By Bryan Huang
Content Producer
bryanh.sph@gmail.com

 

Chelsea, Chelsea with your backs to the wall,
Can you be the ones to make Man Utd fall?

Arsenal tried last week but failed miserably,
Perhaps this time the Red Devils won't be so lucky...

Let's face it, Chelsea's performances of late haven't been great. 3-0 to Sunderland, 1-0 to Birmingham, draws with Newcastle, Everton and Spurs. It's been over a month since the Blues last won a game, and if this form continues, they might as well just hand over the trophy to someone else now.

Man Utd, on the other hand, have had a pretty decent run, except for that little blip against West Ham in the Carling Cup. Yes, some will argue that Park Ji Sung's goal against my beloved Arsenal was 'lucky', but well, the ball is round, and a lucky goal is still a goal, and I'm pretty sure Chelsea won't complain if Lady Luck shines upon the team in blue this Sunday.

Chelsea need a win. Man Utd want a win. Arsenal are probably split between a draw and a Chelsea win, and Man City will continue to dream that they'll be able to buy the EPL title.

Frank Lampard is expected to start for the Blues, and if he gets a sniff of the goal, you can be sure he'll take it. Didier Drogba is probably still rueing his missed penalty against Tottenham, and he'll be looking to make amends at Stamford Bridge.

Man Utd, being the only unbeaten team in the EPL this season, will want to solidify their hold on the top spot before losing Park to South Korea for the 2011 Asian Cup. They will also be mindful of last season's race to the finish, when a seemingly different Chelsea team slammed eight goals against Wigan to claim the title on the last day, making Man Utd's 4-0 win against Stoke almost useless.

I'm expecting a pretty good match at the Bridge this weekend, but I think a combination of home support and Carlo Ancelotti wanting to remain employed will result in a victory for Chelsea. A solid win might also be the lift the team need to take into the next match against Arsenal. Which may not be a good thing...

SPEAKING OF THE GUNNERS

The Arsenal face Stoke City this weekend, another test of the Gunners' physical aspect of the game. Arsene Wenger may have blamed the pitch at Old Trafford, but I'm sure deep down he knows the Arsenal squad still needs some tinkering (buy a new keeper PLEASE).

With the firepower Arsenal possess, including French player of the year Samir Nasri, they will look to find the potency that they lacked at Old Trafford, but they really need to find another strategy besides 'score more goals than opposing team'.

I remember watching Rory Delap rocket those throw-ins deep within enemy territory, and if the Arsenal defence doesn't stay alert, this match could be quite a tricky one for Arsene Wenger's Red/White Army. A win here would see the Gunners top the table again, at least until the Chelsea-Man Utd match on Sunday.

AND HELLO WOY!

The ever amusing Liverpool (not a compliment, by the way) will be looking to claim all three points when Roy Hodgson's former team Fulham visit Anfield.

Having played a shadow side against FC Utrecht in the Europa League, the Reds should be fresh and ready for the Londoners, though it remains to seen if their captain Steven Gerrard will be fit for the match.

Fulham will want to put that boring draw with Sunderland behind them, and take some badly needed points off Hodgson's team. It's still early to be speculating about relegation (unless we're talking about West Ham, sorry Hammers), but no one wants to stay in that zone come Christmas.

I'm going with a Liverpool win, because Fulham... well. The Cottagers have had two wins since the start of the season, which gives them something else in common with fellow London club West Ham.

With Fernando Torres spearheading the Reds' attack, I think the Fulham defence will be looking to minimise the damage and preserve some morale before next week's clash with the Hammers.

AND THE REST...

Blackpool deserve special mention as they've been performing above expectation thus far.

They're halfway to the magical 40-point 'safe' mark, and if they keep their form up they'll be one of the over-performers of the season. I think they'll give the Tottenham Spuds a good fight this weekend, and I believe they'll get at least a draw out of the match.

Disclaimer: I'm not a Literature student, so don't please slam my attempt at poetry and prose. *insert random smiley face here*.