Previews

Capital takes centre stage

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 23/08/2009
Football betting

All eyes will be on the capital on Sunday when four London teams are involved in Premier League derby action.

First up it's West Ham United against Tottenham at Upton Park before west London's two main clubs, Fulham and Chelsea, go head-to-head at Craven Cottage.

Both fixtures have a habit of producing goals so there's bound to be plenty of action to keep either fans of the clubs of neutrals interested.

The day's other game sees new-boys Burnley host Everton looking to take their second major scalp of the week.

Can Burnley follow up their win over Manchester United with another against Everton? - Latest Football Betting

West Ham United will be out to make it two wins out of two after their fine opening day success against newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Gianfranco Zola's men look like they could be more of a potent threat this term as he aims to find some continuity at the club.

England Under-21 star Mark Noble will be looking to dictate in the middle of the park and the impressive Carlton Cole will be aiming to keep England national boss Fabio Capello interested with his performances.

Tottenham will want to continue their excellent start to the season after deservedly beating Liverpool at White Hart Lane on the first weekend of the season.

On Wednesday they destroyed Hull City at the KC Stadium with England striker Jermain Defoe hitting an exquisite hat-trick to further cement his international credentials ahead of the World Cup next summer.

Wilson Palacios opened his account in midweek as did Robbie Keane and, with Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko on the books, the Spurs supremo has an embarrassment of attacking riches at his disposal.

Roy Hodgson's Fulham will go into battle against their illustrious London neighbours at Craven Cottage where Chelsea will be looking to make it three league wins out of three for new manager Carlo Ancelotti.

After a last-gasp 2-1 win against Hull City on the opening day and a 3-1 victory at Sunderland in midweek, Chelsea have shown that they have a gritty work ethic instilled in them under the new managerial regime.

Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack have looked in fine touch at the start of the season and the Cottagers will need to play beyond themselves to gain a favourable result.

Fulham themselves have had a solid start to the campaign with a 1-0 success away at Portsmouth before overcoming Russian side Ankar Perm 3-0 in the Europa League in midweek.

Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, John Paintsil and Paul Konchesky will be needed to be on their toes throughout as, if expected, the Fulham rearguard will be called into action on occasions.

Turf Moor will be the venue for Burnley's clash with Everton on Sunday afternoon.

The Clarets will go into the game under no pressure whereas David Moyes and his team will need to produce the goods to put a smile back their fans' faces after a torrid couple of weeks.

Joleon Lescott, the sought after centre-half, has handed in a transfer request and he is now training with the reserves which is only unsettling the club, players and fans alike.

A solution needs to be found if the Toffees can turn the corner and get on with the more important aspect of competing in the Premier League this term.

Burnley are sportsbook favourites for relegation but the Lancashire side will not give up without a fight.

An opening day disappointment at Stoke City where they lost 2-0 was followed up with an excellent, gritty and dogged performance against reigning champions Manchester United.

Robbie Blake scored the only goal of the game to shock the European giants and they have made their peers stand up and take notice.

The partisan Turf Moor faithful helped shout the unfashionable side to an unlikely three points but if they can act as the 12fth man once again, another superb home success may not be an impossibility.

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