Fulham - Arsenal 5.18 - 1.80
I did not particularly enjoy the Arsenal – Everton encounter. I want more in the final third and in my opinion, it was a dull 0-0 fixture. Arsenal dominated, what else, they played at home, did they not? Arsenal played more than 80 minutes against Norwich without scoring a week ago and they seem to struggle a bit for goals at the moment. Arsenal play Man United next and they probably have to defeat Fulham tomorrow to keep ahead of Tottenham and Chelsea. Szczesny will be the Arsenal keeper tomorrow, Monreal and Podolski could start, but T Rosicky remains an injury doubt.S Sidwell will be back for Fulham, a Fulham side who lost 0-3 at home to Chelsea in midweek. Fulham won this fixture last season, but I do not think they are strong enough to repeat this victory. Fulham look wanting in their midfield and I can understand why they have recalled Kacankilic from Burnley. Away win, I guess.
Liverpool - Chelsea 2.30 - 3.55
I do not know what to say about Liverpool and the Liverpool form. Assessing their most recent results, 0-0 draws vs. West Ham and Reading. They are not doing great, to put it mildly, but if you listen to their over optimistic coach, his Liverpool are alright.OK, the Reading keeper McCarthy played the game of his life last week, but Liverpool should be able to do better.
Time for strong Liverpool performance again and quite possible that they will deliver a top display in this game. I can imagine that their players will be extremely fired up for this Sunday fixture.
Chelsea started with both their veterans J Terry and F Lampard against Fulham. Good move from Benitez with Terry nodding home two of the Chelsea goals (3-0 win). Demba Ba and Oscar were placed on the bench and maybe they will start this time. The Chelsea fans can have no complaints. Their side is handling their tough fixture list quite well and no matter which starting players Benitez chooses, Chelsea are not easily beaten. I smell a great Liverpool effort on Sunday.
Manchester Utd - Aston Villa 1.27 - 13.00
I have said it before. I do not expect any particularly great United performances in their remaining fixtures. I mean, their players can read the league table and they have no reason to keep fighting for their lives at the moment. Coach Ferguson is probably their most motivated asset and he will do his utmost keeping his players at least a bit motivated in the weeks to come and in this match vs. Aston Villa.A point from this game would be extremely welcome for Villa. They have a certain chance, a much better chance than, say a month ago, but worth betting on? No, I do not think so. Villa hope to have Agbonlahor back for this game. No bet game.
Norwich - Reading 1.75 - 5.44
They go on playing decent football, Norwich, that is, but they have almost forgotten about winning matches. Now we all expect them to win this “easy” home fixture against this poor, but always committed Reading side. One team will choke under pressure, going down with QPR and Reading and it could be Norwich, who knows? I do not think so, but it does not really matter what I think. A Pilkington will be fit to play for Norwich.Reading managed a 0-0 home draw with Liverpool last week and unanimous reports tell us that their keeper McCarthy played like a man possessed. Reading are 1-2-13 away from home and I have no intention of making a case for the away win. Their winger J Kebe could play some part tomorrow. I just think that 1.75 will not do on the home win.
Q P R - Stoke 2.27 - 3.54
Should QPR win their remaining five games they will end up on 39 points and it may still not be enough. No, they will go down and Redknapp and his players are well aware of this sad fact. They can have no complaints. In their last four games they have faced teams from the lower half of the table, Everton aside, and they have only picked up one point from these four games. QPR will be without their suspended striker B Zamora.Terrible Stoke form and they cannot blame their disastrous results this year on Injuries. Last week for instance only M Etherington and M Wilson were missing. Stoke are 1-6-9 away from home and their last four away games have ended 0-1, 0-1, 1-2 and 0-1.Looks like they are close, but end up on the losing side.
My choice? A draw is no good to either of these sides. May as well back the better odds.
Sunderland - Everton 3.50 - 2.29
I guess the home win has to be backed. We often talk about motivated sides and so on and it is not often that you find a manager and a team as motivated as Di Canio and his new team Sunderland were last week in the Northern derby. I take it for granted we will see a similar effort from the Sunderland players tomorrow and there is absolutely no guarantee that Everton will be able to match the Sunderland commitment in this game. Everton already played a big game this week, the energy sapping away game at the Emirates vs. Arsenal (0-0).The home side will be without the suspended C Gardner also this week. P Bardsley, the defender, risks mssing this game.
L Osman is a doubt again for Everton. R Barkley in for Osman impressed against Arsenal. T Hibbert is available again. Backing the home win.
Swansea - Southampton 2.36 - 3.25
No game for Swansea last week. Winless in their last four league games I can imagine that their coach Laudrup is eager for his team to return to winning ways. They have lost their last two home games, vs. Arsenal and Tottenham, but should Swansea come in form again, or close to form, I would suggest that this 2.41 is worth backing.Southampton are unbeaten in their last five games and I cannot stress enough how much I like their way of playing football. L Shaw, the defender, will return for this fixture. 1X game, but the draw will be my suggestion.
Tottenham - Manchester City 3.37 - 2.36
We all want to know which Tottenham players will return on Sunday. Surely the two week break has done their wounded trio some good. It looks like A Lennon definitely will line up against Man City, then there is hope that G Bale will be there, but no J Defoe. Lennon back, that is good news, he gives width to their game. Should G Bale consider himself 100% fit and ready to play then I am prepared to back the home win.City have played many games lately while Tottenham have more to play for and they are also likely to have more energy for this fixture. Zabaleta will be back for City, but both D Silva and Kun Aguero could be forced to miss the match. They are doubts. My guess is that Silva will play. Tottenham, with Bale playing, are worth backing and the odds are great.
W B A - Newcastle 2.29 - 3.40
WBA will come extremely well prepared and well rested for this fixture. They have not played since they lost to Arsenal two weeks ago. They still miss the suspended Mulumbu.Here is a team that needs to be woken up. Their season has been a success story, but at the moment they do not have as much to play for as, for example, their opponents Newcastle.
Now we very rarely see unmotivated teams in Britain, but it is not about life or death for WBA, that is what I want to point out.
Newcastle have lost their keeper T Krul for the rest of the season. A big blow of course, but I still trust Newcastle to pick up the three- four points they need to remain in the Premiership. Maybe already tomorrow!
West Ham - Wigan 2.30 - 3.39
As expected West Ham came out strongly against Man United and they absolutely deserved the draw. Their direct play, their physical approach is never enjoyed by United and West Ham were not miles from winning the game (2-2). W Reid was back in their defence replacing the injured J Tomkins. M Noble could make his come back in this game.Wigan can count themselves unlucky losing 0-1 to Man City the other day. Well, not really unlucky, they had some great scoring chances, but they blew them. And then there is always the possibility that one of the strong Man City individuals will find the net and that is exactly what happened at the Etihad Stadium. Wigan need the three points, that is for sure, but winning against West Ham at Upton Park will be extremely difficult. A point each.
