Premier League: Five things to look out for

JOE looks ahead to this weekend in the Premier League and considers what matches to watch and avoid, who might surprise and the Irish players to keep an eye on.

By Conor Heneghan

Surprise Package: West Ham

Are they turning the corner? Successive victories over a meek Wigan side and a Manchester United reserve XI aren’t enough to convince us that the Hammers are on the right track yet, but they are certainly a step in the right direction. The introduction of the charismatic former Reading coach Wally Downes seems to have given some of the players the kick in the arse they required and has taken a little bit of pressure off Avram Grant, at least for the time being.

They face Sunderland at the weekend, who are turning into a very decent outfit, especially at home, so it will be a good barometer of where the Hammers are at, and whether they are primed for a push out of the relegation zone or destined to stay where they are.

Game not to miss: Chelsea v Everton

After writing three paragraphs on why you shouldn’t miss Blackpool’s clash with Manchester United, a carrier pigeon arrived at the office with news that due to a frozen pitch at Bloomfield Road, the game will not go ahead.

Instead then, we will be recommending that you cast your eyes over Chelsea’s meeting with Everton at Stamford Bridge. This is normally a fairly attractive encounter; Everton are a far better side than their league position suggests and always put it up to the big boys, but both sides are in abysmal form at the moment. Chelsea haven’t won in three games, while Everton haven’t had a win in five, so hopefully they can put that behind them and produce a decent affair in West London.

After showing against Liverpool and Arsenal so far that playing in the big games is like water off a duck’s back to Seamus Coleman (above), David Moyes should see sense and return the Donegal man to the starting line up.

Game to miss:  Wigan v Stoke City

We promise that there will be some week that we don’t recommend missing a Wigan match, but not when they’re at home to Stoke City; let's face it, it's hardly going to be champagne football. The Potters have their critics, but they are eighth in the table for a reason and have claimed ten out of a possible 12 points in their last four games. Wigan, on the other hand are bottom of the form table with only four points from their last six games and with fellow strugglers West Ham and Wolves showing signs of a recovery, they need to get out of the rut they are stuck in fast.

Irish interest: Wolves v Blackburn

Four Irish players (Kevin Foley, Stephen Ward, Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt) and an ex-Irish manager were involved in Wolves’ magnificent rescue mission against Sunderland last week, two of whom - Foley and Hunt, got on the scoresheet.

With Robbie Keane rotting in the reserves at Spurs, Shay Given doing likewise at Manchester City, Richard Dunne suffering an alarming slump in form and John O’Shea attempting ridiculous shots for Manchester United’s second string (see below), it is refreshing to see that there are still some of the Boys in Green doing us proud across the pond.

Wolves face Blackburn at Ewood Park this weekend, intent on capitalising on Rovers’ hangover from a dreadful 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Man United last Saturday.

What about the rest:

Arsenal were magnificent against Aston Villa last week and look primed to do damage against a faltering Fulham side that have paid the price for all their draws and are only a point and a place clear of the relegation zone.

Tottenham had a fantastic week last week with successive victories over Werder Bremen and Liverpool, but Chelsea will testify as to how tough it is to go to Birmingham and get a result. Bolton, meanwhile, make the short trip to the City of Manchester Stadium to go up against a City side who brushed aside Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League on Wednesday night.

On Sunday, two of the promoted sides, West Brom and Newcastle, go head to head at the Hawthorns. Finally, on Monday night, Gerard Houllier will return to Anfield with Aston Villa in a fixture that, a couple of seasons ago would have been a battle for a Champions League place, but is now no more than a mid-table clash, a withering assessment on the performance of both sides so far this season.

Fixtures:

Saturday 4 December:

Arsenal v Fulham 15:00

Birmingham v Tottenham 15:00

Blackburn v Wolves 15:00

Chelsea v Everton 15:00

Man City v Bolton 15:00

Wigan v Stoke 15:00

Blackpool v Man United (postponed)

Sunday 5 December:

West Brom v Newcastle 13:30

Sunderland v West Ham 16:00

Monday 6 December:

Liverpool v Aston Villa 20:00