It is week 11 of the Barclays Premier League and for all certainty our eyes are turned to a special encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea ...
It is week 11 of the Barclays Premier League and for all certainty our eyes are turned to a special encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield to start our weekend.
Man City are back from their European display with Manuel Pellegrini not quite understanding the inability to succeed on the continental stage.
The Saints meet the Foxes and question again as Falcao is expected to miss the game between Man Utd and Crystal Palace.
All that here on #5TTEFTPLTW
THE INFAMOUS SLIP
To be quite honest, the slip could be metaphorical for the way Liverpool have decided in cognizance of their motto of not walking alone, follow their skipper Steven Gerrard to fall.
Liverpool have been quite abysmal this season and take on Jose Mourinho's Chelsea who was never going to stop short of reminding Liverpool that it was their skipper who handed Man City the title
In typical mind games fashion Nemanja Matic has joined the Professor X's train of calling out the Reds for their inability to defend.
It definitely would not be the second string that played at the Bernabeu unless Rodgers is trying to send a message.
But it would take extreme bravura from a side who can't score and defend properly at the moment to match a burgeoning Chelsea side.
If the Reds see a victory at the end of the day, it would take a biblical Moses-esque miracle for them to have parted with that.
FOXES NEED TO GRRR-IND OUT A WIN
Reality has hit Nigel Pearson's side so hard in the face that their current slump was only compounded by the supposed misfortune of scoring an own goal in the game against West Brom.
The Foxes are grounded and I don't mean in terms of hunting, they are stuck in the bottom three with the other two promoted teams.
But really were we expecting anything different? Because of their start to the season against Arsenal, Everton, and Manchester United? Southampton are on a run of 10 wins from their last 11 in all competitions, and with Leicester City just being able to take just one point from a possible 15 of late, chances are it would be one point still in a possible 18.
But Southampton are up on the table and you know how these Leicester Boys do when the big boy games come around?
NOSTALGIA AS A KICK
Man City as a club have tons, tons of money but at the moment cannot afford Ginger.
If for anything their slump shows how great Sir Alex Ferguson was in keeping his squad motivated for defending their titles season in season out.
Well that's not a reason for their continental display but Man City are six points behind leaders Chelsea and experienced key heads in Europe are showing troubling body language.
It can only be left to debate if Man Utd had not gone a man down what would have been of the derby game they struggled to close out.
Manuel Pellegrini takes on Harry Redknapp, and while it might not bring memories for both managers, it would for the Citizens who watched their team claim their first Premier League title with that Aguerrrrrrooooooooo strike.
Perhaps the Sky Blue team can fly high using that as motivation to get the media out of their faces with players being disillusioned and not hungry enough.
BACKPARDEW.COM
Lucky for the Toons it is not going to be a case of you never know what you have until you lose it... just yet.
Newcastle United are on level points with Manchester United and given the circus going on at the beginning of the season, Alan Pardew has shown his worth and now the praises are going to Mike Ashley for not giving in to fan's request for sacking his club's manager.
Question is, can Alan Pardew continue this revival against a surging West Brom side? Alan Irvine has also done a great job with this West Brom side who are level on points with Newcastle with their starman Berahino being called up to the England squad.
Newcastle are going to find it hard to break through a Joleon Lescott-led defence who have being able to keep four clean sheets this season. Best bet, both teams cancel each out.
NO EXCUSE AT OLD TRAFFORD
"One day you here, one day you there... you're so unfair"
It has been a Justin Timberlake rendering for the Old Trafford faithful with the team being wavy with performances but LvG knows that expectations for his side to beat Crystal Palace after games with Chelsea and Man City were not as pleasant as the attacking front suggested it would be at the beginning of the season.
The fans would want a win, and they would want one done with finesse, R2 do that with a possible makeshift defence is not their concern. (See what I did there?).
The Eagles would be flying at Old Trafford without Mile Jedinak but with Yannick Bolasie running at that makeshift back line, they could actually have a chance
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| Jedinak will miss the trip to Manchester United after being sent off against Sunderland on Monday |
Radamel Falcao misses the game and is beginning to raise eyebrows as to suggest whether he came to play or have medical treatment at Old Trafford.
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| Michael Carrick (right) could start out of position at centre-back for Manchester United against Palace |
The Red Devils are four points behind Arsenal who they play soon, with the Gunners occupying fourth position, LvG would know how crucial it would be to get to winning ways as qualifying for Champions League football has become the Holy Grail.
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