Saturday, October 22, 2011

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23.10. (Sun) 16:00 Blackburn - Tottenham


PROBABLE LINEUPS

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Robinson
Salgado, Samba, Dann, Olsson
Hoilett, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Lowe
Yakubu, Roberts

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Friedel
Walker, Kaboul, Basson, Assou-Ekotto
Lennon, Parker, Modric, Bale
Van der Vaart
Adebayor

There are no serious injury or suspension worries for Steve Kean. Youngster Jason Lowe has impressed in his recent appearances and looks set to make his sixth consecutive start. Expect to see Yakubu recalled to the starting line-up as Rovers go for a much needed victory.

Winger Aaron Lennon is available again for Spurs after coming through the midweek victory over Rubin Kazan. However, there are six players ruled out for Harry Redknapp's side: Ledley King; Niko Kranjcar; Vedran Corluka; William Gallas; Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson are all occupying the treatment room and are unavailable for this match.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • These two sides have met 107 times in all competitions in their history, and Spurs have the edge with 48 wins to Blackburn’s 36 with 23 draws.
  • Blackburn have only won three of last 10 meetings at Ewood Park, and have to look back to 2009 for the last time they took any points of their north London visitors.
  • The omens don’t look good for the home side as Tottenham have been triumphant in the last four encounters with Rovers, scoring 10 goals in the process.
  • Rovers have endured a tough start to the season and currently find themselves bottom of the table, they have only recorded one victory all season but did earn themselves a point away at QPR in their last outing.
  • With their involvement in the Europa League this will be Spurs’ 14th game of the season, but Harry Redknapp has rested the majority of his first-team stars for the midweek matches which has helped them remain unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions.
  • Loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor has made an immediate impact at White Hart Lane, scoring three goals in his five games since arriving from Manchester City. The Togolese striker is the club’s joint top scorer in the league with fellows forwards Jermain Defoe and Rafael van der Vaart.
  • Rovers have found goals hard to come by this season, in fact Steve Kean’s side have scored just nine goals in their eight league games but have shipped 18 at the other end.
  • Yakubu became Blackburn’s top scorer in the league after just one game by scoring two goals on his debut against Arsenal. The striker has made three further appearances for the club but has not found the back of the net since.
  • Only north west rivals Bolton have a worse home record than Blackburn so far this season, Rovers have picked up three points at Ewood Park this season scoring five goals but conceding double that on home territory.
  • Spurs have the fifth best away record in the division; they average 1.5 goals per game on their travels with Defoe grabbing two of the six goals they have scored away from White Hart Lane.
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Blackburn 2-2 Tottenham  

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23.10. (Sun) 15:00 Inter - Chievo

Wesley Sneijder - Inter (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


INTER

Julio Cesar
Maicon, Lucio, Cordoba, Chivu Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso
Sneijder
Pazzini, Milito
CHIEVO

Sorrentino
Frey, Mandelli, Cesar, Jokic
Bradley, Rigoni,
Hetemaj
Sammarco
Pellissier, Thereau


Inter coach Claudio Ranieri will be missing a handful of regulars as Andrea Ranocchia, Andrea Poli, Philippe Coutinho, Diego Forlan and Walter Samuel are all out with various injuries. Ivan Cordoba should get the nod to partner Lucio in the centre of defence, while Wesley Sneijder is set to make his first Serie A appearance since September 20.

Chievo boss Domenico Di Carlo will have to make do without the services of defenders Gennaro Sardo and Santiago Morero at San Siro on Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Inter have conceded 13 goals in six matches this season, the most in Serie A.
  • Claudio Ranieri's men have failed to pick up a win in domestic action at San Siro this term.
  • The Nerazzurri have defeated Chievo eight times in their last 10 meetings.
  • Chievo have collected just one point from their travels on the road this season.
  • The Flying Donkeys are currently riding a four-game unbeaten streak.
  • Domenico Di Carlo's side have kept a clean sheet in three of their past four encounters.

Prediction
Inter have lost two league matches in a row and hover precariously over the relegation zone. A win is of the utmost importance and the Nerazzurri should be able to take care of business against the Flying Donkeys.
Editor's Prediction
Inter Milan 2-1 Chievo

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23.10. (Sun) 14:30 Arsenal - Stoke


PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL

Szczesny
Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Santos
Song, Arteta, Ramsey
Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho

STOKE CITY

 
Begovic
Huth, Woodgate, Shawcross, Higgingbotham
Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington
Crouch, Jones
Injuries picked up by full-backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs are almost certain to push Arsene Wenger into playing Andre Santos and Carl Jenkinson, who have been rotated with the two missing defenders often this season. Long-term absentees are the Frenchman's only real concern at the moment, with no new niggling injuries picked up against Marseille during the week.

A thigh strain to Andy Wilkinson will probably keep him out of the clash at the Emirates, but Tony Pulis has enough strength at the back to cope with the absence. Wilson Palacios is also due a return from injury, but it is doubtful he will be risked this weekend unless he comes off of the bench late on. Danny Higgingbotham could make his first start since April.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Arsenal’s total of 12 goals this season is twice the amount of opponents Stoke.
  • Stoke have only conceded eight goals so far this season, less than half of the amount let in by Arsenal. Only Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle have let in less.
  • Stoke have only managed one goal in their last three visits to the Emirates, and that was a Ricardo Fuller penalty.
  • Van Persie has scored 23 times in the 25 games he has played in during 2011.
  • Stoke have never drawn a Premier League game on their travels to London, winning three times and losing 12 games.
  • Stoke have the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the league with 67 per cent, yet Arsenal have a lowly 8 per cent.
  • Arsenal have never failed to score against Stoke in the Premier League since the Potters were promoted in 2008.
  • Arsenal have won five out of their last six games in all competitions.
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Arsenal 3-0  Stoke

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23.10. (Sun) 14:30 Manchester Utd - Manchester City


PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED

De Gea
Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Young
Chicharito, Rooney
MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Richards, Kompany, Lescott, ClichyYaya Toure, BarryAguero, Silva, Nasri
Dzeko
Manchester United have had a couple of difficult games in the past week, and it doesn't get any easier as they face rivals City, looking to leapfrog their 'noisy neighbours'.

Darren Fletcher is favoured by Sir Alex Ferguson in the so-called 'big games', so should start on Sunday, and could be paired in midfield by Anderson after he was rested for the midweek trip to Romania. However, if Ferguson opts for a midfield three, Ji-Sung Park or Michael Carrick are both in with a chance of selection.

Meanwhile, City have no fresh injury worries, and look to be at full strength after Sergio Aguero recovered from a minor knock to appear as a substitute and score the last-minute winner in their Champions League clash with Villarreal.

The only fit player that definitely will not be featuring is Carlos Tevez, who looks set to be on the sidelines for some time while his dispute with the club still ongoing.

DID YOU KNOW?


  • Manchester United have won the last three derbies between the pair at Old Trafford, and 24 out of the last 25 home Premier League games.
  • Wayne Rooney has scored five league goals in the Manchester derby, joint with Paul Scholes, while Eric Cantona has the most with seven.
  • Manchester City have scored an average of 3.5 goals a game away from home in the Premier League this season, with 14 goal in four games.
  • The last time Manchester City won at Old Trafford was in 2008, the only time in the past 36 years this has happened.
  • United have now scored in each of their past 17 games.
  • City did not beat any of the 'big four' of United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool away last season.
  • Andrei Kanchelskis was the last player to score a hat-trick in this fixture in a 5-0 victory for United in 1994.
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Man Utd. 2-1 Man City   

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23.10. (Sun) 12:30 Lecce - AC Milan

Milan celebrating (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS



LECCE

Benassi
Oddo, Tomovic, Esposito, Mesbah Obodo, Strasser, Giacomazzi
Grossmuller
Corvia, Paquato
AC MILAN

Abbiati
Abate, Nesta, Mexes, Antonini
Nocerino, Van Bommel,
Aquilani, 
Robinho
Ibrahimovic, Cassano


Lecce boss Eusebio Di Francesco will be without influential forward David Di Michele, goalkeeper Julio Sergio and defenders Souleymane Diamoutene and Stefano Ferrario for Sunday's clash.
For the visitors, Gennaro Gattuso is still out with a serious eye injury while Alexandre Pato is nursing a thigh problem for the Serie A champions. Thiago Silva trained apart from the rest of the squad and will likely miss the match due to a thigh injury, while Clarence Seedorf is also doubtful.
Captain Massimo Ambrosini, however, has recovered from his shoulder injury and could play a part in Sunday's encounter.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Lecce have dropped their first three games at home this season, being outscored 6-1 during that span.
  • Eusebio Di Francesco's men have scored only one goal in their last four encounters.
  • Lecce lead the league with 109 fouls this term.
  • AC Milan are winless on the road this season, conceding five goals in the process.
  • Massimiliano Allegri's men have kept a clean sheet in two out of their last three encounters.
  • The Scudetto holders have only picked up one win in their last nine Serie A matches at the Stadio Via del Mare.

Prediction
Lecce have failed to score in their last three matches and that streak of futility looks set to continue as the defending champions come rolling into town. Ibrahimovic and Cassano will lead the charge in what should be a comfortable victory for the visitors.
Editor's Prediction
Lecce 0-2 AC Milan