Man City v Chelsea: When two giants collide

Jose Mourinho bemoaned West Ham’s ‘19th Century’ football in midweek as Chelsea failed to break the Hammers’ resistance in a 0-0 draw.

Poor old Jose should be careful what he wishes for, though, because on Monday he’ll get a dose an altogether different style of football when he takes on the slickest team in the division in Man City.

City’s style belies their manager Manuel Pellegrini’s nickname, ‘The Engineer’,  which hints at a methodical, dull style that could not be further from the truth.

That said, it’s one thing beating Tottenham — whose coach Les Ferdinand revealed a rather worrying lack of tactical flexibility when he dismissed the notion of holding midfielders (boy, how they could have done with a Claude Makelele on Wednesday) — and it’s another overcoming arguably the best modern-day tactician in Mourinho.

Should be entertaining. 

 TOMORROW

All 11am unless stated

Newcastle v Sunderland

8:45am

Yohan Cabaye — or as the self-aggrandizing and rather unlikeable Joe Kinnear called him, Kebab — has now left and that leaves a hole in the middle of the Toon midfield bigger than Harrington Sound.

At time of writing Newcastle were busy trying to bring in Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier as a replacement.

Sunderland are out of the bottom three and have been busy recruiting themselves, picking up Argentinian striker Ignacio Scocco.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham v Swansea

8:45am

The Hammers will be preparing to play some more ‘19th Century’ football — although the need for a win may drag them into the modern-day, unless Stewart Downing has the ball that is.

Still, you can’t knock Big Sam for this approach when you look at the table. A morale-boosting win against the Swans.  

Prediction: 2-1

Cardiff v Norwich 

D-day for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as, before even getting his feet under the table, he’s found himself bottom of it.

Home to the Canaries is a game they must get points from or the Bluebirds and owner Vincent Tan will find themselves back in the Championship. 

Prediction: 1-1

Everton v Aston Villa

How the Toffees react to their humiliating 4-0 defeat to local rivals Liverpool could dictate how the rest of their season goes. Lukaku is out, which is a blow, but the signing of the giant Lacina Traore looks a promising piece of business from manager Roberto Martinez. 

Villa won a seven-goal thriller against WBA in midweek. If they rediscover how to defend, they could be dangerous.

Prediction: 2-2

Fulham v Saints

Adam Lallana & Co go to Fulham fresh from a fine 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

Not involved will be Dani Osvaldo who is suspended by the club after clocking John Fonte one in training.

In truth, that’s more fight than Fulham have shown all season, so there appears only one outcome here.

Prediction: 1-2

Hull v Tottenham

After getting beat 6-0 by City earlier in the season, the 5-1 midweek defeat represents some sort of progress for Spurs, whose sacking of Andre Villas-Boas and appointment of Tim Sherwood has made them more entertaining to watch but no better off.

On talent alone, they should have enough to beat Hull. 

Prediction: 1-2

Stoke v Man Utd

Juan Mata has injected some optimism into the United ranks and with Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney back fit, surely the performances will now improve. But — cliche alert —  it’s never easy at the Britannia Stadium and the Potters need a reaction after the defeat to Sunderland. 

Prediction: 2-3

SUNDAY

West Brom v Liverpool

9:30am

With the Baggies shipping goals and the Reds scoring them at will, anything other than an away win will be a huge surprise here.

Liverpool may be bolstered by the arrival of Ukraine’s Yevhen Konoplyanka — say that drunk — who at the time of writing was poised to move to Anfield for £16 million.

For WBA, the wisdom of changing managers and approach midway through the season is questionable. Pepe Mel comes with all the right credentials but the team looks even more uncertain at present. Just like with Cardiff, it’s hard to summon up any sympathy.

Prediction: 1-3

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

12pm

Aaron Ramsey’s injury worries continue and it’s about time the Gunners got a little more from star signing Mesut Ozil. They’ll need it if they are going to seriously challenge for the title.

For Palace, they are amazingly in 14th before the weekend’s games. Anything here will be a bonus.

Prediction: 2-0

MONDAY

Man City v Chelsea

4pm

It’s the humdinger of the weekend. Can free-scoring City get the better of the more pragmatic Chelsea outfit? These are the games that will decide the title. Such a crunch game probably comes a little early in the Mourinho rebuilding programme. However, if anyone can spoil a party it’s the Portuguese boss. 

Prediction: 2-1