Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Premier League: Four key duels to look out for this weekend (Aug 19-20)

Celebrating its 25th anniversary the Premier League kicked off a special season with one of the most thrilling opening weekends in its history - and just as we’ve all calmed down, the fun and games start over again later on Saturday (Aug 19). Ahead of another appetizing round of fixtures, TODAY’S EPL analyst Adrian Clarke picks out four key duels to look out for...

Celebrating its 25th anniversary the Premier League kicked off a special season with one of the most thrilling opening weekends in its history - and just as we’ve all calmed down, the fun and games start over again on Saturday (Aug 19). Ahead of another appetizing round of fixtures, TODAY’S EPL expert Adrian Clarke picks out four key duels to look out for...

 

SWANSEA CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED - ALFIE MAWSON VS ROMELU LUKAKU

Alfie Mawson and Romelu Lukaku squaring off last season when Lukaku was still at Everton. Photo: AFP

The day after sticking Romelu Lukaku in his back pocket during a 1-0 win against Everton last May, Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson woke up at the crack of dawn to man his girlfriend’s stall at a local car boot sale.

They enjoyed a good morning’s takings too; picking up £40 (S$70.40) or so in loose change for a host of unwanted items from their flat.

So for the second day on the trot, his pockets were full.

Away from football, 23-year-old Mawson is clearly well grounded, and on the field, the more I see of him, the more I’m impressed.

While he’s decent on the ball and provides an attacking threat at set pieces, what I like most is his love of defending.

Dogged in his marking, happy to head or hook balls clear, and unlike some of his pampered peers, prepared to put his head where it hurts without a millisecond’s hesitation, he is a centre-back made in the old school way.

Having taken a journey of hard knocks via Brentford, Maidenhead United, Luton, Welling, Wycombe and Barnsley, to reach the pristine pitches of the Premier League, Mawson’s style should perhaps come as no surprise.

Lukaku, by contrast a wonder kid that was always destined for the top, was breathtakingly good against West Ham on his Manchester United debut last Sunday.

In that form, given the right ammunition, he’ll score 25-plus goals this season.

But the diligent Belgian won’t have forgotten how well shackled he was by the England Under-21 man on his last visit to the Liberty Stadium.

A keen student of the game, United’s record signing will have spent days pondering the best way to elude a defender that coped comfortably with him just a matter of months ago.

While I’d strongly favour Jose Mourinho’s men to win this contest, the Mawson v Lukaku duel might be a far closer run thing.

Neither one of these two powerful, fast-improving young players will want to give an inch.

Match Prediction: Swansea 1 Manchester United 2

LIVE on TV: Saturday, Singtel Ch102 and StarHub Ch227; 7.30pm

 

STOKE CITY VS ARSENAL - JOE ALLEN VS AARON RAMSEY

From teammates to opponents: Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey. Photos: AFP

This time last year, Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey were still basking in the glory of making UEFA’s Euro 16 Team of the Tournament, at the expense of a couple of not-so-shabby midfielders called Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric.

That’s how brilliant they were for Wales during a stunning run to the semi-finals.

On Saturday, they’ll joust on opposite teams at the less salubrious but always noisy Bet 365 Stadium in the one fixture Stoke fans are desperate to win more than any other.

Ever since Arsene Wenger put Stoke’s tactics and the term ‘rugby’ in the same sentence seven years ago, the atmosphere has been poisonous whenever the Gunners visit.

Ramsey, 26, is a public hate-figure in the city too, having had his leg broken by Ryan Shawcross as a teenager.  Quite why he cops flak, given he was the victim, remains a mystery.

Regardless of that, Arsenal’s energetic Welshman is arguably the man Stoke need to watch most carefully on Saturday.

Across his last six competitive appearances Ramsey has attempted 16 shots (12 from inside the box) and scored in his last three outings. Whenever he bursts into the danger zone, chaos seems to ensue.  

Still kicking himself for temporarily ‘switching off’ at Goodison Park last weekend - when Wayne Rooney ran off him to score the winner - Joe Allen knows he must be on his mettle and match his Welsh comrade stride for stride on Saturday evening.

Tracking back is not his forte, nor Ramsey’s, so keep your eye on how each of them tries to run the other towards there own goal.

This all-Welsh match-up will be lively.

Match Prediction: Stoke 1 Arsenal 3

LIVE on TV: Sunday, Ch102 and Ch227; 12.30am

 

TOTTENHAM VS CHELSEA - HARRY KANE VS DAVID LUIZ

The EPL's best striker vs best defender last season? Photo: AFP

We should have known leaving Harry Kane out of our fantasy league teams was the sensible call, as the Spurs hero has never scored a league goal in August.

In all competitions, the double Golden Boot winner has recorded a measly return of just six goals in 31 appearances during the first two months of the season.

So it’s probably best to wait until October before drafting the front man in.

Are those stats anomalies that mean very little, down to witchcraft, or is he just a naturally slow starter?

Answers 1 or 3 are the only view points to be taken seriously, but after coming within a whisker of grabbing two goals at Newcastle last week, it’s certain that Kane will fired up to squash this old wives' tale with a goal at home to beleaguered Chelsea.

If he nets one, it will take him to 100 Tottenham Hotspur strikes.

Spurs’ woeful Wembley record (one win in their last nine competitive games there) is a possible stumbling block, but Chelsea will arrive at their fellow Londoners’ temporary home in a state of disarray.

While every Blues man must up their game after such a horrendous start against Burnley, much of the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of David Luiz, one of Chelsea’s poorest performers a week ago.

He is a senior figure in the absence of the suspended Gary Cahill, but can the flaky Brazilian be trusted to steady the ship with an accomplished showing that prolongs Kane’s miseries?

Based on his recent efforts, I’d suggest that’s unlikely.

Last season, Luiz may have been consistently superb, but with good friend Diego Costa ostracised by Antonio Conte and holed up in Brazil, does he have the concentration or desire to produce the goods for his manager?

If he hasn’t it will be good news for Spurs and their leading marksman.  This feels like a good time to be taking on the defending champions. 

Match Prediction: Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0

LIVE on TV: Sunday, Ch102 and Ch227; 11pm

 

MANCHESTER CITY VS EVERTON - PEP GUARDIOLA VS RONALD KOEMAN

Ex-roommates at FC Barcelona, Guardiola and Koeman know each other well. Photo: AFP

Not so long ago, Ronald Koeman and Pep Guardiola slept side by side as Barcelona roommates.

Paired up by manager Johan Cruyff, it was a meeting of two bright young footballing minds, who talked for hours about the nuances of the game.

Eight years Koeman’s junior, a youthful Guardiola would hang on the Dutchman’s every word, happily fetching refreshments when asked.

And on Monday night in his office, he may have to do the same for Koeman, who will need a stiff drink if Manchester City play with as much swagger as they did at Brighton.

Lining up in a 3-1-4-2, last season’s third-placers oozed speed, quality and cohesion. While the opposition should be taken into the account, their tactical supremacy was deeply impressive.

However, it would be remiss not to remind you the last time Koeman came face to face with his protégé his side spanked City 4-0.

The Dutch coach masterfully opened up the flesh wounds he’d spotted in City’s make-up, to inflict a well-planned and very painful defeat.

The hurt of that loss should add spice to this reunion.

Part of what makes this dugout duel so intriguing is that we also know neither coach will play the obvious hand at the Etihad. And if they lay the wrong cards, each will be another approach to turn to in an emergency.

They are men of principle, but tactical flexibility is also part of who they are.

What we see on the pitch could be special, and so could the strategic tete-a-tete.

Match Prediction: Manchester City 3 Everton 1

LIVE on TV:  Tuesday (Aug 22), Ch102 and Ch227; 3am

 

About the author: Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of the English game. Now an experienced journalist, he writes for several international publications and major football websites. Follow him @adrianjclarke

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.