| Premiership table
- after 11th Nov 2012 |
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Man Utd |
11 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
15 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
14 |
8 |
13 |
27 |
| 2 |
Man City |
11 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
13 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
10 |
25 |
| 3 |
Chelsea |
11 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
14 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
4 |
12 |
24 |
| 4 |
Everton |
11 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
20 |
| 5 |
West Brom |
11 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
5 |
20 |
| 6 |
West Ham |
11 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
18 |
| 7 |
Tottenham |
11 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
17 |
| 8 |
Arsenal |
11 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
11 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
16 |
| 9 |
Fulham |
11 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
12 |
15 |
5 |
16 |
| 10 |
Newcastle |
11 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
-3 |
14 |
| 11 |
Swansea |
11 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
10 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
13 |
| 12 |
Stoke |
11 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
-1 |
12 |
| 13 |
Liverpool |
11 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
-2 |
12 |
| 14 |
Wigan |
11 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
-6 |
11 |
| 15 |
Norwich |
11 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
12 |
-10 |
11 |
| 16 |
Sunderland |
10 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
-4 |
9 |
| 17 |
Aston Villa |
11 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7 |
9 |
| 18 |
Reading |
10 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
-6 |
6 |
| 19 |
Southampton |
11 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
18 |
-14 |
5 |
| 20 |
QPR |
11 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
11 |
-12 |
4 |
Match Day 12 in the Premier League starts the North London derby when Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates Stadium with a 12:45 kickoff. Both of the teams have had relatively poor starts to the season so some pent up frustration could be on show
The two Manchester clubs seem to have good opportunities to maintain their places at the top of the Premiership. City are at home to Aston Villa and United away at Norwich. Chelsea has a slightly more difficult task with an away trip to flying West Brom.
Fulham welcome Sunderland to Fortress Cottage by the River Thames. A win for Fulham and favourable results elsewhere could land The Cottgers in 6 spot.
Newcastle will hope to get back to winning ways with a home game against Swansea while Everton will reckon that a trip to Reading will give them the three points they need to hold on to 4th spot. Liverpool face another home game that they should win but?
There is another game in West London that will interest some it is what has been described as the El Sackico and is between QPR and Southampton, best of luck lads.
Saturday 17 November 2012
12:45 - Arsenal (8) v Tottenham (7) Sky
The eyes of the world will descend on Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime for the latest instalment in a long-running feud between capital neighbours Arsenal and Tottenham - with all of the action live on Sky Sports 2HD and in Sky 3D.
Meetings between these two arch-enemies have had a tendency to produce a hatful of goals in recent seasons, with the last four fixtures at the Emirates seeing strikers very much on top - with the target found on 23 occasions.
Arsene Wenger will be aware that recent defensive showings from his side suggest there could be more of the same this weekend, with the Gunners having picked up an alarming habit of shooting themselves in the foot.
Spurs, meanwhile, have suffered three defeats in four to slip off the top-four pace and Andre Villas-Boas will be desperate for his first experience of derby day to be an enjoyable one.
Arsenal will assess the fitness of striker Olivier Giroud (hamstring/calf) and winger Theo Walcott (buttock muscle).
Midfielder Mikel Arteta (hip) is also causing concern, along with full-back Bacary Sagna (leg), but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is close to a comeback from his ankle problem and could be included in the team for the first time since September.
Midfielder Jack Wilshere returns from suspension, with Gervinho (ankle), Kieran Gibbs (thigh), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) all ruled out.
Tottenham playmaker Mousa Dembele misses out due to a hip injury.
Winger Aaron Lennon has recovered from a hamstring injury, and Jermain Defoe and Kyle Walker, who also had hamstring complaints, should be fit.
Long-term absentees Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal W L W L D; Tottenham W L W L L
Top scorers: Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 8; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 8
Referee: Howard Webb.
15:00 - Liverpool (13) v Wigan (14)
Liverpool are among those to have felt the full force of the Baggies this season, and the Reds have yet to fully recover from an opening day mauling in the Midlands.
Their latest encounter sees them return to home soil against Wigan Athletic, but Anfield has been far from a happy hunting ground for Brendan Rodgers' side - with only three wins taken from 15 games in 2012.
Roberto Martinez's Latics will be keen to pile more misery on the locals this weekend, with their last visit to the red half of Merseyside in March seeing them leave with the spoils.
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina is set to return in place of Brad Jones after five weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is fit after a thigh problem while centre-backs Daniel Agger (groin) and Martin Skrtel (illness) are expected to be included.
Wigan have winger Ryo Miyaichi back after five games out due to a pubic injury.
James McArthur, who has been sidelined recently by a dead leg, is a doubt, while fellow midfielder Albert Crusat (knee) and defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are not yet ready to return.
Last season: Liverpool 1 Wigan 2, Wigan 0 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool D W D D D; Wigan D L W W L
Top scorers: Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 11; Arouna Kone (Wigan) 4
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
15:00 - Man City (2) v Aston Villa (17)
Sandwiched between contests at the Emirates and Carrow Road are six other top-flight fixtures, with Manchester City entertaining Aston Villa in a contest which will see the only unbeaten record in the top four divisions of English football come under threat.
It is widely acknowledged that defending champions City have yet to produce their best this season, but the fact that no side has been able to take advantage of those deficiencies bodes well for Roberto Mancini's troops.
Villa have already won once at the Etihad Stadium in the 2012/13 campaign, in the Capital One Cup, but just two victories in 11 league outings has left them precariously perched just above the drop zone and sweating on the fact that they could end the weekend inside the bottom three.
Manchester City midfielder James Milner (hamstring) and defender Joleon Lescott (back) are back in contention, while Gael Clichy (back) could also be fit and Samir Nasri has recovered from illness.
Striker Mario Balotelli will hope to play after being dropped last week but midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and right-back Micah Richards (knee) are not ready to return.
Aston Villa will be boosted by the return of full-backs Eric Lichaj, from suspension, and Nathan Baker, from an ankle injury.
However Darren Bent, Chris Herd, Richard Dunne, Charles N'Zogbia and Joe Bennett are still unavailable.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 1, Manchester City 4 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Manchester City W W W D W; Aston Villa L L D W L
Top scorers: Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) 7; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 7
Referee: Jon Moss.
15:00 - Newcastle (10) v Swansea (11)
Newcastle United and Swansea City find themselves stuck in mid-table, with both sides probably feeling that they could, and maybe should, have fared better up to this point.
The Magpies have struggled to build on their success from last season, with one win in six leaving them six points adrift of the top four.
Swansea's recent record also makes for uncomfortable reading, with one win secured in nine, and they have collected just one point from the last 12 available on the road.
Newcastle hope to include striker Papiss Cisse, who missed Senegal midweek friendly against Niger due to a back injury.
Manager Alan Pardew is without midfielders Yohan Cabaye (groin) and Jonas Gutierrez (knee), utility man James Perch (thigh) and suspended defender Fabricio Coloccini, but full-back Danny Simpson (shoulder) and frontman Demba Ba (shin) are available, as is midfielder Cheick Tiote after completing his three-match ban.
Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yueng misses out with a hamstring problem, and natural replacement Kemy Agustien is struggling with a toe injury.
Leon Britton also has a knock while winger Pablo Hernandez is nursing an ankle injury, although defender Chico Flores is set to return from a dead leg.
Laudrup may move top scorer Michu back into midfield and hand Danny Graham or Itay Shechter a start up front.
Last season: Swansea 0 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 0 Swansea 0
Last five league matches: Newcastle L D W D L; Swansea D W L D D
Top scorers: Demba Ba (Newcastle) 7; Miguel Michu (Swansea) 7
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
15:00 - QPR (20) v Southampton (19)
Queens Park Rangers go in search of their first victory of the season at the 12th time of asking.
Pressure continues to mount on Mark Hughes' shoulders, but the same can also be said of Nigel Adkins - who takes his Southampton side to Loftus Road this weekend.
The Saints are just one place and a solitary point better off than QPR and a ninth defeat of the season would see them slump to the foot of the table.
Defender Fabio has overcome his hamstring injury and is available for QPR.
Midfielder Park Ji-sung (knee) is out and striker Bobby Zamora (hip) is a doubt, but defender Ryan Nelsen and forward Jamie Mackie are fit despite missing internationals for New Zealand and Scotland this week.
Stephane Mbia is suspended, but Kieron Dyer and Hogan Ephraim return from their respective calf and hamstring problems, while Andrew Johnson (knee) is out.
Right-back Frazer Richardson and midfielder Richard Chaplow will be missing for Southampton.
Richardson has suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury while a knock keeps Chaplow sidelined.
Guly do Prado could be involved after being left out of the squad for last weekend's draw with Swansea.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: QPR L D L D L; Southampton D L L L D
Top scorers: Bobby Zamora (QPR) 4; Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 4
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
15:00 - Reading (18) v Everton (4)
Reading will need to do something they have yet to achieve this season - take three points from a Premier League fixture.
The Royals have only been beaten on four occasions - the same amount as Tottenham - but they are yet to break their winning duck upon returning to the top level and will be aware that weekend opponents Everton are no pushovers.
The Toffees continue to occupy a standing inside the UEFA Champions League places and are currently on an eight-match unbeaten run, with David Moyes having brought the best out of a tight-knit unit.
Reading winger Jimmy Kebe is a doubt due to a tight groin.
Royals boss Brian McDermott will definitely be without goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (shoulder) as well as midfield duo Danny Guthrie (thigh) and Jem Karacan (knee).
Everton forward Kevin Mirallas will miss the trip due to a hamstring injury which could keep him out for a couple of weeks.
Midfielder Darron Gibson sits out a 10th successive match with a thigh problem.
Forward Victor Anichebe (hamstring) and defender Tony Hibbert (calf) remain doubts.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading D L D D D; Everton D D D D W
Top scorers: Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) 5; Marouane Fellaini (Everton) 6
Referee: Martin Atkinson
15:00 - West Brom (5) v Chelsea (3)
Sitting just above Everton at present are Chelsea, a side that burst out of the blocks but one that has suffered something of a stumble of late.
The Blues have a habit of allowing their standards to drop as temperatures plummet and they could do with a pre-winter warmer at The Hawthorns on Saturday against in-form West Bromwich Albion.
A familiar face awaits them in the Black Country, in the form of former coach and now Baggies boss Steve Clarke, but the Scot is unlikely to go lightly on his one-time employers, with West Brom having dropped just three points in front of their own supporters so far.
West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill will again deputise for Ben Foster, who is recovering from groin surgery.
There is doubt over Gareth McAuley, who suffered a hamstring injury playing for Northern Ireland against Azerbaijan, with Gabriel Tamas on stand-by to deputise.
Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu could recover from a hamstring injury in time, however on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is ineligible to face his parent club.
Ashley Cole could return for Chelsea after missing the Blues' last two matches with a hamstring injury.
Captain John Terry (knee) will be out for around three weeks, and the game comes too soon for Frank Lampard (calf), while manager Roberto Di Matteo will assess those in his squad who played for their countries in midweek.
Last season: West Brom 1 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 2 West Brom 1
Last five league matches: West Brom W L L W W; Chelsea W W L D D
Top scorers: Shane Long (West Brom) 5; Fernando Torres &
Juan Mata (Chelsea) 7
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
17:30 - Norwich (15) v Man Utd (1) - ESPN
Manchester United have moved ominously to the Premier League summit, with Sir Alex Ferguson's title-winning machine starting to move through the gears.
Norwich City are the next side to tackle the rampant Red Devils, with the Canaries charged with the task of trying to replicate the heroic display they put in at Carrow Road when stunning Arsenal back in October.
United will be aware that a potential banana skin awaits them in Norfolk, but a sequence of results that has seen them prevail in 12 of their last 14 meetings with Norwich suggests the hosts have it all to do.
Norwich will again be without defender Russell Martin (back), but midfielder Alex Tettey is expected to be fit despite pulling out of the Norway squad for their midweek friendly with Hungary with a minor back problem.
On-loan Tottenham striker Harry Kane continues his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans are Manchester United's major doubts, owing to their respective ankle and groin injuries.
Robin van Persie is expected to be available after missing Holland's midweek friendly with Germany.
Last season: Norwich 1 Manchester United 2, Manchester United 2 Norwich 0
Last five league matches: Norwich L W D W D; Manchester United W W W W W
Top scorers: Grant Holt (Norwich) 3; Robin van Persie (Manchester United) 11
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Sunday 18 November 2012
16:00 - Fulham (9) v Sunderland (16) - Sky
The Super Sunday action this weekend comes from Craven Cottage, with Fulham playing host to Sunderland live on Sky Sports 1HD.
Four draws in five have prevented the Cottagers from edging closer to the European-chasing pack, but they have looked dangerous in front of goal and have Dimitar Berbatov firing on all cylinders.
Sunderland will be aware of the need to keep the mercurial Bulgarian quiet if they are to take anything from a contest which sees Martin O'Neill's men looking for only their second victory of the season and a welcome pick-me-up in front of goal.
Fulham midfielder Kieran Richardson must watch from the sidelines because of a hamstring injury.
He is joined by fellow midfielders Simon Davies (hip) and Chris Baird (suspension) who also miss out, while Mahamadou Diarra (knee) and Mickael Tavares (hamstring) are big doubts.
Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill faces late decisions over several players.
Scotland striker Steven Fletcher (calf) and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (thigh) missed their respective international matches in midweek, with 18-year-old Jordan Pickford on standby to provide the back-up to Simon Mignolet in goal.
Full-back Phil Bardsley (hamstring) and midfielder Lee Cattermole (knee) are also doubts.
Last season: Fulham 2 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 0 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: Fulham D W D D D; Sunderland L D D L L
Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 5; Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 5
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Monday 19 November 2012
15:00 - West Ham (6) v Stoke (12)
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will decide whether to bring James Collins back into his defence.
Collins was a substitute for the win at Newcastle last week but could return to the starting line-up in place of James Tomkins, with full-back Guy Demel also pushing for a start.
Matthew Taylor has returned to training following a calf problem but Jack Collison (knee) and Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) are out.
Stoke are monitoring Glenn Whelan's fitness after the midfielder limped off in the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Greece on Wednesday with a hamstring complaint.
Midfielders Dean Whitehead (suspension) and Rory Delap (hernia) and defender Marc Wilson (broken leg) are ruled out, and striker Michael Owen (hamstring) almost certainly is, but forward Jon Walters and midfielder Charlie Adam could play despite picking up knocks.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Ham L W L D W; Stoke D L D L W
Top scorers: Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 5; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).