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Football News: Premier League Games Preview for 29 January 2019

Premier League Games Preview for 29 January 2019
Image from: freelargeimages.com

Arsenal v Cardiff City
Before I begin with the preview for this match, a note on the horrible events last week for Cardiff's new signing Emiliano Sala feels the best way to open up this article.
What happened to both Sala and the pilot Dave Ibbotson is truly awful, and I would like to pass my thoughts on to the family and friends of both of them. For the second time this season, the Premier League is left shaken by accidents involving aircraft, and it's hard to put into words how hard this must be for the families of all involved to lose loved ones so suddenly. My deepest condolences to them. This news has shocked the world, just as the Leicester helicopter crash did.
As for this match itself, and after an impressive 2-0 win against top four rivals Chelsea in their last home league game, Arsenal host Cardiff City as they look to make it six league wins on the bounce at the Emirates since the start of December 2018.
Cardiff begin tonight's game two points adrift in the relegation zone, and have an uphill task against an Arsenal side that they have lost all three of their previous Premier League contests against.
Indeed, across all competitions, Cardiff are winless in 14 games against Arsenal since beating them 3-2 in February 1961, and they have lost all of their last six away matches versus the Gunners.
The Bluebirds will not be buoyed by their recent form either, losing three of their last four matches in all competitions, and winning only once in 12 away matches all season, a 1-0 win at Leicester.
Neil Warnock himself has faced Arsenal on four previous occasions in the Premier League and lost three of those, winning the other 1-0 with Sheffield United in December 2006. His three top-flight visits to the Gunners have all ended in defeats too, so he won't be too optimistic of his side's chances tonight.
Ultimately, these are not the type of games where Cardiff will secure their survival - anything other than a defeat tonight would be a bonus, and nobody will know that more than Neil Warnock.
Key players:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - His home record for Arsenal is tremendous, and with four goals to his name against newly promoted sides already in the Premier League, Aubameyang will be keen to keep up his chase for the Premier League Golden Boot tonight.
Victor Camarasa - It will be a tough battle in midfield for Cardiff tonight, and Camarasa will be vital to that, as he has been for much of this season for them, scoring both of their last two league goals.

Fulham v Brighton and Hove Albion
After being hit by a late winner against Spurs last time out, Fulham are growing increasingly desperate for points in their battle for survival. They have now lost four on the bounce in all competitions, and a loss today will mean they've suffered three defeats in a row at Craven Cottage for the first time since October 2016.
But 12 of their 14 league points this season have come in home games, and they play notoriously poor travellers Brighton tonight - who have managed to win just two of their last 25 away league games. That makes this a must win match for Fulham really, who have to take advantage when teams with poor away records turn up to Craven Cottage.
What will concern Fulham is their recent record against the Seagulls - they've lost five of their last six against them, drawing the other in the reverse clash this season, a game in which Fulham were 2-0 ahead before drawing 2-2.
Brighton are currently on a run of just one win in their last eight league games, so this is important for them too - they are seven points above the drop zone but by no means safe yet. A win today would be a significant step towards changing that.
Key players:
Ryan Babel - He looked a real threat on debut against Tottenham last time out, and if he can get firing, he could be just the ticket for Fulham in their battle to avoid relegation. A front three of himself, Mitrovic and Schurrle isn't a bad setup for a side in Fulham's position. They just need to stop conceding to give that trio a chance.
Glenn Murray - With five goals in his last four league appearances against Fulham, Murray has form against them, despite having never scored at Craven Cottage in the league. He scored a brace in the reverse meeting earlier this season, so he'll be licking his lips at the opportunity for more today.

Huddersfield Town v Everton
This will be Huddersfield's first league match under Jan Siewert, poached from Borussia Dortmund II just as ex-boss David Wagner was. His task is, on paper, a mightily tough one. Huddersfield are rock bottom of the Premier League having lost 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions, and have suffered a massive run of five straight home league defeats.
Perhaps trying to end that run on a Tuesday night isn't ideal for them either - they are yet to win a midweek Premier League match in eight attempts, no less. And Everton aren't ideal opposition either - they've won none of their last 10 against the Toffees in all competitions, losing two of their three Premier League meetings.
However, Everton have some form to regain themselves - they have only managed to win two of their last 10 Premier League games, and have lost five of their last six away from home in all competitions, only beating Burnley in this run.
The fact of the matter remains that no side in English top-flight history has ever survived relegation having had 11 or fewer points after 23 matches - and that's when converting to three points for a win. It's a desperate situation for Huddersfield and their new manager, who hardly has the experience to prove he has what it takes to dig them out of the hole. Even the most hardened Huddersfield supporter won't be betting anything significant on their survival, and perhaps that will give them some freedom to go out and try new ideas, new ways of playing that can see them at least end the season better than they have started it.
Key players:
Jason Puncheon - With two goals and three assists against Everton in the Premier League, Puncheon has had a hand in more goals against them than any other side in the competition, and he will be desperate to get off the mark for his new club tonight.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - He has scored in both of his previous Premier League appearances against the Terriers, and the young striker will be hungry for more against them again tonight. He's been used as a substitute for Everton's last two league games, but did score in one of those against Bournemouth, so he is capable of influencing games even from the bench.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
Just as West Ham were starting to build up a head of steam, they have gone and suffered consecutive defeats in all competitions - including a horrendous 4-2 loss to League One side AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup last time out.
Wolves didn't acquit themselves too well against third tier opposition over the weekend either, having to come from 2-0 down to earn a replay against Shrewsbury, but Nuno Espirito Santo's side have won four of their last six at the Molineux in all competitions, including both of their last two, so they will be hoping that home advantage plays a part today.
Of course, their last league game was a thrilling 4-3 win over Leicester, and it wouldn't be a surprise if this game came close to that in terms of number of goals, with both sides boasting forward-thinking managers that will be out to win this match.
This is West Ham's first visit to Wolves since October 2010, but they have only lost one of their last five there. Having said that, Wolves won the reverse meeting between these two teams in dramatic late fashion, Adama Traore netting a 90th minute winner in September 2018, and will be aiming to do a league double over the Hammers for the first time in their history, in what is the 30th league campaign these teams have met.
This West Ham side have lost their last three away matches in all competitions, and could lose four on the bounce for the first time since last March - something Pellegrini will want his side to avoid in order to instantly get over their FA Cup shock on Saturday.
Key players:
Adama Traore - He scored a late winner the last time these sides met, and assisted a late equaliser for Wolves in the FA Cup on Saturday, so Wolves will no doubt look to his lightning pace and dribbling to hurt the Hammers today. He hasn't actually scored a league goal since that West Ham winner, so now would be a perfect time for him to end that.
Mark Noble - It's times like this where West Ham need Noble's experience to come to the fore to help them shake off their weekend defeat. He has scored in both of his last two league starts against Wolves, both at Molineux, so perhaps he can make it three in a row tonight.

Manchester United v Burnley
Another chance for Manchester United's resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to take another step forward as they host Burnley tonight - a win for the Red Devils would see the Norweigan become the first manager to win each of his first seven Premier League matches in charge of a single club, a remarkable feat all things considered.
But this is also a newly invigorated Burnley side, one that has won three of their last four league games, respectably drawing the other away at Watford. Those three wins are as many as they had managed in their previous 24 league games before this run, highlighting the upturn they've witnessed in recent weeks.
However, this is undoubtedly Burnley's toughest test in the league in recent weeks, and comes off the back of a difficult visit to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Burnley's record against Man Utd won't fill them with confidence either. Since they won their first Premier League meeting with the Red Devils in August 2009, they are winless in nine against them - indeed that win almost a decade ago is their only triumph in their last 26 games against Man Utd in all competitions.
Whilst Sean Dyche's side have drawn both of their last two visits to Old Trafford, they haven't won there since September 1962, playing 19 matches without success since in all competitions, a dire run that they will do well to halt considering Solskjaer's flying start as Man Utd boss.
Key players:
Marcus Rashford - He's really hitting form, and a goal today will make him the third youngest player in Premier League history to score in five consecutive appearances in the competition, after Nicolas Anelka and Jose Reyes. Remarkable really.
Tom Heaton - It's no surprise that his re-emergence into the Burnley side has seen them vastly improve their form, and tonight he returns to the scene where he made his joint-high 11 saves in a single Premier League match as Burnley drew 0-0 at Old Trafford in October 2016. Another performance like that one may well be what Burnley need to avoid making the short journey home empty handed.

Newcastle United v Manchester City
Manchester City look as close to unstoppable as you can get right now. They have kept six straight clean sheets and scored 28 goals in those matches - that is an English top-flight record for most goals scored in a run of clean sheets in all competitions by any side. It's frighteningly good.
Remember too, that a win for Pep Guardiola's side will move them just one point behind leaders Liverpool, and crank up the pressure for their match against Leicester tomorrow night.
And City love facing Newcastle. They're undefeated in their last 22 league contests with them, picking up 60 of the 66 available points in this run, scoring 56 goals for just 12 in reply. Benitez has a job on if he's to see his side get anything from this match.
But Newcastle did win their last league game 3-0 against Cardiff, and did rest players for their FA Cup defeat to Watford last time out, so Benitez will feel he has had good preparation for what is a undoubtedly a tough fixture for them.
Even so, with Man City having won nine of their last 11 visits to St. James' Park in all competitions, the task facing the Magpies is immense tonight. Pep has his Man City side purring.
Key players:
Jamaal Lascelles - Man City are in imperious form, and Newcastle will have to be resilient to stand a chance of a result tonight - Lascelles will be key to that, and Benitez will look to him to organise his back line and keep City at bay as best he can.
Sergio Aguero - There is no other choice here. Aguero's 14 goals in 12 Premier League games against Newcastle is the most a single player has scored against a particular opponent for one club in the competition's history. Newcastle must be sick of the very sight of him.

Written by Reid the Red January 29 2019 15:44:51

 

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