Pre-Match Analysis: Gameweek 3

All 20 teams will return as the 3rd round of Premier League begins. Perhaps you have observe enough and wanted to use wildcard already? It's all up to you, good luck.

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22 Aug 09

Arsenal vs Portsmouth (Emirates Stadium, 3.00pm)

Red hot Arsenal vs relegate-to-be Portsmouth. The gunners are ready to open their machine gun again!

Key injuries (Arsenal): Nasri, Rosicky, Walcott (doubtful)

Key injuries (Portsmouth): Finnan (doubtful)

Expected score: 3-0

Fantasy heroes: Van Persie, Arshavin

Birmingham City vs Stoke City (St Andrews Ground, 3.00pm)

Defend vs defend. Most probably a boring match anyway, with Stoke have the higher odds of winning.

Key injuries (Birmingham): Ridgewell, Murphy, Espinoza (doubtful)

Expected score: 0-1

Fantasy heroes: Delap

Hull City vs Bolton Wanderers (KC Stadium, 3.00pm)

Hull certainly had mere chance of bouncing back from humiliating lost to battle against the fatigue-free Megson's squad.

Key injuries (Hull): Bullard, Fagan (doubtful)

Expected score: 0-2

Fantasy heroes: Davies

Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (City of Manchester Stadium, 3.00pm)

Manchester City's billion pounded forwards are simply to strong for the Wolves to defend, not to mention the game will be held at Manchester.

Key injuries (Wolves): Kightly, Ebanks-Blake

Expected score: 4-0

Fantasy heroes: Adebayor, Ireland

Sunderland vs Blackburn Rovers (Stadium of Light, 3.00pm)

The Black Cats will have higher odds of winning since they're the host. Anyway, Salgado is joining Blackburn so have an eye on him.

Key injuries (Sunderland): Malbranque (doubtful)

Key injuries (Blackburn): Emerton, Nelsen (doubtful), Reid (doubtful), Dunn

Expected score: 2-0

Fantasy heroes: Cattermole

Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United (DW Stadium, 3.00pm)

From Latics: We'll repeat what Burnley had just done.

From Devils: Be careful of the hungry devils searching from a bounce from defeat.

The outcome is very uncertain for me.

Key injuries (Man Utd): Ferdinand, Vidic

Expected score: 0-1

Fantasy heroes: Giggs

23 Aug 09

West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur (Boleyn Ground, 1.30pm)

West Ham is doing good but Tottenham is doing great. Redknapp will not let his squad to lose in order to get a Champions League spot.

Key injuries (West Ham): Behrami (doubtful), Ashton (doubtful)

Key injuries (Tottenham): Woodgate, Bale (doubtful)

Expected score: 1-2

Fantasy heroes: Defoe

Burnley vs Everton (Turf Moor, 3.00pm)

Another sparkling performance from the Clarets? I'm sure that Moyes won't allow two consecutive defeats for his squad.

Key injuries (Everton): Arteta, Jagielka, Yakubu

Expected score: 0-1

Fantasy heroes: Pienaar

Fulham vs Chelsea (Craven Cottage, 4.00pm)

Defensive master Fulham will be waiting at their fort to defend for the advancement of Chelsea into their territory. It'll be the first real test for Carlo at the Premier League.

Key injuries (Chelsea): Joe Cole (doubtful), Zhirkov (doubtful)

Expected score: 0-0

Fantasy heroes: Schwarzer

23 Aug 09

Liverpool vs Aston Villa (Anfield, 8.00pm)

Aston isn't as strong as before but still, the Reds must be consistent enough to secure a win at home.

Key injuries (Liverpool): Aurelio, Aquilani, Agger, Skrtel

Key injuries (Aston Villa): L Young (doubtful)

Expected score: 2-1

Fantasy heroes: Gerrard

Note: Time are stated in local England time.

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Predicted Stars of the Week:

1. Gerrard - The skipper is doing great, and I believe his performance can still be improved for his next game.
2. Ireland - He's naturally borned to score double figures. Hopefully for the game against Wolves which a lot of their defenders are injured, he can do this.
3. Delap - When playing against stubborn defense, Delap's catapult attack is the best weapon to pierce the opponent's goal.

"I can end your career with my 1 MegaNewton throw-in!" Rory Delap

Recommendations from the Pundit:

1. Palacios - 50% confident. It's just 2 games and I am still not done with Tottenham's consistency, so I'll observe him for several gameweeks more at least.
2. Vermaelen - 70% confident. He'll not be Glen Johnson who'll goal a lot but since he had already shown his calibre, you can put your trust on him in defense.
3. Michael Ballack - 50% confident. Ancelotti's strategy will definitely match his style, but still Chelsea's midfield is abundant with stars - which means that he'll not start much unless he has great form.