Thank goodness it's back, the Premier League returns into our lives this weekend in all it's sparkling glory. Scraping through an usually easy watch in the international break, we saw our nation final begin to pose a bit of class and finesse meaning that wise old Roy finally got a little bit of much needed praise. This being said, it's great to see club football gracing our screens once more and the fact that we get the chance to spectate on all the transfer window, cliffhanger signings makes it that much more interesting. I'll never understand why FIFA work the way they do, I mean, why leave every single Premier League fan on edge with the deadline day being just before an international week off and whats more important, the players have a risk of snagging up with an injury for example, Ramsey for Wales and Sturridge in England's training session. Fresh, ready and raring to go, the teams from all over England will be wanting to get September off to a flying start and get the season underway once and for all. August was full of thrills and the outcome saw many teams shine through; Swansea under Gary Monk picked up three unassailable wins and top the the table, not forgetting to mention his manager of the month nod and also a few of the team getting player of the month nominee's. No doubt about it, the biggest talking points this fixture week will be Manchester United and there cash splash squad but take nothing away from the rest, this weekend should be another corker.
I couldn't think of a more monstrous yet amazing thing that could prize you from your bed on a Saturday brunch time, a game of football may just get you up and rock your socks but this week its something spectacular. Arsenal versus Manchester City at the Emirates, 12:45, its happening. Poor Wenger never gets the rub of the green and has worse luck than Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad, as his players just fall injured left, right and centre. Losing all forms of a front line attack, Arsenal had to resort to enticing in Manchester United's Danny Welbeck on a deadline day loan deal; maybe the young, English striker can make his break here and put his name on the score tally once and for all. If his performance is anything to go by after Monday night, Danny could be a super steal which would leave a sour taste in United's swollen pallet. Man City definitely will have something to say about Arsenal getting back on track and will guarantee to continue their title surge. After slipping on a banana skin at home against Stoke in their previous game, Pellingrini's boys probably won't hold back on demolishing the Gunners and three points at the Emirates is certainly going to be vital for the blue side of Manchester.
My 15:00 highlight for Saturday is undoubtably the square up between Swansea and Chelsea. The two unbeaten teams in the division go at it logger heads and one team, or maybe even both's, winning streak is going to end. Personal opinions say that Chelsea are going to walk all over the title race this year and I can shout with great confidence that they haven't disappointed. Signing's of the summer have to go to Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas so far and with Mourihno grabbing the reigns with both hands, you can't really deny them praise. Last game, the Blue's were part of the match of the season as they blasted six past Tim Howard in the nets of Everton and it goes without saying, they can tot up the goal tally a notch or two but can they do it again against the lads from Wales?. Heading to the Bridge in superlative form we have Gary Monk's Swansea. One of my badly predicted teams to struggle this year, Swansea have stunned everyone around the nation and carry on to perform to a top standard week in, week out. Easily a mid table team, they have a bright future ahead of themselves and with players like Nathan Dyer, Ashley Williams and Sigurdsson you can see why. They've left highly graded squads licking their wounds already and I honestly think the mastermind tactics may leave Chelsea shaken up as well. All in all, this game just has goals written over it, not just in the Swansea net but the Blues goal too. Put your bibs on and plate up for this goal buffet.
If you aren't already too overloaded from all of the Saturday afternoon football madness, we've got another toe tingling fixture for the evening. At Anfield, Liverpool welcome in Aston Villa ready for some more big balling action. Super Mario Balotelli can make his home ground debut here and after what we saw of him in the fixture previous against Tottenham, the showman hasn't changed. What better way to begin to write your story as a Liverpool legend than to score a screamer in front of the Kop on your first home game. Surely it has to be written in the star's, after all it is always him but more importantly Brendan Rogers wants to create a rendition of last season meaning that three points is top of the priorities list. Sterling is evermore posing as the light at the end of England's tunnel and for Liverpool, hopefully the lad can switch on his jet like heels and nail a few goals. Aston Villa on the other hand, haven't come off too shady either. Paul Lambert snuck into a surprising manager of the month nomination position for August and reflecting back, it's a fair call. Seven points out of a possible nine, Villa give off decent displays of footballing ability and shouldn't be written off in the slightest. Austrian forward, Andreas Weinmann stealthily snatches goals in the six yard box and if the wobbly Liverpool back line don't pick him up early, they could be in serious trouble.
Well this Sunday is going to be an emotional one to say the least, first of all I'm moving into uni which isn't all that tear jerking but most importantly there is only one super Sunday fixture, absolutely heartbreaking. After stuffing up on your Sunday lunch you can settle in to the most greatly anticipated games of the calendar to date with a fixture between Manchester United and QPR. These ninety minutes could well be when we see United finally turn on the black hole that Mr.Moyes dug them into and begin to give off the aroma of the Red Devils of old. Two points out of three games was enough to understand why Van Gaal needed to bring in the world class caliber of players he did and to say other teams shouldn't be scared is a massive lie. Falcao, Di Maria, Blind, Rojo to name just a couple of Old Trafford's new arrivals, will be linking up in a freshly uniformed United squad on a mission. Everyone around the globe will have their beady eyes peeled on this fixture and I'm expecting some stellar soccer from Van Gaal's revolution. You've got to feel a sorry for Harry Redknapp in a way but in all honesty, he has the chance to throw a giant spanner into the works in front of the world, causing floods of tears to show Manchester United are really dead and buried.
Weekend over with, its down to the final game of the English League showdown's where West Ham travel to the midlands to face Steve Bruce's Hull in a Monday night match. Underrated, Hull City go about their weekly business just cruising for season long survival but no one saw them being one of the teams to make some of the best transfers of the term. The KC Stadium is now the brand new nest for some of the worlds finest players and on Monday night they'll be out there working the fans. Uruguay's World Cup starlet Abel Hernandez snubbed a move to Benifica in the chance to play for the Tigers in the Premier League and let us not forget the superb signature of Southampton's Gaston Ramirez, both of which would slot neatly into any top four team. Once Bruce gets the squad glued together, these boys will easily pass Premier League survival and may even push the top half. Onto the Hammers and big Sam still has some work to do. Ever since last year, the east Londoners have lost faith in their manager and relentlessly pelt him with pessimism. With time not ticking on his side, Allardyce has to make magic fast and a win at Hull would certainly help him in his craft. Three points on the tally is average but you can't get any insight from it, hopefully for the bubble blowing Hammers Alex Song can sing when he is winning.
WEEKEND PREDICTIONS:
Saturday 13th September...
Arsenal 1-2 Man City
Chelsea 2-0 Swansea
Crystal Palace 3-1 Burnley
Southampton 2-2 Newcastle
Stoke City 1-2 Leicester City
Sunderland 1-1 Tottenham
West Brom 0-2 Everton
Liverpool 3-1 Aston Villa
Sunday 14th September...
Man United 3-0 QPR
Monday 15th September...
Hull City 2-1 West Ham
WORTH A PUNT:
All Twenty Premier League Teams to Score this Weekend, 500/1...
Okay, I know what everyone may be thinking, this isn't going to happen and you've probably got more chance of being eaten by a shark in an aqua park but don't be too pessimistic. five hundred to one makes you a grand up off of two golden nuggets but it'll even pocket you a smile cracking, two hundred and fifty pounds off of that loose fifty pence. The last time the division witnessed every team score was back on the weekend of 27th and 28th of November 2011 and it could occur again, maybe even this weekend, so go for it, have a little flutter. Just think of the experimentation that squads will be stating this week and the goals that'll be leaking in, you'd be the king of the Weekend celebrations and next weekend, you'd have a hell of a party. Paddy Power can be your forever friend and its undeniable that this bet is worth a hefty toe punt.
