Manchester City has scored nineteen goals on the season. The offense broke out against Fulham but has often been less than stellar. Carlos Tevez has scored nine goals on the season to easily lead the team. He has 53 shots on goal while no one else has reached 20 shots. The real strength for Manchester City has been goaltending. Goalie Joe Hart has allowed just eleven goals in fourteen starts. His strong play has kept Manchester City in every game. He is getting better as the season progresses.

For Stoke City, the winning streak has given them new life on the season. They have scored eighteen goals and allowed eighteen goals so far this season. Goalie Asmir Begovic has filled in for Thomas Sorensen and performed well. Kenwyne Jones leads the team with four goals. Stoke City has more balance on offense, but the attack is not as strong as it needs to be.

The two teams had a draw in last season’s meeting at Stoke City. Manchester City won the game at home. On paper Manchester City is the stronger team. Hart is good enough to get them a win or draw in every contest. However, Stoke City is playing at home and has momentum. A win here would continue their climb up the standings. The edge in this game will go to the team who can forge the better offensive attack.

Arsenal was winless in their previous three EPL matches before defeating Birmingham. That gives them some much needed momentum heading in to the big match against Manchester City. The Arsenal offense is fully capable of putting up big numbers. Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri lead the way for this fast team. Nine different players have scored goals so far this season. That versatility works to the advantage of the team. Arsenal has gotten solid goaltending from Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski, but neither has been spectacular. Fabianski has started the last two matches. He played very well against Birmingham.

For Manchester City, defense is the name of the game. Joe Hart has been remarkable in goal. As a team, Manchester City has scored just twelve goals. Fortunately, Hart has only allowed five. With Hart playing the way he is, Manchester City will be in every game. Carlos Tevez leads the offense with seven goals on the season. They aren’t as versatile as Arsenal, but they are capable of scoring when it matters. Outside of Tevez, no one has offered significant pressure on the opposing goalie.

Manchester City beat Arsenal at home last season and forced a draw on the road. They are a team with a lot of momentum this season. They already have a win over league leader Chelsea and have been solid most of the season. Arsenal is hoping that their victory over Birmingham is a sign that they are ready to climb up the standings. A win at Manchester City will go a long way in making that happen.

Manchester City is coming off of a 2-1 win against New Castle United and sits alone in second place in the EPL. Since dropping a game to Sunderland, Manchester City has three wins in a draw. That includes a win over league frontrunner Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Blackpool has been formidable in their first year in EPL play. Blackpool is coming off a victory at Liverpool. While having three losses, Blackpool also has three wins and a draw and sits in 9th place.

Manchester City has climbed the standings despite scoring only nine goals in seven games. Carlos Tevez has five of those goals and has been a force. He has 29 shots on goal, more than twice the total of any other member on the team. The Manchester City offense has not been dynamic, but it hasn’t mattered. Goalie Joe Hart has been a star this season. He has allowed only three goals in seven starts. He has 24 saves and has been remarkably solid. The defense has helped him, but Hart keeps Manchester City in every match.

Blackpool has scored eleven goals on the season. Charlie Adam and Marlon Harewood have led the offense, each scoring two goals. Adam has 21 shots on goal and his been Blackpool’s best option. The goaltending has been shaky. Matthew Gilks has surrendered 15 goals, though most of those came in blowout losses to Chelsea and Arsenal. He has settled in since then and has picked up 36 saves on the season.

Blackpool’s win against Liverpool was a big one, even though it came against a down Liverpool squad. A home win against a rising EPL team could go a long way in solidifying them in the EPL. However, Manchester City has a remarkable defense, and it will be tough for anyone to beat them.

United will enter Saturday just one point behind first place Chelsea and could steal first place from the idle leaders with a victory.

Kickoff between the two is set for 15:00 local time at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Manchester United has struggled mightily over the past six weeks. United was stunned by Football League One side Leeds United who handed the Red Devils a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup, the earliest exit from that competition for United in two decades.

United’s last match was a midweek fixture against local rival Manchester City in the first leg of their Carling Cup semifinal tie. Former United striker Carlos Tevez scored two goals against his old side to bring City from behind to earn a 2-1 victory. Hull City has been struggling to climb out of the relegation zone for the past two months, but the Tigers received an emotional boost this past weekend as they held top four side Tottenham to a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.

Manchester United have a chance to put all their struggles behind them and actually capture first place, for the time being, with a victory on Saturday. Hull City are creeping out of the relegation zone.

Hull are currently 18th in the league table but level on points with 17th place Wolverhampton and 16th place West Ham United. A victory or draw could boost Hull City out of the relegation zone, providing an important morale boost.