Everton v Chelsea

Chelsea have bounced back into some sort of form with wins over Bolton, Blackburn and Ipswich but could their first blip in five games come at Goodison Park?

The Merseyside Blues secured a 1-1 draw in the Premier League down at Stamford Bridge in December and while the Londoners have been no great shakes on the road, Everton have managed just three home wins in the league so it will be a big ask.

A more sensible approach might be to back the draw in this one which would take it to a replay at the Bridge.

Draw – 23/10

Bolton v Wigan

These two have enjoyed contrasting seasons so far and the derby meeting in the FA Cup could be the Latics’ chance to distract themselves from the fight against relegation.

Bolton have not won in the league since Boxing Day and although the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw on January 5, it is not out of the question for Roberto Martinez’s side to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Wigan to win – 4/1

Birmingham v Coventry

Blues are through to the Carling Cup final after a tremendous come-from-behind win over West Ham on Wednesday night but this could work against them in this Midlands derby.

The Hammers win is sure to have taken a lot out of the players and Coventry, who looked decent when losing at QPR in the Championship last weekend, boast arguably a better keeper than Robert Green in Keiren Westwood.

Coventry to win – 22/5

Aston Villa v Blackburn

Rovers have risen to eighth place in the Premier League under Steve Kean but they encounter a Villa side which seems to have turned the corner and now have Darren Bent on board.

The Lancastrians have not been any great shakes on the road this term but Bent is cup-tied and this could give them the edge.

Blackburn to win – 16/5

Southampton v Manchester United

Manchester United are looking to extend their record of 11 FA Cups to 12 and this trip to the South Coast should be nothing more than a formality.

All eyes will be on Saints youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who has been strongly linked with a couple of Premier League clubs including the Red Devils.

United Half-Time/Full-Time – 10/11

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Dundee United

The hosts lost last time out to St Mirren but won their previous two SPL encounters to sit sixth in the table with 17 points, while Killie are just one point and one place below them in the standings.

Strangely, Killie have done better on their travels this term, with three wins already, while United have either won or lost at home and have yet to share the points at Tannadice.

Kilmarnock have won three top-flight matches in a row but that may well end this weekend with a score draw predicted for this one (1-1 draw 11/1).

Hamilton have yet to win at home this season and face an Inverness side who have already tasted victory four times on the road.

The Accies have lost their last two and that will surely become three successive defeats on Saturday afternoon, with Terry Butcher’s men full of confidence after their midweek victory over hapless Aberdeen.

Caley have already taken a point from a trip to Ibrox and will not be daunted by the prospect of facing the basement club at New Douglas Park (Caley 6/4 to beat Hamilton).

Hibs had lost three SPL games in a row before Tuesday’s amazing 3-0 victory away at Rangers which gave them 11 points from 12 matches this season.

They will face a Motherwell side who are flying high behind the Old Firm and have specialised in winning on the road this term.

‘Well have already won four times away from Fir Park and that trend looks set to continue with Hibs tipped to come down to earth with a bump after their midweek heroics.

Hibs have only won once at Easter Road this campaign and we believe they will still have 11 points on Saturday night after a narrow Motherwell success (Motherwell 6/4 to beat Hibs).

Rangers still sit at the top of the table but there would not have been many who backed Hibs to turn them over at Ibrox, and a double with Celtic also losing would have been unthinkable.

They host an Aberdeen side in freefall and will surely be looking to set the record straight with an emphatic victory in Glasgow.

The Dons did take a 2-0 lead in the first encounter this season only to see the Gers score three to claim the spoils, but it is unlikely that Walter Smith’s men will be so welcoming this time around.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne has given the dreaded vote of confidence to under-fire Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee, but anything like a repeat of the 9-0 reverse to Celtic will surely force his hand into making a change (Rangers 14/1 to win 5-0).

Finally St Johnstone welcome Hearts to McDiarmid Park desperate to arrest the three-game losing sequence which culminated in a 4-0 hammering at Motherwell last time out.

They have already lost four games at home this term and will have their work cut out to prevent that becoming five this weekend.

Hearts have been superb away from home with four wins already and they appear to be a solid bet to take all three points from this one with the confidence gained by downing Celtic on Wednesday night (Hearts 6/4 to win).

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Championship

However Neil Warnock’s side will have their unbeaten record severely put to the test on Tuesday when they travel to the south coast to tackle a resurgent Portsmouth side.

Pompey slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Derby on Saturday, but that was a first setback in eight Championship games, while Steve Cotterill’s men have won four games on the bounce at Fratton Park scoring 14 goals in the process.

Therefore if there is a strong possibility that the Hoops could be tasting defeat for the first time this season (6/4 – 90 minutes betting).

Derby moved up to fourth thanks to that win against Pompey and they face a tough trip to Portman Road to take on Roy Keane’s sixth-placed Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys won at Sheffield United on Saturday and go into the match with two successive wins under their belts, but with Nigel Clough’s Rams also in good form a draw looks a good bet for this one (23/10 Draw – 90 minutes betting).

Fifth-placed Coventry will aim to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat at home to Leeds on Saturday, but they will find the points hard to come by at Nottingham Forest.

Billy Davies’ side are unbeaten on home soil so far this term and should maintain that impressive form at the City Ground (10/11 – 90 minutes betting).

Norwich sit just outside the play-off places on goal difference following the point picked up against Carrow Road against Burnley on Saturday when they battled back from two-down.

The Canaries will need that battling spirit at Millwall on Tuesday as Kenny Jackett’s side generally have a decent record at the Den.

However, while Paul Lambert’s side have done well on the road this term, I fancy the Lions to nick this one by the odd goal (13/10 – 90 minutes betting).

Leeds were flying on the road again with their win at Coventry making it three successive away day victories. However their home form is inconsistent with heavy losses against the likes of Cardiff and lowly Preston.

Struggling Yorkshire rivals Hull City arrive at Elland Road without a win in seven, but capable of grabbing a share of the spoils in what would be Leeds’ first home draw of the campaign (13/5 Draw – 90 minutes betting).

Burnley’s home form has been the key to them sitting within two points of the play-off places so far this term.

And Brian Laws’ side should make it six wins at Turf Moor (11/10 Home win – 90 minutes betting) in a tight game against a Doncaster Rovers side that sits three places below the Clarets but level on 22 points.

At the wrong end of the table Preston will hope to pull away from the bottom three relegation places by seeing off a Barnsley side without an away win to their name this season at Deepdale.

However Darren Ferguson’s men have lost four on home soil so, with that in mind, expect a tight game with both sides settling for a point (5/2 Draw – 90 minutes betting).

Scunthorpe United are brilliant on the road this season with five away wins already in the bag – the latest came in the derby at struggling Hull City on Saturday.

However they have struggled in front of their own fans with just one win and four defeats at Glanford Park.

The Iron will feel confident of improving on those statistics when Middlesbrough arrive in town with the worst away record in the whole country – no wins, a draw and six defeats with only two goals scored so far.

However it is the first away match for Boro since Tony Mowbray took over from Gordon Strachan and the Teessiders will go into the game buoyed by their 2-1 win against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro could build on that result by taking advantage of Scunthorpe’s home woes and grab a much-needed point from the tussle (9/4 Boro to earn a draw).

Bottom club Crystal Palace let a one-goal lead slip late on at Boro on Saturday and they will return to Selhurst Park to face Watford on Tuesday.

George Burley has been boosted by the return to fitness of Darren Ambrose and Neil Danns, but they will find it difficult to get anything from a Hornets side which has a great away record with four wins from seven on their travels (Watford 8/5 to make it five away wins).

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Arsenal v Newcastle United

Arsenal’s recent good run of form in all competitions was ended on Wednesday when they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League but don’t expect the Gunners (3/10 in the match betting) to misfire when Newcastle (10/1 to win, 4/1 the draw) travel to the Emirates for the early Premier League kick-off at 13:30.

Shakhtar are no mugs and with Arsene Wenger’s men seemingly on course to make the knockout stages in Europe’s elite competition having won their first three group games, they can be forgiven for succumbing to a long trip against tough opposition, particularly when key players were missing.

Arsenal are still without Manuel Almunia, Abu Diaby, Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen due to injury – while Andrei Arshavin, Denilson and Alex Song are doubtful – but captain and talisman Cesc Fabregas (5/1 to score first) is set to return to the heart of midfield.

The Spanish World Cup winner is likely to be reunited with Jack Wilshere who is available again following a three-match suspension and the pair have been forging an excellent partnership in the middle of the park.

Already five points behind Chelsea in the table, there will be no taking it easy from the north Londoners, who had won five on the bounce (the last three without conceding) since a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge before that midweek reverse.

During that winning run, Arsenal also thumped an admittedly weakened Newcastle side at St James’ Park in the Carling Cup so the Magpies can be expected to be brought back down to earth with a bump following their 5-1 win in the Tyne-Wear derby last Sunday.

The Gunners have scored at least three goals in the last five meetings with Newcastle, who have not won at Arsenal since 2001 in a run of 10 games with only one draw.

Goals are certainly expected with over 2.5 priced at 4/9 but having won their last three against Newcastle (who have scored just once in their last seven away games against Wenger’s men) at home by a 3-0 scoreline, Arsenal with -1 on the handicap at 3/4 or to win to nil at 20/21 should be looked at.

West Brom v Man City

West Brom will be looking to replicate their recent impressive away form at The Hawthorns when the Premier League millionaires of Manchester City ride into town on Sunday afternoon.

Roberto Di Matteo’s men have shocked many football fans in recent times by going unbeaten at home, winning at the Emirates, and holding Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford.

They will now be looking for a repeat of their Carling Cup win over Manchester City on Sunday with the two Italian managers enjoying contrasting fortunes in recent times.

Roberto Mancini is under increasing scrutiny after three defeats in a row both domestically and in Europe, but he is set to benefit from the return of Carlos Tevez, who has been at the root of all things good for City so far this season.

A win for West Brom could leapfrog them over Sunday’s more illustrious visitors and their attacking power will be boosted at the Hawthorns by the return to fitness of Peter Odemwingie, who has impressed with his pace and goals since arriving in England over the summer.

With the poor form, low confidence and reports of in-fighting that has plagued City in recent weeks, there could not be a better time for West Brom to get another win over one of the teams regarded as title challengers.

Di Matteo has built a side capable of playing swift attacking football, and unless City’s defenders start to play as a unit, which they have not shown in recent weeks, it could be a long afternoon in the West Midlands, particularly as the Baggies (13/5 in the match betting) have not lost at the Hawthorns in 11 months.

Liverpool v Chelsea

Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Napoli may have improved the mood at Anfield but Chelsea’s visit on Sunday could bring the Reds crashing down again.

The victory over the Serie A side was impressive, but a hat-trick from Steven Gerrard essentially spared Liverpool’s blushes with the Italians the better of the two sides until the midfielder’s introduction.

The Liverpool captain is always capable of scoring and he does tend to raise his game in high-profile encounters. Gerrard is 5/2 to score anytime but at 9/1 the England international is worth some consideration in the enhanced first goalscorers’ market.

However, while I expect Gerrard to have a good game against the reigning champions, the rest of the Liverpool squad have done little to impress this season and Chelsea should prove too strong for Roy Hodgson’s side.

Fernando Torres is struggling for both form and fitness, while Joe Cole is unavailable as he is suffering with a hamstring problem.

Chelsea could be without Jose Bosingwa (illness) and Michael Essien (toe), while midfield duo Frank Lampard and Yossi Benayoun are definitely ruled out.

Even without Lampard and Essien, Chelsea should still be too strong for Liverpool and at evens, the league-leaders are good value to take all three points from their trip to Anfield.

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The Blues were involved in their own derby with Tottenham later in the day with the chance to restore a four point cushion at the top.

Spurs have plenty to play for though. United’s victory opened up the route to fourth place for Harry Redknapp’s squad, who could now pass Manchester City; and after seeing off Arsenal in midweek any hangover from their FA Cup semi-final defeat had long past.

Spurs seized their chance and beat Chelsea more comfortably that the 2-1 scoreline suggests. Worse still for the league leaders, they had John Terry sent off for a second bookable offence.

It means Manchester United sit just a point adrift with three games to go. Chelsea have a three goal advantage in goal difference, which could be crucial on the final day, but the nerves have shifted to Stamford Bridge.

Spurs may have a crucial say in the title race. They wrecked Arsenal’s chances on Wednesday and put a severe dent in Chelsea hopes over the weekend- and their next opponents are Manchester United at Old Trafford.

You Can Bet on this Outcome: Premiership Title Race

Harry Redknapp’s team will be highly motivated and confident for that encounter, fully aware that Manchester City have tough games to come on their run-in. They have a two point lead over Roberto Mancini’s side and even a point at Old Trafford would keep them in the box seat in the race for fourth.

Chelsea were aware that they could afford a single defeat in their last five games, so long as the other four matches ended in victory. Their margin for error has gone now. They will be expected to win their two home games but a trip to Liverpool is potentially a huge obstacle.

It will be a matter of some irony that Manchester United fans are going to have to rely on the club they detest to give them a realistic chance of turning round what appeared to be a lost cause.

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Sevilla (2.20) are one of several sides looking to clinch the final Champions League qualifying position and they get this round of fixtures underway when the travel to lowly Malaga (3.10) in the tea-time kick off on Saturday.

Alvarez Will Give Sevilla A Tremendous Boost

Sevilla have endured some torrid form of late which ultimately led to the recent sacking of coach Manolo Jimenez. His replacement, Antonio Alvarez, recorded his first win as new manager at home to Tenerife last week and the Sevilla fans will be hoping the ‘new manager effect’ continues for a few more matches.

Malaga are six points clear of the relegation zone but are by no means safe from the threat of going down and will be just as desperate for the three points as their opponents. But with only one win out of their last five games Malaga are not going into this match full of confidence.

Sevilla top scorer Luis Fabiano is getting himself back to full fitness after being dogged by injuries this season, the Brazilian striker will be looking to get his name on the score sheet and is 5.50 to score the first goal.

The previous meeting between these two sides this season ended in a 2-2 draw, with Sevilla thankful to a Luis Fabiano brace for salvaging a point after going two goals down. It is a result Malaga would probably be happy to take before the kick off, but certainly wouldn’t satisfy Sevilla and their new coach. Back Sevilla to flex their muscle in the race for a Champions League spot with a 2-0 win available at 9.00 with PartyBets.com.

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