29.11. (Tue) 21:00 Arsenal - Manchester City

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL Fabianski Djourou, Squillaci, Miquel, Yennaris Coquelin, Benayoun, Rosicky Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park, Arshavin

MANCHESTER CITY Pantilimon Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Savic, Kolarov De Jong, Razak, Yaya Toure Johnson, Dzeko, Nasri

Both managers will have tough choices to make after disappointing results at the weekend. Though City can claim to have picked up a difficult point away at Anfield, it is still a case of two dropped points, whereas Arsenal know that is the case with their home draw against Fulham.

Arsene Wenger is likely to revert to his normal policy where the League Cup is concerned and select the cream of the academy crop, with players such as Francis Coquelin and Ignasi Miquel likely to feature.

For Roberto Mancini, it will probably be a more straightforward task of rotation to ensure all of his players are ready for if and when they are needed in the title run, though there may be a few more familiar faces than in the hosts' squad.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester City have taken an average of 2.66 points per game against opponents in the top half of the Premier League table compared to Arsenal's 1.16.

• Both sides have won the competition twice, with Manchester City's two wins coming in 1970 and 1976 and Arsenal's triumphs in 1987 and 1993.

• The closest either side has come to winning since then was in last year's final where Arsenal were beaten by a late Obafemi Martins strike for Birmingham to take a 2-1 victory.

• Arsenal have been runners up in the competition on five occasions, whereas City have been beaten in the final once.

Prediction

This game will be Manchester City's for the taking. That's not to say that Arsenal will be humiliated, but City will edge it.
With the quality City have in depth, they can field a second string team that would quite easily stay in the Premier League. Arsenal, however will mostly be fielding young players.
While those players do not tend to show any fear, they are likely to get found out against players of the calibre of Johnson or midfielders such as Nigel de Jong.

Editor's Prediction

Arsenal 1-2 Man City

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29.11. (Tue) 21:00 Barcelona - Rayo Vallecano

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

BARCELONA Valdes Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas Pedro, Messi, Villa

RAYO VALLECANO   Cobeno Tito, Labaka, Jordi, Casado Movilla, Fuego Lass, Michu, Piti Tamudo

Carles Puyol is expected to partner Gerard Pique in the centre of defence after being rested during the 1-0 defeat to Getafe on Saturday, so Eric Abidal is likely to start at left back.

Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta have both returned to training and are in contention for starts against Rayo. Expect the former to be given the nod ahead of Thiago in midfield with Iniesta due to start the game on the substitutes bench.

After Alexis Sanchez struggled to impress over the weekend, Pep Guardiola could rotate his attack with Pedro given a start alongside Lionel Messi and David Villa, after returning from a knee problem.

For the visitors, Raul Tamudo could be given the lone frontman role in place of Andrija Delibasic who struggled in the 2-1 defeat to Valencia over the weekend. Elsewhere, Michel Labaka is expected to return to the centre of defence in place of Javi Arribas.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Barcelona are currently six points behind fierce rivals Real Madrid and will be desperate for victory against Rayo.

• The fixture has been brought forward as Pep Guardiola's men will be heading to Japan in December to take part in the Club World Cup.

• Lionel Messi has grabbed 15 Liga goals this season, the same amount as the entire Rayo team combined.

• Rayo Vallecano have had a successful return to La Liga so far, with Jose Ramon Sandoval's men currently ninth in the table.

• The last time the two teams met in May 2003, Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners at Camp Nou.

• The average age of Rayo's squad is 26.6 years old, compared to Barcelona's which is 24.5.

Prediction

Despite the defeat to Getafe at the weekend, it is hard to imagine anything other than a comfortable win for the reigning Liga champions when they meet Rayo at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Editor's Prediction

Barcelona 3-0 Rayo Vallecano

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29.11. (Tue) 20:45 Chelsea - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA Turnbull Bosingwa, Alex, Ivanovic, Bertrand Romeu, McEachran, Lampard Kalou, Torres, Malouda

LIVERPOOL Reina Kelly, Coates, Carragher, Agger Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Henderson, Maxi Carroll

Andre Villas-Boas has a full squad to choose from, with the exception of suspended captain John Terry and long-term injury absentee Michael Essien. The Blues boss is likely to ring the changes though, with the only survivors from Saturday’s encounter with Wolves likely to be Branislav Ivanovic and Oriol Romeu. Fernando Torres could start against his former club, having been only used as a late substitute in the recent defeat to the Reds in the Premier League. Liverpool are unlikely to recall Craig Bellamy, who missed Sunday’s clash with Manchester City following Gary Speed's death. Kenny Dalglish is likely to hand a start to youngsters Martin Kelly and Jay Spearing, while Andy Carroll could get the nod after spending the last two matches on the bench.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chelsea have had their worst start to a season since Roman Abramovich took control of the club in 2003.

• Dalglish (right) is unbeaten against the Blues in 11 games as Liverpool manager.

• In the last seven seasons, this will be the 30th encounter between the two sides. Chelsea have won 12 and Liverpool 10.

• The Reds are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

• Villas-Boas’ men have scored in only two of their last five meetings with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

• Dalglish’s men have won the competition a record seven times, with their last success coming in 2003.

• The hosts have won the competition four times, once in 2005 with a victory over Liverpool in the final.

Prediction

The recent run of form shown by the two sides suggests that there might only be one winner on the night. However, considering the fact that both will make a number of changes and Liverpool had to face the tough test of Manchester City just 48 hours ago, expect a narrow home win.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

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29.11. (Tue) 20:45 Cardiff City - Blackburn Rovers

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CARDIFF CITY Marshall McNaughton, Gerrard, Turner, Taylor Cowie, McPhail, Gunnarson, Whittingham Earnshaw, Mason

MANCHESTER UNITED Robinson Lowe, Hanley, Dann, Givet Hoilett, N’Zonzi, Dunn, Rochina Roberts, Goodwillie

Filip Kiss missed Cardiff's win over Nottingham Forest with a slight knock, allowing Steven McPhail to come in and captain Mark Hudson, who couldn’t recover in time from a hamstring strain, was replaced by Anthony Gerrard once again.

Joe Mason may be rewarded for his winner at the weekend with a starting place as both sides think about resting players due to their current positions in their respective league tables.

Blackburn players Chris Samba, Martin Olsson and Michel Salgado all have hamstring problems, although the Spaniard could be available. Ryan Nelson is fit again and is being lined up for a place on the bench should he come through training unscathed. David Dunn returns after serving his one-match suspension for his red card against Wigan.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Blackburn have not kept a clean sheet in the league.

• They have conceded at least three goals in half their Premier League matches.

• They haven’t registered an away victory all season and haven’t won in eight matches.

• Their only league win this year came against Arsenal.

• Rovers got into the fifth round of the League Cup with a dramatic 4-3 win over Newcastle where they conceded twice in injury time only to win in extra time.

• They won this competition in 2002 with a 2-1 win over Tottenham.

• Cardiff are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.

• They average two goals at home in the Championship.

• City are third in the league (although they have played a game more than most other teams) and have the third best home record, losing only once.

• These two sides have met five times in cup competitions, with Cardiff winning two matches, including the 1925 FA Cup semi-final although they lost the final 1-0 to Sheffield United. Blackburn have one win.

Prediction

Cardiff are flying high in the league and are in a great run of form, but Blackburn need the win much more so I’m expecting them to edge a thriller due to the attacking talent they undoubtedly have in their squad.

Editor's Prediction

Cardiff City 2-3 Blackburn

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29.11. (Tue) 20:45 Napoli - Juventus

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NAPOLI De Sanctis Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Zuniga Hamsik, Lavezzi Cavani

JUVENTUS Buffon Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini Vidal, Pirlo, Pazienza Pepe, Matri, Vucinic

Walter Mazzarri will be expecting a significant improvement in his side's performance levels after only collecting a disappointing 1-1 draw with Atalanta over the weekend. The result also came in stark contrast to their triumphant display midweek against Manchester City in the Champions League.

However, the Napoli coach received particular criticism for dropping Ezequiel Lavezzi on Saturday, and the Argentine forward is set to be reinstated in place of Goran Pandev, who failed to impress in his colleague's place as one of the two players supporting Edinson Cavani.

Meanwhile for Juventus, just one alteration is in the pipeline for Antonio Conte, as Claudio Marchisio is suspended for the trip to the San Paolo, and it is likely Michele Pazienza will be given the nod to face his former employers alongside Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo in midfield.

DID YOU KNOW

• Napoli have won just one of their past six Serie A fixtures, with no league victory in their last four.

• They have not achieved consecutive domestic victories all season.

• However, they are unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Juventus, winning three.

• Juventus remain the only side without a defeat in Serie A after 11 matches, including seven wins.

• In addition, they have won their past four on the bounce, but have kept just one clean sheet in the sequence.

• The away team has won just once in their past 11 meetings; a 3-2 triumph for Napoli during the 2009-10 campaign.

Prediction

The San Paolo cauldron will be simmering on Tuesday but Juventus will do just enough to escape with a point and keep their unbeaten record intact.

Editor's Prediction

Napoli 2-2 Juventus

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