Vardy, Leicester in Manchester United showdown

Match to catch

Saturday evening’s Leicester City versus Manchester United match must be one of the least expected unmissable matches in Premier League history. Not only is it a top of the table clash between under-achieving English giants United and their most unlikely of challengers, but for ‘Foxes’ striker Jamie Vardy the game could crown his incredible rise from the obscurity of non-league to a place in the record books. If the unassuming England striker nets at the King Power Stadium, it will be an 11th successive match in which he has found the target — breaking an EPL record set, ironically, by Red Devils favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 2002/03 season. It really would be a triumph for the underdog if Vardy — a £1m (Dh5.54m) signing from Fleetwood Town three years ago — could upstage the former £19m man against his former side. There will be just one man, and his in-form team, that the neutrals will be cheering for.

Prediction: Leicester 2 Man Utd 1.

Keep an eye on

The last time Tottenham and Chelsea met at White Hart Lane, Spurs stunned the champions-in-waiting 5-3 on New Year’s Day — their first win over the Blues in 10 attempts. Since then, Chelsea have eased past their London rivals in March’s League Cup final, romped to the league title and then suffered an embarrassingly awful start to the new campaign. Jose Mourinho’s side have won two in a row, but they still look fragile and Spurs and in-form striker Harry Kane could repeat their success of 11 months ago.

Prediction: Spurs 1 Chelsea 1.

For the purists

New Aston Villa boss Remi Garde may have overseen an impressive first home match with a goalless draw against Manchester City, but his team’s many frailties were ruthlessly exposed by Everton in his first away match last weekend. The rock-bottom Birmingham side had no answers to the Toffees’ clever movement and one-touch football and, as if those defensive frailties weren’t enough, it’s also very difficult to see where their next goal is coming from. If they don’t start beating the likes of Watford at home (their fixture on Saturday) then Villa, who have been in the English top flight since 1988, will soon be cut adrift at the foot of the table.

Prediction: Villa 0 Watford 0.

Showing form

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool created a launchpad for success under the charismatic German last weekend when destroying title favourites Manchester City at the Etihad. The Reds’ Barcelona-like high pressing and clinical counter-attacks had City flummoxed and Liverpool fans dreaming of long-awaited glory. It was a great victory for Klopp, but he knows his team is far from the finished article and relies too heavily on Brazilian maestro Philippe Coutinho, who has four goals in his last three games but is an injury doubt for Sunday’s match against Swansea. The Reds need to keep their momentum going with three points at Anfield, no matter how hard fought they are.

Prediction: Liverpool 2 Swansea 1.

Need a win

West Ham’s impressive start to the season is in danger of going to waste as coach Slaven Bilic faces up to life without long-term injury victim Dimitri Payet. The Hammers have just one point from the last nine available and were dismal in last week’s 4-1 hammering by Tottenham, but a home game against West Brom on Sunday represents a good chance to rediscover their form — even if the Baggies are on a high after beating Arsenal. Prediction: West Ham 2 West Brom 0

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Think I’m way off the mark? Tweet me your English Premier League predictions via @MartinDownerGN