Match Previews

Stoke City vs. Crystal Palace

The Britannia - Kick-Off 3:00pm - LIVE commentary on Absolute Radio

After suffering 1-0 losses on the opening weekend of the season, both Stoke and Palace will be looking for their first points when they meet at The Brit, although Palace are likely to be kept waiting as the Potteries is a notoriously difficult place to go.

Having been back in the Premier League for just one match, Palace manager Ian Holloway has already been charged with ‘improper conduct’ by the FA for comments made about referee Mark Clattenburg; “It's going to be a long, hard season for me with these people [referees]”.

In other news, Holloway has reunited himself with winger Jason Puncheon, who has signed on a season-long loan after falling out of favour at Southampton, but he has big shows to fill on the right wing after Wilfried Zaha’s move to Manchester United.

Stoke, meanwhile, are yet to make anymore signings, but young England keeper Jack Butland is set to go out on loan in order to boost his chances of securing a World Cup place, with Asmir Begovic staying at the club amid interest from Europe’s elite. Mark Hughes flew straight to France after the Liverpool game to watch striker Melvut Erding, but having failed to impress, Jermain Defoe is back on the radar.

Either way, the early signs are that Hughes seems to have improved the club’s style, and last weekend’s performance at Liverpool was promising.

Team News

Hughes is expected to name the same team that started against Liverpool, although Wilson Palacios is a doubt after suffering an illness last week. Brek Shea is still injured.

Key Player: Asmir Begovic - The Bosnian stopper was in last week’s team of the week after making 10 saves, and limiting Liverpool’s damage to just one goal. He will be an important asset to Stoke in this transitional season.

Ian Holloway is also expected to stick with the same team that lost to Spurs. One of our “One to Watch” players, Yannick Bolasie, is injured so won’t travel to the Potteries, nor will Jonathan Parr, Jerome Thomas or Glenn Murray.

Key Player: Kevin Phillips - Despite being 40, the veteran striker knows how to score goals, and Palace will need him to if they want to survive the drop.

Prediction: 2-0 - Without being bias, I think Stoke will be too strong at home for Palace as they usually are against most other PL teams, but it won’t be easy and the hosts will have to work for it.

By @willtm10

Man Utd - Chelsea  Old Trafford, Manchester

KO: 20:00 BST (Sky Sports)

David Moyes faces his first real test as manager of Manchester United this matchday as the reigning champions take on Jose Mourinho's Chelsea at Old Trafford. In an early battle to damage the other's title challenge, it's first against second in what could prove to be a rather entertaining game.

Manchester United kicked off their season with a very impressive 4-1 win away to Swansea with goals from Danny Welbeck and talisman Robin van Persie. Chelsea also started their season with an impressive performance and a 2-0 victory over newly promoted Hull - Oscar and all-time top goalscorer Frank Lampard bagging the goals.

Moyes has no fresh injury worries for this game, with Rafael still out injured despite serving his suspension. Javier Hernandez is fit and may start on the bench, while Wayne Rooney is battling with Danny Welbeck to start the game alongside Robin van Persie. Chelsea also have a fit squad after their midweek defeat of Aston Villa. Branislav Ivanovic is available despite claims that he should have been sent off for an elbow on Christian Benteke. Romelu Lukaku could make his first start of the season having bagged a hat-trick against Manchester United in the final game of last season.

Possible Starting Line-Ups

 

Manchester United aren't expected to make many changes to their side after disposing of Swansea in last weekend's curtain raiser to the season. After his second half cameo, Wayne Rooney could start against his potential future employers after grabbing 2 assists in his 30 minute appearance. Welbeck should keep his place, albeit in a different role, while van Persie will lead the line yet again for the champions. Phil Jones should continue at right-back with Rafael still injured.

Chelsea are also expected to make little changes to their side after back-to-back victories in the league over Hull and Aston Villa. Mikel may come in for Frank Lampard after the England man played 90 minutes in midweek, while Michael Essien could also make a return to the Chelsea side after a year on loan at Real Madrid. Romelu Lukaku is expected to get a start after Fernando Torres and Demba Ba both failed to impress Mourinho in their appearances this season. Kevin De Bruyne seems to be preferred to Juan Mata at the moment, so he may keep his place in the side.

LAST 5 MEETINGS:

Man Utd 3-1 Chelsea
(Smalling, Nani, Rooney | Torres)

Chelsea 3-3 Man Utd
(Evans OG, Mata, Luiz | Rooney (pen x2), Hernandez)

Chelsea 2-3 Man Utd
(Mata, Ramires | Luiz OG, van Persie, Hernandez)

Chelsea 5-4 Man Utd (AET - League Cup)
(Luiz (pen), Cahill, Hazard (pen), Sturridge, Ramires | Giggs x2 (pen), Hernandez, Nani)

Man Utd 0-1 Chelsea
(Mata)

PREDICTION

In what will be a highly entertaining game, I'm predicting goals. United were leaky in pre-season and conceded late on vs Swansea despite cruising to victory, while Chelsea have shored up they are capable of the odd individual error and are hardly water tight. With both attacks in full flow already this season, it could be a case of "you score one, we score two." With Mata and Rooney's future's both up in the air at the moment it will be interesting to see if/how either player performs on the day, as both are capable of winning a game on their own.

I think a draw would be the easy way out of predicting this game, so I'm going to stick my neck out and say the extra rest will help Manchester United after Chelsea's midweek exploits. Robin van Persie's form may also be crucial, with Chelsea's strikers yet to find the net in their first two games of the season.

MAN UTD 3-1 CHELSEA

(v.Persie, Valencia, Rooney | Hazard)

By @dmf180593

Aston Villa V Liverpool

KO 17.45

For me this is the pick of Saturday's matches. Both teams play high-tempo attacking football and with both having started positively (Villa winning away at Arsenal and narrowly losing at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool beating Stoke at home) both sides will be full of confidence. 

Villa's front three of Agbonlahor, Weimann and Benteke are sure to give Liverpool problems, especially considering that Liverpool's back four is not the quickest. The key to this game I feel will be how well Liverpool keep possession in the face of Villa's hard working pressing game. Villa are at their most dangerous on the counter so Liverpool need to make sure they have men behind the ball and make their passes count.

When Liverpool do get in the final third they do seem to lack a cutting edge still (Sturridge apart) but with an impressive debut from Aspas and with Countinho and Sturridge looking like they will continue last season's form it could be a tough 90 minutes for Villa's young defensive unit. 

Liverpool have lost just once and won 9 times in their last 15 trips to Villa Park so recent history is on their side but this could be a different Villa this season. It's a game that could go either way but should see plenty of chances and should be very entertaining either way.

By @chrish5244