EPL Picks: Will Spurs Best Slumping Chelsea?
By MICHAEL DA SILVA
Forget Liverpool, Tottenham are the current incumbants of the Premier League's fourth berth and, this weekend, they feature in a 'Grand Slam' weekend. That's right Tottenham play struggling Chelsea, while Arsenal travel to unbeaten Manchester United. It's like the old days.
Tottenham (+180) vs. Chelsea (+150)
Tottenham's staggering season shows no sign of abating. Their first Champions League campaign has seen them tear apart defending champions Inter Milan, set a record for becoming the first side to score at least three goals in five successive games. Oh, and they topped their group, too. Quite simply, Harry Redknapp's men are flying.
But Spurs started their Premier League campaign slowly and are in need of three points on Sunday. Can they repeat last season's Gareth Bale-inspired winGareth Bale. (Getty) over Chelsea?
Well, there's never been a better time to play Carlo Ancelotti's side, who have won just once in the league since Oct. 30. Ravaged by injuries to key players, their reliance on Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien is even more acute than we first suspected.
Ancelotti has confirmed that he will be playing the sometimes solid but often shaky Paulo Ferreira at right-back to combat the pace, power and skill of Gareth Bale. For me, that contest has one winner and you have to fear for the Portuguese defender. As ever, Bale will be a menace and should be backed for an assist.
But Tottenham are still without the injured Rafael Van der Vaart and, even with Luka Modric pulling the strings, Spurs look weaker without the Dutchman.
Redknapp's attacking tendency means he is likely to partner Peter Crouch with Jermain Defoe in attack, rather than opt for a more conservative 4-4-1-1 formation. But Defoe is back from injury and looked sharp as he got among the goals against Twente in midweek.
Defoe has made light work of playing against John Terry in the past and I'm expecting him to do the same on Sunday. Defoe's pace, intelligence and pure predatory marks him out as Tottenham's main goal threat and, at odds of +175, should be backed to find the net against Chelsea.
But Chelsea are Premier League champions for a reason, and will cause Spurs problems. Tottenham's suspect defense is no secret and Drogba, since returning from being struck down by malaria, has looked sharp in his past few games and is unlucky to have only found the net once since he sat out Chelsea's loss to Liverpool last month.
Drogba found the net from the penalty spot last weekend and could easily do so again at White Hart Lane.
Pick: Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea (+550)
Manchester United (-110) vs. Arsenal (+300)
In the weekend's other crunch clash, Manchester United host Arsenal on Monday evening.
Sir Alex's men remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season and, while it may not be the most impressive streaks of impenetrability (won eight, drawn seven), the record proves how hard it still is to get beyond Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and the age-defying Edwin Van der Sar.
Protected by Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick, United are resolute and even Marouane Chamakh, who has begun his career in England with a flourish, will be up against it at Old Trafford.
Arsenal will flood the field to take the pressure of their defense and may well dictate long periods of the game.
Like rivals Spurs, Arsenal do not have problems attacking and are likely to find the net at some stage, with Chamakh (+210) and Nasri (+275) the likeliest source. But these are the kind of games Sir Alex revels in; expect a professional performance from Manchester United and a goal from Wayne Rooney.
Since his return from Oregon, where he worked on his fitness, Rooney has returned leaner and meaner than when he left, in such poor form since the World Cup.
But Rooney is on the path to effectiveness and, since making his return against Wigan, has looked increasingly like his old self again. A big game under the floodlights could be exactly what he needs and, at +125, a goal for Rooney against Arsenal is more than possible.
Ji-Sung Park, another United player for the big occasion, is a good goal shout at +300.
As Ferguson and Wenger mature, this fixture may not possess the acidic trash talking of days gone by, but the mind games have begun with Patrice Evra taking a swipe at the Gunners.
"For me, Arsenal is a football training centre," he told reporters. "You watch the match, you enjoy it, but are you going to win a title afterwards? That's what people remember.
"It has been five years since they won anything and, for a big club like Arsenal, that is a crisis."
Crisis or not, Arsenal will have their work cut out on Monday. They may be title contenders but they will not take the win at Old Trafford.
Pick: Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal (+750)