Expect goals in Benteke-Sturridge slugfest

(Sunday morning, 12.30am; mio TV Ch102 and StarHub Ch227)

Liverpool centre-backs Daniel Agger and Kolo Toure enjoyed an easy ride at home to Stoke City last weekend, but they won’t have slept comfortably ahead of their duel with the in-form Christian Benteke.

The bulldozing Belgian has bagged three goals already, and enters this clash with fresh memories of running the Reds ragged, scoring three times in two matches against Brendan Rodgers’ men last term. Handling his size and strength will be a tall order once again for a Liverpool side that doesn’t tend to relish the physical aspects of the game.

Villa are no one-man team either. Paul Lambert is building an industrious counter-attacking side that’s improving rapidly.

Even on home turf they will happily relinquish territory, putting 10 men behind the ball and closing down the space for Liverpool’s stars to weave their magic.

Then, after deliberately drawing them in, they will spring forward at pace, using speed merchants Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann to exploit the gaps on the break.

Villa’s weakness is in central defence. Ron Vlaar and Jores Okore are expected to start and it’s a new partnership that goal-hungry Daniel Sturridge will be happy to take on.

His clever movement and expert finishing could be the difference, especially if Philippe Coutinho weaves his own brand of creative Brazilian magic coming inside from the left.

This encounter really could go either way, but I do expect goals.

(Sunday, 11.00pm, mio TV Ch102 and StarHUb Ch227)

The history books will say Cardiff City played their first match at the highest level in 51 years last weekend, but in reality, the players and their fans know they did not turn up against West Ham.

Creating very little in possession and looking wobbly as a unit without the ball, The Bluebirds’ 2-0 defeat to the Hammers was, actually, rather flattering. But they will feel more confident on home turf, and in striker Fraizer Campbell and playmaker Kim Bo Kyung, they do possess a goal threat. However, Manchester City will arrive on the back of their ruthless 4-0 destruction of Newcastle, by far THE most impressive performance of the opening weekend.

Manuel Pellegrini seems to have transformed the spirit of the City side. The sluggish moodiness that blighted their displays last term has been replaced by a vivacious new edge — and it is exciting to watch.

The central midfield partnership of Fernandinho and Yaya Toure is powerfully classy, and flanked by Jesus Navas hugging the right touchline and David Silva flitting all over the pitch like a brilliant ball-playing butterfly, it all means that City’s engine room is overflowing with different styles and options.

In attack, enterprising individual displays from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero against The Magpies also served warning that they, too, are eager to impress the new gaffer.

Vincent Kompany’s groin injury weakens City’s rear guard, but if the 2011/12 champions have the right attitude, they should not need to worry about that.

I expect The Sky Blues to dominate proceedings.

(Sunday, 10.45pm, mio TV Ch103 and StarHub Ch228)

If nothing else, the pictures the players paint will be pretty to watch in this appetising fixture. When they have the ball, both teams will spread wide, open up the pitch as much as possible, and look to pass it around to feet. That is nice to look at, but when it comes to winning the match, the key component will be, who has the greater cutting edge?

For Spurs, the answer is unknown in the absence of Gareth Bale. Roberto Soldado may have got off the mark last weekend with a penalty kick, but the Spaniard is a traditional centre-forward that relies on accurate service from the wings, and from the midfielders behind.

Therefore, the individual contest that may prove most pivotal sees rapid right-winger Aaron Lennon against promising young Welsh left-back Ben Davies. If the Swans defender can contain his man, Spurs’ most dangerous outlet will run into a cul-de-sac. If it is the other way round, Soldado will have a field day.

Michael Laudrup’s side let themselves down against Manchester United on the opening day, showing poor concentration at important times. I was also disappointed to see new striker Wilfried Bony left on the bench in favour of a more cautious approach.

If the Dane is brave enough to start Michu and Bony at White Hart Lane, it may be a risk that pays dividends. But either way do not expect a great deal to separate these two attractive sides.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TODAY EPL analyst Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter @adrianjclarke

ADRIAN CLARKE

Check out Adrian Clarke’s preview of the blockbuster clash between Manchester United and Chelsea in Monday’s paper, as well as our interactive graphic on the Big Match at http://tdy.sg/moyesvmou.