Title contenders meet at Villa Park, Brighton build for the future and Chelsea should stop making excuses
The “spoiled” supporters of Crystal Palace will get another glorious treat this weekend with the early Saturday kick-off against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. The Eagles’ only win in their previous eight matches came at Turf Moor against Burnley and they have suffered demoralising defeats to Everton, Luton and Bournemouth since. Roy Hodgson took umbrage with the fans booing his side’s dismal efforts against the Cherries on Wednesday. Palace were poor throughout, barely laying a glove on Andoni Iraola’s side, and deserved criticism. Picking a fight with the supporters is rarely a sensible move, regardless of a person’s standing at the club. Hodgson was never favoured at Anfield in his dreary, short-lived spell as manager, and it is unlikely his popularity will drop to those levels in south London. If he wants to get the supporters back on side, though, he will need his team to show more fight, regardless of the result. Will Unwin
Crystal Palace v Liverpool, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Brighton v Burnley, Saturday 3pm
Manchester United v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
Sheffield United v Brentford, Saturday 3pm
Wolves v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm
Aston Villa v Arsenal, Saturday 5.30pm
Continue reading…Title contenders meet at Villa Park, Brighton build for the future and Chelsea should stop making excusesThe “spoiled” supporters of Crystal Palace will get another glorious treat this weekend with the early Saturday kick-off against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. The Eagles’ only win in their previous eight matches came at Turf Moor against Burnley and they have suffered demoralising defeats to Everton, Luton and Bournemouth since. Roy Hodgson took umbrage with the fans booing his side’s dismal efforts against the Cherries on Wednesday. Palace were poor throughout, barely laying a glove on Andoni Iraola’s side, and deserved criticism. Picking a fight with the supporters is rarely a sensible move, regardless of a person’s standing at the club. Hodgson was never favoured at Anfield in his dreary, short-lived spell as manager, and it is unlikely his popularity will drop to those levels in south London. If he wants to get the supporters back on side, though, he will need his team to show more fight, regardless of the result. Will UnwinCrystal Palace v Liverpool, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)Brighton v Burnley, Saturday 3pmManchester United v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pmSheffield United v Brentford, Saturday 3pmWolves v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pmAston Villa v Arsenal, Saturday 5.30pm Continue reading…
