Skip to content

Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur facing key weekend in Premier League, says Ed Chamberlin

Sky Sports presenter believes Saints will have tough time against City's Sergio Aguero

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25:  Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's third and matchwinning goal during the UEFA Champi

What a player Sergio Aguero is. His hat-trick on Tuesday night gave us another last gasp 3-2 result at the Etihad and another 'Agueroooooo' moment. Where would Manchester City be without him this season?

In all competitions Aguero has now scored 17 goals this season, the same number as Lionel Messi. Mind you, they are both 10 behind the remarkable Cristiano Ronaldo, but those 17 Aguero goals are almost half of Manchester City's 38 this season, which shows how important he is. That's a significantly higher percentage than the other two for Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Live Ford Super Sunday

As Michael Ballack and Glenn Hoddle said on the Champions League coverage, City owe everything to Aguero, and with three shots, three goals and a 100 per cent conversion rate he single-handedly kept their Champions League hopes alive against Bayern Munich. They are a 5/6 chance with Sky Bet to get out of the group and reach the knockout phase.

Southampton have made their best ever start to a top division season but questions remain about their ability to beat big teams
Ed Chamberlin

I interviewed Manuel Pellegrini at the National Football Museum in Manchester last week and he said Aguero can get even better. What a frightening prospect.

On Super Sunday it's over to Jose Fonte and Toby Alderweireld to try and stop him as Southampton take on Manchester City in our first live game. This will be his 100th Premier League appearance. He has scored 64 goals from his 99 league games for City so far. Aguero is even money with Sky Bet to mark his century with yet another goal.

Sky Bet's Premier League odds

Southampton have made their best ever start to a top division season but questions remain about their ability to beat big teams. They have lost the two big tests this season against Liverpool and Tottenham. Since returning to the Premier League in 2012 Southampton have won one of 17 games against sides finishing in the top four the previous season – and that was against Sunday's opponents when they were the defending champions in February 2013.

Emmanuel Adebayor was frustrated by a missed chance
Image: Emmanuel Adebayor has been critical of Spurs' support at home

This time around it's second against third as the race for the top four gets more and more confusing and intriguing. Southampton drew at Aston Villa on Monday Night Football yet Ronald Koeman remained supremely confident when he spoke to us after the game and his team have shortened again to 7/4 to finish in the top four because of results elsewhere.

Live Ford Super Sunday

Arsenal are out to 8/13 and Liverpool to 4/1 while Tottenham and Everton are both 8/1 chances in the market and meet in part two of Super Sunday in a key game at White Hart Lane. For all their problems and disappointing start under Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs are only two points behind Manchester United, who occupy fourth spot.

Sunday is key for Spurs as they need to improve results at home. The atmosphere will be fascinating as it's the first home game since Emanuel Adebayor said the team preferred playing away. They have won their last two away games, both 2-1 and both aided by sendings off.

Since the start of last season, Spurs have won more points away than at home. They have lost four of their six Premier League games at White Hart Lane this season, including the last two. Tottenham have not lost three successive home Premier League games since 2007. The pressure will be cranked up again on Sunday. We start at 12.30pm on Sky Sports 1 - live from White Hart Lane.

Horse racing

The Hennessy Gold Cup always lives up to expectations and remains one of my favourite races of the year. Have a look at the list of past winners and you'd have to say there isn't a staying handicap chase that can live with the Newbury feature - you can go as far back as you like for evidence. It's like a perfect storm in handicapping terms, as the blend of youth and experience go head-to-head.

Back Fingal Bay in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday with Sky Bet

Young Djakadam is well-handicapped. Fact. You don't have to be Einstein or a form-book wizard to work that out. However, he is a five-year-old with three chase starts to his name, including a big, ugly F at Cheltenham on his latest start. Granted, you can forgive any horse a mistake round there, but it highlights his shortcomings and the big field, all jumping at pace, will test his inexperience.

Djakadam (right) races clear of the last ahead of second placed Bright New Dawn
Image: Djakadam (right) is the favourite for the Hennessy Gold Cup

Yes, if he jumps well and stands up, the others have him to beat. Stamina is another issue. Djakadam is yet to prove he gets the trip. One Man was a dubious stayer, but he had so much in hand, he was jogging round with 10st on his back. Jodami had 10st 2lbs and still got beat, and you're not telling me Willie Mullins' rising star is destined to achieve at the same level as those two legends? Yet we are being asked to back him at a price that would suggest he's going to win the lot.

Enough about the favourite, I fancy FINGAL BAY (each-way) at a bigger price and with fewer questions to answer. He stays, handles the ground and is said to be schooling well, allaying any jumping concerns, after he ran out at Exeter the last time we watched him over fences. I like the fact he is fresh, it's a good time to catch him, and who would want to back against anything from Philip Hobbs' yard at the moment? He's on fire in these big Saturday races.

Image: Ed Chamberlin expects Fingal Bay to run well in the Hennessy Gold Cup

Many Clouds is your typical second-season chaser that merits respect, along with Smad Place, but Fingal Bay will have more in a finish than both those horses. I just want Richard Johnson to be on the scene at the second-last – we're getting a payout from there.

Friday's card doesn't have the big-hitting feel of Hennessy day but I think I've got more of a chance of making it pay on the middle day. Gary Moore has entered VISION DES CHAMPS in the Conditional Jockeys' handicap chase (12.55). Although ultimately beaten a mile behind Comeonginger on his reappearance at Kempton last month, he showed enough to make me think I wanted to back him next time. He pulled hard throughout and should be more amenable now he's got a run under his belt. I just think if Gary Moore wants to take on Comeonginger again then I want to be on.

CONEYGREE (2.05) missed out on a great opportunity at Plumpton earlier in the month, when a vet pulled him out down at the start owing to a dubious claim of lameness. Connections were not best pleased, as they are convinced he was fine to run and it means they are now having to pitch him in against Grade 2 opposition for his chasing debut.

I'm not worried about his inexperience as it's not like the rest have a huge advantage on that score, and the softer the ground the better for this half-brother to the mud-lover, Carruthers. Expect him to show up prominently, as bold jumping and front-running is a family trait.

Hennessy meeting selections: Vision Des Champs, Coneygree, Fingal Bay (e/w).

Around Sky