By: Josh Ouellette
Most of last week’s games were postponed due to the weather across the Atlantic. Luckily enough for this weekly report two of the top four teams played. Manchester City jumped over Tottenham Hotspur to take fourth place away from the Spurs (who were idle) after a win over Blackburn Rovers. They now will be the fourth team this week.
1st Place: Chelsea
Chelsea v. Sunderland
Chelsea is clinging to the top seat of the League Table, Manchester United and Arsenal both are within distance to take over first place. As always, Frank Lampard and crew will look to fend off the Red Devils and the Gunners that are nipping at their heels. It will be tough to do with out Drogba who is in Africa playing in the Cup of Nations.
Sunderland will not be a walk in the park for the Blues. Led by Darren Brent and his 13 goals, the Blackcats will look to take advantage of the missing presence of Drogba. They haven’t been at top form of late, and this could be a huge game to turn things around for them.
Sunderland will be hampered by the fact that they have only won one away game this season. Chelsea looks to hope rally behind Lampard to get the job done. Brent and the Blackcats score early, but Chelsea won’t lose at home, this game ends 1-1, with each team taking away a point.
2nd Place: Manchester United
Man U. v. Burnley
The Red Devils are closing in on first place and could take it this weekend with a victory. Wayne Rooney and the Reds will be boosted with the returns of defender Rio Ferdinand and Goalie Edwin Van der Sar. Being one of the only teams that played last weekend, Manchester U. was looking for more than a draw against Birmingham, but that was the result.
Burnley is currently only two points out of the relegation zone and need help to avoid dropping into the bottom three. The Clarets are winless since October, and haven’t won a match away all season. Shockingly though they will be looking to sweep the Red Devils after beating them in the second match of the season.
Man U. will walk away with a win in this one, Rooney and crew will be the better squad. Reds win 3-1.
3rd place: Arsenal
Bolton v. Arsenal
These two teams have attempted to play twice already this season, and both times the game was postponed.
This time hopefully it’s on as the Wanders will be at home facing the Gunners who could use a win to possibly move into a first place tie in the Barclays Premiere League Table. Cesc Fabregas and crew will look to come out and score first on Bolton. Arsenal manager Arsene Wegner is hoping to ignore the ever lurking rumors of the transfer window, which could gain him premier talent or force him to lose key players.
Bolton is struggling and in the relegation zone. A loss could force them to drop as low as 19th if Hull City can manage a win over the Tottenham. But they have new hope with new manager Owen Coyle who has hinted that the training for this game is going very good. Strikers Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic will lead the Wanderers looking keep their lossless streak going.
Bolton is headed on a better direction now being led by Coyle but beating the likes of Arsenal is still not within their grasp. Gunners win 2-1 at Reebok Stadium.
4th Place: Manchester City
Everton v. Manchester City: Game of the Week
City have been playing great, winning four of Man City’s last five League matches. Carlos Tevez has been their leader with nine goals in the last six games, including a hat trick in their last match against Blackburn. In the top four for the first time in a while City will look to stay there and possibly move up the Table.
Everton will be motivated coming off of a big victory over Arsenal last weekend. Landon Donovan will be looking to score his first goal in the Premier League for the Toffees after playing very well against the Gunners. With Louis Saha being Everton’s main scorer, Donovan will get the chance to pick up good playing time for the Toffees.
City is going to look to keep their roll going, and Everton will be looking to start a roll of their own. The Toffees make it a great match to watch, Saha and Tevez will be tough to hold at bay. Everton gets another draw against a top four team. This match ends 2-2.
Current Picks Record: (6-9) I will update this when the postponed games are played.
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