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4 things to look out for this weekend – Costa and US keepers

By on October 17, 2014

The table is still a trick of the light.
Manchester United are in fourth!? Haven’t they had one of their worst league starts in a while? Yes, but the toughest game United have had out of their first seven this season has been against Everton. But wait, Everton are in seventeenth as well? Aren’t they off the back of a summer in which they broke their transfer record on Romelu Lukaku and a 2013/2014 season in which they finished in fifth? Yes, but they have already had to play Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and United. Of course, both United and Everton have had poor starts to their season, with the former having drawn Swansea City, Sunderland, and Burnley while losing to Leicester City and the latter having drawn The Foxes and lost to Crystal Palace, however, the light has been bent by the two side’s fixture lists and those of others around them in the table.

However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that with a win over West Bromwich Albion on Monday United will have a surprisingly good chance of ending the week in second reliant on Manchester City losing to Tottenham and Southampton not being able to beat Sunderland. If United turn on in the coming weeks, facing their toughest fixture list so far in the next month, they will easily be in the title race by Christmas. Nor does it erase the fact that Everton must go on a winning streak in their easier fixtures if they are to climb back of the table by the New Year. But even after this weekend is over don’t expect the table to have sorted itself out again.

And Newcastle… again.
Its become a running theme every week – Newcastle United are still winless, though they showed spirit to come back from behind and earn a draw against Swansea City, and Alan Pardew is still yet to be sacked despite vehement protests from the Newcastle fans. Every week, it seems, he manages to do enough to just keep his job but still anger the fans further. This weekend they face Leicester, and while it may seem an ideal time for Pardew to manage to save his job, Leonardo Ulloa, only behind Diego Costa in the scoring charts so far this season, is likely to have a field day against a Newcastle defense that has allowed twelve in their last five matches, particularly three to Palace and four to Southampton. And keep in mind Nigel Pearson’s side is only one point behind the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool despite having already played Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, and Manchester United in their first seven games – hardly what one would expect of a newly promoted side.

How will Chelsea cope without Costa?
Diego Costa has undoubtedly been the best player so far this season. It would be hard for any fan to disagree – with the Spaniard having scored nine in his first seven league matches at Chelsea, and one in every one of Chelsea’s matches so far except against Manchester City. However, Jose Mourinho has admitted that the forward has been struggling with fitness issues, which could potentially rule him out for the next three weeks (NOTICE – for those of you who haven’t changed your fantasy teams yet, do not continue reading before you do. You have been warned).  On the bright side, a trip to Selhurst Park to face Palace, who have allowed twelve in their first seven matches, may be close to the best spot The Blues could get to find out once and for all whether they can cope without Costa.  In the brief periods in which we have seen another of Chelsea’s new signings, Loic Remy, play so far this season he has looked bright, but not is his chance to shine, as Didier Drogba is also suffering from an ankle injury.

Tim Howard VS Brad Guzan.
Tim Howard was the USMNT’s unquestionable No1 at the World Cup this summer, making his record breaking 16 (officially counted as 15) saves in a single match against Belgium, however, has taken a year-long sabbatical from international football leaving Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan, backup at the World Cup, as the US’ starting goalkeeper.  Yet after Howard’s poor start to the season, which is not at all entirely his fault but still sees him having allowed more than any other goalkeeper or team so far this season, and age, now nearing 36, questions have begun to circulate over whether he will be able to regain his No1 spot for the US when he returns to the national team.  Well, Guzan and Howard will face off on Saturday as Aston Villa visit Everton.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.