“There are a lot of potentially cracking atmospheres in this round of games, aren’t there?” writes Rob Knap. “At the City Ground, Luton, Villa... Speaking as a humble TV viewer tonight, there’s nothing better than jaunty shots of the action, shaking cameras and the odd awkward ‘bloke behind me’ comment coming through loud and clear. I’m looking forward to it.
“Apologies in advance if you get three flat 0-0s in those games now, though I think I’d be willing to bet my life on Luton-Brighton not ending goalless.”
Especially as – how unfathomable is this – Brighton’s last two league games have been goalless. You’re right about the atmospheres; Selhurst Park is also right up there, although I suppose the home crowd could turn if they go behind.
Look at this old rogue
This foresight from Sir Alex Ferguson is astonishing.
Here’s how the table looks ahead of tonight’s games
Pos
Team
P
GD
Pts
1
Liverpool
21
29
48
2
Man City
20
25
43
3
Arsenal
21
22
43
4
Aston Villa
21
16
43
5
Tottenham Hotspur
21
13
40
6
West Ham
21
3
35
7
Brighton
21
5
32
8
Man Utd
21
-5
32
9
Chelsea
21
4
31
10
Newcastle
21
9
29
11
Wolverhampton
21
-1
29
12
AFC Bournemouth
20
-11
25
13
Fulham
21
-8
24
14
Brentford
20
-4
22
15
Crystal Palace
21
-12
21
16
Nottm Forest
21
-12
20
17
Everton
21
-4
17
18
Luton
20
-14
16
19
Burnley
21
-21
12
20
Sheff Utd
21
-34
10
Villa are unchanged from their FA Cup draw at Chelsea, which means another start for Youri Tielemans. Eddie Howe also sticks with the Newcastle team that beat Fulham at the weekend. Miguel Almiron is on the bench.
Aston Villa (possible 4-2-2-2) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno; Kamara, Luiz; McGinn, Tielemans; Diaby, Watkins. Substitutes: Olsen, Wright, Diego Carlos, Zaniolo, Iroegbunam, Chambers, Kesler-Hayden, Bailey, Ramsey.
The dream scenario for Roy Hodgson: Michael Olise and Ebere Eze both start. They make Palace an infintely better side, as you’d expect of two players who would look entirely at home in a Pep Guardiola team.
Ivo Grbic starts in goal for United ahead of Wes Foderingham. Anis Ben Slimane is back after Tunisia’s miserable Afcon campaign. I think they’re playing a back four but I wouldn’t put the imaginary farm on it.
Fulham return to their strongest XI after resting a number of players in the FA Cup defeat to Newcastle.
Everton are light in central midfield, so Ashley Young may demonstrate that he’s an even better Swiss Army Knife than we realised. Either that or he’s playing right wing-back and Jack Harrison is in midfield.
No big surprises in either team, though Luton have omitted Andros Townsend. Carlton Morris starts instead, while Danny Welbeck is preferred up front to Evan Ferguson for Brighton.
The influential Morgan Gibbs-White is back in the Forest starting line-up, with Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi fit enough for bench. And Emile Smith Rowe – still only 23, still extremely talented – gets a rare Premier League start for Arsenal. All the best to him.
The Premier League is jolly well back, baby. It never really went away – Brighton 0-0 Wolves was less than nine days ago – but technically there was a winter break and the second half of the season, the bit that really matters, begins tonight.
There are five games, generously staggered to ensure I won’t get a toilet break for about three hours. And they cover all the mini-leagues: title race, Europa League qualification, mid-table non-mediocrity and the relegation battle.