Race to separate the men from the boys

This month’s congested fixture list is exhausting just to look at, but it is a month that often separates the men from the boys. Kick-starting a pivotal spell of action, TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) picks out five stories to watch from a compelling weekend in prospect …

Manchester City vs Chelsea

Who will display championship potential?

Seven successive managers have failed to gain the upper hand on Antonio Conte and his new-fangled 3-4-2-1. Next in line is Pep Guardiola.

Can football’s sharpest, most innovative tactical brain come up with a way to outfox the intense Italian?

The Spaniard is more than capable, and you can be certain he has spent weeks plotting a game plan that will test Chelsea’s resolve.

My hunch is that Manchester City have the tools to outmanoeuvre a Blues that were outplayed by Tottenham for 35 minutes last weekend. They will press high and hard. Chelsea did not enjoy it when Spurs did that. 

They will target their attacks out wide. We are still not sure if wingbacks Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso can handle elite wingers, and Gary Cahill will hate being dragged to the flanks. They will dominate the ball. It is the only way Guardiola knows, and his players are gifted enough to control this match.

The worry for City is whether they are good enough at the back to cope with Eden Hazard, Pedro Rodriguez and Diego Costa, the Three Amigos who are ripping up the division right now. Every time they counter, hearts will be in mouths.

This is just the type of match-up that lured Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte to England.

I am expecting a tactical duel of epic proportions that will tell us which of these two giants are best equipped for a tilt at the title.

My money is on Pep to conjure up a strategy that checks Chelsea’s magnificent march.

Prediction: Manchester City 2 Chelsea 1

Bournemouth vs Liverpool

Coping without Coutinho

I saw Bournemouth last Sunday and they impressed me.

Well coached, lively down the channels and beautifully composed in possession, they have the ability to mix it with the Reds in what should be an exciting clash.

If they bring their shooting boots (they left them at home when visiting the Emirates), do not rule out a surprise result.

All eyes will be on how Jurgen Klopp’s men cope without Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian is crocked until the New Year, forcing the manager to shuffle his 4-3-3 pack. The returning Adam Lallana will soften the blow, and might just slot into the advanced role vacated by Coutinho.

Then, if at any stage Liverpool are struggling to penetrate the Cherries, Klopp can always unleash striker Divock Origi. The young Belgian has looked razor-sharp in recent outings, and may even get the nod to start.

While I believe the Reds are cohesive enough not to be derailed catastrophically by their main man’s injury, I see this as a tricky clash for them.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2 Liverpool 1

Everton vs Manchester United

Koeman’s rattled

Everton boss Ronald Koeman will wish he could rewind the clock a few weeks, and start over again.

Putting his foot in it by claiming Romelu Lukaku needs to fulfil his potential elsewhere, tipping rivals Liverpool for the title, and losing to Chelsea and Everton, means the straight-talking Dutchman is in need of a pick-me-up. The natives are not impressed.

Victory over Manchester United would be just the tonic, but that will not be easy.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial have rediscovered their mojos, and former outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan has lifted the team with a couple of outstanding displays in cup competitions. His dribbling prowess turns United into a very different looking side.

While they are miles off being title contenders, rumours of the Red Devils’ demise have been greatly exaggerated. They are playing well enough to beat a below-par Everton, with something to spare.

Prediction: Everton 0 Man United 2

West Ham vs Arsenal

Payet vs Ozil

Arsenal visit West Ham at London Stadium, the Hammers’ new home, for the first time, and I cannot wait to see who wins the battle of their mercurial playmakers.

Hammers fans adore Dimitri Payet, and rightly so. He has created more goal chances (46) than anyone else in the Premier League, and up against a stand-in Gunners right-back in either Carl Jenkinson or Gabriel Paulista, he will be a major threat.

With rumours of a move to PSG lingering in the ether, some feel the Frenchman has not been quite as focused, or stupendously brilliant, as he was in 2015-16.

All I will say is that his amazing “rabona” assist versus Watford, and the stylish solo goal at home to Middlesbrough, both make my list of Top 5 magical moments so far this
season. He has been ace.

With contract talks stalling, Arsenal supporters fear Mesut Ozil will not stick around, but I get the impression he is happy in North London. I will be staggered if he does not stay.

After a quiet spell, this could be the right stage for the German to thrust himself back into the spotlight too.

Whenever Alexis Sanchez pulls wide, watch out for Ozil’s ghost-like runs between Hammers defenders. He times them wonderfully well.

I expect the sound of Payet and Ozil’s terrace anthems (both sung to the same tune) to ring around the stadium during this derby.

Prediction: West Ham 2 Arsenal 2

Crystal Palace vs Southampton

Pardew in Peril

Clean sheets are not Alan Pardew’s priority — he foolishly said so last month — but he will crave a first shut-out in seven months when the Saints come to town for a must-not-lose
encounter.

Having studied last week’s shambolic 5-4 defeat to Swansea City (their sixth consecutive loss), I am not holding out much hope for Palace’s or their managers’ future.

Every time the Eagles concede a free kick or corner, their knees turn to jelly.

A series of amateurish efforts mean they have now shipped a total of 13 goals from set pieces. That is one more concession than Southampton have let in all season.

He is too self-assured to admit it, but Pardew’s image obsession is also a factor behind their plummet down the table. 

He believes “his” Palace are obliged to “entertain” with a brand of front-foot attacking football, but does he have the quality players to pull that off?

Building from a pragmatic base and focusing on clean sheets is the way to go. Sadly for them, I do not see it happening tonight.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Southampton 3

(All photos: Reuters, AP, Getty Images)

TV TIMES:

SATURDAY:

Man City v Chelsea (Singtel Ch102 & StarHub Ch227  8.30pm)

Sunderland v Leicester (Ch104 & Ch229, 11pm)

Tottenham v Swansea (Ch103 & Ch228, 10.50pm)

Crystal Palace v Southampton (Ch102 & Ch227, 11pm)

Stoke City v Burnley (Ch105 & Ch230, 10.50pm)

West Brom v Watford (Ch106 & Ch231 10.50pm)

SUNDAY:

West Ham v Arsenal (Ch102 & Ch227, 1.30am)

Bournemouth v Liverpool (Ch103 & Ch228, 9.30pm)

Everton v Man Utd (Ch103 & Ch228 11.55pm)