Die Macht » Premier League. He started off alright but now they are on

Joe Launchbury has been ruled out of the remaining two matches of Englands autumn series after being found guilty of kicking Fijis Asaeli Tikoirotuma.Launchbury will miss the clashes with Argentina and Australia after his boot connected with the head of the Fijian outside centre in the 42nd minute of a record 58-15 victory at Twickenham.The act was deemed reckless rather than deliberate and the low end sanction for the offence of a four-week ban was reduced to two weeks due to Launchburys admission of guilt, his previous clean disciplinary record and good conduct at the hearing.Launchbury appeared before a three-man independent disciplinary committee in London and accepted he had committed an act of foul play that would have warranted a red card.The Wasps captain is free to play from December 5, two days after Australia conclude the autumn program at Twickenham, but has the right to appeal.While Launchbury can have few complaints with the sanction -- the kick left Tikoirotuma in significant discomfort -- his absence is a major personal blow given his strong form against South Africa and Fiji.The injury-enforced absence of Maro Itoje and George Kruis offered Launchbury the chance to revise Eddie Jones second row hierarchy by resurrecting his lock partnership with Courtney Lawes.His work-rate and impact on the opening two matches of the Old Mutual Wealth Series had served to illustrate Englands extraordinary depth in the second row, but he must now resign himself to the role of spectator.It is a less of a blow to his country, however, as fortuitous timing has seen Kruis make a rapid recovery from ankle surgery and he is available to start Saturdays showdown with the Pumas.Adding to the number of options in the position is Dave Attwood, who has overcome the knee problem that forced him to miss the rout of Fiji and the Bath forward is in contention for selection.Kruis is set to start against Argentina alongside Lawes and would resume calling the line-out.George has worked really hard on his rehab and hes done really well to get back so quickly, forwards coach Steve Borthwick said.Hes been around in the later stages of his rehab and its testament to his character that hes been able to get back from his injury so quickly. Hes in contention for Argentina.Jones is scheduled to name his team on Thursday morning and with the composition of his second row decided by Launchburys suspension and Kruis return, his focus up front will turn to openside where Teimana Harrison is likely to make way for Tom Wood.England are expected to revert to their first choice starting XV against Argentina, who finished bottom of last summers Rugby Championship, with Mike Brown returning at full-back.The wings are fiercely contested, however, with Jonny May, Semesa Rokoduguni, Marland Yarde and Elliot Daly competing for the two slots available.Meanwhile, Borthwick admits it would be an honour and privilege to act as forwards coach on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand next summer.Head coach Warren Gatland has already held talks with Borthwick, but his appointment has yet to be finalised. Mark Bavaro Giants Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. 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Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.Sky Sports Paul Merson is back to look ahead to another round of Premier League fixtures, including Arsenals trip to Manchester United, Tottenham v Swansea and West Broms clash with Crystal Palace. Also on Merses radar this weekend is Southampton v Chelsea, Leicester v Norwich City, West Ham v Sunderland and Watford v Bournemouth.It proved to be a tough round of predictions last time out with the Magic Man managing just two correct scores and one correct result. Mersons last Premier League predicitions Result Merses prediction Sunderland 2-1 Man Utd 1-2 Bournemouth 1-3 Stoke 2-1 Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford 2-2 Everton 0-1 West Brom 3-0 Norwich 2-2 West Ham 2-1 Swansea 0-1 Southampton 0-1 Chelsea 5-1 Newcastle 3-0 Arsenal 2-1 Leicester 2-1 Aston Villa 0-6 Liverpool 1-0 Man City 1-2 Tottenham 1-1 Scroll on to see who Merson is tipping this week…Manchester United v Arsenal - 2.05pm, Super SundayBoth sides have had European commitments in midweek but Im not looking too much into that. Im not sure their midweek exertions will have much of an effect and I see Arsenal coming out on top. Merson thinks Olivier Giroud will score as Arsenal beat Man Utd at Old Trafford They are the favourites with the bookmakers and I can understand why when you look at the recent form of both teams. Olivier Giroud is the man Im backing to score first with Arsene Wengers side enhancing their title claims with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet Odds 17/2) Manchester United inflicted a humiliating 8-2 defeat on rivals Arsenal in 2011, with Wayne Rooney scoring a hat-trick West Brom v Crystal Palace - 5.30pm, Saturday Night FootballWest Brom got a great result at Everton but it shocked me to see them lose to Reading in the way they did. However, I dont see them going down because of the Tony Pulis factor. He knows how to keep teams in the Premier League and he will do it again this season. West Brom take on Crystal Palace on Saturday Night Football Crystal Palaces league form has been a worry but their win over Tottenham in the FA Cup would have given them a lift.dddddddddddd However, Im going for a 1-1 draw again as Pulis does not lose too many against the sides in and around him. And first goalscorer? Jonas Olsson.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 9/2) Leicester City v Norwich City - 3pmThese are the games I worry about for Leicester. They are the matches that will define whether they win the league or not. Norwich will go to the King Power Stadium and sit with 10 men behind the ball. They are not going to the Leicester of last season where Norwich would have thought, We can go there and beat them. They are the league leaders. Merse is backing Leicester to beat Norwich 2-1 This is the problem Leicester will have. Can they break down sides with 10 men behind the ball? However, I do think Leicester will win this game. Norwich are on a bit of slump so I think Claudio Ranieris men will win 2-1 and I fancy Jamie Vardy to open the scoring.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet Odds 7/1)Southampton v Chelsea - 3pm Fraser Forster has been a key figure for Southampton in recent weeks Chelsea took a bit of a pasting when these two sides met in the reverse fixture but theyve turned things around since then. This will be a good test to see how far theyve come. Southampton have looked solid and kept a few clean sheets in recent weeks. Its a very hard game to call as I dont see too much between the sides. Ill go for a 1-1 draw with Gary Cahill scoring the first goal.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)Stoke City v Aston Villa - 3pmI cant see anything but a Stoke win. When you look at the league table and their recent results, Aston Villa look doomed. Merse has picked Marko Arnautovic to score first as Stoke play Aston Villa Mark Hughes side hit form with an excellent result at Bournemouth and I can seem them scoring three without reply against Villa. Im backing Marko Arnautovic to score the first goal.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet Odds 10/1) Play Super 6! Theres a bumper ￡1m jackpot up for grabs in Super 6 this weekend. Enter here. Watford v Bournemouth - 3pmBournemouth are struggling at the moment. They rested a lot of players for the FA Cup tie against Everton, putting all their eggs into the Premier League basket. Sometimes I watch Bournemouth and wonder how they are down at the bottom. They play good football, create chances but maybe they are just a bit soft centered. They havent really got that destroyer type in the middle of the park, who unsettles teams. Eddie Howes Bournemouth are in action against Watford It could be a nice time to play Watford. Theyve got the FA Cup to focus on and they are pretty much safe. They might look at it and think one more win would make them safe but it would take a massive dip from them to send them down. For this one Im going with a 1-1 draw with Matt Ritchie scoring the first goal.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)West Ham v Sunderland - 12.45pm Dimitri Payet has been in outstanding form of late for West Ham It will be a tough return to Upton Park for Sam Allardyce. Sunderland have dug in in recent weeks and got some very good results but West Ham are a very good side. Dimitri Payet is in outstanding form and firing on all cylinders for Slaven Bilics side. I think Sunderland will struggle to cope with him so Im backing him to score the first goal and West Ham to win 3-1.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet Odds 14/1)Tottenham v Swansea City - 2.05pm, SundayI worry for Swansea because I dont think they are defensively very good. Francesco Guidolin has come in and is having to adapt to the Premier League. He started off alright but now they are on a bit of a slippery slope towards the relegation zone. Harry Kane is set to be back for Tottenham against Swansea On the other hand, Spurs are flying in the league and they can pick up another three points in front of their home fans with a 2-0 win. Im backing Harry Kane for the opener.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet Odds 9/2)Play £1million Super 6!Theres a massive £1million up for grabs in the Soccer Saturday Super 6 game. All you have to do is predict the scores of six selected matches from the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship. Its free to play so get your entry in before 3pm for the chance to win. ENTER HERE... Take on Merse Think you know better than Merse? Take him on at Super 6 for the chance to win ￡1million Also See: Fixtures Table Live on Sky Get Sky Sports ' ' '