Football News: Premier League Match Previews Sunday 22nd October 2017

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Sunday 22nd October 2017

Everton v Arsenal 1:30pm kick off

Schneiderlin (knock) major doubt
Lennon (muscle injury no return date yet) out
Barkley (hamstring injury expected return 18th November) out
Funes Mori (ACL expected return 1st April 2018) out
Coleman (broken leg expected return 29th November) out
Bolasie (ACL injury expected return 29th November) out
Kenny (knock) minor doubt

This season so far has been shockingly bad, losing half the games and only picking up two wins, scoring just 5 goals in the process. With the spending done in the summer, the fans expected much better of the team this season and there are beginning to be signs of them turning on the manager, Ronald Koeman. It is not so much the results that have really upset them, it is the performances, the selection choices, the tactics etc. It is difficult for even the most loyal of fans to back a manager who gets all of it wrong so often. However, it is still early in the season and he is showing signs of learning from his mistakes, a good result against Arsenal would go a long way to turning things around.

b>Most important player: Jordan Pickford. So far he has been about as close as it gets to a bright spot for Everton this season. At least he provides a platform for the team to build from.

Ospina (groin strain expected return 5th November) out
Welbeck (groin strain expected return 18th November) out
Mustafi (thigh strain expected return 18th November) out
Chambers (hip injury expected return 18th November) out
Cazorla (plantaris injury no return date yet but back in light training) out

It is hard to know what to make of Arsenal at the moment, just when they seem back on track, they lose. Perhaps it is the missing cojones that are the problem? What I do know is that their record away from home is atrocious right now, with not one win on their travels and three defeats. Just one goal has been scored, while 7 have been conceded. Is it a cojones problem or do they just not play well when teams take the game to them?

Or is it that the 'Case of the Missing Cojones' is actually why they do not play well when teams take the game to them? Speaking of missing, how much longer is Cazorla going to be out for? He was the hub of the side before his injury, which seems to have been keeping him out for years now.

Most important player: Petr Cech. The big keeper will be hoping for a quiet day, but his experience and organisational skills will be needed if the Gunners are not going to end up being a key turning point for Ronald Koeman.

Defining Battle: the key to this game is the crowd. If Arsenal can take the game by the scruff of the neck and turns the crowd against Everton, they should go on to win. Everton need to show they are up for it and get the fans behind them before the anxiety in the stands transmits to the players on the pitch.

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 1-0
Ed003 - 1-2
Ed004 - 1-3
Ed007 - 1-1
Ed018 - 1-1
Ed025 - 0-4
Ed033 - 0-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool 4pm kick off

Dembele (hip injury expected return 28th October) out
N'Koudou (concussion) doubt
Davies (illness) slight doubt
Wanyama (MCL injury expected return 5th November) out
Lamela (hip injury 25th October) major doubt

Things are looking rosey again in the Spurs garden, with the Wembley Premier League 'curse' lifted last weekend against Bournemouth and that followed up with a midweek draw away to Real Madrid. The North Londoners are beginning to look like a side that can go toe-to-toe with anyone. This is looking like the perfect time to head into a game they usually struggle in.

Dembele's injury looks set to keep him out once again and that is a big loss. Spurs have no one else to control midfield the way he does. To be fair, there are very few players around that can. The only other issue that really stands out is goals, Spurs struggle badly to score them at home, only putting 3 away in 4 games.

Most important player: Harry Kane. The England striker is the best chance Spurs have of ending their problems scoring goals at Wembley.

Mane (hamstring injury expected return 18th November) out
Lallana (thigh strain expected return 18th November) out
Clyne (back injury no return date yet) out
Bogdan (ACL injury no return date yet) out

Liverpool do not have a good away record this season, in the Premier League, particularly defensively. 11 goals conceded in just 4 games shows where the problems lie, and it is seemingly a problem only away from home as just 1 goal has been conceded at Anfield in the Prem this season. The defence will need to be much better today than usual, as any lead Spurs can build is going to be extremely difficult to overturn, especially without the attacking talents of Sadio Mane.
Most important player: Dejan Lovren. The Croatian defender is always a little prone to inconsistency, but this season it has been a major problem for him. If he has another of his off days, then Spurs will have a field day.

Defining Battle: will Pochettino stick with the back 3 he has been using this season? Having seen how Liverpool dealt with Hoffenheim and Arsenal that both used a back 3, will the Argentine manager make a change to shore things up a bit at the back or will he risk his defenders getting caught one on one with the pace of Salah? The key is to keep Salah in front of the defence and not allow him to make those runs in behind he so loves.

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 2-2
Ed003 - 4-3
Ed004 - 2-1
Ed007 - 3-1
Ed018 - 3-2
Ed025 - 1-2
Ed033 - 2-1

Editor's Predictions Table
1. Ed018 - 48 points
2. Ed025 - 43 points
3= Ed003 - 40 points
3= Ed007 - 40 points
5. Ed002 - 37 points
6= Ed004 - 35 points
6= Ed033 - 35 points

*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 19th October 2017

Written by Tris Burke October 22 2017 05:15:57