The evening kick off promises to be a real treat where league leaders and current champions Man United visit 5^th place Stoke City who have made the Brittania Stadium a fortress.

Stoke lost their unbeaten league record last Sunday when they took a surprise 4-0 beating at the Stadium of Light, which perhaps should not have been so much of a surprise, given that Stoke had the worst away record in the Premier League last season, losing 13 aways and only scoring 15 goals away from home.

At the Brittania, Stoke have been a tough nut to crack, beating Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, drawing with Chelsea in August and beating Arsenal 3-1 at the end of last season.

The bad news for Stoke is that Man United have beaten them in every league match since they rejoined the top flight in 2008, 6 league matches, 6 United wins, 16 goals scored, two conceded – and United are better and stronger this season, and of course will want to continue their perfect run and open up a bigger gap between themselves and the chasers.

More bad news for Stoke – Kenwyne Jones is ruled out after picking up an injury in the Carling Cup midweek, and it looks like Javier Hernandez’s injury was less serious than expected (thank you A HCole) and he may well take part on Saturday.

United have only lost one of their last 14 league matches, comfortably disposed of Leeds at Elland Road by 3-0 with a second team, which included Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs, who both scored as well as Dimitar Berbatov!

United march on.

Man United Away Win, correct score 1-2, also tempted to cover 1-3

Best odds for the away win, are currently 1.53 with Bet365 and for the correct score of 1-2 the best odds are 8.00 with Ladbrokes and for 1-3 are 12.00 with Bet365

Laith Amiry, weekendfootball

Top of the table Bolton entertain second place Man City at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday afternoon.  Now I didn’t think I would be saying that, but let’s not get carried away, we are only one game into a long season, and Bolton are top courtesy of the alphabet (City are on equal points and GD) and their 4-0 away win to new boys QPR last weekend.

Although Bolton finished last season in a relatively respectable 14^th place, their 6 game form, home and away was the worst in the Premier League, with 5 defeats and one victory.  Bolton lost their last 5 league games of the season (complacency?), their last game of the season being to Man City, which they lost 0-2.

Bolton were pretty solid at home, only losing 4 home games all season (matching Arsenal) but City have strengthened over the summer and Sergio Aguero didn’t do badly for a player who had just arrived, didn’t know the players yet and was not fully fit.  Mancini would be mad not to start him, he brought City alive.  What involvement Tevez will have, who knows? An Aguero-Tevez combo could be devastating, and might make Manchester more appealing to the sulky Argentinian.

Expectations are even greater for Man City this season, they won their first piece of silverware for 35 years, they are in the best form in the Premier League going back 11 games, and they have a host of quality players. I am looking forward to seeing Sergio Aguero play again.  City’s 4-0 win over Swansea may have flattered them a little, and Bolton will be a different prospect at the Reebok, but I don’t see anything but an away win here, although it may only be marginal.

Man City Away Win, correct score 1-2

Best odds for the away win, are currently 1.83 with Victor Chandler and for the correct score of 1-0 the best odds are 8.50 with Bet365

Laith Amiry, weekendfootball

Mackems meet Geordies in the first big Derby of the season, as Tyneside travels the short distance south to Wearside.

Both teams began their campaigns with draws, Newcastle a goalless draw at home to troubled Arsenal, and Sunderland picked up a creditable point at Anfield in a match they could have won in the second half. Newcastle defended well against Arsenal, but were toothless going forward.

We predicted the draw at St James’s Park last week, but expected Liverpool to secure the 3 points over Sunderland.

Sunderland managed to finish in 10th place last season.  Steve Bruce has done well and thankfully been given the time and space to prove his worth.

Surplus to requirement Man United defenders, O’Shea and Brown can only strengthen Sunderland’s place in the Premier league.  John O’Shea may recover from his hamstring injury in time.

Sunderland will be harder to beat home and away this season with a more solid and experienced back four, but even though they have the exciting Ghanain Gyan, they currently don’t have enough quality firepower to climb much higher than 10^th.

Sunderland sit 5^th in the form tables with a 3 1 2 record home and away, compared to Newcastle in 17^th with only one league victory and 4 draws in their last 6.  However if you look at Sunderland’s home record over the last 6 league matches, they are bottom with 1 victory and 5 defeats.

Two of the last three league meetings at the Stadium of Light have ended in 1-1 draws, Sunderland won the other 2-1. Further back in time, in April 2006, Newcastle won 1-4 away from home. Steve Bruce will still be smarting after the embarrassing 5-1 defeat at St James’s Park on Halloween 2010 and be aiming to take all 3 points on Saturday.

With so much rivalry between these two clubs, and Newcastle losing the best of their strike power this year, we expect another sharing of points and a fair few cards of the yellow and red variety.

Draw, correct score 1-1

Best odds for the draw, are currently 3.40 with StanJames and for the correct score of 1-1 the best odds are 6.00 with William Hill

Laith Amiry, weekendfootball