Gunny's Premier League Picks August 25, 26
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A very interesting weekend is in the works coming up, some key matches are poised to play out and here is my take on them.
Saturday August 25
The league leaders are set to play at the Emirates Stadium, surprisingly the league leaders are Manchester City who have taken all 9 points this season. The major change in the line up for either team is that Arsenal will not have goalkeeper Jens Lehmann available supposedly out due to an achilles injury. So with the dear Jens off to see a specialist it leaves the goalkeeping responsibilities with Spaniard Manuel Almunia. To be fair, I thought Manuel performed just fine when given the chance last season and this could be a way for him to supplant Lehmann who has been error prone this season, we shall see. City are the only club not to have conceded a goal so far this season, with Arsenal set to play with two strikers in this game that record will come under attack. My pick; Arsenal 2-0
Hey, look at this, American Kasey Keller returns to the Premier League and will feature on the substitutes bench for Fulham. Fulham's Brian McBride is out with a dislocated knee cap, ouch. Villa have scored only one Premier League goal so far this season. From what I have seen Fulham have been hard done by in the recent fixtures so I think they will rectify that at Villa Park. My pick; Fulham 1-0
Little Sammy Lee is not having a good time this season as Bolton look like a sinking ship. Bolton sit bottom of the table with 0 points. Reading still look like that plucky team that surprised so many last season. My pick; Draw 1-1
chelscum v Portsmouth
A gift penalty last weekend saw the Blues escape Anfield with at least a point. They return to Stamford Bridge to face Portsmouth. Even with a lot of new faces at Pompey I just cannot see them getting anything in this one, the Blues are just too strong at home. My pick; chelscum 2-0
Derby County v Birmingham City
Derby are at home so that will help, last weekend they got blasted by sp*rs 4-0. Both teams appear to be fighting for their Premier League lives all season so this match will be very competitive if nothing else because both teams know these type of matches is where they need to find points. My pick; Derby 3-1
Everton has just announced that the fans have approved the go ahead to build a new stadium, outside of Liverpool, not that it will have any bearing on this match. This looks like a very even match. This will also be a very physical match so sending offs could play a role in the result. My pick; Everton 2-0
Liverpool could be without Steven Gerrard who has a broken toe and they may choose to keep him out so he will be fit for their midweek Champions League game against Toulouse. Sunderland performed well below expectations last weekend so expect manager Roy Keane to have instilled some new fire into the squad. My pick; Draw 1-1
West Ham United v Wigan Athletic
Wigan have surprised me this season. From what I have seen they look like a side who is ready for the challenge this year. I still think West Ham are trying to mesh together after all the player movement over the off season. Both Scott Parker and Freddie Ljungberg are doubtful for the Hammers. My pick; Wigan 2-0
Sunday August 26
Manchester United v sp*rs
So much off the field stuff in the one. The Gabriel Hienze affair for United which saw him off to Real Madrid and then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson bringing in question Liverpool's conduct in the whole affair. On the other side rumors ran amok that sp*rs boss Martin Jol was slated to get sacked by the weekend and rumors that the club were already interviewing replacement candiddates. Ah, sweet controversy. Anyways, sp*rs have never won a Premier League match at Old Trafford and even with all the hubbub swirling around I do not see that changing. My pick; United 3-1
Middlesbrough v Newcastle United
The first installment of the Tees-Tyne derby this season which means throw out any relavent facts. Boro surprised me last week and Newcastle are one of seven clubs still having an unbeaten record in the league. Should be fun for the fans. My pick; Draw 1-1
