Man City look to preserve 100% record, pressure on Moyes – Premier League Preview

September 16, 2016
Henry Jackson

It’s Friday, which means a comprehensive preview of all the Premier League action to feast upon over the next few days.

It was a great weekend for Liverpool last time around, with their 4-1 win over Leicester City yet another example of what the Reds can do on their day.

Elsewhere, there was a major statement of intent from Man City, whose 2-1 win away to Man United actually flattered their bitter rivals.

Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton continued their unbeaten starts to the season, while Arsenal nicked a last-gasp win at home to Southampton.

The Saints sit in the bottom-three, along with Sunderland and Stoke City, with the struggling trio all losing last weekend.

There is some great Premier League action to look forward over the weekend following Liverpool’s excellent 2-1 win at Chelsea on Friday night.

Can Arsenal Continue Their Revival?

Having lost 4-3 to Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season, Arsenal have regrouped, as they always seem to after a bad start.

A goalless draw at Leicester was respectable, and they have followed that up with wins against Watford and Southampton.

Arsene Wenger’s side visit Hull City on Saturday afternoon, and Gunners fans should see it is a great opportunity to add three more points to their tally.

The Tigers have exceeded expectations in their opening four games, but being brutally honest, they remain among the favourites for relegation.

Mike Phelan’s men will have to be at their best against an Arsenal team not playing well but getting results – they somehow drew at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday – or risk being comfortably beaten.

Big Response Needed From The Champions

2016/17 was always going to be difficult for Leicester, following such an amazing achievement last season.

Their 4-1 defeat at Anfield will have been an alarming 90 minutes for their supporters, with the entire team looking off the pace and a shadow of their former selves.

Having won 3-0 away to Club Brugge in the Champions League in midweek, some confidence should be restored in time for Saturday’s home game against Burnley, though.

These are the matches the Foxes won with ease last season, and if they want to be challenging for the European places, home victories against newly-promoted sides are paramount.

It hasn’t been a disastrous start, by any means, but a win this weekend would steady the ship, following their Anfield woes and some other unconvincing displays.

Three Points Apiece For Manchester Duo?

Man City‘s performance at Old Trafford last week was impressive and it was a warning shot to the rest of the league.

They already look transformed under Pep Guardiola, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Raheem Sterling playing superbly.

Next up for Guardiola’s team are Bournemouth at the Etihad on Saturday as they look to make it five wins out of five.

The South Coast club picked up their first win of the season last weekend, at home to West Brom, but this will be an altogether different proposition.

United, meanwhile, will be desperate to bounce back from their poor showing in the derby and defeat to Feyenoord, and it would be a surprise if Jose Mourinho’s side didn’t produce a response.

They make the trip to Watford at noon on Sunday, and although the Hornets will be buzzing after their 4-2 win at West Ham last weekend, they will likely have enough quality to head back up north with a win.

Another defeat would be highly amusing, however.

Everton Search For Fourth Win In Five Games

It is has been a very strong start to life at Everton for Ronald Koeman, who continues to do his reputation no harm whatsoever.

The Toffees dispatched of Sunderland 3-0 at the Stadium of Light on Monday, with Romelu Lukaku’s hat-trick signalling a return to form for the influential striker.

Everton are live in front of the Sky cameras for Saturday Night Football this weekend, with Middlesbrough hoping to spoil the Goodison Park party.

Given the confidence Koeman’s men are playing with currently, it seems hard not to see them making it 13 points from a possible 15.

Let’s hope that isn’t the case.

More Misery For Moyes?

David Moyes’ stock has falling dramatically since the height of his Everton days, and while his former club are thriving under Koeman, his Sunderland side lie 19th in the table.

The 3-0 loss to the Toffees was another woeful performance, and the Black Cats already look like they could well be playing Championship football next season.

Moyes takes his team to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham on Sunday, and it is hard to see anything other than another defeat for the visitors.

Spurs will be keen to forget all about their 2-1 loss at home – well, at Wembley – to Monaco on Wednesday, and Mauricio Pochettino simply won’t allow another performance of such sluggishness.

Come Monday morning, there will be even more pressure on Moyes.