Gareth Bale will be looking to continue his recent strong form in Monday night’s game with Villa. Royston Drenthe could be the key to Everton’s clash with Wolves and Luis Suarez will be hoping to take advantage of Chelsea’s high pressing game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon..
Gareth Bale vs Alan Hutton
Regardless of whether Rafael Van der Vaart makes Monday nightās game with Aston Villa, Baleās importance to Tottenham right now is undoubted. The winger is finally showing a consistency that his previous seasons have merely hinted at and with 3 goals, an assist and 5 bonus points in the last two gameweeks, heās at the top of his game. Bale has already returned double figures on three of his ten appearances for Harry Redknappās on-song side and the White Hart Lane showdown should afford him plenty opportunity to continue his recent displays.
Alan Hutton has always been regarded as defensively susceptible and a look at Aston Villaās defensive record since his August arrival from Tottenham certainly backs this up. Villa started the season with two clean sheets in their first three games and were looking solid at the back under Alex McLeish but Huttonās eight games for the Midlands outfit have produced just a single clean sheet in comparison. While decent going forward, Huttonās positional sense is questionable and his forward forages from right-back could well give Bale license to torment Villa as Spurs look to make it eight wins out of nine at Big Eckās expense.
Royston Drenthe vs Richard Stearman
With his fitness finally up to scratch, Drenthe is proving to be an integral part of David Moyesā side of late. The Dutchman has picked up 4 assists and scored once in his previous three outings- a clear indication of his importance to the Toffees in recent weeks as he becomes acclimatised to the rigours of the Premier League. Moyes seems to be getting the best out of the loanee and having lost their previous two home games, will be keen to get three points on the board at Goodison. Drenthe, with Leighton Baines bombing on behind him down the left, could be crucial to tomorrowās outcome.
The Wolves defence has been anything but steady of late. Although they conceded just one at home to Wigan last time round, the previous seven gameweeks had seen them ship 2 or more goals every time. Mick McCarthy recently admitted a 4-5-1 formation affords his side far greater stability and Stearman, with Stephen Hunt likely to be stationed in front, will be hoping to curtail the home sideās threat in what looks set to be a busy day for the right-back at Goodison.
Alex vs Luis Suarez
The decision to drop Jose Bosingwa for the trip to Blackburn proved dividend for Andre Villas-Boas, with Chelsea picking up their first clean sheet since the season opener at Stoke. Their last home game, a 5-3 thrashing by Arsenal, allowed the Gunners left-back Andre Santos plenty attacking licence, resulting in a goal for the summer signing as Bosingwa was again found wanting.
Villas-Boas will be looking for more solidity against Liverpool and with that in mind, thereās a good chance Branislav Ivanovic will continue in the right-back role, with Alex keeping his place alongside John Terry in the heart of defence. Whether the Blues can prevent Liverpool exploiting the gaps at the back caused by their high pressing game is another matter entirely.
Although heās had something of a frustrating Fantasy season to date, Suarezās 4 goal haul for Uruguay against Chile last Friday served a reminder of his class. While his finishing has been a disappointment in the first eleven gameweeks, Suarezās ability is unquestioned. Alongside the more static Andy Carroll, his movement and trickery are likely to torment his hostsā shaky back-four as Liverpool look for their third away win in a row. Drifting out left from a central position and finding space as the home side attack, Suarez has the intelligence to take advantage of any uncertainty in the Chelsea defence and Alex will do well to keep him in check.
