Tag Archives: title

Old Firm primed for title fight

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The new Scottish Premier League campaign is only days away and, as always, the main question surrounds which Old Firm side will reign supreme in 2011-12?

Rangers defied the odds last season when they took advantage of a late slip from Neil Lennon’s Celtic at Inverness to keep their cool and add the SPL crown to their Co-op Insurance Cup success.

The Hoops, who had to settle for the Scottish Cup, are again title favourites with Totesport (4/5 Outright) and are in determined mood going into this new season as they have also bolstered their ranks with the arrivals of Kelvin Wilson, Adam Matthews and Victor Wanyama.

Lennon, who boosted the club by agreeing to stay on as manager despite several threats against his security throughout the course of last season, is also attempting to bring in a new goalkeeper to replace Fraser Forster, with Croatia internationalist Stipe Pletikosa aiming to win a contract.

South Africa striker Katlego Mphela is also expected for a trial next week which has left Kris Commons in a confident mood as they bid to take the league title to the green and white side of Glasgow.

Commons, who impressed greatly after joining the Hoops from Derby in January, said: “Competition for places has never been so strong, especially across then midfield and back four.

“It keeps us as hungry as possible and hopefully good things will happen this year.”

Lennon has stressed the importance of Celtic doing well in Europe this time around as he feels it is “important for my development as a coach and the players’ development”.

But he is making no secret of the fact that it is his ultimate goal to prevent rival Ally McCoist getting his hands on the SPL trophy in his first season as manager after taking over from Walter Smith at Ibrox.

“I really need to win the title this year – that’s the priority,” Lennon admitted ahead of Sunday’s opener at Hibernian (Hibs 13/2, Celtic 2/5, Draw 11/4 90 Minutes).

“We came very close last season but we have only ourselves to blame for not doing it. I’m hoping we can go one better this season.”

Ironically, there is slightly more pressure on McCoist to retain the SPL title for the Gers (Evens Outright) than there was on his predecessor Walter Smith as businessman Craig Whyte arrived late last season and is willing to plough some much-needed funds into the club for new faces.

But McCoist has found his team strengthening mission harder to push through than Lennon with Spaniard Juan Manuel Ortiz the only addition to the Ibrox squad so far.

The former Rangers forward is battling to bring striker Kenny Miller back to the club from Turkish side Bursaspor, while a deal which would see defender Carlos Cuellar return after a three-year spell away at Aston Villa has also not yet materialised.

Should those deals go-ahead before the SPL curtain-raiser against Hearts (Rangers 3/10, Hearts 7/1, Draw 7/2 90 Minutes) at Ibrox this weekend, then you would have to fancy the Gers to be a good shout for more SPL success.

But, as it stands, midfielder Steven Davis, who has just signed a new five-year deal at the club to follow team-mates Allan McGregor and Steven Whittaker in penning new contracts, feels they are still short of numbers.

He admitted: “We’ve got quite a settled team from last season and a lot of us are on long-term deals now which is important.

“It’s just a case of adding to our group now as it’s a wee bit thin at the moment and it will be nice to get some fresh faces on board.”

So, at the moment it looks like Celtic marginally have the upper hand going into the season, but a lot depends on Rangers’ transfer activity before the end-of-August deadline before a clearer picture will emerge in another intriguing Old Firm title scrap.

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Eyes on the skies in SPL title fight

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The destination of the Scottish Premier League title has come down to another ‘Helicopter Sunday’ with Rangers (1/6 SPL 2010/2011 Outright) and Celtic (7/2) separated by a single point going into the final matches.

Both Old Firm managers are desperate to lead their team to glory for different reasons, with Walter Smith hoping to bow out at the top by sealing his tenth SPL crown and third straight since he was brought back in for a second spell at the Ibrox helm.

Neil Lennon’s story is well documented and if the Celtic boss, in his first full season in charge of any club, can end Rangers’ stranglehold on Sunday he will have been victorious amid the most trying personal circumstances of any sporting figure in recent memory.

Celtic’s task is simple – defeat Motherwell at Celtic Park (Celtic 1/5, Motherwell 12/1 – Match Betting) and hope that Kilmarnock can either win or draw against Rangers at Rugby Park.

However, Kilmarnock (9/1 Match Betting) are anything but Rangers’ bogey side – having lost their last seven meetings home and away over the course of the last two seasons (Rangers 2/7).

Kilmarnock, who will finish fifth, have had a good season under Mixu Paatelainen and caretaker-boss Kenny Shiels, but they have again been unable to trouble Rangers.

The Ibrox club are the only club they have failed to take points off and in their last meeting, which Rangers won 3-2, Killie caused their own downfall by conceding two penalties and having a player sent off.

Celtic Park will be full to capacity with fans hoping for a glimpse of the helicopter hovering overhead at 2.30pm and home advantage could enable the Hoops to at least finish the season on a high.

January signing Kris Commons misses out through a silly suspension picked up in the midweek victory over Hearts at Tynecastle and Israel midfielder Beram Kayal is another key loss to injury.

Gary Hooper (11/4 to score 2 or more goals) has had a great season in attack for Celtic and he has the chance of a consolation prize if he can score two more goals to draw level with Kenny Miller in the top scorer chart.

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Barca ready for title party

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There are still one or two domestic issues to sort out across Europe and with a full midweek programme in Spain’s La Liga culminating on Wednesday, a clearer picture will emerge of the success stories this season (Primera Liga – totesport).

Barcelona can wrap up the title on Wednesday, regardless of what Real Madrid do on Tuesday night, when they travel to Levante and it is difficult to see them not justifying 3/10 favouritism in the match betting.

Levante are priced at 10/1 to cause a shock, with the draw on offer at 4/10, but the season has started to fall away for the Granotes and they are currently on a three-game winless streak with nothing left to play for.

Barca have an impressive way record, easily the best in La Liga, and although they suffered their only defeat on their travels the last time they played away – a 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad – there were mitigating circumstances for that defeat.

The Catalans fielded an understrength line-up for the clash yet still dominated, only to be undone late on, having substituted both centre-halves, while the game came the weekend before a crunch Champions League semi-final against arch rivals Real.

With a place secured at Wembley, Barca can now concentrate on the league and needing just a point from their remaining three games to guarantee the title, they can do it at the earliest opportunity and in the best possible style.

Lionel Messi has underlined why he is considered the best player in the world time and time again this season and is an obvious candidate in the goalscoring markets (9/4 to score two or more) but it may pay to side with Pedro to open the scoring at 7/2 as he is the one who generally makes the runs behind the defenders.

The Blaugrana have scored 45 times away from home in La Liga and with the pressure off against a side looking forward to their holidays, goals look a very real possibility at the Ciutat de Valencia.

Barcelona to score in both halves is available at 21/20 and Pep Guardiola’s men are also worthy of support on the handicap (-1) at 20/23.

Valencia bounced back to form with a 3-0 over Real Sociedad on Saturday and can confirm their third place with victory as 13/10 favourites at Espanyol at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

Los Che have easily been the third best team in the division – they have a five-point cushion over Villarreal – and boast an impressive away record with 10 victories on the road this year – bettered only by Barca and Real.

Espanyol (17/10 to win, 9/4 the draw) have been difficult to beat at home, losing just five times, but their season is stalling at just the wrong time with just one win in their last six games.

A massive game in the relegation battle takes place at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta with Real Sociedad (Evens in the match betting) taking on Real Zaragoza (23/10 to win, 9/4 the draw).

It has been a case of all or nothing for these two sides of late and with only one draw at the ground all season it is difficult to envisage another on Wednesday night.

It would be risky taking the 23/10 on the away win unless Zaragoza can reproduce the performance at the Bernabeu 11 days ago when they beat Real 3-2 – on the same evening Sociedad came from behind to beat Barcelona at home.

However, that was only a second road win this term for Zaragoza but with 10 home wins behind them, Sociedad look to have a great chance to pull further clear from the drop zone.

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Bhoys out to keep title race alive

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Glasgow giants Celtic are now having to play catch up in the Scottish Premier League and will have to pick up all three points against Kilmarnock on Sunday to stand any real chance of beating Old Firm rivals Rangers to the title (Kilmarnock 9/1, draw 21/5, Celtic 3/10).

The Hoops suffered a huge blow to their hopes of lifting the SPL trophy in the week when they went down 3-2 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Caley have been a bogie team for Celtic in recent seasons but this most recent upset could cost manager Neil Lennon and his players the title.

The defeat was not the only bad news for Lennon, as he will now have to do without Beram Kayal for the rest of the season after the talented midfielder fractured his wrist in the second half at the Caledonian Stadium.

Kayal has been an outstanding addition to the Celtic squad this season and has been praised for his performances by Lennon this term.

The Bhoys have further absentees for their trip to Kilmarnock on Sunday, as strikers Georgios Samaras and Anthony Stokes are both suspended.

Their absence will certainly be a loss for Celtic up front and they will have to rely on the likes of Kris Commons and Gary Hooper (5/2 to score the first goal) for their goalscoring options.

At the back there are more injury concerns, with Glenn Loovens out with a strain whilst Charlie Mulgrew and Mark Wilson are both doubtful for the clash at Rugby Park.

Midfielder Joe Ledley remains out of action after he picked up a hamstring injury in the Old Firm clash against Rangers which ended 0-0 at Ibrox.

Samaras had a crucial late penalty saved by Rangers keeper Alan McGregor which could be a huge turning point in the SPL title race.

Celtic cannot think of what might have been when they face Kilmarnock, who have some injury woes of their own.

Jamie Hamill is out with a hamstring problem whilst Frazer Wright and Ryan O’Leary remain out of action.

The home side will be without James Fowler who is suspended for the clash against the Old Firm giants.

Kilmarnock have not picked up a win in their last five games but did battle out a hard fought 2-2 draw with Hearts in their last outing.

The Ayrshire club remain in fifth spot in the SPL table and will be pleased with their season so far.

With Celtic suffering a host of injuries and suspensions, it will be a tough ask to go to Rugby Park and pick up three points.

However, with the likes of Hooper and Commons still available the Hoops should still secure the win and keep the SPL title race alive.

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Milan out to secure title

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The leagues throughout Europe are reaching their climax and AC Milan have the chance to sew up their first Serie A title since 2004 when they travel to Roma on Saturday night.

The Rossoneri lie eight points clear with just three games to go and it appears to be simply a matter of when and not if the Milan giants secure their 18th league title.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men need just a point to secure the title and should be able to get it at the first opportunity, given their excellent run of form and strong defensive performances of late.

Milan have not triumphed at the Stadio Olimpico since 2005 but at 9/5 in the match betting, an away win cannot be ruled as the 1-0 win over Bologna last weekend was the club’s fifth consecutive win – their best run of form for 18 months.

Allegri is also able to welcome back a clutch of stars for the Rome trip, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mark van Bommel from suspension, Alexandre Pato from a thigh strain and Gennaro Gattuso from a muscle problem.

The champions-elect have also been solid at the back and kept four clean sheets in the last five games, while they have only been beaten twice on the road this term.

Roma have turned the corner with three wins in the last four games to keep alive their hopes of Champions League qualification, and they are the 7/5 favourites in the match betting to make home advantage count.

Francesco Totti is always worth considering in the goalscoring markets and is 11/2 to score First/Last and 13/8 Anytime, and is obviously in fine form having notched nine of his club’s last 12 goals to take his tally for the season to 14.

However, one might argue that there is an over-reliance from the Giallorossi on their talisman and if Milan can shackle the World Cup winner then it becomes difficult to see where Roma will profit.

Vincenzo Montella’s men managed to take the three points in the reverse fixture at the San Siro but the onus is on them to do the attacking this time as a draw for Milan will secure the the title.

Milan’s defence though should be up to the task, given the fact that Roma will also be without Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta so the 9/4 available on the draw seems the sensible option.

Udinese take on Lazio on Sunday in a key game in terms of Champions League qualification and neither side will go in to the fixture in the best of nick.

The Zebrete are in their worse run of form since the start of the season and have slipped to sixth in the table, with their defence leaking 12 goals in the last five games.

By contrast, Lazio have managed to score 10 in the same period but have won only two and lost three of those games.

Both teams have selection problems ahead of the match but at 11/5 in the match betting, it is worth taking the capital outfit to cement their place in the top four.

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Arsenal to keep title race alive

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Bet on the Premier LeagueArsenal host Liverpool on Sunday hoping to keep their hopes of lifting the Premier League title (Arsenal 9/2 Premier League outright) alive.

The Gunners are seven points behind the Red Devils in the table but have game in hand and, crucially, United are yet to visit the Emirates Stadium.

A run of three successive draws looked to have stalled Arsenal’s title charge but Wenger knows if they can follow-up last weekend’s 3-1 win over Blackpool with victory over the Reds (Arsenal 8/11, draw 13/5, Liverpool 19/5) they can cut United’s lead to just four points.

It has been an eventful week for the Gunners with American businessman Stan Kroenke launching a full take-over of the club.

Wenger insisted though, following a meeting with Kroenke, that we will maintain full control over team affairs and continue his policy of recruiting and developing younger, cheaper players.

“We have a certain philosophy of football and we will continue to develop that and to play even better. We will continue to run the club like it has been done until now – that means live within our resources, produce our own resources and develop our football team,” said the Frenchman.

The Gunners have a good record against Kenny Dalglish’s men (Arsenal HT/FT 7/4), having lost only three of their past 19 encounters with the Reds, including none of the last seven.

They haven’t tasted defeat at home against the Merseysiders since Liverpool triumphed 1-0 (1-0 Liverpool correct score – 9-1) at Highbury in February 2000.

Robin van Persie (9/2 – first goalscorer) has hit 20 goals in his last 21 Premier League starts and is poised to make his 150th Premier League appearance for the Gunners.

Liverpool have a form forward player of their own though in £35million man Andy Carroll (15/2 – first goalscorer) who hit his first two goals for the Anfield club in their impressive 3-0 win over Manchester City on Monday night. He also struck the only goal in a 1-0 for his former club Newcastle at the Emirates back in November.

Liverpool are now well in the running for a Europa League place (Liverpool 1/4 top six finish) after a dramatic upturn in form under caretaker boss Kenny Dalglish and can close the gap on fifth placed Spurs to just two points with a win.

Prediction: home win @ 8/11
Value bet: Arsenal 2-1 @ 7/1

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Hammers to upset title picture

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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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Who will claim the title?

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With the international break now meaning there are no more Premier League fixtures until early April, now seems like a good time to take a look at the title race with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea still in with a shout of glory come May.

United remain favourites at 1/2 with totesport to wrestle the trophy off Chelsea (11/2) and claim a record-breaking 19th top-flight title but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have stuttered in recent weeks and do not look anywhere near as dominant as some of the all-conquering sides the Scot has assembled at Old Trafford over the past 15 years or so.

Saturday’s late 1-0 win over Bolton underlined the fact that they cannot be compared to some of the free-scoring attacking sides that have graced the Premier League’s upper echelon’s recently while defeats at Liverpool and Chelsea prove they are vulnerable when the pressure’s on as well.

However, United remain five points clear of Arsenal – who have also once again proved the same-old weaknesses continue to hamper them in recent weeks – and probably just about possess the all-round strength needed to out-muscle their rivals in the run-in.

If United do go on to win the title again it is doubtful the side will go down in the club’s folklore as one of the greatest ever but, as Saturday proved, sometimes winning ugly and getting lucky is just as an important quality to have alongside simply being the best team in the country.

To many neutrals, that tag really belongs to Arsenal but can the Gunners shake off their predictable demons and finally realise the title dream? Well, maybe they can actually. And at 11/4 with totesport, the price is tempting as well.

For all their pretty football, Arsene Wenger’s men appear dogged by familiar problems that seem to be preventing them from getting over the line in first place but they are well-placed in second with a game in hand and have yet to host United at the Emirates so the title could still be theirs for the taking.

They do struggle to do what champions do at this stage of the season and grind out results when up against it. As critics say it is simply not in their DNA. Saturday’s comeback at West Brom proved they can dig in and rescue a game but Manuel Almunia gifting the Baggies their second goal shows a long-standing problem – they have not got a top-class goalkeeper – remains unresolved.

That could well be addressed if Pepe Reina is brought in from Liverpool in the summer but, of course, it will be too late to help them in the current campaign. However, the return of Jens Lehmann may just be the Wenger masterstroke that steadies the ship and helps them go on to claim the top prize in a couple of months.

Finally, Chelsea are now back in the groove after their poor mid-season form and boss Carlo Ancelotti has not given up on the title as they sit nine points behind United with a game in hand.

The Italian says his side need to win their remaining nine games to get back involved in the race but, if they can build on the hard-fought win over Man City on Sunday, then do not rule the Blues out just yet – especially if they can get Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka to gel and wreak havoc up front in what’s left of the season.

So, with a less-than-formidable United stuttering, an extremely-talented Arsenal outfit hoping to dazzle again and a well-oiled Chelsea close to clicking back into top gear, we may just be about to experience the most exciting title battle in the Premier League for several years.

Prediction:

1 Arsenal
2 Manchester United
3 Chelsea.

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Reds look to wreck Fergie’s title tilt

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Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish will be aiming to put one over his old foe Sir Alex Ferguson and put another dent in Manchester United’s Premier League title bid when the sides met at Anfield on Sunday, before Wolves will be aiming to bolster their survival hopes by hurting Tottenham’s Champions League qualification aspirations at Molineux.

The game of the day gets underway on Merseyside at 1.30pm as Liverpool play host to United with Ferguson’s side aiming to win their 19th league title (8/13 Outright) this season which would see them pull one clear of Liverpool. And, while Dalglish’s men still harbour slim hopes of securing a top-four finish (10/1), they will no doubt take great delight in trying to halt their big rivals?’ championship mission.

Chelsea’s 2-1 win against United on Tuesday opened up the title race and Ferguson will be looking for his side to slam the door shut as quickly as possible, starting at Anfield.

However, the Scot is not helped by the continued injury absence of Rio Ferdinand, while his other first-choice central defender, Nemanja Vidic, is banned after seeing red at Stamford Bridge.

Therefore, young rookie Chris Smalling will be partnered by Wes Brown at the back which could hand Liverpool a great opportunity to strike a blow to the Red Devils.

It will be also a special day for Ryan Giggs as he will be making a club record 607th league appearance and he is 3/1 to score at anytime in the game.

Dalglish has been hit by the loss of Martin Kelly due to a torn hamstring, but Raul Meireles should shake off a knee injury and £35million January signing Andy Carroll could be handed his debut at some point after his recovery from a long-term thigh problem.

Liverpool have won their last two home games against United, while Dalglish’s last home match in charge of Liverpool against Fergie’s United ended in a 4-0 win back in September 1990.

However, Ferguson has the edge over Dalglish in league meetings to date, while his side have won five of their last seven league games and will be aiming to make it six on Sunday.

Prediction: Liverpool To Win @ 7/4
Value Bet: Correct Score Liverpool 2-1 Man United @ 9/1.

WOLVES V TOTTENHAM

The later 4pm game on Sunday sees a near top-versus bottom scenario taking place at Molineux as Wolves will look to continue their good home record against the Premier League’s big boys when Tottenham arrive in town.

Mick McCarthy’s men have defeated Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United on home soil so Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will not want to his side added to that list of scalps.

However the Londoners, who are looking to keep their bid for a second successive top-four finish alive (Spurs 6/5), will be again without Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, although they hope to have them back for the Champions League tie against AC Milan in midweek.

Wolves’ hopes of securing three points which could take them out of the relegation zone (4/7 To Stay Up) will not be helped by the loss of loan star Jamie O’Hara, who is ineligible to face his parent club.

Steven Mouyokolo and Ronald Zubar are ruled out with injury while Dave Edwards and Dave Jones are doubts, but Stephen Hunt is fit again.

Victory for Wolves would see them record three consecutive top-flight home wins for the first time in over 30 years, but they have their work cut out against a Spurs side that has won six games on the road so far this term – the second best record in the Premier League behind Arsenal’s seven.

Wolves chances of coming out on top could be helped by Tottenham having one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against AC Milan at White Hart Lane which they start with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.

Prediction: 90 Minutes Draw @ 23/10
Value Bet: Scorecast Kevin Doyle 1st Goal Wolves 1-1 Spurs @ 33/1.

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United show fight for title success

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Sir Alex Ferguson feels the way his Manchester United players stormed back from two-down to win 3-2 at Blackpool on Tuesday evening could be the defining moment in this season’s Premier League title race. However, with 15 games still remaining, can any club overhaul the Red Devils at the top of the table?

Looking ahead to an eagerly-awaited run-un, I’ll examine United’s main rivals in the battle to be England’s top dog come the end of the season.

Manchester United

It could be argued that the Premier League is United’s (8/13 Outright) to lose following that thrilling win at Bloomfield Road. Fergie’s Red Devils moved five points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table and maintained their unbeaten run from 23 games as they attempt to emulate the Gunners’ ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-04.

Dimitar Berbatov’s two goals at Blackpool saw him reach 20 for the season (4/6 Premiership Top Goalscorer), while last season’s lynchpin Wayne Rooney has not even got going so far this term.

Ferguson feels the England striker is due to come good at some point and if that does happen then it would be difficult to imagine anyone denying United their championship.

The return of the Champions League in February could take its toll on the United squad in the latter stages of the domestic campaign should they progress (United 13/2 Champions League Outright).

However, the same can be said of their title rivals and United have the strength in depth to cope.

Arsenal

Gunners chief Arsene Wenger has stressed that he wants his players to try and win every tournament they are involved in with the quadruple still on the cards.

No silverware has gone to the north Londoners since 2005’s FA Cup win, but that could be put right next month when they will contest the Carling Cup final at Wembley (Arsenal 1/4 Outright).

They face Huddersfield in the FA Cup this Sunday and also have the Champions League knockout stage to look forward to next month.

Arsenal’s young squad has suffered mentally under the pressure towards the end of recent seasons and that has resulted in their downfall.

However, success in the Carling Cup on February 27 could get the monkey off their back in terms of winning some silverware which could help them for the final two months of the league season.

The main problem for the Gunners is consistency – which they appear to have found of late with three 3-0 wins in their last four league games – as they will no doubt look back at costly home defeats to West Brom and Newcastle earlier in the season should they fall short again (Arsenal 13/5 Outright).

Manchester City

Roberto Mancini’s main remit for the season was to secure Champions League qualification for City (1/7 Top 4 Finish) and end the club’s long wait for some silverware.

However, as the campaign has progressed into 2011, many feel the men from Eastlands are still very much embroiled in a fight for the title (12/1 Outright) as they sit six points behind United, but having played one game more.

Inconsistency and a leaky defence is City’s main problem ‘ a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa and conceding three goals at home to Wolves recently highlights this perfectly.

However, City have always led from the front and the recent arrival of Bosnian hitman Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg could be they key to them keeping the pressure on.

If Dzeko hits the ground running then he could add a few more points on the board, while the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Saturday February 12 could make or break their bid.

City’s other problem is their desperation to win a trophy could see them push too hard in the FA Cup and Europa League which might distract them from the bread and butter of the Premier League.

Chelsea

Chelsea’s shocking run of form in recent weeks looks to have put a spanner in their title ambitions (7/1 Premier League Outright) as they sit 10 points behind United and are in fourth spot.

However, following their spell of just one win in nine league games, Carlo Ancelotti’s men got back into the goals with a 7-0 thrashing of Championship side Ipswich in the FA Cup third round.

They have not looked back since with a 2-0 win against Blackburn at Stamford Bridge followed up by Monday’s 4-0 thumping of Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Many observers are claiming the age of Chelsea’s key men is catching up with them this season.

However, to counter that you could say the reigning champions have the experience of what is required to win games when the nerves start to kick in during the run-in.

John Terry rightly pointed out that they still have Manchester United to play twice and, should they win both of those matches, the gap could be down to four points.

But, with the Champions League described by Frank Lampard described as the ‘Holy Grail’ for the west Londoners, it would be no surprise if they focused their attentions on success in Europe (Chelsea 9/2 Champions League Outright) this season and just ensure themselves a top-four spot in the Premier League.

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