Manchester City v Sunderland (12.45pm)

City (2/7, draw 9/2 in the match betting) sit four points behind early leaders Chelsea after a stuttering start to the defence of their title.

Roberto Mancini’s side remain unbeaten but only just overcame Fulham last weekend and could find it tricky at home against a spirited Sunderland (12/1 to win) side. The champions were poor in midweek when drawing with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and will need to improve against the Black Cats, who have summer signing Steven Fletcher in red-hot form.

It could be closer than City would want at the Etihad but a narrow home win is predicted.

Prediction: Man City to win 2-1 (7/1).

Chelsea v Norwich (3pm)

Chelsea (2/9 to win) have looked good so far with new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar catching they eye and they are top of the table on merit, having dropped just two points so far.

Last week’s win at Arsenal underlined their title credentials further and expect a comfortable home win in this one against a Norwich side currently struggling to match last-season’s achievements under former boss Paul Lambert.

The Canaries (14/1, draw 11/2 match betting) were outplayed last weekend when going down 5-2 at home to Liverpool and could get the runaround again at Stamford Bridge.

Prediction: Chelsea to win 4-0 (10/1).

Swansea v Reading (3pm)

The Swans’ (10/11 to win) hosting of the Royals (16/5, draw 5/2 in the match betting) is one of the more difficult games to predict on Saturday with the home side’s impressive start now just a faded memory after a run of three consecutive league defeats.

Reading, however, have yet to win this season and appear to be struggling to adapt to life back in the top flight. It won’t be a classic at the Liberty Stadium and a hard-fought draw looks on the cards.

Prediction: 1-1 draw (11/2).

West Brom v QPR (3pm)

QPR (10/3 to win) are desperate for a win after a shocking start to the season. Despite heavy summer investment, the Hoops have picked up just two points so far and are bottom of the table.

The Baggies, in contrast, are flying high early on in sixth under new boss Steve Clarke and can follow up last weekend’s 1-1 draw at neighbours Aston Villa with a win here (5/6, draw 11/4 in the match betting) to pile further pressure on Rangers boss Mark Hughes.

Prediction: West Brom to win 2-1 (8/1).

Wigan v Everton (3pm)

A north-west derby at the DW Stadium sees on-form Everton (Evens to take the three points) expected to come away with the three points against a Wigan (3/1, draw 5/2) side who have just one league victory to their name this season.

The Toffees have been very impressive so far, aside from a blip at Leeds in the Capital One Cup, and they can enhance their growing top-four claims with another away win this weekend.

Prediction: Everton to win 2-0 (8/1).

West Ham v Arsenal (5.30pm)

Saturday’s evening game is a London derby to relish with a clash of styles on show at Upton Park. Sam Allardyce’s side will do all they can to disrupt Arsenal’s (Evens to win) fluid passing game and, following the 2-1 win at QPR on Monday, will approach this with confidence.

Arsene Wenger’s side began the season well but last weekend’s home defeat to Chelsea will have left fans anxious over a title bid and they will not fancy another derby so soon.

Loan signing Andy Carroll could be back for West Ham (3/1, draw 5/2 in the match betting) and, with that in mind, we see this as the shock result of the day with a home win the outcome.

Prediction: West Ham to win 1-0 (10/1).

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If the doom-mongers and significant critics are to be believed – not very much is the simple answer. However, scratch below the surface and things are not as bad at Anfield as some would have you believe (Liverpool 10/3 – Top 4 Finish).

First of all, the season is only three games old and pundits and fans alike would do well to remember that 12 months ago Arsenal had just suffered a thoroughly embarrassing and humiliating 8-2 defeat at Manchester United and were in the bottom three with just a solitary point to their name.

Strangely, Liverpool went to the Emirates and won 2-0 at the end of last August during that period as well so, bearing in mind how the respective clubs’ seasons’ eventually turned out, it is worth informing those tipping Liverpool to finish in the bottom half and the Gunners to go on a title charge, that nothing is ever won or sorted out in September (Liverpool EVS – Top 6 Finish).

There is, to quote an oft-used phrase, a long, long way to go yet.

Not that Rodgers’ Reds aren’t deserving of some criticism for their performances so far. The way they folded so badly against West Brom on the opening day was pitiful (especially as they had been the better side for 55 minutes) while basic, costly, individual errors from the normally-reliable Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard and Pepe Reina have been rightly slammed too.

Also, the club’s failure, for whatever reason, to sign a replacement for Andy Carroll last week was bad business in anyone’s books. Rodgers now has very few attacking options and will need to keep his fingers crossed on a large block of wood that no more key men follow midfielder Lucas into the treatment room over the next few months.

But, despite all this, there are positives. It was always going to take the Northern Irishman plenty of time to get his methods to work at Anfield and to judge him and his new-look side so early on in the season is ridiculous.

They were well beaten in the end by the Baggies and the Gunners but that is not taking into account the first hour or so of both games when Liverpool could argue, without too much complaint, that they had been the better side and had definitely created the better chances without converting them. Of course that, in itself, is becoming a major problem and needs addressing if things are to improve.

Then there was the 2-2 draw against champions Man City that Liverpool largely dominated but again failed to get a reward from. A win looked a certainty until Skrtel’s inexplicable back-pass presented Carlos Tevez with a gift of a goal in front of The Kop. So, the Reds have just a point so far and face difficult games next at Sunderland away and then there’s a home clash with arch-rivals Manchester United to follow.

Hardly the sort of games any side wants as they aim to kick-start their season. However, if they cut out the errors, take the chances they are creating and get key men like Reina, Gerrard and Skrtel back performing to their best, don’t bet against Rodgers’ side having seven points in the bag come September 23. The critics might not be so vocal then.

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Real Madrid

The Portuguese boss is positive about La Liga’s move to try and capture a greater audience share in Asia and can reflect on his experiences at Chelsea, when lunchtime starts were not uncommon.

“If I get to choose between 12pm and 10pm, I prefer 12,” he said.

But will his expensively-assembled group of players react well to the 6am wake-up calls and the indignity of pasta for breakfast?

Wayne Rooney became the latest top player to voice his opposition to early starts just last week as he went back to former club Everton with Manchester United.

“Just have to say 12 o’clock kick off is no good for players. Trying to force pasta down at 9 in the morning is not nice,” he said on Twitter.

And there is some evidence to suggest that top-level footballers do not always produce their best when their body clocks are messed around with.

In nine Premier League matches to have kicked off before 1pm on a Saturday so far this season, there have been 22 goals scored – an average of  2.44 per game – which is significantly lower than the overall average for the English top-flight of 2.98 goals per game.

Of these matches, seven have produced fewer than 2.5 goals, with only Wolves’ second half comeback to draw 2-2 with Swansea and Blackburn’s 4-3 humbling of Arsenal really offering more than five out of 10 for entertainment.

And the first halves of these nine matches have almost all been disappointing with only eight goals scored before the break.

The Spanish situation is remarkably similar, but possibly less significant when you consider that neither Real or Barcelona have played at the early kick-off slot yet – while Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all contributed to the early English boredom.

However, the statistics are startling. In eight matches played so far at 12pm (Spanish time) on the eight Sundays there have been only 13 goals. That is an average of 1.63 and compares unfavourably to the Primera Division’s overall average of 2.52 goals per game.

And the Liga lads clearly don’t have much success in hitting the back of the net when some of them would normally just be hitting the hay as only four goals have been scored in the first halves of those eight matches.

So, will Mourinho’s free-scoring Real buck the trend against the Pamplona club this Sunday?

Currently averaging 4.25 goals per game at home and with 14 of their 32 strikes having come in the first half, there won’t be many people taking Totesport’s 20/1 on a 0-0 draw.

But maybe a halftime stalemate followed by a second half Real Madrid win looks tempting at 9/2.

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The preliminary round has been hastily arranged in order to allow Carling Cup holders and newly-relegated Championship side Birmingham to start in the third round because of their Europa League commitments.

The Conference Premier champions Crawley have been handed home advantage at Broadfield Road and they will fancy their chances of progression into a tasty clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on August 8 in the first round proper should they go through.

However, AFC Wimbledon – a club spawned from the 1988 FA Cup winners after they upped sticks and moved to Milton Keynes – will want to mark their first ever match as a Football League club with a win (7/2 Away Win 90 Minutes) some 34 years after the original side entered the league.

Wimbledon entered the league via a play-off win against Luton Town, while Crawley were a Football League side in waiting last term as they romped to the title.

Boss Steve Evans is boosted by the fact that, with the exception of skipper Pablo Mills, who recently underwent an operation on his ankle, and Jamie Day, who is still recovering from injury, Crawley have a full strength squad to pick from for the tie.

Six players could make their debuts and Evans is looking for his men to send out a strong message to their League Two rivals through this match.

Crawley go into the match on the back of a good run from the end of last season with four wins and two draws in their last six while they defeated AFC Wimbledon 3-1 (12/1 Correct Score) in the Conference game at the same venue last term.

AFC Wimbledon have problems in the treatment room as new captain Jamie Stuart and midfielder Lee Minshull are struggling with respective back and dead leg problems, while defender Mat Mitchel-King is out with glandular fever and fellow new signings Gareth Gwillim and Charles Ademeno are doubts with respective shoulder and heel injuries.

They also go into the clash against their rivals in good form with a record of four wins and two draws from their last six games.

However, with a slightly stronger side and home advantage afforded to Crawley Town it is difficult to see any other outcome than a victory for the Reds.

Prediction: Crawley To Win 90 Minutes @ 8/13
Value bet: Crawley To Win 2-1 Correct Score @ 7/1

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Fabio Capello

That the unpopular Domenech was actually still in charge of Les Bleus in South Africa baffled many onlookers given the fact France – the 1998 world champions – were forced to qualify via the play-offs – who could forget the Thierry Henry handball against the plucky Irish in Paris?

However, the former Lyon chief announced before the World Cup that he would be stepping down – he surely would have been sacked anyway post-tournament – which made him a lame-horse boss unable to work closely with his players.

Laurent Blanc was the choice to replace Domenech and it is the decorated former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Manchester United defender who will lead France into battle against Capello’s England at Wembley on Wednesday night.

Blanc’s status – he won 97 caps for his country over an 11-year spell – meant he was always going to be given time to work his magic and France top their Euro 2012 qualifying group having taken nine points from their four games so far.

England are also ticking over nicely in second place in Group G, three points behind surprise leaders Montenegro who have played a game more than the Three Lions.

The forthcoming midweek friendly in London pits international managers against each other who are at very different stages in their respective career because Blanc is 44, while Capello, 64, will retire when his deal expires in 2012.

The England squad was hit by three withdrawals at the weekend in the shape of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Gabriel Agbonlahor – Gary Cahill, Stephen Warnock and Carlton Cole have all now been called up – to add to high-profile absentees including Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Frank Lampard.

Up front that means Peter Crouch with 41 international caps is the elder statesman and almost certain to start as he bids to add to his tally of 21 England goals.

With England the home side they will be looking to start on the front foot and 6/1 for Spurs man Crouch to get the better of a defence that could include Arsenal duo Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna.

Should Crouch need any further incentive then the chance to strike an early psychological blow ahead of the north London derby against the Gunners at the Emirates would not go unnoticed by his club boss Harry Redknapp.

The beanpole striker could be partnered with Newcastle sensation Andy Carroll – fitness permitting for the youngster – and Crouch would surely thrive alongside another big forward.

As depleted as England’s option are in attack, France’s striking options don’t look a whole lot better as, 31-cap Karim Benzeman aside, Blanc’s other three hitmen – Kevin Gameiro, Guillaume Hoarau and Loic Remy – ‘boast’ just nine caps and one goal between them. For the record Remy – 3/1 to score anytime – has the goal.

Like Crouch, Benzema is sure to start at Wembley and while he is just into double figures in international goals, carrying the burden of his country at the age of 22 is a big ask for a player yet to convince since joining Real Madrid.

In the absence of Franck Ribery, much will rest on the shoulders of Chelsea star Florent Malouda who jointly leads the Premier League goalscoring charts (Malouda 18/1 to get his nose in front by the end of the season).

Malouda is likely to relish the chance to run at a defence lacking club-mates Cole and Terry and 25/1 for the 30-year-old to score two or more goals looks tempting despite the fact he only has five strikes to his name in 61 games.

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Earlier this week it was revealed that keeper Petr Cech would miss the first few games of the season.  The Czech Republic international injured his leg in a training session and is expected to be out of action for around a month, with Chelsea’s trip to Wigan on August 21 a possible return date for the gifted shot-stopper.

Cech’s injury means Ancelotti will have to decide which of his stand-in keepers, Henrique Hilario and Ross Turnbull, will stand in for the crocked star for Chelsea’s Community Shield showdown with Manchester United as well as their first few league fixtures (Chelsea 13/10, draw 11/5, Man United 2/1 – 90 minutes).

Brazilian defender Alex has also  been ruled out for a month after picking up a thigh injury in training, and with fellow centre-half Ricardo Carvalho tipped to depart Stamford Bridge before the start of the new campaign, Ancelotti could be left short of defensive cover.

New-signing Yossi Benayoun is also struggling with a groin problem and remains a doubt ahead of the Community Shield, although Ancelotti remains hopeful that the Israeli midfielder will recover in time to face United.

To compound Ancelotti’s woes, key-man Didier Drogba has now been ruled out for around three weeks after undergoing “minimal invasive surgery” to resolve a groin problem.

The striker was dogged by the problem last season and at this summer’s World Cup with the Ivory Coast, and Chelsea have now confirmed that he has gone under the knife to correct the issue.

A Chelsea statement read: “Didier Drogba successfully underwent minimally invasive surgery yesterday (Friday) on the groin injury that had troubled him for some of last season.

“The decision to perform the procedure after his return from the World Cup was made to optimise his rehabilitation, and he is expected to return to full training in approximately three weeks.”

Drogba will certainly miss the Community Shield on August 8, while he remains a doubt for Chelsea’s opening fixture against West Brom but the powerful forward should return before the end of August.

Chelsea are currently the favourites to secure the Premier League title but without Cech, Drogba and Alex, the first few games of the campaign could be tricky for the Stamford Bridge side.

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