There are seven Premier League games all kicking off at 3pm on Saturday and, by the end of the day, Manchester United and Spurs could have moved level with leaders Man City at the top. There is plenty to get your teeth into therefore and here we look at some of the key games.
Man Utd v Bolton
With City not in action until Monday, this will be seen as a must-win game for United as they look to close the gap at the top. City have a three-point lead going into the weekend but that should be wiped out come 5pm on Saturday with relegation-threatened Bolton not looking likely to cause a big upset at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson needed a reaction from his players following successive defeats to Blackburn and Newcastle in the league and he got it when his side saw off City in a fiery FA Cup third-round clash last weekend.
He knows losing to struggling Bolton side (United 1/6, Bolton 18/1, draw 6/1 – match prices) is unthinkable and nothing other than a comfortable home win looks on the cards here.
Prediction – Home win.
Spurs v Wolves
Similarly, the chances of a coupon-busting away win in this one look remote. Spurs are in superb form and saw off Everton 2-0 in midweek without really ever getting into third gear.
They host a Wolves side who have won just once on their travels all season and, despite Mick McCarthy’s side claiming a good draw at Arsenal over Christmas, the Black Country side getting anything from White Hart Lane seems extremely unlikely.
Harry Redknapp says Tottenham can maintain their title challenge (7/1 – Premier League outight) throughout the second half of the season and they don’t look like slipping up this weekend.
Prediction – Home win.
Chelsea v Sunderland
Before Martin O’Neill’s arrival at the Stadium of Light, this would have been viewed as a home banker as well but the Northern Irishman has galvanised the Black Cats (15/2 to win) and this could well throw up the shock result of the day.
O’Neill has guided his new team to five wins in his first seven games in charge and they head to Stamford Bridge full of confidence.
Chelsea (2/5) are in pole position to secure fourth place in the Premier League at the minute but know a slip-up could let Arsenal or Liverpool in and this will be a good barometer of their credentials.
Expect a tight clash and O’Neill to continue his fine start in charge by claiming a point (7/2).
Prediction – Draw.
Liverpool v Stoke
If Chelsea do fail to secure all three points, Liverpool can take advantage by beating Stoke at home (Liverpool 4/9, Stoke 7/1, draw 10/3 – match prices). The Reds have had a difficult few weeks off the field but there was finally some good news this week when skipper Steven Gerrard committed the rest of his career to the club.
A 1-0 first-leg, Carling Cup semi-final win at Man City on Wednesday means they go into this game on a high and should continue their top-four pursuit with another win.
Stoke will make things difficult, though, and have former Liverpool man Peter Crouch in their side, who is worth backing at 5/2 to score anytime against his old club but expect a hard-fought home win in this one.
Prediction – Home win.
Blackburn v Fulham
Another week goes by and still Steve Kean is in charge at Ewood Park despite poor results and seemingly every Rovers fan calling for him to be sacked.
He will face more calls to quit from unhappy home fans this weekend and, against this backdrop, Fulham at 7/5 can go to Lancashire and claim all three points to crank up the pressure on the Scot even further.
A draw at Liverpool and the fantastic win at Manchester United over Christmas earned Kean some time but successive defeats against Stoke and then Newcastle in the FA Cup last weekend mean those results now seem a distant memory (Blackburn to win 2/1).
Fulham are in good form and followed up a well-earned point at Chelsea over the festive period with a late win at home to Arsenal before easily seeing off Charlton 4-0 in the Cup last time out.
Prediction – Away win.
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