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 The English Premier League returns this weekend after the international break with week 8 of the 2014-2015 season. Chelsea still leads the way but defending champions Manchester City is lurking in second place. The champions begin proceedings with the matchup of the week, where Tottenham will visit the Etihad Stadium. The current leaders, Chelsea, travel across London to take on Crystal Palace. At the foot of the table, QPR hosts Liverpool, while Burnley and Newcastle, who are the only winless clubs remaining in professional English soccer this season, entertain West Ham and Leicester respectively. Remember to make your Premier League Pickem predictions before the deadline of each game. Week 8's schedule begins on Saturday at 7:45 AM ET, a game followed by six 10 AM ET kickoffs. The two matches on Sunday begin at 8:30 AM ET and 11 AM ET, while the week concludes with a Monday fixture, which starts at 3 PM ET. Note that the Yahoo! Fantasy Premier League game's deadline is on Sunday at 6:45 AM ET. Here we preview the ten games in the upcoming week of the English Premier League. The title of each game section is a link to pick the result of that game. Tottenham Hotspur (6th) at Manchester City (2nd) (Sat, 7:45 AM ET) Heading into their last game, Tottenham had failed to secure a league victory in a month, but a narrow 1-0 win over Southampton has got them back to winning ways. Spurs had begun the term with successive wins but then followed a four-game streak without a victory, including a 3-0 loss to Liverpool and a 1-0 defeat by West Brom, both at home. Manchester City has been below par for much of the first seven weeks of the campaign but they've steadily climbed back up the table. Like their week 8 opponents, the Citizens won their first two matches, but a shock home defeat by Stoke followed. Ties against Arsenal and Chelsea came next but they've beaten Hull and Aston Villa in their last two. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Tottenham 0-6 Manchester City Manchester City 5-1 Tottenham (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester City lead 5-1-0. Last 3 at Manchester City (all competitions): Manchester City lead 3-0-0. All-time (all competitions): Tottenham lead 57-56-34. Team News Tottenham (from): Friedel, Lloris, Vorm, Chiriches, Davies, Dier, Fazio, Kaboul, Rose, Veljkovic, Vertonghen, Bentaleb, Capoue, Ceballos, Chadli, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, Lennon, Mason, Paulinho, Stambouli, Townsend, Adebayor, Kane, Soldado. Doubts: Lloris (thigh, late fitness test), Chadli (hip, late fitness test). Out (reason, expected return date): Naughton (ankle, no date), Walker (pelvis, no date). Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Nastasic, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Navas, Silva, Sinclair, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko, Jovetic. Doubts: Fernandinho (hamstring), Yaya (rest). Out (reason, expected return date): Nasri (groin, Oct 25), Mangala (muscle injury, Oct 21). Hull City (11th) at Arsenal (8th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) After starting the season on the right note, things began to slip for Hull before they bounced back last time out. An opening day victory at Hull was followed by a five-game winless span, made up of ties against Stoke, West Ham and Newcastle and defeats to Aston Villa and Manchester City. Hull beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in their last fixture, however. Arsenal's unbeaten start to the campaign finally came to an end in week 7 and it brought into focus they've only won two contests out of seven. The first victory came on the opening day against Crystal Palace and their second came in week 5 away to Aston Villa. The Gunners have recorded four ties and they lost to leaders Chelsea 2-0 last time out. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Hull 0-2 Arsenal Arsenal 3-0 Hull (reverse fixture) Hull 2-3 Arsenal (FA Cup; after extra-time) Last 6 (all competitions): Arsenal lead 6-0-0 (includes 2 FA Cup games). Last 3 at Arsenal (all competitions): Arsenal lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Arsenal lead 13-3-3. Team News Hull (from): Harper, Jakupovic, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Dawson, Figueroa, Lenihan, Maguire, McShane, Robertson, Rosenior, Brady, Ben Arfa, Diame, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Ince, Livermore, Meyler, Quinn, Ramirez, Aluko, Hernandez, Jelavic. Out (reason, expected return date): Snodgrass (dislocated kneecap, May '15), McGregor (shoulder, Nov 1). Arsenal (from): Martinez, Ospina, Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Monreal, Arteta, Cazorla, Coquelin, Diaby, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Wilshere, Alexis, Campbell, Podolski, Welbeck. Out (reason, expected return date): Giroud (fractured tibia, Dec), Debuchy (ankle, Dec), Koscielny (Achilles, Oct 25), Sanogo (hamstring, Oct 25), Ramsey (thigh, Oct 22), Walcott (ACL, no date), Gnabry (ACL, no date), Ozil (LCL, no date). Suspended: Chambers (one-match ban). West Ham United (7th) at Burnley (19th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) It's been a roller coaster start to West Ham's campaign but three victories in their opening seven fixtures has them sitting in the top half of the standings at this early stage. The Hammers lost to Tottenham in week 1, Southampton in week 3 and Manchester United in week 6. West Ham has defeated Crystal Palace, Liverpool and last time out QPR. Burnley has tried to remain stubborn through the first seven weeks of the season but they head into this matchup in search of their maiden victory. Defeats against Chelsea and Swansea were followed by three successive goalless ties. The Clarets lost heavily against West Brom, though, but they fought back last time out in a 2-2 tie away to Leicester. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: West Ham 2-0 Burnley (League Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): West Ham lead 3-2-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Burnley (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1 (includes 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): West Ham lead 32-31-17. Team News West Ham (from): Adrian, Jaaskelainen, Spiegel, Collins, Cresswell, Demel, Jenkinson, O'Brien, Potts, Reid, Tomkins, Amalfitano, Downing, Jarvis, Lletget, Noble, Nolan, Poyet, Song, Cole, Sakho, Valencia, Vaz Te, Zarate. Doubts: Jenkinson (hamstring), Collins (groin), Demel (thigh), Vaz Te (thigh). Out (reason, expected return date): Carroll (ankle, Nov 29), Kayoute (groin, Nov 1). Burnley (from): Cisak, Gilks, Heaton, Duff, Keane, Lafferty, Long, Mee, Reid, Shackell, Trippier, Ward, Arfield, Boyd, Chalobah, Howieson, Jones, Kightly, Marney, Wallace, Barnes, Ings, Jutkiewicz, Sordell. Doubts: Keane (hamstring), Marney (hamstring), Trippier (ankle). Out (reason, expected return date): Taylor (calf, no date). Chelsea (1st) at Crystal Palace (15th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Things couldn't be going much better for Chelsea right now, with the club clear at the head of the table two months into the season. After despatching promoted Burnley and Leicester in the first two weeks, the Blues saw off Everton and Swansea. Chelsea tied 1-1 with Manchester City, followed by a win over Aston Villa and then Arsenal in week 7. Crystal Palace headed into their last game looking like they were on the up but going into this week 8 matchup they hope to bounce back. The Eagles suffered two defeats in the first two weeks but they then hit a four-game unbeaten streak with two ties and two successive victories. However, last time out they went down to a 2-0 defeat against Hull. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Chelsea 0-1 Crystal Palace Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Chelsea lead 5-1-0. Last 3 at Crystal Palace (all competitions): Chelsea lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Chelsea lead 20-8-15. Team News Chelsea (from): Cech, Courtois, Schwarzer, Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Salah, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy, Schurrle. Doubts: Costa (hamstring), Ramires (muscle problem), Drogba (ankle), Schurrle (illness), Mikel (rest). Crystal Palace (from): Hennessey, Kettings, Speroni, Delaney, Fryers, Hangeland, Kelly, Mariappa, McCarthy, Ward, Bannan, Bolasie, Guedioura, Jedinak, Ledley, McArthur, O'Keefe, Puncheon, Thomas, Williams, Campbell, Chamakh, Doyle, Gayle, Johnson, Zaha. Out (reason, expected return date): Dann (MCL, Nov 3). Aston Villa (10th) at Everton (17th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) A month into the season, Aston Villa had produced their best start to a campaign in three years and manager Paul Lambert was handed a contract extension. However, a run against some tough teams has halted their progress. Villa won three of their first four, including a win over Liverpool, but they're now hoping to snap a three-game losing run. Everton didn't lose their third league game last season until the end of January but they head into this week 8 clash with three defeats already on the board. The Toffees went winless in their opening three contests and they recorded their only victory of the term to date in week 4 at West Brom. Since then, though, Everton has lost two and tied one. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Aston Villa 1-2 Everton Everton 2-0 Aston Villa (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Everton lead 3-0-3. Last 3 at Everton (all competitions): Everton lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): Tied 79-79-58. Team News Aston Villa (from): Given, Guzan, Bacuna, Baker, Clark, Herd, Hutton, Lowton, Okore, Senderos, Vlaar, Cleverley, Cole, Delph, Grealish, N'Zogbia, Richardson, Sanchez, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Bent, Benteke, Burke, Weimann. Doubts: Delph (shoulder), Senderos (thigh). Out (reason, expected return date): Kozák (broken leg). Everton (from): Howard, Joel, Stanek, Alcaraz, Baines, Browning, Coleman, Distin, Garbutt, Hibbert, Jagielka, Atsu, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Gibson, Junior, McCarthy, McGeady, Osman, Oviedo, Pienaar, Eto'o, Long, Lukaku, McAleny, Naismith. Doubts: Barkley (MCL), Pienaar (thigh, very doubtful), Coleman (hamstring, very doubtful), McCarthy (thigh, very doubtful). Out (reason, expected return date): Mirallas (hamstring, Dec 3), Stones (ankle, no date). Leicester City (12th) at Newcastle United (18th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Despite dropping some points over their past couple of gameweeks, Leicester is still comfortably the best-placed promoted club in the division right now. They went winless in their first three games but the Foxes then beat Stoke and Manchester United. In the past two fixtures, however, Leicester lost to Crystal Palace and tied 2-2 with Burnley. Newcastle has put just four points on the board so far, a worse return than when they were last relegated from the top flight six seasons ago. The Magpies have gone winless through seven games and they've led just once during the period. That was at home to Crystal Palace and they've also tied with Aston Villa, Hull and then Swansea last time out. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 2010 Last 6 (all competitions): Newcastle lead 3-0-3. Last 3 at Newcastle (all competitions): Newcastle lead 3-0-0. All-time (all competitions): Newcastle lead 50-38-27. Team News Leicester (from): Hamer, Schmeichel, Smith, De Laet, Konchesky, Moore, Morgan, Simpson, Upson, Wasilewski, Albrighton, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Hammond, James, King, Knockaert, Mahrez, Powell, Hopper, Lawrence, Nugent, Schlupp, Taylor-Fletcher, Ulloa, Vardy, Wood. Doubts: Upson (foot). Newcastle (from): Alnwick, Elliot, Krul, Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, Janmaat, R. Taylor, S. Taylor, Williamson, Abeid, Anita, Bigirimana, Cabella, Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Tiote, Vuckic, Ameobi, Armstrong, Cisse, Ferreyra, Gouffran, Perez, Riviere. Out (reason, expected return date): De Jong (thigh, Dec), Santon (knee, Nov 22), Aarons (hamstring, Nov 1). Sunderland (13th) at Southampton (3rd) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Sunderland has been a difficult team to beat so far this term but heading into their last match they had yet to secure victory. The Black Cats began with two ties before suffering a 1-0 defeat to QPR, their only loss to date. Three ties in a row followed, but then Sunderland finally broke through and recorded a 3-1 victory over Stoke in their last outing. Southampton might have fallen to a narrow defeat in their most recent game but they'll still be pleased with how the opening two months have gone for them. It wasn't looking so good when they failed to win in their first two games but the Saints then reeled off four consecutive victories. In week 7, though, Southampton lost 1-0 against Tottenham. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Sunderland 1-1 Southampton Southampton 2-2 Sunderland (reverse fixture) Southampton 1-2 Sunderland (League Cup) Southampton 0-1 Sunderland (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Sunderland lead 3-0-3 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Southampton (all competitions): Sunderland lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Tied 23-23-15. Team News Sunderland (from): Mannone, Pantilimon, Brown, Jones, O’Shea, Van Aanholt, Vergini, Bridcutt, Buckley, Cabral, Cattermole, Gomez, Johnson, Larsson, Mavrias, Rodwell, Altidore, Fletcher, Graham, Wickham. Out (reason, expected return date): Giaccherini (ankle, Dec 3), Alvarez (knee, Nov 9), Coates (hip, Nov 9). Southampton (from): K. Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Stephens, Targett, Yoshida, Cork, S. Davis, Isgrove, Mane, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Gallagher, Long, Mayuka, Pelle. Out (reason, expected return date): Ward-Prowse (ankle, Dec), Rodriguez (ACL, Dec). Liverpool (9th) at Queens Park Rangers (20th) (Sun, 8:30 AM ET) Overall, Liverpool has been inconsistent and disappointing, but heading into this week 8 matchup they're back on an upward trend. After winning their opening game, the Reds then went on to lose three of the next four. They had to share the spoils with local rival Everton but last time out they got back to winning ways by defeating West Brom 2-1. Queens Park Rangers currently props up the league table courtesy of a lack of goals and a porous defense. Rangers lost three of their first four games, with a 1-0 win against Sunderland their only success. They're now hoping to snap a four-match winless run; QPR has lost their last two games against Southampton and then West Ham last time out. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 2013 Last 6 (all competitions): Liverpool lead 5-1-0. Last 3 at QPR (all competitions): Liverpool lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Liverpool lead 33-8-8. Team News Liverpool (from): Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Sturridge, Balotelli, Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Enrique, Sakho, Lucas, Allen, Can, Coutinho, Markovic, Lambert, Borini. Doubts: Sturridge (thigh, late fitness test). Out (reason, expected return date): Flanagan (knee, Dec). QPR (from): Green, McCarthy, Hill, Dunne, Ferdinand, Onuoha, Caulker, Yun, Traore, Isla, Henry, Sandro, Fer, Hoilett, Phillips, Kranjcar, Wright-Phillips, Austin, Zamora, Vargas. Out (reason, expected return date): Faurlin (ACL, Jul), Mutch (hamstring, Nov 1), Barton (hamstring, no date). Swansea City (5th) at Stoke City (16th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) Swansea began this campaign perfectly but they're currently rebuilding having not won since the end of August. That last victory was their third in a row, but after a trio of wins to begin the season they suffered defeats against Chelsea and Southampton. Swansea was held to a goalless tie by Sunderland and Newcastle pegged them back last time out. Stoke struggled at the beginning of their last campaign before gradually improving and after another slow start this time around they'll hope for a similar improvement soon. Unusually, the Potters have been better on the road than at home to date but they did win their last home match against Newcastle. They lost their last fixture at Sunderland. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Swansea 1-1 Stoke Stoke 3-3 Swansea (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2. Last 3 at Stoke (all competitions): Stoke lead 2-1-0. All-time (all competitions): Stoke lead 22-20-20. Team News Swansea (from): Fabianski, Richards, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Shelvey, Routledge, Dyer, Britton, Sigurdsson, Bony, Tremmel, Tiendalli, Bartley, Carroll, Emnes, Montero, Gomis, Fulton. Out (reason, expected return date): Amat (knee, Nov 1), Donnelly (ankle, Nov 1). Suspended: Shelvey (one-match ban). Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Cameron, Bardsley, Muniesa, Nzonzi, Adam, Sidwell, Ireland, Walters, Arnautovic, Bojan, Assaidi, Moses, Crouch, Diouf. Doubts: Arnautovic (hip), Huth (calf). Out (reason, expected return date): Odemwingie (ACL, Jun), Whelan (knee, no date). Manchester United (4th) at West Bromwich Albion (14th) (Mon, 3 PM ET) The start of this campaign has felt disappointing for Manchester United but they've sneaked into the top-4 almost unnoticed. The relative easiness of their schedule to date might have something to do with that, but the fact is they head into this game having won three of their last four, including wins over West Ham and Everton in their last two. West Brom began this term slowly as well, but there have been definite signs of improvements despite a setback last time out. The Baggies failed to win any of their first four fixtures but they bounced back by defeating Tottenham 1-0 and Burnley 4-0. However, in West Brom's week 7 encounter away to Liverpool, they were edged out in a 2-1 defeat. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Manchester United 3-0 West Brom West Brom 2-1 Manchester United (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester United lead 4-1-1. Last 3 at West Brom (all competitions): Manchester United lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Manchester United lead 53-41-30. Team News Manchester United (from): Amos, De Gea, Lindegaard, Blackett, Blind, Rafael, Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Vermijl, Anderson, Di Maria, Fletcher, Herrera, Januzaj, Fellaini, Young, Mata, Valencia, Falcao, W. Keane, Rooney, Van Persie. Out (reason, expected return date): Valencia (hamstring, Oct 26), McNair (hamstring, Oct 26), Evans (ankle, Oct 26), Lindgard (knee, no date). Suspended: Rooney (second game of three-match ban). West Brom (from): Daniels, Foster, Myhill, Baird, Davidson, Dawson, Gamboa, Lescott, McAuley, O’Neil, Olsson, Pocognoli, Wisdom, Blanco, Brunt, Dorrans, Gardner, Morrison, Mulumbu, Sessegnon, Roofe, Yacob, Anichebe, Berahino, Ideye, Nabi, Samaras. Out (reason, expected return date): Varela (groin, no date). |
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