EPL

[Macca 16,173]

The EPL is back! Here are the weekends fixtures ... Opening round

Maybe Monday's game between Man City & Newcastle is the best match-up of the round. Although the early game on Saturday between Liverpool and Stoke might be the 'Match of the Day'

Came across this article written by Robbie Savage on the BBC website. It's quite an eye-opener ...

... Robbie Savage reveals footballers' tricks to engineer a transfer

Sulking is horrible and can have a really negative impact on your team-mates and the club as a whole. When you sulk, your whole demeanour changes and you bring people down with you.

Any player can cause havoc in the changing room or out on the training pitch. You just need a bad attitude. It doesn't matter what it is, do it badly and you soon get a reputation the manager cannot ignore.

It can be hard to do, but one sure way of losing the manager's backing is by not giving 100% in a match. I say it's hard to do because you're not just letting yourself down, you are letting your team-mates, fans and family down.

[Macca 16,173]

... Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger under intense pressure following shock loss to Aston Villa

The Gunners have at least £70million burning a hole in their pocket but haven’t spent a penny. And after allowing 17 fringe players to leave, Wenger has arguably a weaker squad than at the end of last season.

Confidence isn’t the only thing Wenger needs to rebuild as the transfer deadline approaches. Arsenal will continue in their attempt to land Luis Suarez from Liverpool, with an offer nearing £50m imminent. They will also step up their interest in Atletico Madrid right back Juanfran. Not many years pass without talk of a crisis at Arsenal. For it to come one game into a season is a new experience even for them.

[Macca 16,173]

... The weekends fixtures

The match of the round would have to be the Tuesday morning clash between Manchester United & Chelsea (5am) Aston Villa vs Liverpool should be a cracker as well (2.30am early Sunday morning)

Here's a BBC podcast previewing the round of games ... Friday Night Preview with Dan Walker

Fulham vs Arsenal kick things off this evening at 9.45pm. The Gunners will be desperate for the 3 points.

Edited August 24, 2013 by Macca

[Macca 16,173]

The weekend's games ... here's a podcast preview of the round of games ... Friday Night Preview

Sunday night provides 2 classic match-ups. At 10.30pm we've got Liverpool vs Manchester Utd followed at 1.00am by Arsenal vs Spurs.

It looks like Wayne Rooney will be staying at Old Trafford after all ... Mourinho: Wayne Rooney chase over

“For all parties, it is finished,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “One thing is to tell you through other people that you want, you want, you want very much, but at the end of the day (nothing happens). Everyone had a right to decide his life his future, so I respect him.”

[H_T 2,941]

Man Utd officially struggling now. Definitely will not win the Title this year.

[Sir Why You Little 34,937]

Gunners win again overnight.

Chelsea lose overnight.

Top F$&@ing day!!!! .

[Macca 16,173]

Gunners win again overnight.

Chelsea lose overnight.

Top F$&@ing day!!!! .

And my Hammers just keep playing in scoreless draws! (although we did defeat Spurs 3-0 at Tottenham the other week - you'd be happy about that!)

Arsenal are having an excellent season but Man City loom large - they beat Norwich 7-0 last night. City can sometimes struggle away from home but they are the one to watch IMO. The Gunners go to Old Trafford next week - that could be a beauty.

The title race is wide open (at this early stage)

[P-man 13,277]

As a City fan I was pleasantly surprised at the performance against Norwich, although I think the Canaries lost 4-0 earlier in the week in the League Cup so can't take a huge amount away from it. Much needed points though to stay in touch. Demichelis looks to be the answer to the central defender woes in the absence of Vinnie Kompany.

Very happy to see the title race becoming more and more open. Six teams with legitimate title claims, whilst Everton should be looking at Champion's League football as a realistic goal.

The Saints stumble for the first time away at Stoke, but still a remarkable start to the season for them. Hopefully they can keep it up.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

Suarez.

[Macca 16,173]

Liverpool vs Arsenal on tonight at 11.45pm.

For those without cable, you can listen to the game here ... live coverage of EPL games - TalkSPORT (talkSport.com have the rights to broadcast the EPL games online)

[Cards13 9,117]

Come on Suarez and Sturridge!!!

[Macca 16,173]

Come on Suarez and Sturridge!!!

3-2 but don't ask me which way! Both teams will probably be pushing for a win so we should see a good open and attacking game.

Of course, now that I've said that ...

[Cards13 9,117]

5-1... Geebus that is a thrashing. Good young side, lets hope they stay in Champions league spot this year and improve enough next year to press for the league.

[Macca 16,173]

Big, season definer on tonight at around about 10.30pm ... Liverpool vs Manchester City - I'm tipping a 2-2 draw. It's sure to be a cracker as both teams will be after a win ... Table

For those without cable, you can listen to the game from the rights broadcaster here ... EPL games live - TalkSPORT

[Deestroy All 14,262]

What an amazing season.

What an intense match that just was.

Ours to lose now.

Come on Swansea!

[Binmans PA 26,498]

Go you reds! Suarez and Henderson were rubbish, but Stirling has grown enormously this season.

[Binmans PA 26,498]

5-1... Geebus that is a thrashing. Good young side, lets hope they stay in Champions league spot this year and improve enough next year to press for the league.

If that was in relation to Liverpool, my what a season we've had.

[Pates 9,537]

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we'd be a genuine shot the the premier league title this late into the season. God it was EPL theatre at its best, home team races out of the blocks only to be reeled in, and just when you thought the hope of the locals were going to be dashed up pops a hero (along with a very poor mistake).

One of the worst games I've seen from Suarez, incredible given the stakes as well, I would've thought the chance at a title would lift him, instead all he did was appeal for frees/penalties.

What a game!

Edited April 14, 2014 by Pates

[Cards13 9,117]

Can we??!!!

[Macca 16,173]

Tremendous match, fantastic atmosphere and both teams went for the win. Best game of the year so far.

Liverpool can win the whole thing but ... they can't get too focused on the Chelsea game in 2 weeks time (not yet anyway) At Norwich next week might be tricky as the canaries are locked in a relegation battle. The match is on at the user friendly time of 9pm next Sunday - ideal.

My Hammers just need to eke out a few more points to be assured of safety.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

Embarrassing by Suarez. Probably undone any inroads he's made with neutral fans after that display.

The 3 kids in Sterling, Coutinho and Flanagan have been absolutely huge in this home stretch. Maybe they don't know how to get nervous yet. But those 3 tore it apart last night, didn't put a foot wrong.

95 minutes was too much for me to handle, dunno how I'll get through 4 weeks.

I love Martin Škrtel.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

Sunderland you beauty.

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Crystal Palace you beauty!

[Cards13 9,117]

Massive, massive, massive game against Chelsea next week, a draw would do us, but a win would be unbelievable!!!

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Massive, massive, massive game against Chelsea next week, a draw would do us, but a win would be unbelievable!!!

Draw will easily be good enough as City are certain to drop 3 points in the following game