This week’s English Premier League discussed.

The English Premier league is back after the international break and it jumps right back into the thick of things with the Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur game the biggest on the weekend calendar. The two London rivals square off in an all top 4 battle with the two hottest teams in the league. The game has the added spice due to Spurs manager Andreas Villas Boas Chelsea ties. AVB was famously sacked after 8 unsuccessful months in the Chelsea hot seat and surely will be looking at the game with an opportunity to redress the past and seek revenge on his former employers. This game will be real test for Spurs top 4 challenge and a chance for Chelsea to put a strangle hold on 1st place.

Second place Manchester United host Stoke City at Old Trafford in a clashing of styles. Stoke will bring there usual hustle and bustle play, but they are not nearly as effective on the road as they are at home. United will have too much experience to be effected by Stokes physical play and will secure an easy victory.

Title holders Manchester City are slowly coming into there own and are looking like last years team. Steve Clarke has molded his West Brom side into a well organized secure defensive unit and will prove themselves hard to beat. If West Brom can keep the score 0-0 at halftime they will have a good opportunity to catch the champions napping after the international break. I feel a West Brom win coming up.

Brendan Rodgers’ struggling Liverpool side face a Reading side, currently sitting tied 2nd from bottom, who are still adjusting to the rigors of the Premiership league.  Liverpool, on the other hand, come in with big expectations for the season, but are yet to get the results that reflects there performances. But Reading are no slouches and will make it difficult. Either sides season hasn’t hit the desperation status yet, but both are in need of a favorable result. For Rodgers and Liverpool, time maybe running out. He’s going to need to put together a string of results to salvage Liverpool’s season and possibly his job.

Swansea City vs Wigan Athletic, two teams that want to excel by dreams of  playing the beautiful game, with varying degrees of success. There maybe some unrest in the Swansea dressing room, with some players showing there displeasure with Manager Michael Laudrup’s methods, which may or may not, tilt the scales in Wigan’s favor. If that’s not the case, home team Swansea wins and gets back to its winning ways.

Fulham, Aston Villa; Martin Jol  has got his Fulham side playing solid attacking football and are hard to beat at home. Dimitar Berbatov looks like he’ll be returning from injury and looks like he’s getting back to his best. Aston Villa are hovering around the relegation zone and will again turn out another young and inexperienced side. It’s going to be a tough long season for Villa, unless they can inject some real quality into their side. Fulham at home will have a comfortable day and easy victory.

West Ham United vs Southampton, West Ham boss, Sam Allardyc’es pragmatic ways will show too much for Southampton, who have not adapted to the Premier league, as successfully as West Ham. The Hammers will bring another full throttle attacking that  will prove to be overwhelming for the Saints. The Hammers at home will power themselves to all 3 points and a commanding performance.

Arsene Wenger’s, Arsenal go on the road to face Norwich, in what will be a cakewalk for the Gunners as they face the cellar dwellers Norwich. Arsenal have shown in the past that they have more than enough quality to comfortably beat all sides outside of the the top four. Norwich, on the other hand look like a team severely out of there depth and at this point are favorites for the relegation.

The big Northeast Sunderland vs Newcastle United is more than a fiery affair with more than a result at stake. Bragging rights loom big. It’s two big clubs in adjoining cities divided by a river. They love their football up in the Northeast, Newcastle have had the edge in the last few games. However, with Sunderland being at home, boss Martin O’Neil will draw upon all of his motivational powers to have his boys ready for the fight. Home team takes it in a hard fought game.

In the Everton, QPR game, Everton manager, David Moyes has his boys pumped and running and having an unusually good start, which unfortunately doesn’t bode well for Mark Hughes and his struggling, rock bottom, QPR side. Mark Hughes who has the dreaded vote of confidence from the ownership group, has his hands full. It may take the mercurial talents of  Adel Taarabt to get them out of this mess. Everton win this with another resolute performance heaping more woe on QPR.