser.

Another derby tonight, this time when West Brom hosts Birmingham City at The Hawthorns. The Brum are struggling while the unfashionable Baggies already have four points, but Birmingham have a great record against local sides and should be able to take the three points from their local rivals.

Aston Villa hosts Blackburn Rovers, and finally Villa chairman Doug Ellis has released some meaningful money and the club has signed Czech striker Milan Baros from Liverpool. He’ll make a home debut tonight and with his fellow long-haired partner in crime, Juan Pablo Angel, should have enough power up front to see off a well-rounded but not too threatening Rovers outfit.

Manchester City were on top of the table midweek, and they have a great chance to continue manager Stuart Pearce’s 11 game unbeaten streak in the premiership against Portsmouth at CoMS. Pompey are already looking in danger of getting involved in a relegation dogfight, and City will be confident that they will continue the misery on the south coast.

Fulham will look to add to Everton’s Champions League pain – and win its first game of the season – when it hosts the Toffees tonight. Fulham manager Chris Coleman has already admitted he is thinking of getting the required points to merely stay up, while Everton has to score more goals. Expect a draw.

Alan Pardew’s West Ham United will look to continue their surprisingly good form when they host ever-reliable Bolton at Upton Park. The Hammers are playing an enthusiastic brand of football, and are not afraid to attack, but they have to be careful of the Trotters’ counter-attacking long ball strategy which could put pressure on an inexperience defence. Both teams will score, but a draw is on the cards.

Already there is a genuine six-pointer: Wigan Athletic hosts Sunderland tonight at the JJB Stadium, and while these two finished one and two in The Championship last season, so far both sides are without a point and are 19 and 20 in the premiership. Anthony Le Tallec will be pulling the strings for the Black Cats, while Australian international Josip Skoko will finally make his debut for Wigan. A desperate draw is where the smart money is for this one.

On Sunday night Newcastle United hosts Manchester United at St James’ Park, where the only thing rivalling the “How long will Graeme Souness survive?” question is the “Is new striker Albert Luque the saviour?” poser. Fans on Tyneside will be hoping the Spaniard solves Newcastle’s striking woes.

Manchester United has had no such problems, with both Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney more than capable of scoring. No wonder Sir Alex Ferguson hasn’t worried about trying to sign Michael Owen while his Geordie counterpart was been begging like a starving child.

The Magpies’ midfield might be the only worry for the Red Devils, but given the two sides’ form and ability to score, Manchester United has to be favoured.

Finally, Middlesbrough hosts Charlton Athletic at the Riverside to wrap up the weekend. Both sides are in form, have a good balance and will be looking to build on their results so far to continue pushing for a European spot. With Aussie striker Mark Viduka in form and a capable midfield it is hard seeing Boro beaten, but in-form Addicks hitman Darren Bent might have other plans.

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