I have good news: Premier League football is back! No more useless friendlies until March! Hooray! Back to a good standard of football! Three cheers!
Yes, that’s right, it is back to business this weekend and there is much to discuss, so without further ado here are the three things to look out for this weekend in the Premier League. You’re welcome:
1) A tasty Merseyside derby
Oh yes, we have a Merseyside derby to kick off the weekend’s action. Oh yes, Romelu Lukaku is a beast. Oh yes, Brendan Rodgers’s teeth are ridiculously white. Who does he think he is going around with a set of gnashers that can blind you from a 100 yards away?
This game is always good fun and, with absolutely no love lost between the two teams, expect some fireworks as the players will be urged on by a raucous crowd. Both teams occupy positions high in the table so that will add a little extra spice to an already fiery encounter.
2) Spurs to assert themselves in this year’s title race
£110m spent in the transfer window? Only 7th? Erik Lamela cost how much? Can’t score from open play? These are all questions Spurs fans are asking themselves on a daily basis as their team of highly expensive players struggle to find the right balance and chemistry needed to put together a decent run in the league.
Andre Villas Boas has a very difficult task on his hands in trying to integrate so many new players into his squad but there is only so long that that excuse can be used for disappointing results. On Sunday they travel to Manchester to face City who are imperious at home this season and if Spurs can grab all three points there it will provide evidence that AVB’s men are title contenders in a very open race.
3) Another Manchester scalp in Cardiff
Cardiff’s first three months in the top flight have proved to be testing on and off the field. There have been some memorable moments, however; a 3-2 win over Man City and a massive derby win over Swansea. The Bluebirds are sitting at 14th in the table, two points above the drop zone and if you had offered that to a Cardiff fan at the beginning of the season they would have definitely taken it.
Fresh off their big win against Arsenal, Manchester United travel to south Wales and Malky Mackay will be hoping is team can secure another brilliant result against one of the top teams. Cardiff City stadium is a difficult place to visit for any team and Cardiff must use the home crowd to their advantage.