EPL 2016/17: 10 things to look forward to in the Premier League this weekend
The Premier League enters the 15th gameweek this season and the drama and tension is set to resume. The weekend’s opening fixture will be at Vicarage road with Watford taking on Everton before a host of fixtures gets underway.
League leaders Chelsea play on Sunday and will have the advantage of knowing what result will be enough to ensure their stay at the top with contenders City and Arsenal playing on Saturday. Liverpool finish off this weekend’s fixture as they welcome West Ham United to Anfield. The Reds themselves will look to bounce back after their defeat at Bournemouth where they let slip a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3.
However, all eyes will be on Manchester United as they welcome Spurs to Old Trafford, knowing that anything less than a victory is sure to be met with more fierce criticism. Six points separate the sides and both teams have already fallen out of the Champions League places. A victory for either side will be a shot in the arm ahead of the hectic Christmas period.
#1 Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Carrick holds the key in a tight fixture
Known for his passing ability, Michael Carrick still controls games from midfield even at the age of 35, and it should be a matter of concern for United when two of their best performing players in the squad are both 35, i.e. Ibrahimovic and Carrick.
United are a completely different team with the presence of Carrick in midfield and the points average and win ratio increases when Carrick starts games.
However, Pochettino’s side, which prefers the high-press, is sure to disturb Carrick’s passing style, and it will be interesting to see whether Mourinho starts with the Englishman. Carrick was rested for the Europa league tie and Red Devils fans will hope that Carrick’s incisive forward passes will be on display and will be able to counter the hard-pressing, relentless running of the Spurs team.
Match Prediction: Manchester United 1 v 2 Tottenham Hotspur