Luton and Macclesfield carried the flag for the minnows in the FA Cup third round as the rest of the fixtures failed to deliver many big headlines. It’s the return of the Premier League and we get things started with a game I’m covering for Sky Sports at Loftus Road.
I’m looking forward to the clash and in particular seeing Harry Redknapp line-up against Tottenham. ‘Arry did a tremendous job when arriving at White Hart Lane to lift Spurs out of the relegation places, but his mission at Rangers is far tougher.
Beating Chelsea was a massive result for the club as Rafa Benitez’s decision to rest players dramatically backfired. I don’t expect Andre Villas-Boas to take the same approach, although he won’t be able to call on Emmanuel Adebayor. Gareth Bale is back though and I’m happy to lay the hosts on BETDAQ at around 4.8.
Sunday could have a massive bearing on the Premier League title as Manchester United re-ignite their feud with Liverpool and then Arsenal entertain Man City at the Emirates.
Sir Alex Ferguson clearly rates the North West derby as the biggest clash of the season and plenty of players from either club have re-iterated that opinion this week. Daniel Sturridge did his best to endear himself to his new club by claiming that Liverpool are the biggest club around, but I don’t agree with him.
United are a class apart from the Reds and are perfectly positioned at the summit at a time that they invariably improve. Nemanja Vidic is getting fitter each week and should be installed next to Rio Ferdinand in a bid to keep Luis Suarez quiet. Robin van Persie could do no more to be accepted at United than score the winner at Anfield and I expect United to complete the double over the Reds.
By the time Man City kick-off at the Emirates they could be ten points behind and Roberto Mancini knows the important of preventing the gap becoming any larger. City haven’t been able to match last season’s effort as yet, but they are still second and have lost only once away all season.
The Gunners have not enjoyed the best of starts to 2013 and their back four worries me. They have conceded eight times in five games and I don’t see them keeping a clean sheet. City will know by 4pm whether they can cut the lead or keep it at seven and that’s a huge incentive.
City are a good shout to end their long wait for a win at Arsenal to cling to the coat tails of United.
Betting on BETDAQ – Alan’s Punts:
QPR v Tottenham – Lay QPR at 4.8
Man United v Liverpool – Back Man United at 1.93
Arsenal v Man City – Back Man City at 2.83
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