With goals a premium from Saturday’s matches, we roll into Sunday with high expectations. Today’s fixtures certainly give us room for optimism.
Proceedings get underway shortly at the Hawthorns and Anfield, where West Brom go in search of their first goal of the season against a Swansea side still looking to get a first point on the board. Alongside that affair, we’ve the small matter of Liverpool’s clash with United – a match that hosts an array of Fantasy talent, not least Robin van Persie, adorning the captain’s armband for many.
Later today, we’re treated to the North London derby. A clash which rarely disappoints when it comes to goals and incidents. It’s fair to say that we’re expecting fireworks again, as Arsenal attempt to keep momentum after the win at Fulham, while Andre Villas-Boas’ side arrive at the Emriates with a 100% record and without a league goal conceded.
The team news from the early kick-offs is in and is as follows:
Liverpool make just one change to the side that edged past Villa in Gameweek 2. Kolo Toure’s failure to recover from a groin injury sustained in midweek allows Martin Skrtel to partner Daniel Agger in central defence as the Reds attempt to register their third successive shut-out of the season.
For United, Wayne Rooney is absent with a head wound – David Moyes has confirmed he will be sidelined “for a few weeks” with the injury. The United boss brings in Ryan Giggs and Ashley Young on the flanks and drops Antonio Valencia to the bench – Giggs’ inclusion looks set to see Danny Welbeck moved centrally once again after he was shifted to the flank to accommodate Rooney’s return against Chelsea last Monday.
Michael Laudrup hands Wilfried Bony his first Premier league start at the Hawthorns. Jonathan de Guzman drops out in the only change from the side that lost at Spurs last weekend –Bony, Ashley Williams and Jonjo Shelvey all recover from the knocks that kept them out of midweek Europa League action, with the Ivorian’s inclusion allowing Michu to return to his preferred role in “the hole”.
Steve Clarke makes three alterations for the hosts. Boaz Myhill replaces the injured Ben Foster between the sticks, Nicolas Anelka is back after being granted compassionate leave last week, while Scott Sinclair is handed his first league start for the Baggies against his old club – Graham Dorrans and Markus Rosenberg are the men to drop out.
Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now accepting vistors for the early kick-off and will remain open until the final kick at the Emirates.
