Premier League Pick 3.
Round 10 of fixtures play out this weekend. One match could go a way in determining whether we have a one horse race this year. Manchester City has opened up a five point lead at the top. Second place, Manchester United faces third place, Tottenham at Old Trafford. A draw in that match could leave both sides seven points adrift, providing City takes care of business against West Bromwich.
Liverpool are looking for a badly needed three points and we have an 'El Sackico' match. Here are three matches with a short preview and predictions.
Tottenham (20 points; 3rd) @ Manchester United (20 points; 2nd)
Old Trafford
Saturday; 7:30 ET
The big match of the round kicks off the weekend at Old Trafford. Each team badly needs the three points to keep pace with rampant, Manchester City. Tottenham was in fine form before the league cup loss to West Ham, Wednesday. Before that, they were coming off a well played draw in the Bernabeu to Real Madrid and then proceeded to drub Liverpool; 4-1, last week. Manchester United has faced difficulty recently due to mounting injuries and a sudden inability to find the back of the net. United's last two league matches resulted in a scoreless tie with Liverpool and a bad loss to Huddersfield.
United's injuries have been a problem, but are close to getting a couple bodies back. Midfielder; Ander Herrera; (ankle), and Eric Bailly; (groin), could both be available against the Spurs. Paul Pogba; (hamstring), and Marouane Fellaini; (knee), are getting close to rejoin the squad. Pogba may be back next week against Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho's tactics have been criticized due to the recent swoon. He may change the shape by playing three at the back. Mourinho tends to put three in the back against other teams that do it.
Tottenham is hoping the league cup exit is just an aberration, but they are going up against an United team that historically gives the Spurs all kinds of headaches. They only have two wins in 28 years at Old Trafford. They are looking for their second straight win over United for the first time since 1990.
Erik Lamela and Victor Wanyama will continue to be unavailable. Mousa Dembele has begun training with the first team. A worry for the Spurs is that Harry Kane limped off the field following the Liverpool win. The talisman has 13 goals in the past 10 matches.
Can Tottenham impose their attacking play in a stadium that has been horror for them? Can United find their scoring touch, Saturday? United has only one goal and four shots on target in their past two league matches. Although, United has yet to be scored upon in five league matches at Old Trafford. I smell a draw
Tie 2-2
Huddersfield (12 points; 11th) @ Liverpool (13 points; 9th)
Anfield
Saturday; 10:00 ET
This match features managers that are the best of friends. They met while teammates on the German club; Mainz 05, a quarter century ago. David Wagner, the manager of Huddersfield, went on to play for several years in the Bundesliga with Schalke, while Liverpool boss; Jurgen Klopp, never made it in the Bundesliga as a player, but certainly did as a manager with Borussia Dortmund. He won a couple league titles with his assistant at Dortmund; David Wagner. Wagner was Klopp's best man at his wedding.
The friendship will take a couple of hours off Saturday. Klopp's Liverpool is in severe need of three points and they are facing a Huddersfield side that are playing aggressively with no pressure. The Terriers have to be buoyed by their massive win over Manchester United. They will be without midfielder; Philip Billing with an ankle injury, along with Michael Hefele; (Achilles), Kasey Palmer; (hamstring) and Jon Gorenc Stankovic; (knee).
Liverpool is still picking up the shreds of their defense left by Tottenham. They have allowed goals on 20 percent of the shots taken from the opposition. That is leading Klopp to put his starting XI up to open competition. Ragnar Klavan and Loris Karius could be starting and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could get his first league start this year. It will be interesting what Klopp does with Dejan Lovren after yanking him at the 30th minute last week.
This is the first meeting between Liverpool and Huddersfield since 1972. A Huddersfield win will move them above Liverpool on the table. I think the Reds are way overdue for a good league showing and the more experienced manager will get the best of his buddy.
Liverpool 3-1
Everton (8 points; 18th) @ Leicester (9 points; 14th)
King Power Stadium
Sunday; 12:00 ET
El Sackico 2017.
This showdown features two clubs who are under new management in the last couple of weeks. Leicester is under the direction of Claude Puel, taking over from Craig Shakespeare, and Everton has David Unsworth on an interim basis, succeeding Ronald Koeman.
Unsworth is looking for Everton to play a pressing, high energy game; but probably will have to sit back some with their slow footed center backs against the speed of Jamie Vardy.
Leicester has gathered some momentum since the coaching change. They defeated Leeds in the League Cup after beating Swansea, 2-1 in Wales. I think they make it three in a row.
Leicester 2-1
