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Title chances up for debate at Old Trafford

September 16, 2011

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After an early part of the campaign dominated by the two Manchester clubs, the fifth weekend of Premier League action promises to give us a much clearer picture at the top of the table.

Manchester United host Chelsea in what is arguably their first real test of the campaign (Arsenal were in crisis ahead of their infamous visit) - can Manchester City take advantage of their easier trip to Fulham to move ahead at the top, or will United dismiss the Blues with the same ease they demonstrated against the Gunners to prove the league really is a two-horse race?

Elsewhere, Tottenham host Liverpool in what is a teasing encounter between two of the clubs hoping to fight it out for fourth spot come the end of the season. But where does that leave Arsenal? Can the Gunners get their season back on track against Blackburn - in the process heaping further pressure on under-fire manager Steve Kean - or does another setback lie in wait?

Premier League betting preview

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Saturday

Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal

Form: A clash between two sides who have started the season in underwhelming fashion. Blackburn's draw with Fulham last weekend was their first point of the campaign after three successive defeats, while the Gunners grabbed their first win of the new season against Swansea having drawn with Newcastle, lost at home to Liverpool and suffered that defeat to Manchester United.
Key battle: Having been linked with Arsenal for much of the summer, a number of eyes will be on Christopher Samba to see how he performs against the club that supposedly wanted him. Robin van Persie, meanwhile, has not exactly hit the ground running and will be desperate to get among the goals at Ewood Park.
Player to watch: Having scored the winner in Everton's visit to Blackburn just a few short weeks ago, could Mikel Arteta use his knowledge of Rovers' tactical approach to make the same difference for his new club this time around?
Talking point: Arsene Wenger believes Steve Kean should be given more time to prove himself. But how long can a coach last against supporter protests?
Bet of the day: In seasons past Ewood Park was not a place any team fancied travelling to, but that isn't the case right now. Arsenal are off form but should triumph, although the first goal to come between 61-70 minutes looks intriguing at 16/1 at bet365
Prediction: 0-1

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Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Form: Both clubs lost key players in the summer, but have yet to suffer defeat in eight games between them. Villa have drawn three games and won once so far (against Blackburn), although they have yet to face a top tier side. Newcastle drew with Arsenal to begin the campaign, but have since beaten Sunderland and Fulham - with the most recent draw against QPR leaving them in the top four for now.
Key battle: Darren Bent is Villa's main striker, but it is actually Gabriel Agbonlahor who has started the new season the brighter - scoring two goals and laying on an assist already. It will be interesting to see how Steven Taylor copes with the forward's combination of pace and power.
Player to watch: Charles N'Zogbia was the subject of a last-minute bid from Newcastle in January, which failed to pan out as Villa went on to secure his signature in the summer. Having spent a tumultuous spell on Tyneside earlier in his career, N'Zogbia will be keen to show what he can do as he continues to try and impress his new fans.
Talking point: Can Leon Best continue to carry the bulk of the goalscoring responsibility, or will Newcastle start to pay for their failure to sign a proven scorer over the summer?
Bet of the day: Newcastle are defensively sound enough to frustrate their opponents, but perhaps lack the goals to win outright. A 1-1 draw is a decent 11/2 at bet365
Prediction: 1-1

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Bolton Wanderers v Norwich City

Form: Bolton are coming off the back of something of a humbling in front of their own fans against Manchester United, their third straight defeat after opening the campaign with a big win against QPR. Norwich have two points to their credit but, unlike their fellow promoted sides, have scored three times already - although Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to West Brom was an early missed opportunity to pick up points.
Key battle: Bolton can build themselves a platform for victory if Gary Cahill can bounce back from the runaround he got from Javier Hernandez by keeping Grant Holt - an entirely different type of striker - from getting on the scoresheet.
Player to watch: The pressure is starting to mount on defender Ritchie de Laet, who has made a number of important mistakes in the early part of the season that have already cost his side points.
Talking point: After the tactic failed miserably against United, will Bolton try to bully Norwich with some physical tackles early on once again, or try a different tack?
Bet of the day: Bolton have scored seven goals already - but have conceded a whopping 11. Over 2.5 first half goals is 6/1 at bet365
Prediction: 4-2

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Everton v Wigan Athletic

Form: Everton have managed one of each result from their three games to date - with snatched victory against Blackburn offsetting what was a disappointing home loss to QPR. Wigan are above the Toffees in the table by virtue of drawing the extra game they have played - their one win coming against QPR thanks to Franco di Santo's unlikely brace.
Key battle: Victor Moses has caught the eye with some impactful displays so far this season, but Leighton Baines is an international-calibre performer and could leave Wigan floundering going forward if he successfully shackles the former Crystal Palace youngster.
Player to watch: Tim Cahill has been filling in as Everton's nominal striker in the absence of Louis Saha, and will hope to get on the scoresheet in this one. If he doesn't, who will?
Talking point: Is Everton's current financial plight - and supporter unrest with the board - a glimpse into Wigan's future, as a club also working within similar economic constraints?
Bet of the day: Considering the relative lack of goals in both squads, a 0-0 draw seems undervalued at 6/1 with bet365
Prediction: 0-0

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Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion

Form: Swansea already sit in the relegation zones after taking two points from their opening four games - not a tragic return considering they have scored exactly no goals so far in the league. West Brom have had little problem scoring but far greater problems winning - with victory over Norwich on Sunday finally getting them off the mark.
Key battle: Ashley Williams will be desperate to shackle West Brom's primary goalscoring threat - Peter Odemwingie - and avoid the fate that befell Norwich last weekend.
Player to watch: Jonas Olsson will be hoping to continue West Brom's solid defensive start to the season - but he will have to try and do so without Gabriel Tamas alongside him, after he was banned for three games following a clash with James Vaughan.
Talking point: Swansea have so far been denied international clearance over the signings of Darnel Situ and Rafik Halliche - both experienced defensive reinforcements. They will appeal to try and get both in - but is it a goalscorer that they really should have been searching for?
Bet of the day: Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to get his side's first win of the season sooner rather than later, and a sneaky 1-0 win looks decent value at 13/2 with bet365
Prediction: 1-0

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Wolves v QPR

Form: Both sides have enjoyed strong starts to the campaign, with Wolves grabbing two wins and a draw from their four games, while QPR have bounced back from a worrying opening day defeat to take a victory against Everton and a draw with Newcastle.
Key battle: Jamie O'Hara has been a driving force for Mick McCarthy's men so far this season, but it will be interesting to see how he and Karl Henry operate when faced with the particular physical and technical questions Joey Barton poses.
Player to watch: Barton has grabbed the attention, but Shaun Wright-Phillips was lively against Newcastle on his debut, and could have a lot to say about the course of this match.
Talking point: Neil Warnock has told Adel Taarabt he will have to earn his new contract on the pitch, by performing well with his new team-mates. But will the playmaker prove a bonus or a liability away from home?
Bet of the day: This game hardly has excitement written all over it, so betting on neither side to have seven corners looks a fun way to potentially not make very much money at 7/5 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1

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Sunday

Tottenham v Liverpool

Form: An Emmanuel Adebayor-inspired victory over Wolves last weekend got Tottenham off the mark after losing their opening two games - including a battering at the hands of Manchester City. Liverpool have wins against Arsenal and Bolton to their credit, although a home draw with Sunderland and recent defeat to Stoke leaves the nagging feeling they could have started better.
Key battle: Luis Suarez has been Liverpool's most exciting player at the start of the new season, and it will be interesting to see how Younes Kaboul copes with the Uruguayan's movement without usual partner Michael Dawson (who is injured) alongside him.
Player to watch: Harry Redknapp admitted his interest in Charlie Adam while he was at Blackpool, but Liverpool got the Scot in the end. After a start to life at Anfield that has seen some great passing marred slightly by a propensity for over-ambition, it will be interesting to see if Adam can rein in his instincts and dictate play away from home against one of the league's better sides.
Talking point: Kenny Dalglish raised eyebrows with his talk about referees needing to "respect" his side at the Britannia, after being on the wrong end of some decisions he felt were debatable. But will such an outburst have any effect on the referee at White Hart Lane?
Bet of the day: Considering his dead-ball prowess, Charlie Adam could even be worth a flutter to score first, 10/1 at bet365
Prediction: 2-2

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Fulham v Manchester City

Form: Martin Jol's charges have been generally unimpressive in gaining just two draws from their opening four games, while Manchester City have been blemish-free in taking four wins from their four games, scoring 15 goals in the process.
Key battle: Much of the talk has been about Manchester City's trio of strikers so far this season, but David Silva has been pulling the strings behind all of them. How will Danny Murphy cope as the Spaniard drops into his areas to try and find a potentially decisive through-ball?
Player to watch: Carlos Tevez has been put in the corner somewhat since the arrival of Sergio Aguero and goalscoring start of Edin Dzeko - but after a few games to get back up to speed the Argentine could be primed and ready to prove himself still the top dog at the club.
Talking point: Martin Jol reportedly deliberately didn't tell £10.6m Bryan Ruiz that signing for Fulham would render him ineligible for the group stages of the Europa League. Was the Dutchman wrong to do so and, perhaps more importantly, will the Costa Rican prove to be worth both the money and deceit after an underwhelming debut?
Bet of the day: City look likely to have far too much quality for the underperforming Cottagers, and a 4-0 away win is 22/1 at bet365
Prediction: 0-4

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Sunderland v Stoke City

Form: The fortunes of the two teams at the Stadium of Light this weekend could barely be more contrasting. Stoke are one of six Premier League teams yet to taste defeat this season, while Sunderland are one of five sides still searching for a first victory.
Key battle: Sunderland have so far only scored twice in four games, and they come up against a goalkeeper in Asmir Begovic who undoubtedly made the difference between victory and probable defeat against Liverpool. Can the ever-confident Nicklas Bendtner succeed where Luis Suarez failed?
Player to watch: Ryan Shawcross, after a slightly lacklustre season last year, looked back to his big-club-attracting best against Liverpool.
Talking point: Currently placed fifth in the league and having already beaten Champions League hopefuls Liverpool, are Stoke genuine contenders for a top four spot this season?
Bet of the day: Sunderland to miss a penalty against the brilliant Begovic: 22/1 at bet365
Prediction: 1-1

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Manchester United v Chelsea

Form: The blockbuster game of the weekend. United have been flawless so far, taking four emphatic wins from four games - with their last fixture at Old Trafford resulting in an 8-2 massacre of Arsenal. Chelsea have been far less impressive but sit just two points off the pace - a draw with Stoke on the opening day being followed by slightly nervy wins against West Brom, Norwich and Sunderland.
Key battle: Wayne Rooney has started the season in unbelievable form, and will ensure John Terry needs to be at the top of his game if Chelsea are to have a chance. David Luiz could also be in line for selection for the Blues, and his contest with Javier Hernandez could be intriguing after the Brazilian's first-minute blunder last time at Old Trafford effectively enabled the Mexican to clinch the title for the Red Devils.
Player to watch: You can't really go wrong watching any of them, to be honest, but a fresh Ashley Young might be a potential game-winner - especially if the defensively suspect Jose Bosingwa ends up at right back.
Talking point: Manager Andre Villas-Boas has provoked cautious optimism but little more so far with the Blues. A certain Portuguese manager who should not be named kicked off his reign at Stamford Bridge with an early win against United - could Villas-Boas achieve a similar trick at Old Trafford, or will a defeat raise unwanted questions?
Bet of the day: How about Rooney to score first in a 2-1 win, 30/1 at bet365
Prediction: 2-1

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