With just two more weeks left to in Barclay’s Premiere League action, there are still some critical matches yet to be played. Manchester United is still chasing down first place Chelsea who continues to maintain a one-point lead atop the table. My pick for match of the week is Chelsea at Liverpool. A win over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday would probably mean another title for Manchester United – which would send United past Liverpool’s 18 first division titles. The Reds are still very much alive in the race for fourth place, so you’d imagine they’ll be trying to win. Recent Chelsea form has not been stellar, as they have picked up just 10 away points from the last 21 available to them. Liverpool is unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches and has been unbeaten at Anfield in 10 games. I expect a battle with the teams drawing 1-1.
Here I take a look at a few more of this weekend’s matches, giving you insight on making your EPL soccer wager a winner.
Birmingham vs. Burnley
Birmingham hopes to wrap up its home schedule with a win against Championship-bound Burnley on Saturday. Nine months ago both sides were looking forward to the Premier League as newly promoted sides. City have long since booked their survival from relegation, while last weeks loss condemned the Clarets to an immediate return back to the Championship. Both sides have been horribly out of form of late. Burnley has won just two league games since the beginning of November, while Birmingham is on a run of eight games without a win. I expect Birmingham to win this one at home, where they are unbeaten since September 26.
Manchester City vs. Aston Villa
City has been in the news this week for its goalkeeper woes, but it faces a crucial match at home against Aston Villa this weekend. With just a point separating City, Villa and Tottenham, the race for the fourth and final Champions League place could not be any closer. These sides have met 154 times with Manchester City leading 60 wins to 54 with 40 draws. However, City has won 12 of the last 14. After losing 7-1 to Chelsea, Aston Villa have turned things around picking up 13 out of a possible 15 points. They will now be bidding for a fourth straight away win when they kick off against a City side that have failed to score in their last two games. The Villans have already won in Manchester this season, beating United 1-0 at Old Trafford in December. Expect City to win at home 2-1.
Pompey welcomes in Wolverhampton as it treads water until its FA Cup final with Chelsea next month. Portsmouth’s relegation was confirmed three weeks ago, bit the side is still showing plenty of fight. Last week’s comeback draw at Bolton, typified Pompey’s resilience. For the Wolves, a second straight season in the top flight is now assured, but they will now face a team they have failed to defeat in three Premier League attempts. Just one goal has been scored in the three Premier League meetings between these sides. With nothing to gain, expect a boring match that ends in a scoreless draw.
Stoke City vs. Everton
Aside from a chance to finish in the top half of the table for the Potters, it’s Everton that’s facing a must-win at the Britannia. The Toffees is five points back of their Merseyside neighbors, so only a win will do. They are in good form and are second to only Manchester United in total points accrued in 2010. They may have finished n the top four but a barrage of injuries earlier in the season quelled all hopes at a title. Stoke have lost three of their last five games at home and are in danger of slipping to a third consecutive league defeat for the second time this term. Everton are unbeaten in nine and will extend that streak to ten with a 3-1 win over Stoke.
The Spurs are still in the drivers’ seat for the fourth and final Champions League place as they welcome the Trotters to White Hart Lane. Tottenham’s home form has been good of late, and Spurs’ manager Harry Redknapp credits the fans for the team’s rise. Bolton has failed to score in seven of their last nine away matches in the league. The Hotspur should win this, taking away a much-needed three points.
Not much happening here, as both teams are fairly locked in to place in the league table. West Ham is unbeaten in 12 Premier League matches against Fulham, and is yet to lose at Craven Cottage since 2001. The Hammers are without an away win since the opening day of the season, when they were 2-1 winners at bottom side Wolverhampton. With nothing on the line, I expect a pretty laid back match with a complacent Fulham falling 1-0.
Sunderland vs. Manchester United
By the time Manchester United walks out on to the pitch on Sunday, it will know its table position in relation to Chelsea – and whether or not it can move into first. But it won’t be a cakewalk as only Chelsea and Aston Villa have come away from the Stadium of Light with maximum points this season, and with the in-form Darren Bent, Sunderland boast a striker with his eye on the Premier League golden boot and out to prove his World Cup credentials. Even with Rooney back in the lineup, I expect a low scoring draw in this one, just to keep things interesting.
Much like the West Ham/Fulham fixture, this is a case of a safe team playing a doomed one. A few weeks ago it looked like there could be a lot riding on this fixture but Hull booked the third and final relegation spot last week, after Wigan’s tremendous win over Arsenal had taken them clear of danger. The Tigers will end their two-year stay in the top flight with a home match against Liverpool next week. I expect Wigan to deliver the final blow with a win in this one.
With nothing much left to play for, the team sheets in this one could be interesting. Blackburn is looking for a first win in five matches while the Gunners are without a win in three matches, equaling their worst run of the season. They have won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions. Whatever the result, the Rovers’ are bound to look better on the scorecard come Monday.
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