With mid-price assets continuing to deliver, Sunday’s fare finds three of the genuine title contenders in action, allowing us to assess the form of a series of heavy-hitters.
Arsenal get things underway with their visit to Palace and that’s followed by the titanic clash as Man City host Chelsea at the Etihad.
The Gunners arrive in South London off the back of a shock 2-0 reverse to West Ham. They can, however, take comfort from the fact that they are unbeaten in twelve matches at Selhurst Park but will be wary of a Palace side that boasts an array of weapons at their disposal. Alan Pardew’s Eagles enjoyed an impressive away win at the Norwich on the opening day and will be looking to build on that by improving home performances – they have lost half of their 10 home games under Pardew’s reign. The Gunners, meanwhile, turn up having won five of their last six away trips.
The tea-time encounter is, on paper, a classic. Chelsea go into the match still licking wounds from an opening day roughing-up by an impressive Swansea and will be without Thibaut Courtois as a result of his second-half red card in that 2-2 draw. City’s preparations could not have been better – they strolled to a 3-0 win at West Brom on Monday night and, arguably, were the most impressive side on show in Gameweek 1 with David Silva, in particular, dazzling in midfield.
Mourinho will be wary of City’s confidence and is expected to settle on the back foot in a bid to catch City on the break with pace – he can take confidence from the fact that his side are unbeaten in their last four against Manuel Pellegrini’s side. On the flipside, the Chilean will point to a recent home record which states seven straight wins, delivering six clean sheets.
