After a flurry of international action we return to matters closer to home this weekend as the Premier League returns. There is still plenty to be sorted out before the curtain comes down on the season on May 22 so every game still matters.
West Ham v Manchester United (12:45pm)
United traditionally don’t always enjoy their trips to Upton Park and with a Scott Parker-inspired West Ham slowly climbing away from the relegation zone everything appears to point towards a coupon-busting win for the Hammers. United have failed to win 11 of their 15 matches away from Old Trafford this season and were well and truly hammered in the Carling Cup clash between these two in east London earlier in the season. With the Hammers priced at 16/5 for the win it’s tough to overlook Avram Grant’s side as a decent punt this weekend.
Match Bet – West Ham to win @ 16/5
Birmingham v Bolton (3pm)
Life for Birmingham City’s supporters has been a real rollercoaster this year. Off the back of a solid return to the top flight last season Blues have slipped into a relegation battle this time around, but ended their long wait for silverware. Since winning the Carling Cup in February Birmingham have picked up just one point and now face a must-win game against Bolton. The Trotters will probably have their upcoming trip to Wembley on their minds and with their league status all but assured they might take their eye off the ball at St Andrew’s.
Match Bet – Birmingham to win @ 7/5
Everton v Aston Villa (3pm)
Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has described the next eight games as “cup finals” and who can blame him after the season they have endured. They travel to Everton just a point off the relegation zone and in desperate need for the England trio of Ashley Young, Darren Bent and Stewart Downing to fire them to a win. If they play as well as they did with England then an injury-hit Toffees team might struggle to contain them.
Match Bet – Villa to win @ 16/5
Newcastle v Wolves (3pm)
Mick McCarthy’s Wolves side are the form team in the bottom half of the Premier League and, despite losing Kevin Doyle to injury, have shown enough recently to indicate they are good enough to stay up. In contrast, Newcastle are slipping down the table at an alarming rate and Alan Pardew’s dream of qualifying for Europe has been given a rude awakening. With eight points from their last four games it’s tough to look beyond Wolves to take another step towards safety.
Match Bet – Wolves to win @ 11/4
Stoke v Chelsea (3pm)
Chelsea’s victory over Manchester City has given the west London club real hope they can still retain the Premier League title this season. The Blues are coming good at just the right time, although they could do with their strikers rediscovering their goalscoring touch very soon. Chelsea have won the last seven games against Stoke, who much like Bolton might have their FA Cup semi-final on their mind. Chelsea have left it late to find a winner in games recently and it could be a case of déjà vu at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
Match Bet – Draw HT/ Chelsea FT @ 3/1
West Brom v Liverpool (3pm)
It is tough to imagine Roy Hodgson doesn’t have revenge in mind when his former employers drop by the Hawthorns this weekend. His six month stint at Anfield won’t have been the happiest of his career and he?ll hope they don’t heap further misery on him by plunging his new team further into relegation trouble. Hodgson is unbeaten in his four games in charge of the Baggies but it seems fate Liverpool will inflict more pain on him. The Reds have looked a lot more solid away from home recently but goals have been a problem for them, despite the addition of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll. They should just do enough to sneak three points at the Hawthorns.
Match Bet – Liverpool to win @ 13/10
Wigan v Tottenham (3pm)
From Wigan to Madrid. It is going to be an interesting few days for the Tottenham players as they prepare to go on their travels. Saturday’s game at the DW Stadium is a must win one if they don’t want this to be their only Champions League adventure but the three points are just as important for the Latics. Wigan are rooted to the foot of the league and while survival is still a possibility their six wins all season suggests Spurs should be too good. Wigan’s only hope is if the lure of the Bernabeu proves too strong for Harry Redknapp’s men.
Match Bet – Tottenham to win @ 5/4
Arsenal v Blackburn (5:30pm)
If our predictions are right then Arsenal will go into this game knowing they could cut United’s lead at the top to two points if they beat Blackburn. Either way a win is a must against statically the worst team in the Premier League currently. Arsenal have some big names back in Cesc Fabergas and Theo Walcott which should give some of their more mentally jaded players a lift. Rovers are in big trouble, their last-gasp draw against Blackpool saved them from slipping even further down the table but they look like a team who are struggling just at the wrong time.
Match Bet – Arsenal to win to nil @ 10/11.
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