The Premier League throws up two London derbies on Sunday afternoon – at Craven Cottage and White Hart Lane – while 11/2 title shots Chelsea travel to Bolton and new boys Swansea entertain Stoke City.
The afternoon’s biggest game undoubtedly takes place in north London when Tottenham play host to Arsenal for a game in which no love will be lost between the rival sets of fans.
The Gunners’ season – and in fact most of 2011 to date – has been a huge letdown although Arsene Wenger’s men were the only Premier League side to win in the Champions League in midweek courtesy of a 2-1 home victory over Olympiakos.
Spurs were also winners in Europe, although the fact they managed to see off Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League with just a handful of first-team regulars on show bodes well for Harry Redknapp’s men this weekend.
The table shows Spurs are two points and seven places better off than Arsenal with a game in hand so the incentive is there to strike an early blow to a side who will be challenging Redknapp’s for a top-four finish.
Arsenal appear to be the worst off in terms of injuries while Spurs should start with Emmanuel Adebayor, who has a fantastic record of scoring in this fixture during his time at the Emirates so 11/10 about him scoring anytime looks a decent bet.
This fixture has always tended to produce goals – the 0-0 draw in February 2009 aside – so 4/6 for over 2.5 goals is skinny for a reason but the 15/8 about four or more might pay off.
In west London Fulham take on Queens Park Rangers in a rare league fixture – they last met in the second tier in 2001 when the Cottagers were heading into the Premier League and Rangers were heading for administration and relegation.
Times have changed though and Rangers look to be on the up following the arrival of Tony Fernandes while Fulham have found the going tougher in the top flight this term.
Martin Jol has not managed to win a Premier League game for his new club but three draws out of three at the Cottage means they have been hard to beat – just ask Manchester City – however one of those stalemates was against an ordinary Blackburn side.
But even money on a home win looks a sound bet considering QPR will be forced to play centre-half Matthew Connolly at left-back in the absence of Armand Traore, Jay Bothroyd is yet to break his duck for the visitors and Fulham will be able to call on Bobby Zamora after illness.
If Fulham’s start to the season has been slow then Bolton’s have been stuck in reverse – they are rock bottom with five defeats on the spin including three at the Reebok Stadium – ahead of the visit of Chelsea.
The Blues may well be without the suspended Fernando Torres but Daniel Sturridge is fit and available to stick the boot into his former loan club (Chelsea 11/10 – Half-Time/Full-Time).
Like Fulham and QPR, Swansea and Stoke last met in 2001 although it was in the third tier which just goes to show the fluid nature of league football in England.
Fast forward a decade and the Potters are threatening to establish themselves as a Premier League side although the distraction of the Europa League is a new pitfall boss Tony Pulis must negotiate.
It’s tricky to get players up for games so quickly when they are not used to it, but the canny Welshman has bought well and will need his experienced campaigners to keep their eye on the ball at the Liberty Stadium.
Stoke are an inviting 7/4 to inflict the Swans’ first-ever Premier League defeat on them this weekend having held Manchester United to a draw at the Britannia Stadium last time out.
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