Hello guys. Here are some previews for Premier Leauge.
Newcastle vs Liverpool
Observations
Observations
Newcastle just lost manager Chris Hughton in shocking fashion and the Magpies would be reeling from that sacking no doubt. Newcastle, being a promoted side, have done well. They have been very inconsistent though. This season they have walloped Aston Villa 6-0 and Sunderland 5-1, but they have also lost 1-5 to Bolton and 1-3 to West Brom. They have struggled all season to find any sort of rhythm but they should feel comfortable entertaining a Liverpool team that have been struggling. Newcastle have beaten Arsenal on the road and drew with Chelsea at home so they must be keen to add Liverpool to their CV. Liverpool cannot be discounted albeit their appalling form for the past 5 months. While in earlier months they were in the relegation zone, Liverpool have now climbed up to 8th spot. They are 10 points behind leaders Arsenal and to be frank, that is not too shabby knowing the trouble the Reds have had to go through. The worrying thing about Liverpool is that they have been unable to click away from home, winning just 1 of 8 this season on the road in the League. They have netted just 5 goals during this period - only bottom dwellers West Ham have scored less on their travels! New Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is without Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, who are both suspended. Joey Barton, Steve Harper, Danny Guthrie and Kevin Nolan are doubts. Hatem Ben Arfa, Dan Gosling and Ryan Taylor are all out. For Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Jay Spearing are all missing. That means Raul Meireles will get another chance to impress in midfield.
This is a really hard game to call, especially with Liverpool having won just 1 of 8 on the road in the League. Them giving the handicap here means they must do something they have not done too often in order to overcome the handicap. The plus point for potential Liverpool backers is that Newcastle themselves have not been too hot on home turf, winning just 2 home games in the League this season from 8. They have thus far gone down to Blackburn, Stoke and Blackpool at St James' Park and Liverpool certainly look like the sort of team that could stand a chance of all 3 points there. With Coloccini and Williamson missing, Newcastle would again have to rely on the old legs of Sol Campbell. If Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez and Raul Meireles could all click, this game could potentially turn Liverpool's season around - this time, perhaps, for real. Back the Reds!
Pick: Liverpool -0.25
This is a really hard game to call, especially with Liverpool having won just 1 of 8 on the road in the League. Them giving the handicap here means they must do something they have not done too often in order to overcome the handicap. The plus point for potential Liverpool backers is that Newcastle themselves have not been too hot on home turf, winning just 2 home games in the League this season from 8. They have thus far gone down to Blackburn, Stoke and Blackpool at St James' Park and Liverpool certainly look like the sort of team that could stand a chance of all 3 points there. With Coloccini and Williamson missing, Newcastle would again have to rely on the old legs of Sol Campbell. If Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez and Raul Meireles could all click, this game could potentially turn Liverpool's season around - this time, perhaps, for real. Back the Reds!
Pick: Liverpool -0.25
West Ham vs Man City
Observations
Observations
Big team wannabe Manchester City travel to Upton Park today to take on West Ham looking to keep up the pace at the top of the table. The Citizens are just 3 points off the top of the table after 16 games - this is as close as they have ever been to the Premiership leaders at this point of a regular season. City have won just half of their Premiership games this season though so they cannot afford to take West Ham lightly, even though the Hammers lie in the relegation zone. In fact, West Ham lie bottom. Having said that, the Hammers have lost just 3 from 8 home games in the League. Their last home game saw them running out 3-1 winners against Wigan. They will not be fazed by the visit of City that's for sure. West Ham manager Avram Grant could have Valon Behrami back in the fold but definitely out are Manuel Da Costa, Jack Collison, David Edgar, Tomas Hitzlsperger and Mark Noble. For Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, his ill-disciplined side would miss the suspended duo of Alexander Kolarov and Carlos Tevez. Michael Johnson remains missing but other than that City have a full side. Mario Balotelli is fast becoming one of the most feared strikers in the world and the Italian would look to be huge once more as he cements his place in the team in the absence of Tevez.
We will back Manchester City. True enough, they have not won in any of their last 3 visits to Upton Park, but sooner or later that would change, and I am inclined to think it would be today. The Citizens have not lost any of their last 6 in the League even though they have won just 3 during this time, drawing the other 3. City have been shy in front of goal but I feel with Balotelli in the frame, City may have found that missing edge. West Ham are a strong home unit, losing just 1 o their last 6 at home in the League, but I feel the explosiveness of James Milner, David Silva and Adam Johnson could do a lot of damage on West Ham's full-backs. City are eager to notch points today seeing as the top two sides in England, Arsenal and Manchester United, are locking hands. Could be the opportunity City need to bridge the gap. Away side!
Pick: Man City -0.5
We will back Manchester City. True enough, they have not won in any of their last 3 visits to Upton Park, but sooner or later that would change, and I am inclined to think it would be today. The Citizens have not lost any of their last 6 in the League even though they have won just 3 during this time, drawing the other 3. City have been shy in front of goal but I feel with Balotelli in the frame, City may have found that missing edge. West Ham are a strong home unit, losing just 1 o their last 6 at home in the League, but I feel the explosiveness of James Milner, David Silva and Adam Johnson could do a lot of damage on West Ham's full-backs. City are eager to notch points today seeing as the top two sides in England, Arsenal and Manchester United, are locking hands. Could be the opportunity City need to bridge the gap. Away side!
Pick: Man City -0.5
Everton vs Wigan
Observations
Observations
It's time Everton win surely... you would think. The Toffees have not won any of their last 6 in the Premiership - yes, that's right, they went the whole of November without winning. During this time, they lost to Arsenal and West Brom and drew with Blackpool, Bolton, Sunderland and Chelsea. If you look at the quality of opposition though, that is not such a bad run of results. With the exception of Blackpool, all the other 5 teams are teams in the top half of the League. Everton will like this tussle with Wigan today. Everton have the opportunity to boost their home records which have been uncharacteristically bad and what better opportunity than this one against Wigan, a team that won just 1 of 7 on the road this season in the League. Everton manager David Moyes has doubts over the fitness of John Heitinga, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar and Louis Saha. Mikel Arteta is out suspended while Tony Hibbert is missing with an ankle injury. Jermaine Beckford impressed last time out so perhaps he could get a rare opportunity to start against the poor-travelling Latics. For Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, he welcomes back Hugo Rodallega from a 3-game suspension. Rodallega's return could see Mauro Boselli being relegated to the bench. Emerson Boyce and Gary Caldwell are doubts. Franco Di Santo, James McCarthy and Victor Moses are definitely out injured. Tom Cleverley has been very impresses of late for Wigan so if anyone could pick Wigan up, Cleverley would be a good candidate.
Everton have won the last 3 against Wigan at Goodison Park and I quite fancy them to walk to all 3 points today without too much of a fight from Wigan. Everton have scored at least 2 goals in each of these 3 games and with them very eager to notch only their 3rd home win from 9 in the League on home turf this season, I expect them to do just that. Wigan are a battling side no doubt about it, but their tendency to overcommit in attack (which they are not very good at by the way) often results in a slackness in defence that gets exploited by the opposition. The Latics have dropped their last 4 in a row on the road in the League and in their last 6 road games in all competitions, they have conceded at least 2 goals in each, scoring just 2 goals in total themselves. I have a feeling Beckford could raise a few eyebrows with a goal or two in this one. Home side!
Pick: Everton -1
Gl to all. Ill post more picks for today later but probably without previews.
Everton have won the last 3 against Wigan at Goodison Park and I quite fancy them to walk to all 3 points today without too much of a fight from Wigan. Everton have scored at least 2 goals in each of these 3 games and with them very eager to notch only their 3rd home win from 9 in the League on home turf this season, I expect them to do just that. Wigan are a battling side no doubt about it, but their tendency to overcommit in attack (which they are not very good at by the way) often results in a slackness in defence that gets exploited by the opposition. The Latics have dropped their last 4 in a row on the road in the League and in their last 6 road games in all competitions, they have conceded at least 2 goals in each, scoring just 2 goals in total themselves. I have a feeling Beckford could raise a few eyebrows with a goal or two in this one. Home side!
Pick: Everton -1
Gl to all. Ill post more picks for today later but probably without previews.
