29-12-2010 21:00 Liverpool - Wolverhampton Wanderers

Strong At Home

If the Premier League was to be decided by home form alone, we would be looking at Liverpool having a serious shot at the title. But of course, things don’t work that way.

The Reds have been very strong at home, losing only one of their eight games to date at Anfield. This should give manager Roy Hodgson a lot of confidence ahead of this encounter, as he is currently under pressure. This is because the Merseysiders are threatening to remain in a consistently inconsistent state to finish in an anonymous mid-table position.

But it could be argued that with little football in recent times - their last two league games were postponed – the idle mind of the rumour mill could have turned into a devil’s workshop with speculation mounting over the former Fulham manager's future.

Still, after ‘missing’ two games, the players will likely be rearing to get out there and get down to business.

The return of talismanic captain Steven Gerrard should prove to be the catalyst that is necessary to help the club embark on a positive run of form, having secured contrasting results in an alternating win-loss-win pattern in recent weeks.

Howling At Rock Bottom

Wolves are in a sorry state of affairs since their recent defeat in a six-pointer with Wigan Athletic saw the Molineux outfit plunge to the very bottom of the table.

With only a mere 15 points on board after 18 games, it is little wonder that Mick McCarthy’s men are embroiled in a serious fight for survival.

The Yorkshireman’s worries are compounded by the fact that his side have a six-pointer against West Ham after the encounter against the Reds, and would want to go into that game with some semblance of confidence.

And what’s worse, Wolves have Chelsea, Manchester City and the reverse fixture against Hodgson’s men that follow after the clash against Avram Grant’s side.

With all this in mind, the travellers will want to take away something from this game to boost their chances of survival before things get out of hand.

But their form curve - on away days - has shot straight down to the basement, as McCarthy’s charges have drawn one and lost seven of their last eight trips away from Molineux.

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

The Reds will be glad to get back onto the pitch after their last two Premier League games were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

Skipper Steven Gerrard has returned from a hamstring injury sustained whilst on international duty, and should start the game playing just behind striker Fernando Torres. This would see David Ngog drop to the bench.

Jamie Carragher (shoulder) and Jay Spearing (ankle) remain sidelined.

Possible starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky; Kuyt, Meireles, Lucas, Maxi; Gerrard; Torres.

Wolves

Despite having no new concerns ahead of this game, Wolves still have a long list of injuries.

Jody Craddock and Kevin Doyle (both thigh), Michael Mancienne and Karl Henry (both knee), and Adlene Guedioura (broken leg) are all sidelined.

Possible starting line-up: Hennessey; Zubar, Berra, Stearman, Elokobi; Foley, Edwards, Milijas, Hunt; Ward; Ebanks-Blake.

Prediction

Liverpool are traditionally strong at Anfield, and the return of skipper Steven Gerrard should provide the side with the impetus necessary to register a good victory and heap more pressure on the visitors.

Liverpool 2-0 Wolves

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29-12-2010 20:45 Chelsea - Bolton Wanderers

Slump days

Is it too early to rule Chelsea out of the Premier League title race? Possibly, given the nature of division, but with the Blues six points off the top having played a game more than league leaders Manchester United and showing no signs of exiting their mid-season slump things do not look rosey for the current title holders.

Monday's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal exposed more flaws in Carlo Ancelotti's side, mainly a seeming lack of belief that they can challenge for honours this term, even with stars Frank Lampard and John Terry back in the team. Anything other than a win against Bolton on Wednesday and it's curtains for the Blues', and probably Ancelotti's, Chelsea career.

At the trot

In contrast, confidence could not be higher at the Reebok Stadium where a bullish Bolton side sit sixth in the Premier League table and have the chance to leapfrog their hosts on Wednesday with a win at Stamford Bridge.

Owen Coyle's men have been impressing with an approach that has blended style and effort with a host of relative unknowns leading the way for the Trotters. Players like Stuart Holden received little coverage at the start of the season but the American has been a revelation under the wily Scot this term.

If belief was measured in points, Bolton would be above Chelsea in the table and come Thursday morning they could well be.

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

After missing out against Arsenal through injury, Nicolas Anelka could be reinstated to the Chelsea starting line-up, with Salomon Kalou failing to take his opportunity at the Emirates.

Meanwhile, the Blues are still missing Alex, Yury Zhirkov and Yossi Benayoun, who all still have long term concerns, but Jose Bosingwa is expected to start after a substitute's appearance against Arsenal.

Possible starting XI: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Lampard; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.

Bolton

The Trotters will have to make do without Chung-Yong Lee who is now unavailable for a few weeks while representing South Korea in the Asian Cup.

Joey O'Brien, Sean Davis, Ricardo Gardner and Jlloyd Samuel continue to be long term injury victims.

Possible starting XI: Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Petrov, Muamba, Holden, Taylor; K Davies, Elmander.

Prediction

Last seaon this would have been a straightforward home win, but on current form that almost seems like the least likely option. Bolton's away form leaves a lot to be desired but Chelsea's form anywhere is remarkably poor. Expect a draw.

Chelsea 0-0 Bolton

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29-12-2010 20:45 Wigan Athletic - Arsenal

Gunners have the edge despite last season’s DW upset

Arsenal have dominated the clashes between the two sides, with 11 wins from the 14 meetings in all competitions.

However, Wigan did win the last meeting at the DW Stadium, 3-2 in April, which ended Arsenal’s title hopes last season. The Gunners were 2-0 up with 10 minutes to go but goals from Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and a last minute winner from Charles N’Zogbia sealed a famous victory for Martinez’s men.

This game will be the first meeting in the league between the two sides this season but they did meet in the League Cup in October when Arsenal won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

North-west a happy hunting ground for Gunners

The north-west has often been thought of as Arsenal’s weak point but this season they have shown that this is no longer the case after three wins and a draw in the region.

They have beaten Blackburn, Everton and Manchester City, and earned themselves a draw against Liverpool on the opening day, but they were beaten by Manchester United on their last visit to the region.

Wigan have struggled against London sides this season and have only taken three points from a potential 12 against sides from the capital. Despite beating Tottenham at White Hart Lane they have slumped to defeats against Chelsea, Fulham and West Ham, conceding 11 goals and only scoring two.

TEAM NEWS

Wigan

The Latics come into this game on a high after their crucial victory over relegation rivals Wolves on Boxing Day lifted them out of the bottom three. Roberto Martinez’s men are currently five games unbeaten at home and will be hoping to build on that against the in-form Gunners.

Honduran duo Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa both return to the squad following their one-game suspensions for the Wolves match.

Emmerson Boyce and Franco Di Santo are both near to a first team return but remain doubtful for this match, but James McCarthy and Victor Moses are both definitely ruled out with injury.

Possible starting XI: Al Habsi; Gohouri, G Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Diame, Thomas; Cleverley, McArthur, N’Zogbia; Rodallega.

Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Chelsea, so Tomas Rosicky may start.

Manuel Almunia will not be able to feature due to his ankle injury, and defender Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen are not due to return until the New Year.

Robin van Persie's return to fitness is a huge boost to Arsene Wenger, and he could start again alongside Marouane Chamakh.

Possible starting XI: Fabianski; Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy; Rosicky, Song, Wilshere; Nasri, Van Persie, Chamakh.

Prediction

Despite their poor start to the season, Wigan’s home form has been very good in recent matches, but Arsenal should be too strong for Roberto Martinez’s men. The Gunners have one of the best away records in the league and they should record their sixth victory on the road at the DW Stadium.

Wigan Athletic 1-3 Arsenal

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Premier League Opta Facts - 28-29 December

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Manchester City v Aston Villa

• Villa have only won two of their last 15 Premier League games against Man City.
• John Carew has scored four goals in his six Premier League starts against Man City.
• Villa have conceded a penalty in three of their last four Premier League games against the Citizens.
• Villa have won just one and lost seven of their last nine Premier League away matches.
• Gerard Houllier's side have failed to score in three of their last four away matches in the Premier League.
• Man City have only kept one clean sheet in their last six Premier League matches.
• Aston Villa are one of two teams who have not won any points from a game where they have been trailing in the Premier League.

Stoke City v Fulham

• The Potters have won the last three meetings in all competitions with the Londoners.
• Five of the last seven league meetings between Stoke and Fulham have ended as 1-0 wins.
• Fulham have won none of their last 26 Premier League away games.
• Blackpool are the only team to prevent Stoke from scoring in the last nine league matches played at the Britannia Stadium.
• Fulham have lost the most points from winning positions this season; 13.
• 83% of the goals Stoke have scored have been netted in the second half, the highest proportion in the top flight.
• 65% of the goals that Fulham have conceded have come in the first half, the highest proportion in the Premier League.

Sunderland v Blackpool

• Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions at home to Blackpool, since the Tangerines won 4-1 in February 1958.
• Sunderland have lost just one of the last 19 Premier League matches at the Stadium of Light.
• Steve Bruce's side have kept five clean sheets in their last six Premier League games at the Stadium of Light.
• Sunderland have only failed to score in two of their last 15 Premier League home matches, being shut out both times by Manchester United.
• No team have kept more clean sheets than the nine clean sheets that Sunderland have managed this season.
• Blackpool have lost only one of their last seven Premier League matches.
• 81% of Sunderland's goals have been scored by strikers, making them more reliant on their forwards than any other team.

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United

• Spurs have won just one and lost six of their last seven Premier League matches against Newcastle.
• Spurs have scored exactly one goal in nine of the last 11 Premier League matches against Newcastle.
• None of the last 20 Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Tottenham has ended as a draw.
• Spurs have scored first in their last six Premier League matches at home to Newcastle, but have gone on to lose two of the last three.
• Newcastle have conceded more goals in their last two league away games (eight) than in their previous six on the road (7).
• Tottenham Hotspur have now gone 17 matches without keeping a clean sheet in the Premier League.
• Rafael Van der Vaart has either scored or assisted 10 goals in his last nine Premier League appearances for Spurs.

West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers

• Blackburn have had a player sent off in the last two Premier League games against West Brom.
• Rovers haven't kept a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League this season.
• Only one team (Stoke) have stopped Rovers from scoring in their last 11 Premier League away matches.
• Rovers' last five goals away from home have all been netted in the 80^th minute or later.
• Blackburn have won just one of their last 11 Premier League away games in the Midlands.
• Blackburn are one of two teams who have not won any points from a game where they have been trailing in the Premier League.
• Blackburn's defenders have contributed six goals, more than any other team.

West Ham United v Everton

• West Ham have won none of the last six meetings with Everton in the Premier League.
• Louis Saha has scored five goals in four Premier League appearances for Everton against West Ham
• Yakubu has scored three goals in four Premier League games for Everton against West Ham.
• Everton have only lost four of their 15 Premier League visits to Upton Park and have won in their last three games at the home of the Hammers.
• Everton have won away at West Ham more often than versus any other Premier League opponent, 7 times (joint with Manchester City).
• The Toffees have beaten West Ham 16 times in the Premier League, more victories than against any other opponent.
• Blackpool are the only team to stop West Ham from scoring at Upton Park in the Hammers' last 12 Premier League home matches.

Birmingham City v Manchester United

• There have been only five goals scored in the last four Premier League meetings between Manchester United and Birmingham City.
• Wayne Rooney has scored in four of his last six Premier League games against Birmingham.
• Birmingham have drawn three and lost three of their six home Premier League games against Man Utd, but all three defeats were by a one-goal margin.
• The Blues have managed to score just four goals in 12 Premier League meetings with United, but none of these have come at St Andrews.
• Birmingham have only lost one of their last 23 Premier League home matches, but 12 of these have ended as draws.
• United are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League away games, but have drawn six of the last seven.

Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers

• Bolton failed to score in three matches against Chelsea last season, twice in the league and once in the Carling Cup.
• Chelsea are unbeaten against Bolton in their last 14 meetings in all competitions.
• Frank Lampard has scored seven goals in his last 10 Premier League starts against Bolton.
• Bolton haven't kept a clean sheet against Chelsea in their last 19 Premier League meetings.
• The Blues have only failed to score in one of their last 29 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
• Chelsea have the best home defence in the Premier League conceding just four goals, but those all came in their last two games at Stamford Bridge.
• 63% of the goals Bolton have scored have come in the last half an hour of games, the highest percentage of any team.
• The clean sheet against West Brom ended a run of 17 matches without a shutout for Bolton.

Wigan Athletic v Arsenal

• Arsenal were 2-0 up with just over 10 minutes to play in this fixture last season, but Wigan came back to win 3-2.
• There have been five goals scored in the 89^th minute or later in the last three meetings between Wigan and Arsenal.
• Wigan have won just one and lost eight of their 10 Premier League games against Arsenal.
• The Latics have only won two of their last 10 Premier League home matches, but are unbeaten in the last five.
• Wigan are unbeaten in their last five matches at the DW Stadium, netting in each game.
• Tom Cleverley has scored three goals in his last four Premier League appearances.
• Wigan haven't won back to back Premier League games since August 2009.

Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers

• There have been just five goals scored in the four Premier League meetings between Liverpool and Wolves.
• Liverpool have won their last four Premier League games at Anfield and kept clean sheets in the last three.
• Fernando Torres has hit 44 goals in 48 Premier League appearances at Anfield.
• Wolves have won none of their last 11 Premier League away games and lost the last seven in a row.
• Mick McCarthy's side have kept just one clean sheet in their last 19 Premier League away games.
• Wolves have kept just one clean sheet in their last 21 Premier League matches.
• Liverpool have only scored one goal in the final 15 minutes of matches, fewer than any other team.

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Championship Opta Facts - 28-29 December

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Coventry v QPR

• The Sky Blues are unbeaten in their last meetings with the Hoops, winning twice.
• QPR have hit just one goal on their last five trips to the Ricoh Arena.
• Only one of Coventry's 11 league games at home this season has ended in a draw.
• Marlon King has scored in the Sky Blues' last two league games at home.
• QPR have hit just two goals in their last five away matches in the Championship combined.

Bristol City v Crystal Palace

• City have won their last three meetings with the Eagles by a 1-0 scoreline.
• Nicky Maynard has scored in three of his last four league appearances against Palace.
• City are unbeaten in their last six league matches at home, and have kept three consecutive clean sheets.
• Brett Pitman has opened the scoring in the last three league games at Ashton Gate, bagging five goals in total.
• Palace have lost their last five league away games.

Burnley v Scunthorpe

• Burnley have won just one of their last seven league games at home to the Iron.
• However Burnley have lost just one of their last six against Scunthorpe in all competitions.
• Having kept a clean sheet in five of their opening six league games at Turf Moor, Burnley have failed to shut out their opponents in their last five.
• The Iron have shipped three goals in each of their last two league away games.

Doncaster v Ipswich

• Rovers are unbeaten in their last six games against Ipswich in all competitions, winning three.
• Last season Rovers came from behind to draw in both league meetings with Ipswich.
• Rovers are unbeaten in their last four at home in the Championship, winning three.
• The Tractor Boys have lost six of their last seven league games on the road.

Hull v Reading

• Three of the last five meetings between the Royals and the Tigers have ended 1-1.
• Hull are without a win in their last seven games at home to Reading.
• The 10 games at the KC Stadium this season in the league have produced only 12 goals.
• Shane Long has scored four goals in his last four appearances away from home with the Royals.

Leeds United v Portsmouth

• Pompey are on a run of four straight wins against Leeds in all competitions.
• However, the Whites have won their last four matches at home to Portsmouth in the second tier of English football.
• Leeds have won their last three games at home in the league this season.
• Pompey have won four of their last six league games on the road, including the last two.

Millwall v Leicester

• The last three league meetings between Millwall and Leicester have ended in a 1-0 win for the away side (Leicester two times).
• The Lions have won just two of their last 13 matches against City.
• Millwall have shipped just four goals in their last six league games at the New Den.

Norwich v Sheffield United

• Norwich have won their last four games at home to the Blades, three of them by a 1-0 scoreline.
• United have lost on seven of their last eight trips to Carrow Road.
• The Canaries have won only one of their last four games at home in the league.
• All three of the Blades' away wins in the league this season have been by a score of 1-0.

Preston v Middlesbrough

• Boro have won four of their last five league meetings with Preston.
• Preston have not won at Middlesbrough in the league since November 1971.
• The last three games at Deepdale in the league have produced only three goals in total.
• Boro have lost nine of their last 10 league games on the road.

Swansea v Barnsley

• Swansea have won three of their last six league meetings with Barnsley, each by a 3-1 scoreline: the other three games ended in draws.
• The Tykes were one of just three teams against whom the Swans managed to score more than twice in a match last season.
• Swansea have scored exactly once in their last three league games at home.
• After failing to pick up all three points in their first seven away matches of the season, Barnsley have now won their last two.

Watford v Cardiff

• Cardiff are on a run of three straight wins against Watford in the league.
• Peter Whittingam hit three goals against the Hornets last season.
• Watford have won just one of their last five games at home to the Bluebirds.
• Watford are unbeaten in their last three games at home.
• Cardiff have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine Championship matches on the road.

Nottingham Forest v Derby County

• Forest haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 meetings with the Rams.
• Derby have only won one of their last 15 trips to Forest in the league.
• Forest are the only side in the second tier to remain unbeaten at home this season. The Reds have won five and drawn five of their 10 games the City Ground.
• The Rams have lost their last three Championship away games.

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