22.-23. 01. 2011. Coupe de France 1/16 Finals Preview

Chambery – Stade Brestois

CFA 2 side Chambery will attempt to continue their remarkable cup run when they meet Ligue 1 side Brest on Saturday afternoon, but it will take a great effort if the amateurs are to move into the last 16.

Already the Chambery squad have tails to regale acquaintances with in the future. Monaco were beaten on penalties in the previous round, leading to the sacking of Guy Lacombe, while Fesches Le Chatel were dispatched 9-0 back in the seventh round.

Brest are the best side the amateurs have yet faced, though they did lose their unbeaten record at home last weekend against Caen. Alex Dupont’s side will want to progress deep in the Coupe de France if possible, and they will see this tie as winnable, even if they have struggled a little away from home this term.

Angers – Girondins de Bordeaux

Already this season at the Stade Jean Bouin, Angers have accounted for Valenciennes in the Coupe de France, and the Ligue 2 outfit will be hoping to add the scalp of Bordeaux to their shelf on Saturday afternoon.

One man in the visiting side doubtless desperate to impress will be Henri Saivet, who has just moved on loan to the Maine-et-Loire club. Le SCO have come through each of their three previous ties by a solitary goal, and they would doubtless be delighted to have a similar result against their Ligue 1 guests.

Bordeaux won’t go into this game especially happy with life. They sit in the middle of the Ligue 1 table after suffering a defeat last weekend against Olympique de Marseille, but in slightly happier news Matthieu Chalme is back playing for the reserves and could be involved. Henrique, on the other hand, has suffered a setback on his return from injury and could miss the remainder of the campaign.

Nimes – Nancy
If there’s a prospect of a shock in the cup this weekend, Nimes might be the place to look, as the Ligue 2 side host a Nancy outfit who have drastically underperformed in 2011 to date.

Les Crocodiles only edged Championnat National side Frejus in the previous round, but their previous results have been formidable. Indeed, prior to last weekend’s draw against Chateauroux, Nimes had picked up six wins in their previous eight matches.

Nancy’s form is far less impressive. Amateur opposition in the form of Aurillac were only seen off on penalty kicks, while they have also lost Ligue 1 matches against Toulouse and Lille. Against les Dogues in midweek, they were beaten comprehensively 3-0, and it was clear that coach Pablo Correa was not impressed with the performance.

Fontenay-Vendee – Lorient

Lorient are the final Ligue 1 team to go into battle on Saturday, travelling to amateur side Fontenay in the early evening.

The Vendee side currently ply their football in France’s fourth flight – the CFA level – but have not performed well and go into the second half of the season with relegation a real threat. The Coupe de France has brought some real respite, but below Lorient’s reserves in the league, it would take an almighty upset if they were to win at the weekend.

Les Merlus are not a side who like travelling, however. In Ligue 1, Christian Gourcuff’s men have been distinctly suspect on the road, though they would not expect to have many problems against relatively meagre opposition. The 4-1 win they achieved at home against local rivals Vannes in the previous round was also a little flattering for them.

Valaux – Stade Rennais

Valaux will relish the visit of Rennes on Saturday night, though for the club who hail for the Division Honneur – the sixth level of the game in France – this is likely to be a bridge too far.

Jura Sud were eliminated 5-4 on penalties in the previous round, and before that Lons-le-Saunier and Valence were amongst the teams who fell to them. Quite comfortably the smallest team left in the draw, this is a dream fixture for them.

Rennes, meanwhile, will be aiming to continue the momentum that saw them sweep past Championnat National side Cannes 6-0 in the previous round and Arles-Avignon 4-0 in Le Championnat last weekend. Few problems are forecast for the Bretons, who should win this tie with a good deal to spare.

Agen – Paris Saint-Germain

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain visit CFA 2 side Agen as they continue their quest to protect the trophy they picked up last May.

For the Garonne side, this is quite comfortably one of the biggest days in their 90-year history. Middle of their league, there is little remarkable about Agen, who have yet to beat a significant side in this season’s competition. Now they face one of the most difficult opponents left in the draw.

For PSG, this match should prove to be a formality, and they will certainly want to bounce back after being defeated 1-0 against Montpellier in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final in midweek. Antoine Kombouare’s side have seen off many of France’s best teams this season, so Agen aren’t expected to give them too many issues.

Lille – Wasquehal

Ligue 1 leaders Lille flexed their muscles with a comfortable midweek success against Nancy, but they will now aim to progress in the Coupe de France with a home match against Wasquehal.

With the Europa League to consider as well as Le Championnat, there is little danger of les Dogues focussing completely on Sunday’s match, though coach Rudi Garcia did say in midweek that he wants to take games one at a time. LOSC should have close to a full squad available but are likely to employ some rotation.

Wasquehal proved themselves to be dangerous opponents in the previous round, when they eliminated a depleted Auxerre side. In the centre of the CFA2 table, their progress has been stunted by a profusion of draws, but if they were to achieve another on Sunday they would have to be pleased with their efforts.

Nice – Olympique Lyonnais

The big tie of the round comes on Sunday, when Nice meet a seemingly resurgent Olympique Lyonnais side.

Les Aiglons have not started 2011 well, despite ousting Creteil in the previous round. The Parisian club, who practise their football in the Championnat National, took the Stade du Ray outfit into penalties before the greater class of the top flight side finally told. In Le Championnat, Eric Roy’s side were brushed easily aside 2-0 by Lille.

Lyon, on the other hand, look far better than they did at any stage in the first half of the campaign. A solid 1-0 cup win over Caen got the year off to a positive start, but it was the manner in which they hammered Lorient 3-0 last weekend that really caught the eye. Though there appears likely to be little movement in the transfer window from OL, they could be a side to watch if they maintain that level.

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22-01-2011 22:00 Valencia - Malaga

Grinding Out The Wins

Valencia’s target this season is to finish in the top four of the Primera Division, and at the halfway mark of the campaign they are on course to achieve just that. Unai Emery’s side will continue their quest to ensure Champions League football next season with a home fixture against a Malaga side who are struggling in La Liga, but working hard on the transfer market to ensure an improvement.

Slips by los Che have by no means been unknown, but in recent weeks much of their inconsistency has been ironed out. At the Mestalla they are particularly a force to be reckoned with, having lost only once at the venue all season.

A chronically defensive Deportivo La Coruna visited the east coast last weekend, but los Che showed the kind of patience they required the previous week against Levante to ultimately secure their fourth successive victory. Juan Mata scored a late derby winner, but it was the less predictable figure of Jeremy Mathieu who sent Emery’s side en route to victory last weekend with a goal less than 10 minutes from the end. Pablo would secure the points in stoppage time.

“We knew it would be hard to break the deadlock. It was a tough match against a rival and a well crafted defence,” Emery explained to the media in a post-match press conference.

The Valencia coach seems to be perpetually under pressure for his side to win, partly due to the extreme lengths he takes his squad rotation policy to. Los Che are going well at present, and no-one will be complaining about Emery’s selection should the Mestalla club record yet another win.

The Real Race Begins

Simply avoiding relegation this season was considered to be too modest a target for Malaga at the start of the campaign. Significant summer investment from new owners had brought hope of a mid-table challenge, but Jesualdo Ferreira failed to get things moving forward at La Rosaleda and was sacked in favour of Manuel Pellegrini only a matter of weeks into the campaign.

With the existing bunch of players, the Chilean also struggled to achieve acceptable results and as a consequence, los Boquerones again find themselves dabbling in the transfer market. Several big names have already been captured this winter, including Martin Demichelis and Julio Baptista.

Squad overhauls in the middle of the season are rarely smooth, and away to Barcelona last weekend Malaga found that simply signing reputed players and sticking them together is no substitute for hard-drilled organisation. Even with a well-fitting panel, the Andalucians would have found life tough against the Catalans, so the 4-1 loss they suffered shouldn’t be regarded as a complete disaster.

“The real race begins with Valencia,” Baptista told Marca earlier this week. “We’re still getting to know each other.”

While points would be welcome, Pellegrini is probably expecting only a more coherent performance from his side at the Mestalla, pinpointing the home match with Zaragoza next week as the time for Malaga to really kick on.

TEAM NEWS

Valencia

Cesar Sanchez, Miguel Moya, David Albelda and Sofiane Feghouli have all missed training this week, but the Frenchman should be available if required. Aritz Aduriz and Joaquin are both drafted back into the squad too.

Nigerian midfielder Sunny has been loaned to Numancia.

Malaga

Diego Bounanotte has signed for the club this week but won’t come into their squad until next season. Goalkeeper Ruben remains long-term injury, while Kris Stadsgaard and Ivan Gonzalez have been reduced to individual work this week.

Prediction

This threatens to be a tough game for both sides, but home advantage should be enough to see Valencia through against a side who will still be gelling. Unai Emery’s men perhaps face Malaga at the right time, because the Andalucians have the potential to be awkward opponents in the second half of the season.

Valencia 2-1 Malaga

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22-01-2011 20:45 Roma - Cagliari

Revenge's On The Mind

Roma suffered a humiliating and hugely upsetting 5-1 hammering by Cagliari earlier this season and this weekend's game will be about leveling out the field. With the Giallorossi now having recovered from that early season blip and fighting for the Scudetto, they will be looking to behead this ghost.

Roma head into the encounter high on confidence after the 2-1 defeat of city-rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 in midweek. That followed a narrow 1-0 win in Cesena last weekend, which means that the Lupi are level on points with Inter on 35 from 20 matches and just two behind Lazio, who are a further four points off the pace.

Coach Claudio Ranieri, who has come under criticism for his (reported) dressing room problems with captain Francesco Totti, is looking for revenge and fires, "Cagliari scored five goals against us the last time we played them and I have not forgotten that. That result still burns.''

Mid-Table Comfort

Mathematically, Cagliari are still in danger of getting sucked into the relegation dogfight. With 26 points from 20 matches, the Sardinians are seven points above the dropzone - a couple of defeats and they would be back among the teams scrapping for survival.

The encouraging point is that the sides below Cagliari are in wretched form and in all probabilities the Isolani will eventually get away with a respectable mid-table position. Not that Roberto Donadoni's side aren't putting in the effort to ascertain that - the new year has seen the Rossoblu almost hold Milan to a goalless draw at home, defeat Parma 2-1 away and batter ambitious and quality-laden Palermo 3-1.

Donadoni is not getting carried away, though, and humbly says, "We are on the right path. I'm very pleased with my team's performance but we cannot relax.

"There are still many games left to play and things can turn around when you least expect it. That is why we have to remain humble and focused.''

TEAM NEWS

Roma

Pizarro and Adriano are injured while Burdisso is suspended. Totti and Borriello will start upfront as the two forwards in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Cagliari

Lazzari and Pinardi are injured for Cagliari and will miss the trip to Rome. In a 4-3-1-2 formation, Acquafresca and Matri will be the two centre-forwards with Cossu as the creative mind just behind them.

Prediction

A win for Roma seems to be the most likely outcome. Cagliari do have the potential to spring a surprise or two but one suspects that the hosts will eventually have it easy in the end.

Roma 2-0 Cagliari

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22-01-2011 20:00 Barcelona - Racing Santander

Staggering Figures

With 19 Primera Division matches played this season, Barcelona are on course for an unparalleled domestic campaign. Should they continue at the same pace they’ve mustered in the first half of the campaign, the winter champions will finish the term with 102 points, 122 goals and a goal difference that is a breathtaking positive 100. The numbers are mind-blowing.

But sheer statistics cannot do justice to the manner in which Barcelona are taking apart their opponents at present. La Blaugrana have chalked up 13 straight wins in La Liga, mustering at least three goals in 10 of those fixtures and a good deal more in many more.

Last weekend the victims were a new-look Malaga side. Los Boquerones were blown away 4-1 at Camp Nou, but Pep Guardiola was typically guarded with his post-match comments, urging his side to keep focussed on the task at hand.

“I am very pleased with the way the team played in the first half [of the season],” he said. “As for our four-point lead over Real Madrid, it is ridiculous to make conclusions; it's a very slight advantage. Let's not forget that we have away games coming up at teams such as Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla and, of course, Real [Madrid].”

A 3-1 defeat against Betis in midweek was very sloppy and out of character, though it was largely inconsequential given Barca’s 5-0 advantage from the first leg. Guardiola will have been left displeased by the hammering given to his team by the Segunda Division leaders, not least because he fielded a strong side in Seville. Expect a response at the weekend.

Difficult To Beat But Lacking Quality

Racing Santander, unlike their hosts, have their feet firmly planted in the world of mortals. With 20 points they continue to sit contentedly away from the relegation zone, though Miguel Angel Portugal’s side will doubtless be aware of the series of difficult tests that await them over the next couple of months.

Barcelona away is only the start of an extremely difficult group of fixtures, which also includes matches against Valencia, Villarreal and Real Madrid. Against the top four in the first half of the campaign, los Montaneses failed to pick up a solitary point and there is little hope of better results the second time around.

Los Verdiblancos have become a difficult side to beat, though a four match undefeated sequence was ended last weekend in the Basque Country, where they succumbed to Athletic Bilbao 2-1.

“We deserved something more,” Portugal argued. “Their goals have hurt us, but then the team managed to rally fairly well. We have been persistent. We had chances in the first half but in the second we failed to play when we made it 2-1.”

Having been schooled 3-0 by Barca on the opening day of the season at home, Racing will fully understand the challenge that is presented in front of them on Saturday. Every point is valuable to the Cantabrians in the battle against the drop, but they won’t expect to make any progress in Catalunya.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Daniel Alves will miss this fixture along with Jeffren, who will be missing until the end of February after tearing a muscle in his left thigh. Carles Puyol should be able to return to the squad, having trained normally on Thursday.

Racing

Oscar Serrano has undergone surgery on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. Alexandros Tziolis is a long-term problem. On the other hand, Fabio Coltorti should come back into the squad after illness.

Experienced attacker Pedro Munitis is out due to a ban and it has been confirmed he will miss the forthcoming fixture against Valencia for this reason too.

Prediction

After Real Madrid’s faux pas last weekend, Barcelona will be desperate to keep the heat up on their great rivals, and what better way than going seven points clear? La Blaugrana should not find Racing Santander to be opposition who can contain them, and a comfortable win is on the cards.

Barcelona 3-0 Racing

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22-01-2011 18:30 Aston Villa - Manchester City

A sign of intent

The big news ahead of this game was Aston Villa’s surprise £18m, rising to a possible £24m, capture of Darren Bent from Sunderland. But despite the distraction of the big money transfers, James Milner and Gareth Barry will be making returns to their old stomping ground with their previous team in turmoil.

If the Premier League table started from the date that Gerard Houllier took over, Villa would be rock bottom with just 15 points. Last weekend’s late equaliser against rivals Birmingham has kept them out of the relegation zone, but come kick-off they could be right back in there. However, the Frenchman has well and truly taken a hold of his team by spending upwards of £25m in under a week.

Now what is next for Villa? On paper they definitely have a squad good enough to survive, but no team is ever ‘too good to go down’ - ask Leeds and Newcastle fans.

The situation now is that Houiller has absolutely no excuse if he fails in the battle against relegation. The pressure is on.

Can City really go all the way?

In a drastic change from Villa’s fortunes, Manchester City topped the Premier League for the second time this season last weekend, only to then be overtaken within hours by their arch rivals Manchester United. However, if United slip up against Birmingham, a win could see them stay there for much longer this week.

In addition to that, things could not be going much better at Eastlands. They have just signed the much praised Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg, who impressed in his debut last weekend, and will be desperate to open his account for his new club.

But, as mentioned before, City still do not look like title challengers. Despite beating Wolves and looking comfortable for the majority while doing so, they still managed to somehow be hanging on come the final whistle as Wolves came back from 4-1.

This again happened in midweek against lower-league Leicester. City fans would not have been comfortable until stoppage time when Aleksandar Kolarov wrapped up the result.

If City are going to win the title this season, Mancini needs to instil some concentration.

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa

Darren Bent is expected to go straight into the starting line-up for his debut after making the £18 million switch from Sunderland, with John Carew likely to complete his loan move to Stoke City before the game.

Another new signing, Jean Makoun, should also make his Villa bow after completing the £7m move from Lyon and will add some much needed bite to a weak midfield.

On the injury front, only Stephen Ireland (knee) will miss the game from the first team squad but no return date is yet known for the midfielder.

Possible starting XI: Friedel; Walker, Cuellar, Dunne, Clark; Agbonlahor, Makoun, Petrov, Downing; Young; Bent.

Manchester City

Manchester City went top of the Premier League after the 4-3 win over Wolves last weekend, but still managed to show their weaknesses in doing so, which is haphazard defending and a lack of concentration.

The continual absence of Micah Richards (back) will not come as good new to City fans, along with the news that Mario Balotelli (knee) will not be returning until March at the earliest.

Possible starting XI: Hart; Boateng, K Toure, Kompany, Kolarov; Y Toure, De Jong, Barry; Milner, Dzeko, Tevez.

Prediction

Aston Villa 2-2 Man City 

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22-01-2011 18:00 Sevilla - Levante

Dreaming Of A Brighter Future

Gregorio Manzano’s Sevilla side are starting to show signs of clicking into gear after a wretched end to 2010. Los Nervionenses endured a five match losing streak prior to Christmas, but 2011 has brought a new start for the Andalucians, who have earned two Primera Division wins and a spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals over the course of the last three weeks.

A defeat against Espanyol last weekend was certainly a major blow to any lingering aspirations Sevilla had of competing in the Champions League next season, but much of the damage to those hopes came in December, when the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan side looked distinctly out of sorts.

Glory is still attainable, albeit in the Copa del Rey, and Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the cup should be considered a staging post for better things to come. “We competed in a very tough match,” Manzano said, satisfied, after the game. “In addition, this victory will raise the self-esteem of the squad. We want to reach the final, and now we are only one step away. We can dream of doing something important.”

There was further happy news for Sevilla in midweek as Sergio Sanchez made his long awaited return to competitive football after a heart complaint. With morale starting to rise, los Rojiblancos should be considered increasingly dangerous opponents as they continue to gather positive momentum.

Sinking Back To The Depths

Slowly but surely, Levante have been sucked into the Primera Division’s relegation zone. The Valencia club have offered up only periods of resistance this season and have tended to allow themselves to be beaten with far too much regularity. Indeed, their tally of 12 defeats in 19 matches is an ominous figure that points to a difficult few months ahead.

Luis Garcia’s side have been surprisingly competitive, however. Though they have lost a whole mountain of matches, only on three occasions have they slipped to losses of greater than one goal, and two of those games came in the opening two matches of the season.

August’s 4-1 humbling by Sevilla pointed to defensive problems ahead, and these haven’t been successfully rectified over the course of the campaign. But it’s not been volume of goals lost that have necessarily killed Levante, it’s the fact that they’ve consistently leaked one or two in every match.

Last weekend the east coast side were dealt a heavy blow in Zaragoza, going down 1-0 only a week after losing their derby against Valencia by a similar score. “All I want is to kill someone,” Ruben Suarez passionately exclaimed after the match to the media, rather summing up los Granotes’ feelings of frustrations having seen what they perceived to be a just goal disallowed.

Time remains on Levante’s side, but the results must start to follow soon, else they will find themselves in big trouble.

TEAM NEWS

Sevilla

There’s a dose of good news for Sevilla ahead of the weekend clash. Andres Palop, Ivica Dragutinovic and Federico Fazio have all successfully completed training and should be available to face los Granotes, giving Gregorio Manzano virtually a full panel.

Alexis is banned, however.

Levante

Nano and Sergio are both absentees. A hamstring problem keeps the former out, while Sergio has swelling in his left leg after a collision on Tuesday and will miss approximately two weeks. Ballesteros and Juanfran return from suspensions to feature, while Miguel Perez and Nacho Gonzalez are still troubled by problems.

Prediction

Sevilla will shrug off last weekend’s setback and will pick up three points on Saturday. Los Nervionenses’ home form has been weak at times this season, but Levante are in a negative cycle they will find very difficult to get out of. Another narrow loss should be forecast for the Valencia club.

Sevilla 2-0 Levante

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22-01-2011 18:00 Parma - Catania

Trying To Stop The Free-Fall

Parma commenced the new year in the best possible way their fans could have imagined, as they thrashed Juventus 4-1 in Turin. The Ducali have been struggling for survival in the Italian top flight since the start of the season but that massive victory over the Scudetto-chasing Italian giants was supposed to be the harbinger of positive results.

Instead it has proved to be a flash in the pan as Parma have lost their last two league fixtures, going down 2-1 to Cagliari at home and then 2-0 to Brescia on the road. The poor results have pushed Pasquale Marino's side to 14th in the league standings with 22 points, same as many as Catania.

Earlier in the season Parma lost 2-1 in Catania and will be looking for revenge this weekend. However, the Gialloblu have a poor record at home, having won just three of their ten league encounters at the Ennio Tardini.

Let's Get It Started

Argentina legend and one of the notable players to have played in Italy, Diego Simeone makes his return to Calcio, this time as a coach. The 40-year-old was appointed the Catania tactician on Wednesday just hours after the Sicilian side parted company with Marco Giampaolo.

Simeone's first game in charge of a European club is going to a tough one as Catania travel to Parma in a relegation six-pointer. With just 22 points from 20 matches the Etnei are in 15th place in Serie A, just three points above the relegation zone, and have failed to win any game so far in the new year, their 1-1 draw with Chievo last weekend putting an end to their three-match losing streak.

However, those loses that Catania suffered came against Roma, Inter and Juventus, all of whom are fighting for the Scudetto. But defeats are defeats and dropping eight out of nine points this month has forced the Rossazzurri to usher in a change.

Simeone, though, is confident that he can turn around Catania's fortunes and is ready to impose his own tactics and gameplan on the team. He said at his official unveiling, "I expect the side to press up the field as high as possible, keeping tight with grit.

"The idea is to adopt a 4-3-1-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation, but I’m not too obsessed with tactics, as the attitude of the team is important.”

TEAM NEWS

Parma

Pisano is injured and Paci is suspended.

Catania

Biagianti, Morimoto and Potenza are injured and will miss the trip to Parma.

Prediction

This promises to be a tough game for the eye and is unlikely to involve many goals. Parma will commence the clash as slight favourites .

Parma 2-1 Catania

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22-01-2011 18:00 Palermo - Brescia

Recovering From Sardinian Disappointment

Last weekend Palermo suffered a disappointing result as they went down 3-1 to Cagliari in Sardinia. It was the Rosanero's first loss of the new year and their first in seven competitive fixtures.

The loss had effects on their position in the Serie A table as Palermo slipped out of the top-six into seventh place. Delio Rossi's side, who have been largely an enjoyably and hugely entertaining and attacking team, are now three points off a Europa League slot and four behind fourth-placed Inter.

Palermo's objective this season is to finish in a European place and after an encouraging first half of the 2010-11 campaign, the Aquile would be expected to even fight for a place in the top four and a place in next season's Champions League.

However, last weekend's defeat means that Palermo will now have to embark on yet another unbeaten run and start regaining momentum.

Swinging From Hope To Despair

A look at the Serie A table would suggest that Brescia are doomed for relegation. Perennially stuck in the bottom-three, the newly promoted Italian side look almost certain to play in Serie B next campaign.

Just 18 points in 20 matches mean that Brescia are second from bottom, just a point from safety. Of course, the likes of Lecce and Cesena, two sides immediately above them, are as much in danger of going down the yawning trapdoor as them, but Brescia cannot hope for others to fall more rapidly than they do.

But hope springs eternal and Brescia keep on swinging from the branch of despair to the bough of optimism. Last weekend's 2-0 home victory over Parma was Mario Beretta's side first win since the second week of December and suddenly whispers of survival have been conceived.

TEAM NEWS

Palermo

Hernandez, Pinilla, Goian and Garcia are unavailable for the Sicilians while Carrozzieri continues to serve his suspension.

Brescia

Sereni, Eder, Vass and Taddei are injured for the visitors and will miss the trip to Palermo. Bega and Diamanti are suspended.

Prediction

Anything other than a victory for Palermo will be a massive surprise.

Palermo 2-0 Brescia

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22-01-2011 16:00 Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur

Bogey Team

Newcastle have been a thorn in the side of Tottenham at St James' Park in recent years, with the Londoners' last win coming courtesy of a Timothee Atouba strike in a 1-0 win back in August 2004.

Since then Newcastle have won the last four Premier League meetings, the most recent being in their relegation season of 2008-09, when strikes from Charles N'Zogbia and Damien Duff were enough to beat Spurs 2-1.

Title Credentials

Saturday will be a big test for Harry Redknapp's side as they look to find the form that has seen them credited as true title challengers, but they will need to take three points back to London if they want their title dreams to stay a possible reality.

After losing at Everton and drawing at home to Manchester United, inconsistent Newcastle provide a real tough test for the men from White Hart Lane. A win will take them back into the top four, and put them back in sight of leaders Manchester United.

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle United

The Magpies are without star striker Andy Carroll as the England frontman has failed to recover from a thigh injury and looks set to be out for a further three weeks.

Alan Smith is also out after Newcastle learned on Thursday that the midfielder will be sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's North-East derby with Sunderland.

Smith's place will be taken by either Danny Guthrie, who replaced him at the Stadium of Light, or Danny Gosling, who came on for the closing stages to make his debut for Alan Pardew's side.

That's likely to be the only change from the side that drew 1-1 with Sunderland last week, as Cheick Tiote is still suspended, and Newcastle's other absentees are long term casualties, with Hatem Ben Arfa and Ryan Taylor still a few weeks away from full fitness.

Possible starting XI: Harper; Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Barton, Guthrie, Nolan, Gutierrez; Best, Ameobi.

Tottenham

Harry Redknapp has no new injury worries and looks likely to name the same team that drew 0-0 with Manchester United at White Hart Lane last week.

New signing Steven Pienaar looks set to start from the bench on Saturday, after completing his move from Everton earlier this week.

Redknapp has a number of attacking players, and it will be a choice between Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch to start at centre-forward, with Rafael van der Vaart sitting in behind the lone striker.

Tom Huddlestone remains on the sidelines, but should return within the next few weeks. Long term absentees include Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate, and Jamie O'Hara.

Possible starting XI: Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart; Crouch.

Prediction

  Newcastle 1-1 Tottenham

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22-01-2011 16:00 Manchester United - Birmingham City

Home comforts

United may be top of the Premier League pile but it is only their home form that has put them in pole position. Last Saturday's 0-0 draw saw an eighth away stalemate of a 'Jekyll and Hyde' season which has seen them an all together more deadly presence at Old Trafford.

Bar West Bromwich Albion's 2-2 draw in October, all other opponents have been vanquished. Ferguson will be hopeful a Midlands side doesn't throw another spanner in the work this weekend.

New Year, no change

What a difference a year makes; At the end of January 2010, Birmingham sat in a comfortable eighth place on 33 points. Now, the pressure has been cranked up after a return of just 23 points has them flirting with relegation in 16th.

After a typically solid start to the campaign, Birmingham have claimed just a solitary victory against Blackpool in their last six games. A repeat of the 1-1 home draw against United during this spell will represent a high point in a period to forget for McLeish.

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United

Rafael da Silva's sending off in last weekend's 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur has depleted manager Sir Alex Ferguson's options at right-back. John O'Shea should be back in contention, however, after he featured in the reserves mid-week 8-0 Manchester Senior Cup rout against Bury.

Paul Scholes also returned in that match and could be promoted back to the first team after he overcame a groin injury. Gabriel Obertan will be hopeful his 12-minute hat-trick will be rewarded with a space on the substitute's bench.

Winger Antonio Valencia remains pencilled in for a February return from his leg break and ankle fracture. Owen Hargreaves is still out of action with a hamstring tear.

Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Rooney, Berbatov.

Birmingham City

Boss Alex McLeish will be without Scott Dann after he confirmed the centre-back is expected to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring tear that requires surgery. Liam Ridgewell will continue to be shuffled inside from left-back.

Attacker James McFadden is still a month away from a return following damage to his knee ligaments earlier in the season. Young Spanish midfielder Enric Valles is sidelined until March with an ankle knock.

Right-winger Sebastian Larsson is unlikely to feature as he is believed to be poised to sign for Blackburn Rovers. Back-up striker Marcus Bent has already departed to Sheffield United on loan.

Possible starting XI: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Murphy; Bentley, Gardner, Hleb, Ferguson, Bowyer; Jerome.

Prediction

Man Utd. 3-1 Birmingham  

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22-01-2011 16:00 Fulham - Stoke City

Cottagers Remain Draw Specialists

Fulham have been the draw specialists in the Premier League season, with 11 of their 22 matches ending in stalemates, and manager Mark Hughes knows that the Cottagers need to start turning some of the draws into wins if they are going to improve on their current position of 15th in the table.

In the reverse fixture just after Christmas, Fulham managed only three shots on target, but returned to London with the three points, winning by a two goal margin, and by picking up two wins in their last two home games – a 6-2 victory over Peterborough and a 3-0 win over West Brom – Hughes' men will want to turn Craven Cottage into a fortress.

Stoke Defying Expectations

Stoke City, meanwhile, continue to defy start of season expectations and currently sit in eighth position in the Premier League table. The Potters eased to victory over Bolton last week, and secured another victory days later as they beat Cardiff to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup, so Pulis will be looking for more of the same as they head to London.

Unlike their opponents, Stoke have drawn the joint fewest games in the division - a total of 3 - but do boast a record of scoring almost half of their goals from set-pieces, which remains their strongest weapon.

And it could take just the one goal from a set-piece to secure the win for the Potters as five out of the last eight league meetings between the two sides have ended in 1-0 wins, including the last three meetings at Craven Cottage.

TEAM NEWS

Fulham

Steve Sidwell could make his home debut for the Cottagers after his arrival from Aston Villa, while Andy Johnson will be hoping for a place in the starting line-up after he scored the equaliser against Wigan Athletic last weekend.

Belgian front-man Moussa Dembele will feature again as he returns to full fitness following eight weeks out with injury.

But manager Mark Hughes continues to be without striker Bobby Zamora who is still recovering from a broken leg, Matthew Briggs and Philippe Senderos (both calf).

Possible starting XI: Stockdale; Paintsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird; Davies, Sidwell, Etuhu, Murphy, Duff; Dempsey.

Stoke City

Norwegian striker John Carew could make his debut for Stoke if he completes his loan move to the Britannia Stadium from Aston Villa in time.

Meanwhile, manager Tony Pulis has no fresh injury concerns after seeing his side beat Cardiff 2-0 in the FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday.

Pulis made 10 changes to the side that beat Bolton last weekend for the clash against the Welsh side in midweek, so the likes of Asmir Begovic, Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross and Kenwyne Jones could return to the starting line-up.

Jonathan Walters could also push for a place in the side, but is most likely have to settle for a seat on the bench despite his goalscoring exploits in midweek.

Pulis remains without Eidur Gudjohnson who has a neck injury, although Mali striker Mamady Sidibe is fit again after a lengthy spell on the sidelines but is short of match fitness.

Possible starting XI: Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins; Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington; Fuller, Jones.

Prediction

Fulham 2-1 Stoke  

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22-01-2011 16:00 Everton - West Ham United

Toffees look to keep on track with Hammers going off the rails

With only one defeat in seven and a priceless four points picked up against Tottenham and Liverpool in the last fortnight, Everton seem to be fulfilling their contractual obligation to start badly and finish strongly in the Premier League. Losing Steven Pienaar may prove to be a huge loss to David Moyes' side but an emerging Seamus Coleman is providing pace and invention to a side that has too often lacked creativity in midfield this season.

West Ham on the other hand seem to be in severe decline. With only two clean sheets in their last 17 league games, the Hammers have been struggling defensively and won't be overly confident about visiting a ground where the have only won in one of their last 14 visits.

TEAM NEWS

Everton

David Moyes' side come into this game against West Ham on the back of a win at home to Tottenham and a draw to arch-rivals Liverpool, and the Toffees will feel that these are the games that the team has to win if they are to climb out of the bottom half of the table.

Louis Saha is likely to miss the game with a thigh strain and Tim Cahill is still on international duty at the Asian Cup for Australia, though the club will be boosted by the return of Phil Jagielka who looks set to partner Sylvain Distin in the centre of defence.

Everton are otherwise expected to line up as they did at Anfield, with the 4-4-2 formation that has seen a transformation of their recent fortunes.

Possible starting XI: Howard; Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Arteta, Fellaini, Osman; Anichebe, Beckford.

West Ham

Avram Grant has received the backing of his board despite seeming certain for the axe following the Hammers' desperate performance against Arsenal last week, in which they limply went down 3-0 to the Gunners at Upton Park.

The visitors are still without Thomas Hitzlsperger (ankle) and Manuel Da Costa (foot) however, the Hammers' injury list is shortening by the week with both Benni McCarthy (calf) and Herita Ilunga (ankle) both on the verge of returning to first team action.

Grant will know that his side need to start picking up points if they are to avoid the drop and with the strongest possible squad at his disposal for a number of weeks, the Israeli manager will be hoping to pick up at least one on Merseyside this Saturday.

Possible starting XI: Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge; Piquionne, Noble, Parker, Boa Morte; Obinna, Cole.

Prediction

Everton 2-1 West Ham   

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22-01-2011 16:00 Blackpool - Sunderland

Big Boots To Fill

If Sunderland are to win against Blackpool on Saturday and claim only their third away victory of the season, they will have to find somewhere else to score goals from. Darren Bent scored 32 of Sunderland’s 74 goals since the English hit man joined the club in the summer of 2009.

Last season he scored exactly half of the club’s goals and this season he was also their leading scorer in the league.

Asamoah Gyan will be the man charged with the task of scoring the bulk of Sunderland’s goals now that Bent has left, however without the ever-impressive Welbeck available Gyan could find his chances hard to come by.

Home Form Must Improve

Blackpool have won less points at home than any other club this season and this is no small part due to the small amount of goals they have scored at Bloomfield Road. Only Birmingham City, Everton and Wigan Athletic have scored less goals at home.

Blackpool’s comfortable mid-table position this season is mainly due to their impressive away form which has seen them win five times away from Bloomfield Road. Only Manchester City and Arsenal have won more games away from home this season in the Premier League.

Sunderland’s away form has been poor this season, winning only twice and Blackpool will be looking to take advantage of the Black Cats' vulnerability without Darren Bent leading the line.

TEAM NEWS

Blackpool

Richard Kingson will continue in the Blackpool goal as first-choice keeper Matt Gilks is still not quite ready to return from a long-term knee injury. The game also comes too soon for striker Marlon Harewood who has been sidelined since November. Other long-term absentees include Chris Basham, Malaury Martin and Billy Clarke.

With no new injury concerns Ian Holloway’s side virtually picks itself, such has been the consistency of his team selection this season.

Holloway has yet to improve his team in January and will stick with the same squad that has performed admirably so far in their first season in the Premier League. He has had to fend off interest from Aston Villa for influential skipper Charlie Adam this week, with Holloway insisting the player is going nowhere in January.

Possible starting XI: Kingson; Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey; Grandin, Adam, Vaughan; Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Varney.

Sunderland

Lee Cattermole faces a late fitness test after he missed the team’s previous two games but Steve Bruce will give his skipper every chance to prove is fitness. Michael Turner, John Mensah, David Meyler and Fraizer Campbell are all still sidelined with long-term injuries.

Following the shock departure of Darren Bent, Sunderland have lost their most potent scoring threat. As well as his permanent departure, Danny Welbeck faces six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury. Bent and Welbeck scored 14 of the team’s 26 league goals this season which will place more pressure on summer signing Asamoah Gyan to lead the line.

Possible starting XI: Gordon; Onouha, Ferdinand, Bramble, Bardsley; Malbranque, Henderson, Zenden, Cattermole, Richardson; Gyan.

Prediction

Blackpool 2-2 Sunderland 

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22-01-2011 16:00 Arsenal - Wigan Athletic

Arsenal Keen To Keep The Pressure On Title Rivals

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend after an impressive 3-1 win over Leeds in the FA Cup, looking to maintain the pressure on their title rivals.

The Gunners have recaptured their form after a couple of rocky performances in cup competitions but they will be looking forward to the visit of Wigan.

The north London club have not beaten Wigan in their last two meetings but both matches have been at the DW Stadium.

At the Emirates it is a different story as the Latics have never beaten Wenger's side in the Premier League on their travels.

Gunners forward Andrey Arshavin is hopeful this record can continue as the title race hots up.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't beat Wigan at their stadium," he told his official website. "The next game will be held at the Emirates.

"The performance which Arsenal showed recently in the championship allows us to achieve the landslide victories, so I hope that the upcoming clash will be no exception. We need to catch up with the two Manchester teams."

Wenger will be hoping this is the case and with players such as Theo Walcott – who has already netted two more league goals than he managed in the whole of the last campaign, with all of his goals coming in Arsenal victories – in form, not many would back against them.

O Captain! My Captain!

It has not all been rosy for Arsenal this week as midfielder Denilson was quoted questioning captain Cesc Fabregas' leadership qualities in an interview held in Brazil.

The Brazilian was quoted as saying the Gunners did not have a real leader but Wenger brushed the comments aside, insisting they were mistranslated.

It is hard to see what effect these comments may have on Arsenal but the issue seems to have been dealt with as Fabregas and Denilson both posed for a photo together on the train to Leeds, which was posted on the Spanish international's Twitter account.

There has also been a surge in support for the Arsenal captain from his team-mates. England international Kieran Gibbs praised his skipper for the way he has helped him settle into the first-team squad.

He said: "I've spent quite a bit of time with him, away from training as well and for such a young person he's got such a wise head on him. Cesc has helped me greatly and I can only thank him for that."

The problem appears to have been solved by Wenger but it remains to be seen whether the comments will have any lasting effects.

Can Wigan Pull Off A Shock?

Wigan made it three draws in four Premier League games last weekend after their 1-1 draw with Fulham.

The Latics head to London with only four wins all season and their record against the Gunners does not fill many with confidence.

But in their last two games against Arsenal, albeit at home, they have snatched points.

Wigan's solitary league win over Arsenal in their history came last season when three goals in the last 10 minutes earned a 3-2 victory at the DW Stadium and killed off the Gunners' title charge.

And in December, Martinez's side earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Wenger's men after being reduced to 10 men for a long period of the game.

But these results have been anomalies rather than the norm as Arsenal have only been beaten once in 11 attempts by Wigan.

Martinez is in buoyant mood ahead of the trip to the capital as he has been boosted by the return to fitness of key players.

He told the club's official website: "We have a few players coming back from injury over the next few weeks which is great news for the club.

"Now we will all be together and hopefully start picking up more victories so that we can have a strong finish to the season."

"Franco is a great prospect for the future and his strength is important to us right now as well, and getting the likes of himself, James McCarthy and Victor Moses fit again will give us a massive boost.

"You're always looking to strengthen your squad at this time of the season but with their return it will improve us in a completely different way.

"All three players have world-class potential and already play a huge role in our squad."

Martinez will need all the world-class talent he can get if they are to pull of a shock at the Emirates.

Trivia

Arsenal have never tasted defeat at home against Wigan in five Premier League matches, racking up 15 goals in the process at an average of three goals a game.

The Gunners have already lost three times in the league at the Emirates this season compared with twice last term, three in the 2008/09 campaign and once in their first season at the Emirates back in 2006/07. They did not lose in the league at home during the 2007/08 campaign.

Hugo Rodallega has scored six goals this season, contributing nearly a third of his side's league goals this campaign.

This match pits the Premier Leagues higest scorers, Arsenal (45), against the lowest scorers, Wigan (19).

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

The Gunners have slight concerns over striker Marouane Chamakh (knee) and Denilson (hip) ahead of Wigan's visit to the Emirates.

Both took knocks during Arsenal's 3-1 FA Cup replay win over Leeds but manager Arsene Wenger believes both should be able to figure.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is still hampered by a shoulder problem, while Abou Diaby (calf) and Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) are still one week away from returns.

Possible line-up: Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Song, Wilshere, Fabregas; Nasri, van Persie, Walcott.

Wigan
Franco di Santo may have to settle for a place on the bench as Roberto Martinez comes up with a system which can contain the Gunners' attacking strengths.

Tom Cleverley (hamstring) is a doubt for the visitors, who have been boosted by the news that Victor Moses (shoulder) and James McCarthy (ankle) could return in the next few weeks.

Possible line-up: Al Habsi; Stam, G Caldwell, Alcaraz, Gohouri; Figueroa, Watson, Hendry, Gomez, N'Zogbia; Rodallega.

Prediction

Arsenal 3-1 Wigan Athletic  

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22-01-2011 15:30 Borussia D. - Stuttgart

No Signs Of Complacency For The Champions Elect

The glimmer of hope latched onto by the chasing pack has all but vanished after a superb six minute surge in the second-half from Borussia Dortmund, who capitalised on some haphazard Leverkusen defending to ruthlessly punish die Werkself. Juergen Klopp had hailed it as the biggest game of the season and die Borussen passed the test with flying colours. Neven Subotic and Mats Hummels were once again imperious and Kevin Grosskreutz gained a confidence boost with a brace. As a consequence, der BVB's lead is now thirteen points over Hannover.

"If Bayern (Munich) had our lead, then they would already be comfortably champions. We know however, that a lot can still happen and we need to see it through to the end," he told the pre-game press conference.

"If you are the table toppers, not everything can be going wrong but equally not everything has to have been going right. We can make a realistic assessment of our performance in Leverkusen."

Klopp is not someone who is seduced by the lure of complacency - he wll do everything to ensure there is no Devon Loch style collapse as the evenings become brighter. He picked out twelve video clips from last week's game, five of which were positive and seven of which were less so, as Nuri Sahin so helpfully enlightened us.

Mario Goetze, who was the deserved recipient of fulsome praise from fellow players, fans and journalists alike for a performance at 10 beyond his tender years, will be a big miss tomorrow as he battles bronchitis. However, contrary to the opinions from certain quarters of the media, Dortmund have a strong squad and have the luxury of choosing between Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Zidan as Lucas Barrios will surely come back. Another thing is even surer - no-one at the club will be taking anything for granted.

Leading From The Front

Bruno Labbadia saw his new team win during his fourth game in charge, all of which had come at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. That series now of course comes to an end but it is worth reflecting briefly on a vital three points for die Schwaben in Spieltag 18. There is little doubt that at times the hosts rode their luck and they had to be bailed out by goalline clearances from Christian Molinaro and Patrick Funk, who will marshall the full-back positions tomorrow.

Still, they should be given credit for forcing a mistake in the Mainz backline and capitalising upon Radoslav Zabavnik's slip to net what would be the winner. When you're down and out in the nether regions of the table, you need the rub of the green, even when the quality of the squad is more akin to a top-half outfit.

That looks to have deserted Labbadia in the run up to the Dortmund game with Cacau definitely out and doubts over Martin Harnik and Ciprian Marica. Stuttgart's new coach was a striker himself and is the only man to have scored 100 goals in both the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga. It's therefore no surprise to hear his preferred manner of setting up his team:

"I prefer most of all to play with two strikers. We want to put Dortmund under pressure at every opportunity, without losing our shape and organisation. We want to put out our most powerful and fit side, in order to best be able to restrict der BVB," he told the pre-game press conference.

Labbadia wants to build on the progress made against die Nuell-Funfer and ensure that the team spirit remains high, no matter how the results may pan out.

"We want to continue doing the good things we did against Mainz. We were well organised and gave very few chances away. Now we need to move forward again and be more willing in possession to play the ball upfield. The lads enjoy their work and the atmosphere after the win is good ; we want to retain such an environment in the camp even after defeats, which will surely come in the course of the season."


TEAM NEWS

Borussia Dortmund

Shinji Kagwa is still away on Asia Cup duty as Japan have reached the quarter finals but his replacement Mario Goetze will also be absent, having suffered from bronchitis during the week. Mohamed Zidan, despite struggling with flu, is a possible replacement although Robert Lewandowski could move back with Lucas Barrios returning upfront. Sven Bender will also miss out with a knee problem and he joins long-term casualties Sebastian Kehl, Patrick Owomoyela and Florian Kringe on the sidelines. Antonio da Silva is favourite to come in with Markus Feulner also in contention. Alternatively, Juergen Klopp could plump for Felipe Santana but most likely he would be loathed to move Hummels forward and split the best defensive partnership in the Bundesliga.

Probable Starting XI: Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Sahin, da Silva - Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Grosskreutz - Barrios

VfB Stuttgart

The problems are mounting for Bruno Labbadia in attack as not only is Cacau definitely out with an adductor injury but Martin Harnik and Ciprian Marica are also major doubts with muscular injuries. They join Khalid Boulahrouz, Johan Audel and Sandro Celozzi on the injury list. Christian Genter may possibly edge out Timo Gebhart for a midfield spot.

Probable Starting XI: Ulreich - Funk, Tasci, Delpierre, Molinaro - Gebhart, Traesch, Kuzmanovic, Boka - Schipplock, Pogrebnyak

Prediction

Stuttgart have injury problems in attack, which is less than ideal against the best defence in Germany. Dortmund may be missing in Kagawa and Goetze but they have the depth in quality allied to the momentum gained from last week's win in Leverkusen to march on at the top.

Borussia 2-0 VfB Stuttgart

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22-01-2011 13:45 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Liverpool

Aiming For Survival

Wolves are currently placed 19th in the Premier League, in what has been a tightly contested season so far. This can be seen in the fact that the visitors are only five points ahead, but rest in 13th place.

Survival will be at the forefront of manager Mick McCarthy’s mind, as his side are currently on one of the three trapdoors that lead to the Championship.

But Wolves have been strong at Molineux in recent times, as their last five games at home have resulted in four victories - one of which was against Chelsea. Now with the stuttering Reds set to arrive, the hosts will likely fancy their chances and hope to jump out of the relegation zone.

History also favours the home side, as they have not lost a top-flight game at home to the Merseyside club since 1979. It was a goal from Alan Hansen that gave the side a victory at the time, but the six games since have resulted in three victories and as many draws from McCarthy’s charges.

Dalglish Looking For His First Win

New Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is still looking for his first victory during his second stint as the manager of the club, as he has been unable to guide his charges to a win in any of his first three games at the helm.

This makes it the worst start for a new manager at the Merseyside club since Roy Evans – who also did not win any of his first three games – in 1994.

The side are currently in serious difficulty, as they have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions. That they fell to three consecutive defeats before drawing with Everton at Anfield goes to show that they are far from the European giants that they have been in years past.

But the draw with the Toffees is still a start, since the gaffer has got his first point as boss and can now move forward to build on it.

Some players have come out speaking positively of the managerial change, admitting that Dalglish’s methods have been impressive. Even chairman Tom Werner has admitted that the boss is a candidate to be appointed on a permanent basis in the summer. But first he will have to prove that the Reds can be resurrected from the dead, and Molineux may be just the place to start.

TEAM NEWS

Wolves

Captain Karl Henry returned to claim a spot on the bench during the recent loss to Manchester City, and could continue in a similar manner as he gets back to match fitness.

Jody Craddock (hip) has returned to training, but is still some way from reaching full fitness.

Adlene Guedioura (broken leg), Michael Kightly and Michael Mancienne (both knee) are all sidelined, while George Elokobi is suspended.

Possible starting XI: Hennessey; Zubar, Stearman, Berra, Ward; Jarvis, Jones, Milijas, Hunt; Doyle, Fletcher.

Liverpool

Jamie Carragher (shoulder) is still recovering from surgery, while skipper Steven Gerrard serves the final match of his three-game suspension.

Daniel Agger is a doubt after he was replaced in the last game due to illness, while Milan Jovanovic and David Ngog are also doubts as both players picked up knocks that kept them out of the recent Merseyside derby.

Possible starting XI: Reina; Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson; Kuyt, Meireles, Lucas, Spearing, Maxi; Torres.

Prediction

Wolves 1-1 Liverpool 

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22.01.2011. Bet Of The Day

16:00 Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur

An attacking game is on the cards at St James Park as Newcastle take on Tottenham. Although Andy Carroll has already been ruled out The Magpies showed in their last home fixture they are more than capable of finding the net without him, hitting five against West Ham.

Tottenham themselves of course are no strangers to the attacking mantra with the likes of Bale and Van der Vaart. Away from home and goals are usually to be found with four of their last five away fixtures racking up three or more goals. There is a good tendency of goals in this fixture with 6 out of the last 8 Premier League meetings between these two sides and this game should be no different.

Match Odds: Newcastle 3.0, Draw 3.20, Tottenham 2.20

Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.75

18:00 Quevilly - Martigues

Remember Quevilly? Last season the amateurs produced sensation after sensation, en route to French Cup semi-finals. This season they are doing great in their league, and are facing fellow amateurs Martigues who are a somewhat inferior side. With all the confidence the Cup brings to the tiny town in the north, it’s a very good bet given the generous odds. 

Match Odds: Quevilly 2.0, Draw 3.20, Martigues 3.50

Tip: Quevilly to win @ 2.0

Additional tip: Last week Blackpool lost 2-3 in the exciting fest of attacking football at West Brom, but we are taking them as a long-term project. The Tangerines are 2.37 to beat Sunderland on Saturday.

18:20 Scunthorpe United - Burnley

Scunthorpe are without a win in their 11 home games and what also stands out is the fact that during this time they have conceded 30 goals. They have only manged two clean sheets at home so far and have conceded two or more goals in seven out of 11 home games.Burnley have appointed Eddie Howe as their new manager and this will be his first game in charge so although Burnley's away form is not fantastic I believe that the new manager will have the desirable effect on the players. Expect Burnley to find a way past the leaky home defence and sneak a win.

Match Odds: Scunthorpe 3.20, Draw 3.20, Burnley 2.10

Tip: Burnley to win @ 2.10

18:30 Aston Villa - Manchester City

The Aston Villa - Man City match is one that I am certainly looking forward to and it caught my eye when I scanned the weekend fixtures. The arrival of Darren Bent should add spice to the proceedings and give Villa a more potent goalscoring threat.Man City have developed a worrying habit of conceding lately and starting games slowly. The outcome of this match is hard to call but I will be having a bet in the both teams to score market. With plenty of attacking artillery on both sides I expect it to turn a profit.

Match Odds: Aston Villa 3.40, Draw 3.25, Man City 2.0

Tip: Both teams to score @ 1.70

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