Hello guys. Here are some previews for Premier Leauge.
Newcastle vs Liverpool
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
West Ham vs Man City
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
Everton vs Wigan
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.
Mick McCarthy will be hoping that the footballing adage of form meaning nothing in local derbies applies on Sunday when Birmingham visit Molineux - as the Wolves boss is yet to record a victory in six derby meetings with the Blues.
Wolves have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games and sit in 19th place in the table - three points from safety.
Injury problems have not helped McCarthy pick a settled eleven - something which is reflected in the fact that Wolves are the only Premier League team yet to keep a clean sheet.
It is not all doom and gloom for Wolves fans though, all three of their league wins have come at Molineux and McCarthy's team will be expected to use their 3-2 win against Sunderland a fortnight ago as motivation.
Alex McLeish will take his team the short distance to Molineux on Sunday looking to make it the tenth meeting between the two teams that his Birmingham City side have not lost.
The Blues have won their last three derbies against Wolves and will be keen to extend that record.
A key component to their success in the past two seasons has been a solid defence. Summer signing Ben Foster has impressed in goal and the central defensive partnership of Scott Dann and Roger Johnson is one of the main reasons why Birmingham have only lost two of their last 10 league games.
Blues fans should not be overly confident however, as their team have not won any of their last 13 away league games - a period that has lasted nine months.
Whilst keeping goals out has been a major strength under McLeish, the Blues have struggled to score goals - something that fans will hope changes with the improving form of giant summer signing Nikola Zigic.
Wolverhampton
Mick McCarthy's injury-hit squad will be boosted by the return of midfielder David Edwards and summer signing Steven Fletcher for the visit of Birmingham City. Fletcher is expected to recover from illness to take his place in the squad, whilst Edwards has recovered from a thigh strain that has kept the midfielder out for the last four weeks. Neither player will be expected to go straight into the starting eleven. On-loan defender Michael Mancienne will definitely miss the game after picking up a knee-injury in last week's 3-0 loss to Blackburn - with Richard Stearman expected to replace him. Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will be hoping for a recall to the starting eleven if McCarthy decides to go for a more attacking option against local rivals Birmingham. It is likely that Sunday's game will come too soon for David Jones and Wolves will definitely be without long-term absentees Karl Henry (knee), Jody Craddock (hip), Michael Kightly (knee) and Adlene Guedioura (broken leg).
Alex McLeish has no fresh injury worries ahead of the short trip to Molineux and has been boosted by the news that veteran striker Kevin Phillips has recovered from the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last two games. Phillips is unlikely to make the starting eleven - something which will delight Wolves fans as the former West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa forward has netted ten times in just 11 starts against the men in gold. Birmingham's two absentees are on-loan Alexander Hleb (hamstring) and James McFadden (knee) - who are both out until the New Year. Serbian striker Nikola Zigic impressed in his 30 minute cameo against Tottenham last week, and McLeish has hinted that the 6ft 8in striker will be recalled to the starting eleven. It remains to be seen whether he will replace Cameron Jerome as the lone striker or if McLeish will revert to a 4-4-2 system.
Bolton have often been mocked in the last few years for their negative style of play, but that’s all changed under Owen Coyle. Not only has the Scot got the Trotters playing attacking football but they’re having success with it too, and they currently lie sixth in the table.
Meanwhile Blackburn, who didn’t have the best of starts to the season and looked as though they would be heading into the winter months in a relegation battle, have had a resurgence of late and sit 11th in the table with a chance of leapfrogging Bolton with a win at the Reebok on Sunday.
Despite Bolton’s good run of form this season, their recent record against Blackburn doesn’t make for impressive reading. The Trotters have failed to beat Sunday’s opponents in each of their last seven league meetings, losing five of them, and have not scored in three of their last four games against Rovers.
But considering both sides’ form this campaign, you would expect that to change this weekend. Bolton have lost just three of their last 17 league games, while Blackburn have lost four of their last six away games and have conceded 11 goals in their last two outings away from Ewood Park.
Bolton
Stuart Holden remains a doubt for the hosts after missing their last two games with a thigh injury, so Mark Davies could deputise again. Owen Coyle has no new injury concerns and could name the same side that lost to Manchester City last time out. Long-term absentees Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien (both knee) are still sidelined, while Jlloyd Samuel (calf) and Ricardo Gardner (thigh) are not yet ready to return.
Possible starting XI: Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Lee, Muamba, M Davies, Petrov; K Davies, Elmander.
Blackburn
Martin Olsson has been included in the squad for the first time in six weeks after recovering from a hamstring problem to train this week. Keith Andrews, Vince Grella (both groin) and Steven Nzonzi (hamstring) are all still not ready to make their comebacks. Sam Allardyce could also name an unchanged side, his team having put three past Wolves last weekend.
Possible starting XI: Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet; Dunn, Jones, Pedersen; Emerton, Roberts, M Diouf.
Spurs as title contenders? Stop laughing at the back, it's a real possibility. Harry Redknapp's side are only six points off the summit and a win against a Chelsea side in disarray on Sunday would take them to within a point of their London rivals.
They are in-form too, unbeaten in seven matches, having secured progression to the Champions League knockout phase, impressivly topping their group ahead of holders Inter. Redknapp's men go into this London derby the more confident and most likely to secure all three points. It's been a while since we said that.
It is not a good time to be associated with Chelsea at the moment; struggling for form, struggling with injuries, and struggling to understand why this season seems to be falling down around them. And there appears to be no sign of things improving.
Wednesday's limp defeat at Marseille showed how far the Blues have fallen, with an impotent attack and a lazy defence letting in Brandao for the winner. A trip to a bullish Spurs side isn't what the doctor ordered.
And with Frank Lampard still missing and John Terry not 100 per cent, Chelsea will be hoping Santa Claus brings them an upturn in fortunes, or a magic cure for injuries, or they could find themselves losing pace with the top pack.
Tottenham
Spurs will have to do without the services of talisman of Rafael van der Vaart, who hasn't recovered in time from a hamstring injury. It was hoped the Dutchman would be able to make the starting line-up, but those hopes have been dashed. Howevver, in better news midfield maestro Luka Modric is back, along with Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon and Alan Hutton, after being rested for the midweek Champions League draw with Twente. Jermaine Jenas and Younes Kaboul are doubtful, but there could be a starting place for Michael Dawson, who is ready to make his first start since returning from a serious injury. The chances of Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O'Hara, Ledley King or Jonathan Woodgate playing are zero, though, as they all have long-term injury problems.
Sunday won't see the long awaited return of Frank Lampard for the Blues. The midfielder has been consigned to the sidelines since August after suffering two setbacks in his rehabilitation from a hernia operation and will continue to miss out. Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole were rested for the trip to Marseille in midweek and should start at White Hart Lane, alongside John Terry who made it through 70 minutes in France. Jose Bosingwa picked up a hamstring injury and will miss out - with Paulo Ferreira likely to deputise - joining long term injury victims Alex and Yossi Benayoun on the sidelines.
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Originally Posted by r4z0r1199
