EPL Round 2 Preview and pick
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
The Villans surprised most last week in picking up 3 points
at the Britannia Stadium. This week they’re at home and facing a Newcastle
United side who impressed despite losing 2 nil to Manchester City.
Christain Benteke will be missing for Paul Lambert’s side
and that’s a big miss for them, we will potentially see Joe Cole make his EPL
debut though.
Newcastle United have picked up 13 from 15 points in their
last 5 EPL meetings with Aston Villa and though I think the game will be tight
the Geordies are just about favourites for the 3 points for me.
They’ll be missing Papas Cisse, Ryan Taylor, Davide Santon
and Chieke Tiote but Remy Cabella impressed last week and with Siem De Jong in
contention for a start they won’t be wanting for creativity.
Pick – Aston Villa 0 Newcastle United 2
Chelsea v Leicester City
Mourinho’s men impressed on the opening weekend, particularly
Fabregas who looked like he’d been playing in the shirt for years not just pre
season. Diego Costa also looked good and this Chelsea side looked more balanced
than last year already.
They’ve only conceded once in their last 8 games at Stamford
Bridge and despite Chris Wood’s heroics for Leicester against Everton I can’t
see the big kiwi or any of his team mates bothering the scorers this weekend.
The Foxes got a point from their first game back in the EPL
and from what many would call a difficult fixture against an Everton side who
should be knocking on the door of the top four this season.
Nigel Pearson will be missing the influence of Matty James
and Danny Drinkwater in midfield and Matt Upson from the back four.
Hard to see the Championship champions getting anything from
this match.
Pick – Chelsea 4 Leicester City 0
Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Despite the distraction of having Tony Pulis walk out on the
club a couple of days out from kick off Crystal Palace were extremely
competitive against Arsenal in their
opening match of the season. Brede Hangeland marked his debut with a goal and
the Keith Millen ran side played to their strengths and were unlucky not to get
away with a point.
The biggest worry going into this match is the fitness of
Scott Dann who will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness, Jason
Puncheon is unavailable following his red card at the Emrites.
Sam Allardyce has issues in defence. James Collins is
suspended, James Tomkins, Joey O’Brien and Carl Jenkinson are all recovering
from injury so Winston Reid will be leading a makeshift backline.
The Hammers looked light on creativity last weekend against
ten men and will need to address that against a Palace side who were tough to
beat at Selhurst Park last season
Pick – Crystal Palace 1 West Ham United 0
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion
The Saints were unlucky to lose at Anfield on the opening
weekend of the season and perception that they would struggle under Ronald
Koeman this season seems to have been dispelled already. Jamie Ward-Prowse,
another homegrown talent, was dominant in midfield against more experienced opposition
and Dusan Tadic looks to have bought his form from last seasons Eredivise with
him too.
The South coast side have averaged more than 2 goals a game
over their last 5 EPL matches at Saint Mary’s and I’d expect them to match that
tomorrow morning.
Alan Irvine’s West Brom side were denied a win at the death
against Sunderland last week and their England under 21 striker Saido Berahino
impressed with a brace. His combination with Victor Anichebe could be crucial
for the Baggies this season.
Historically West Brom don’t start EPL season’s well and
they’ve yet to win away from home in August in Premier League history. With
Jolene Lescott and Cristian Gamboa unlikely to feature a point here maybe a
bridge to far for Irvine’s men.
Pick – Southampton 3 West Bromwich Albion 1
The Swans stunned Manchester United 2-1 in the opening
weekend of the Premier League and it seems unlikely that Gary Monk will change to
much for their opening home match against promoted Burnley.
Federico Fernandez has joined from Napoli but is unlikely to
feature due to paperwork not being cleared in time.
With the form of last week and the goal threat of Wilfried
Bony and Bafetimbi Gomis the Welsh side should win this comfortably.
Burnley started their opening game of the season well,
briefly leading against Chelsea before going on to lose 3-1. They’ve brought in
former Wolves player Stephen Ward, who should offer experience and competition
to Ben Mee for the left back birth.
While last seasons away form was good (11 wins 9 draws and just
3 losses) the Clarets away history at this level is poor with only a 4 points
gathered from a possible 57.
Sean Dyche will no doubt have a targeted at least a point
from this game but they have a lot of work to do to realise that against a
strong and confident Swansea.
Pick – Swansea City 2 Burnley 0
Everton v Arsenal
Roberto Martinez’s side will have been disappointed not to
take all 3 points against Leicester City on the opening weekend of the season.
Despite creating the majority of the chances new record signing Romelu Lukaku
failed to find the net and looked short on form.
The loss of Ross Barkley for a lengthy period is a bad one
for the Toffees but they do have experience in the form of Steven Pienaar to
carry them forward. Seamus Coleman looks fit and should start in place of John
Stones this week to given Everton more options down the right going forward –
could be crucial in what looks the game of the round.
The question for Arsene Wenger is will he opt to start his
German World Cup winners, Mezit Ozil, Per Mertersacker and Lukas Podolski (less
likely). The trio are yet to feature this season after being given extended
leave post Brazil. With Walcott, Diaby, Arteta, Gibbs and Sanogo all likely to
be missing the Gunners could do with the Teutonic artillery against a side they
haven’t beaten in the last two seasons.
The opening weekends win over Crystal Palace came at the
death and it wasn’t the dominant
performance most expected – they’ll have to lift to another level to compete at
Goodison Park.
Pick – Everton 2 Arsenal 1
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