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PREMIER LEAGUE: Week three as it happened.

• PREMIER LEAGUE: Week three as it happened.

• PREMIER LEAGUE: Week three as it happened.

  StrumSolo > 30/08/2013, 16:34

  Previews of Saturday's Premier League fixtures. Sunday's to follow...
  
  MAN CITY v HULL
  Another tough away trip for new boys Hull, but Manuel Pellegrini and his side will be under pressure to get a result after last week’s disappointment at Cardiff, one of the other promoted sides. Steve Bruce will hope to capitalise on that but it certainly won’t be easy.
  
  Yannick Sagbo is suspended for the away side after his red card last weekend, so Danny Graham is likely to deputise. Former Tottenham pair Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore should continue together in midfield. City will welcome back Matija Nastasic from injury but skipper Vincent Kompany could be out for another 6 weeks. Alvaro Negredo is in contention to start up front.
  
  CARDIFF v EVERTON
  Cardiff will hope to pick up from where they left off last weekend against Man City with another home game, Everton being the visitors this Saturday. Roberto Martinez’s side have picked up 2 draws so far but will view this as winnable, despite the home side’s heroics last time out.
  
  Andreas Cornelius is injured again for the home side and Everton will have to do without Darron Gibson and Antolin Alcaraz.
  
  NEWCASTLE v FULHAM
  After West Ham last weekend, this is another game that the home support will be expecting a win from. Fulham did well on their last trip to the North-East against Sunderland though so it won’t be an easy one for Alan Pardew’s men.
  
  The expected return of Yohan Cabaye should boost Newcastle (state of mind permitting) and Loic Remy could make the bench after missing the first two games of the season. Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez and Steven Taylor all definitely missing though. David Stockdale will continue in goal for Fulham while Kieran Richardson and new signing Fernando Amorebieta are still unavailable.
  
  NORWICH v SOUTHAMPTON
  With just one point from two games it’s been a low-key start from Norwich. They’ll want to get that first win under their belts here but Southampton have looked impressive so far and won’t make it easy for them.
  
  Gary Hooper misses out again for the home side and Ryan Bennett is unavailable after gashing his knee against Bury midweek. Morgan Schneiderlin is doubtful for the Saints so Jack Cork could step in. Mauricio Pochettino will need to decide whether or not to hand a full debut to new signing Dani Osvaldo too.
  
  WEST HAM v STOKE
  Or Sam Allardyce v Mark Hughes. It’s unlikely to be a classic but both sides will be looking to build on quietly impressive starts. Andy Carroll and George McCartney are still unavailable for the home side but are nearing a return to full fitness. Alou Diarra is out for the season though after doing his cruciate against Cheltenham in the cup. Stoke, on the other hand, appear to have a clean bill of health.
  
  CRYSTAL PALACE v SUNDERLAND
  When is acceptable to start talking about relegation six-pointers? Both managers will be desperate to register their first wins here. If one of them does manage it, the league table will be looking much more inviting to the lucky gaffer, and any potential last-minute signings too.
  
  Palace are still without Jerome Thomas, Yannick Bolasie and Glenn Whelan but Jason Puncheon should make his home debut. Steven Fletcher could return for Sunderland but Stephane Sessegnon joins Phil Bardsley on the naughty list after getting pulled for drink-driving earlier this week.
  
  Predictions?

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  rustee1 > 30/08/2013, 17:29

  looks like another boring saturday of premier league football unless hull can do a cardiff and beat city. let's hope sundays games live up to the billing or at least are decent.

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  StrumSolo > 31/08/2013, 14:08

  They might just do that. An hour gone and although it's still goalless, Hull have had the better opportunities to open the scoring.
  
  Nervy times for City, especially after last weekend.

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  StrumSolo > 31/08/2013, 14:15

  1-0 City thanks to a lovely header from second-half substitute Alvaro Negredo.
  
  Hull will be feeling hard done by.

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  StrumSolo > 31/08/2013, 14:38

  Here are the line-ups for today's 3pm kick offs.
  
  Newcastle: Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Cisse. Subs: Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy, Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.
  Fulham: Stockdale, Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Riise, Kacaniklic, Sidwell, Parker, Ruiz, Berbatov, Bent. Subs: Karagounis, Duff, Briggs, Taarabt, Rodallega, Boateng, Etheridge.
  
  Norwich: Ruddy, Garrido, Turner, Bassong, Whittaker, Redmond, Fer, Johnson, Snodgrass, Elmander, van Wolfswinkel. Subs: Martin, Howson, Pilkington, Bunn, Hoolahan, Becchio, Tettey.
  Southampton: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Fox, Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Osvaldo, Lallana, Lambert. Subs: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Yoshida, Steven Davis, Rodriguez, Ramirez, Shaw.
  
  West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien, Noble, Diame, Downing, Nolan, Jarvis, Maiga. Subs: Tomkins, Rat, Collison, Adrian, Taylor, Morrison, Lee.
  Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Walters, Nzonzi, Adam, Wilson, Etherington, Jones. Subs: Muniesa, Whelan, Pennant, Assaidi, Crouch, Sorensen, Jerome.
  
  Cardiff: Marshall, Connolly, Taylor, Caulker, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Kim Bo-Kyung, Gunnarsson, Bellamy, Campbell. Subs: Lewis, Hudson, Noone, Mutch, Cowie, Gestede, Maynard.
  Everton: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Coleman, Mirallas, Barkley, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jelavic. Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Oviedo, Stones, Kone, Deulofeu, Naismith.

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  RussyRover > 31/08/2013, 14:39

  My schekels this weekend are going with a treble of Both Teams To Score with Palace vs Sunderland, Liverpool vs Man Utd & Arsenal vs Spurs... The treble pays out at approx. 3.8/1 so my fiver of the weekend is going there...
  A certain Mr BFred, would pay out 9/2 for 3 BTTS selections, but he likes to keep some off his Goals Galore coupon, like the Arsenal / Spurs one...

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  StrumSolo > 31/08/2013, 14:40

  Yaya Toure scores in the 90th minute and makes it 2-0 to Man City. Game over.
  
  And there's the full-time whistle.

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  StrumSolo > 31/08/2013, 15:44

  Still no goals in the 3 o'clock kick-offs. 5 minutes(ish) til half time.
  
  Yawn

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  RussyRover > 31/08/2013, 15:52

  They do know the object of the game is to get the ball in the net do they???

• RE: PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: 31st August-1st September

  StrumSolo > 31/08/2013, 15:55

  Can't speak for everyone, but Southampton certainly don't judging by that first half performance.
  
  it'll go mental second half I'm sure.
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