The Premier League is now entering the hectic festive period, which can be crucial to teams battling at both ends of the table and, as ever, there are plenty of key games on Saturday.

Sunderland v Bolton

Sunderland (Evens) have been strong this season, they have lost only two of their 15 league games and are yet to lose at the Stadium of Light so far this campaign. Steve Bruce will be without Anton Ferdinand, so Nedum Onuoha should move to centre back and Ahmed Elmohamady come in on the right.

Bolton, in form and attractively priced at 13/5, are without Mark Davies, who should be replaced by Fabrice Muamba after his goalscoring substitute’s appearance last weekend.

Arsenal v Stoke

All eyes are going to be on Ryan Shawcross in this game, as it is the first meeting between the teams since he broke Aaron Ramsey’s leg. There is no love lost between Arsenal and Stoke, but the Gunners need to bounce back from their defeat to Manchester United on Monday night and will be expected to take all three points (To win 3-0 – 7/1).

Stoke (17/2) have not won at Arsenal for 29 years, but the home side have looked more vulnerable at the Emirates than in recent years and have lost to Newcastle, West Brom and Tottenham there so far this season, but another defeat looks unlikely this weekend. Cesc Fabregas is likely to return to the Arsenal starting line-up, while Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are both pushing for starts.

Birmingham v Newcastle

Birmingham sit too close to the relegation zone for their fans liking and are on a poor win of just four wins in their last 27 league games. Their home record reads better, though, losing only one of the last 23 at St Andrew’s and they face a Newcastle side that beat Liverpool last time out in Alan Pardew’s first game in charge so the Magpies may well get something from the game. Take the draw at 11/5 .

Birmingham’s Liam Ridgewell and Martin Jiranek have recovered from flu, but they are without Alexander Hleb and James McFadden. For Newcastle, Steve Harper is fit against and the centre back pairing of Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini are both back from suspension.

Blackburn v West Ham

Caretaker Steve Kean takes charge of Blackburn following the sacking of Sam Allardyce, while the pressure is on Avram Grant as reports suggest he could be sacked if he loses this game. Both games between these two teams finished in draws last season but the Hammers will be looking to take advantage of the turmoil at Ewood Park. It may not be pretty but goals are on the cards and tote offering 23/10 on 4 or more looks tempting in this one.

Grant is expected to give a fitness test to Valon Behrami but he is without Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Manuel da Costa, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Anthony Edgar and Peter Kurucz. Blackburn are not suffering so much, with Keith Andrews expected to miss out and Vince Grella and Steven N’Zonzi both racing against time to be fit for the game.

Wigan v Aston Villa

Both of these teams need to improve over the Christmas period, with Wigan winning only one of their last ten and Villa getting only two wins out of 11. Gabriel Agbonlahor is back from a chest infection but there are reports that Ashley Young has damaged ankle ligaments and could face a spell on the sidelines.

Tom Cleverley could return for Wigan but Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa are both suspended for the game. Franco Di Santo and Victor Moses are both missing for the Premier League’s lowest scorers as they look to extend their five-match unbeaten run in front of their home fans.

Villa finally got a win last weekend – 2-1 against West Brom – and are 6/4 to come away with another three points on Saturday, a generous price despite Wigan’s good home record.

Liverpool v Fulham

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson faces his former club Fulham for the first time on Saturday evening, but he refuses to confirm whether or not Steven Gerrard will return. Fernando Torres should play after he was left out of the midweek Europa League game as Liverpool look to continue their good home form and totesport’s enhanced first goalscorer odds of 3/1 on the Spaniard netting first looks a good bet. The Reds have taken 17 of their 22 points at Anfield, and Fulham have never beaten them on Merseyside.

Nothing less than a win will do for Hodgson (1/2) as the storm clouds gather over his head once again and Mark Hughes’ side have struggled away from Craven Cottage, failing to win on the road in 26 games and have taken three points in only one of their last 13 league games, which is why they are 6/1 to cause a shock at Anfield.

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