Sunday boasts four matches and a glittering array of Fantasy talent to hold our interest over the next few hours. The match-ups on offer look more than a little tasty – none more so than the Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light which kicks things off.
Gus Poyet is handed a baptism of fire in the North East as he takes on Alan Pardew’s Magpies having suffered the indignity of a 4-0 mauling at Swansea last weekend. Newcastle, meanwhile, make the short trip to their rivals in the midst of a mini revival having earned a point with 10-men against Liverpool.
This is followed up by a lip-smacking Stamford Bridge clash between two genuine title contenders as Chelsea host City at 4pm. Alongside that, Swansea entertain West Ham and Spurs take on Hull City at the Lane. Given that menu, we’re expecting goals and a flood of Fantasy points to follow on from Saturday’s rather satisfactory tallies.
The team news from the early kick-off finds Poyet make no less than four changes to the Black Cats lineup that was routed at the Liberty Stadium. Former Liverpool full-back Andrea Dossena is given his Sunderland debut at the back, where Carlos Cuellar also replaces Valentin Roberge. In midfield, Jack Colback comes in for Craig Gardner, while Jozy Altidore returns as Emanuele Giaccherini, rather surprisingly, drops to the bench. It looks like a conventional 4-4-2 from Sunderland, then.
Alan Pardew makes just one change to the Magpies starting XI which faced Liverpool last time out. Paul Dummett is handed his full Premier League debut at centre-back, as he fills the void left by the injured Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor, with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa suspended. It’s another fluid 4-3-3 from Newcastle then, with Hatem Ben Arfa again appearing to be handed the central attacking role.
Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open and will accompany all your joys and woes throughout today’s matches.
