With the festive fixture list underway we have a look at the games which will be coming up thick and fast over Tuesday and Wednesday as clubs look to still a march in the title race or the relegation battle.

TUESDAY

Man City v Aston Villa

City will look to continue the way they left off against Newcastle at St. James’ Park, where they picked up a richly deserved three points.
Carlos Tevez seems to be back in favour with the City fans, after his two goals and all-round work rate impressed them on Boxing Day, helping them move into second as their title odds were cut to 8/1.
City need to make Eastlands a fortress in the second half of the season to keep alive their title challenge, but Villa will be encouraged by Everton’s success there last time out.
Gerard Houllier still has plenty of critics in the stands at Villa Park, and their away record is simply not good enough – they have lost four of the last five on their travels.

Stoke v Fulham

Stoke have finally got the monkey off their backs, with Boxing Day’s 2-0 win at Blackburn being the first December game they have won since reaching the Premier League in 2008.
They have already beaten Fulham this season, albeit in the Carling Cup, and their recent record is good enough to suggest they can repeat the feat.
In their last seven games, the Potters have won four and drawn two, the home defeat to Blackpool earlier this month their only blip.
Fulham were desperately disappointing at home to West Ham on Boxing Day, especially against a team with a shocking away record and with a manager under severe pressure.

Sunderland v Blackpool

Blackpool’s recent inactivity may come back to haunt them as they have twice had games called off because of the bad weather.
However, in between their postponements they beat Stoke 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium, picking up their fourth away win in the Premier League.
Having already won at Anfield, Blackpool (15/8 to be relegated) will have few fears about going to the Stadium of Light, especially after Sunderland’s defeat to Manchester United on Boxing Day.
Sunderland, though, have not lost in nine home games so far this season and have only conceded five goals in those games.

Tottenham v Newcastle

Spurs have only been beaten once at White Hart Lane in the Premier League this season, though they do average one goal per game conceded.
Tottenham continued their push for a top four finish with victory over Villa on Boxing Day and are 8/5 to achieve their goal of returning to the Champions League.
Newcastle were well beaten at home by Manchester City on Boxing Day, and have not been at their best away from the North East – they have conceded 15 goals in their eight Premier League games away from home.
The Magpies were poor in their last away game, going down 3-1 at West Brom on December 5, and new boss Alan Pardew will want to stamp his own authority on the club with some transfer movement in January.

West Brom v Blackburn

Two teams who were poor on Boxing Day hope to make a swift return to form at the Hawthorns.
West Brom lost 2-0 at Bolton, while Blackburn went down by the same scoreline at home to Stoke City.
The Baggies’ home form has enabled them to reach mid-table, they have only been beaten twice at the Hawthorns in the Premier League, though last month’s 3-0 home defeat to Stoke showed their frailties.
Blackburn fans are hardly unanimous in their backing of Steve Kean, and his time in charge could hardly have started less impressively as they hardly had a shot on goal against Stoke on Boxing Day and could have lost by more than two goals.

West Ham v Everton

The pressure is still not completely off Avram Grant, even though he has technically achieved what the board asked him to which was to win one of three specified games.
The Hammers, on their day, should be capable of beating Everton and their 3-1 win at Fulham will have boosted their confidence.
Everton have been inconsistent and badly need goals. Having their game on Boxing Day postponed might work in their favour, though, as it has eased their festive schedule.
David Moyes’ team have only won twice on their travels this season, but have kept things tight – they have drawn five away games and only conceded nine goals in as many games away from Goodison Park.

Birmingham v Man Utd

Birmingham know they can drop into the bottom three if they lose here, with both Fulham and West Ham waiting to take advantage.
The Blues have only lost once at St Andrew’s all season, but need to start turning draws there into wins – they have only three so far.
United’s away record continues to mystify; they have only won at Stoke in the Premier League, and drawn all their other six away matches.
Their 2-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford on Boxing Day kept them in pole position in the Premier League, but Sir Alex Ferguson will want them to kick on now and translate some of their home form (they have won nine and drawn one there) into away success.
Michael Owen did not make the squad for the Sunderland game, but with the festive programme set to test every team’s strength in depth it could signal a recall for the former England international.

WEDNESDAY

Chelsea v Bolton

Chelsea (2/1 Premier League outright) have been done few favours by the TV schedulers, having to play on Monday and then again two days later – especially as their first game is the tough visit to the Emirates Stadium.
They face a Bolton team high on confidence after a 2-0 win against West Brom on Boxing Day.
Owen Coyle’s men are in fifth place in the Premier League but in reality that position may be false – they have played more games than virtually all their rivals and have only won twice away from home.
Bolton only lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last season, and with Chelsea faltering recently they might fancy their chances of securing a point on this visit.

Wigan v Arsenal

Wigan picked up a very useful three points at Molineux on Boxing Day, and are not the easy-beats many predicted at the start of the season.
They may face a scrap against relegation until the end of the season, but they have enough flair players to suggest they can cause some upsets, including against the Gunners who they beat 3-2 at the same ground last season.
Wigan don’t score enough goals, they have only managed eight at home while conceding 17. That will encourage Arsenal, who are the second-top scorers on their travels this season.
If Arsenal can end their recent barren spell at home against Chelsea on Monday, they will go to Wigan on a high and be confident of staying on pace for a title shot.

Liverpool v Wolves

Liverpool have only lost once in the Premier League at Anfield this season, and conceded a miserly six goals there.
Wolves go to Merseyside having picked up just one point away from home this season and only scored five goals in their eight away games.
Mick McCarthy’s men will be at a low ebb after losing a ‘six pointer’ against Wigan on Boxing Day, while Liverpool will be well rested after their game was postponed.
With the Premier League being the tightest it has been for years, Liverpool know that every point is vital. They could go in either direction – the Reds are seven points behind fifth-placed Bolton, and six ahead of the relegation zone.

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