IF Big Ben strikes again this weekend there will be a very different reaction from Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew, who threw his coat away the last time Liverpool visited Selhurst Park.
The reason for Pardew’s anger in March was a last-minute penalty awarded to Liverpool striker Christian Benteke. It was a game changer, Benteke converting to clinch a 2-1 win for the visitors.
The burly Belgian goal grabber has since become Palace’s £27m record signing and has settled in with three goals in seven Premier League games.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have lost just one of 12 games played in all competitions this season, a surprise 2-0 reverse at Burnley back in August. Sadio Mane – Benteke’s £34m replacement at Anfield – has bagged four Prem goals since arriving from Southampton, as has surprise joint top scorer James Milner, who has displayed ice-cool nerve when taking Liverpool’s penalties.
It could be a big day for Pardew’s dry cleaner again. The Palace boss chucked his coat into the turf when ref Andre Marriner gave that controversial spot kick in March. Marriner is on duty again for this one.
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Saturday, October 29
Sunderland v Arsenal (12.30pm)
I can’t sugar coat this one: Sunderland have made a worse start to a Premier League season than any other club this century. Okay, I agree it would sound marginally better to say “since 1999”, the year Sheffield Wednesday also failed to win any of their first nine Premier League games. Arsenal roll up to the Stadium of Light unbeaten in 13 games in all comps. While the debate over Theo Walcott’s suitability as a striker continues, the England man has quietly nabbed five goals in nine League games this season. Jim’s prediction: Away win
Man United v Burnley (3pm)
It’s killer stat time. Man United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had more shots on goal in the Premier League this season (43) than any other player. Burnley keeper Tom Heaton has made more saves (46) than any other stopper. Something has to give. Jim’s prediction: Home win
Middlesbrough v Bournemouth (3pm)
Boro have failed to score in their last three league games against Bournemouth, though they were contested in the Championship. While Boro haven’t won since the second game of the season, the visitors have quietly chiselled out a four-game unbeaten run over the past month. Jim’s prediction: Score draw
Tottenham v Leicester (3pm)
It’s been no wins in four games for Spurs who were ditched out of the EFL Cup by Liverpool in midweek. But that defeat at Anfield ended an eight-game unbeaten run so it’s not quite panic stations yet for boss Mauricio Pochettino. Champions Leicester City have lost all four away games in the Prem so far, conceding 13 goals in the process. Jim’s prediction: Home win
Watford v Hull (3pm)
Watford’s incredible comeback win at West Ham in early September began a run of six games with just one defeat, with captain Troy Deeney plundering three goals in that period. Hull have suffered five straight defeats in the League and dropped into the bottom three after losing 2-0 at home to Stoke last weekend. Jim’s prediction: Home win
West Brom v Man City (3pm)
Man City manager Pep Guardiola wore a rictus grin when trying to tell everybody he was still “happy” after the midweek defeat at Man United in the EFL Cup. Six games without a win in all competitions is unchartered territory for the former Barcelona boss and his team won’t get a comfortable ride at West Brom. That said, City have scored three goals in each of their last three visits to the Hawthorns. Jim’s prediction: Away win
Crystal Palace v Liverpool (5.30pm)
Don’t forget to check out the amazing deal being offered by Coral for new customers who back Liverpool to win at Crystal Palace. Jim’s prediction: Away win
Sunday October 30
Everton v West Ham (1.30pm)
Romelu Lukaku has scored in each of the last EIGHT games for Everton against West Ham. A home banker on the face of it, but dig a bit deeper. Everton flew out of the blocks this season under new boss Ronald Koeman, winning four and drawing one of their first five Premier League games. Their recent form though shows no wins in five. West Ham endured their own five-game winless streak but have now picked up three victories on the spin, including the midweek defeat of Chelsea in the EFL Cup. Jim’s prediction: Score draw
Southampton v Chelsea (4pm)
The Saints were slow starters under new boss Claude Puel, but since mid-September have lost just one of the last 10 games and have secured a place in the EFL quarter-finals. A 3-0 defeat at Arsenal prompted Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to switch to a back three, a tactic which brought three wins on the spin until a makeshift line-up lost 2-1 at West Ham in midweek EFL Cup action. Jim’s prediction: Score draw
Monday, October 1
Stoke v Swansea (8pm)
‘Stoke’ and ‘win’ weren’t being used in the same sentence until two Premier League victories on the bounce hauled them out of the drop zone. While results have looked poor, they have exciting match-winning potential on the pitch in the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri. Swansea boss Bob Bradley changed his appearance for his second game in charge last weekend and did gain a slight improvement from his new team, a 0-0 draw at home to Watford halting a run of five straight defeats. Jim’s prediction: Score draw
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