Chelsea v Bolton (7:45pm)

Chelsea fans seeking a belated Christmas present could finally get some festive cheer on Wednesday when the stuttering champions entertain Bolton at Stamford Bridge.
Carlo Ancelotti’s double winners were five points clear at the top of the Premier League two months ago – but have failed to win in six and could be overtaken if the unthinkable happens against Wanderers in west London.
Noises about the future of the experienced Italian coach have done little to appease dismayed Blues followers but a first win on home soil since November 10 on Wednesday could set Chelsea up for a big push for the domestic crown.
Frank Lampard and Michael Essien are now back in tandem in the Blues engine room and Didier Drogba has shown signs of getting back to his unplayable best.
The Trotters had just 19 fully-fit senior professionals available for their Boxing Day win over West Brom and have now lost South Korea winger Lee Chung-yong to the Asia Cup. They have also not won at Stamford Bridge since 2003.
Chelsea could be nervous so the way to go could be to take the 16/5 about the draw-Chelsea half-time/full-time outcome.

Wigan v Arsenal (7:45pm)

Wigan are arguably the most difficult Premier League team to pin down in terms of a betting proposition and a Boxing Day win over fellow strugglers Wolves has set them up perfectly to stop Arsenal in their tracks.
Latics effectively killed the Gunners’ title hopes in April this year when they scored three goals in the last 10 minutes to seal a memorable 3-2 come-from-behind win at the DW Stadium and are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches on home soil.
You have to go back to September 19 to find the last time Wigan lost in front of their own supporters and Arsene Wenger will know his players cannot afford to relax after a Christmas cracker against Chelsea.
Both Teams To Score can be backed at 10/11 in what could be an open affair and the 7/1 about an Arsenal 2-1 Correct Score offers value.

Liverpool v Wolves (8pm)

Liverpool are just three points above third-from-bottom Wigan but dig a little deeper and that is perhaps a fair reflection on Roy Hodgson’s side on home soil.
The Merseysiders have not played since December 15 because of the bad weather so should be itching for the visit of basement club Wolves to finally kick-start their Christmas programme.
The Reds have chalked up five wins, two draws and just one defeat from eight games at Anfield, with 15 goals scored and just six conceded, and should have too much for the visitors on Wednesday.
Ominously for Mick McCarthy’s side, star striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard are both expected to start.
Wolves have yet to win on their travels, with seven defeats in eight games and 17 goals conceded, so the way to go could be to snap up the evens on Liverpool to Win To Nil or 5/6 to Keep A Clean Sheet.
Other ways forward are the 5/6 in the Liverpool-Liverpool half-time/full-time market and same price about 3-5 Goals.

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Birmingham

The former Arsenal man was forced to leave the pitch 15 minutes from the end of the Premier League win and is already a concern for the weekend.

Hleb, on a season-long loan from Barcelona, seems almost certain to sit out Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie against Brentford but Blues (16/1 Top Six Finish 2010-11) will hope for better news later in the week.

Alex McLeish remains hopeful that the Belarus international will be ready for the Second-City derby, but was wishing he had replaced Hleb earlier.

The Scot said: “At half-time I said to Alex ‘give me 15 minutes of magic and we will get you off’. It went a bit longer than that and all of a sudden he had a little twist in his knee which we are concerned about.

“We have to wait to see how it is, but he is a brave guy. I just hope there is no serious damage.”

Another concern for McLeish is winger Jean Beausejour, who has missed the last two matches after injuring his knee ligament.

The summer signing was short of match fitness when he joined Blues and has yet to start in the Premier League.

Birmingham say they don’t want to take “any unnecessary risks” with Chile international, but may decide to give him a run out in midweek.

It will be a much-changed team that takes to the field for the League Cup encounter (Birmingham 3/10, Draw 18/5, Brentford 9/1 – Match Betting), with McLeish having one eye on the trip to Villa Park.

The manager admits that there will be “enforced changes” as Blues look to reach the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

McLeish added: “One or two will definitely need to rest and players have been playing with injections.

“That has been the case with three or four of them over the last few weeks, and that just can’t last forever because you will burn them out.”

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