Premier League preview

Chelsea meet United and West Brom play host to Aston Villa

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 20th September 2008

Premier League preview

Scolari and Ferguson: Head-to-head

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Saturday
Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Blackburn v Fulham
Liverpool v Stoke
West Ham v Newcastle
Bolton v Arsenal
Sunday
West Brom v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Manchester United
Hull v Everton
Manchester City v Portsmouth
Tottenham v Wigan

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The red mist which descended on the Premier League may not have cleared by the time Manchester United travel to Chelsea.

An early season meeting between the reigning champions and their main title rivals at Stamford Bridge, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, is already guaranteed to be bursting with needle, tension and drama.

But throw in the added dimension of John Terry's availability to Luiz Felipe Scolari following the FA's decision to overturn his late red card in the victory at Manchester City and the blue touch paper has been well and truly lit.

Sir Alex Ferguson was predictably apoplectic at the verdict, launching a scathing attack on the first person in his cross-hair. Although given unfortunate referees' chief Keith Hackett had nothing to do with the Terry ruling, Ferguson was somewhat off target, although his point was made.

An added irony is that the Red Devils' first-choice central defensive pairing will be split up through suspension, thanks to Nemanja Vidic's late dismissal in the defeat at Liverpool.

Terry's last act against Manchester United was to miss the penalty which would have won the UEFA Champions League for the Blues before slumping in tears on the Moscow turf, so he has more than his fair share of demons to face and ghosts to exorcise.

I'm sure rival skipper Rio Ferdinand won't mention it as they line up before the match in the tunnel. Can I show you my medal, John?

Posturing

It's easy to make light of the posturing and pomposity over Terry and Vidic's respective red cards, but there was a much more serious and sobering sub-plot to Newcastle midfielder Danny Guthrie's dismissal for hacking down Craig Fagan.

Fagan is facing three months on the sidelines after it emerged the scything challenge left him with a fractured right tibia, meaning Hull will have to do without the forward as they play host to Everton.

Toffees boss David Moyes was issued with his own red card after taking his complaints about the non-award of a penalty at Stoke too far last weekend, although referee Alan Wiley has since made peace with the Goodison manager over his incorrect call.

Guthrie, meanwhile, only has to serve a three-game ban, starting with Newcastle's trip to West Ham, before he is able to grace us with his presence on a football field.

The FA claim they could only impose an additional ban in 'exceptional cases', which begs the question: is not breaking an opponent's leg an exceptional case?

For many other clubs the tale of Guthrie's shame would dominate the headlines. But not at Newcastle, where owner Mike Ashley is ignoring the credit crunch and plunge in global markets to reportedly demand a cool £481million for a club he has invested less than half that amount in. For some reason, no-one seems keen.

Recently-appointed Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola could not have asked for better opponents to make his managerial bow against. A club who are up for sale after a revolt by fans, without a manager and in utter turmoil on and off the field should be more than welcome at Upton Park.

Derby dates

Elsewhere in the North East, there is the small matter of a Wear-Tees derby to set the pulses racing, with Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate no doubt hoping Sunderland boss Roy Keane is feeling more welcoming than when they clashed as players back in April 1995.

On that occasion, Manchester United midfielder Keane left his stud marks on Crystal Palace defender Southgate after one of the typically ugly challenges which punctuated his playing career. A firm handshake is more the done thing now you're both on the touchline, Roy.

There is another derby on the agenda, which will be just as fiercely contested as West Bromwich Albion play host to Aston Villa at the Hawthorns, with the match live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

The high-noon Midlands showdown gives the Baggies the opportunity to build on their first win of the season against West Ham last time out, while Villa will be tackling their third game in the space of just seven days.

Last weekend's previously mentioned Anfield victory against United had some overly exuberant Liverpool fans confidently predicting this would be the season they finally end their long wait for domestic league glory.

Stoke are likely to provide an immediate acid test to those ambitions, as dropping home points against the newly-promoted Potters would not be the stuff of champions, regardless of how far Rory Delap can hurl the ball into the penalty area.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accused Dynamo Kiev of trying to 'destroy' Theo Walcott during their midweek UEFA Champions League draw, and the England international will no doubt be under close scrutiny by Bolton's defence on Saturday.

Walcott set up the Gunners' equaliser against Dynamo having sparkled in the win over Blackburn to create Robin van Persie's opener and destroyed Croatia with a hat-trick while on international duty the previous week.

Blackburn boss Paul Ince, who insists he is only thinking about his job at Ewood Park after being linked with the St James' Park vacancy, will need all his focus for Saturday's home meeting with Fulham.

Rovers have shipped eight goals in their last two games to temper the early optimism created by Ince's arrival. With that defensive record, surely the former England international would be the perfect appointment on Tyneside?

Unusual

Another altogether more plausible name to be linked with the Magpies hotseat is Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who takes his Latics side to Tottenham on Sunday.

Northumberland-born Bruce is regarded as one of the Premier League's most up-and-coming managers and he certainly understands the expectation of the Geordie nation.

But Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has already fired a warning shot towards Newcastle, insisting Bruce would not be interested in the job, and branding counterpart Ashley as 'a bit unusual'.

Spurs, meanwhile, are enduring their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign and are currently bottom of the pile with one point from four games, despite the millions invested on new signings by Juande Ramos over the summer.

Martin Jol, who was ousted in favour of Ramos at the start of last season, will no doubt be watching on from Germany and allowing himself a smug smile of satisfaction, especially with his Hamburg side on top of the Bundesliga.

The fact that money does not guarantee success should be heeded by Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, as he prepares his team for their home meeting with Portsmouth.

Robinho's much-vaunted debut against Chelsea began in style with an early goal, but ended in defeat as the Blues cruised home, suggesting the Abu Dhabi United Group will have to invest heavily to make the Eastlands outfit realistic title contenders.

Pompey, meanwhile, have recovered from a slow start and Jermain Defoe's partnership with Peter Crouch is starting to produce goals, with the duo combining impressively in the victories over Everton and Middlesbrough.