Arsenal v Bolton Today 3pm
Archie Knox could not have been given a more difficult assignment for his
first match as caretaker manager with the unbeaten leaders aiming to
consolidate their position. Bolton enjoyed a good record against Arsenal
under Sam Allardyce, but are likely to be content with damage limitation.
Arsenal (4-4-2): M Almunia - B Sagna, K Touré, W Gallas, G Clichy – A
Hleb, M Flamini, F Fàbregas, T Rosicky – E Adebayor, Eduardo da Silva.
Injuries and suspensions: R van Persie (knee), P Senderos (back).
Bolton Wanderers (4-1-4-1): J Jaaskelainen – J O’Brien, A O’Brien, A
Meïté, R Gardner – I Campo – S Giannakopoulos, D Guthrie, G McCann, El-Hadji
Diouf – K Davies. Injuries and suspensions: C Wilhelmsson (ankle), N Anelka
(thigh).
Bill Edgar says By tomorrow, Torquay United (four out of 17 games), of
the Blue Square Premier, will have been shown live twice as often in league
matches as Arsenal (two of nine)
Referee M Riley Odds: Sky Bet: Home 1-4, Away 12-1, Draw
9-2 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 71% Away win 12% Draw 18%
Aston Villa v Manchester United Today 5.15pm Setanta Sports 1
Martin O’Neill, the Villa manager, hopes that his young flyers can topple the
champions after victory over Chelsea. John Carew (knee) is out, but Patrik
Berger has shaken off a hamstring injury. United expect Wes Brown (knee),
John O’Shea (thigh) and Edwin van der Sar (toe) back. A seventh successive
win is in their sights.
Aston Villa (probable; 4-4-2): S Carson – O Mellberg, Z Knight, M
Laursen, W Bouma – C Gardner, N Reo-Coker, G Barry, A Young – L Moore, G
Agbonlahor. Injuries and suspensions: J Carew (knee).
Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): E van der Sar – W Brown, R
Ferdinand, N Vidic, P Evra – C Ronaldo, J O’Shea, P Scholes, R Giggs – C
Tévez, W Rooney. Injuries and suspensions: M Carrick (elbow), B Foster
(knee), O Hargreaves (knee), G Neville (calf), L Saha (knee), M Silvestre
(knee), Park Ji Sung (knee).
Bill Edgar says Excluding when Villa beat their reserves-packed team in
the League Cup in 1999, United are undefeated in 17 matches at Villa Park:
13 away to Villa and four FA Cup semi-finals
Referee R Styles Odds: Sky Bet: Home 4-1, Away 8-11, Draw 12-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 20% Away win 54% Draw 25%
Blackburn v Reading Today 3pm
Benni McCarthy could replace Roque Santa Cruz up front as Blackburn look to
pick up a fifth consecutive victory. Steve Coppell will take charge of
Reading for the 200th time and he could give Ibrahima Sonko a first start
since the defender suffered a knee injury in January.
Blackburn Rovers (possible; 4-2-3-1): B Friedel – B Emerton, C Samba, R
Nelsen, S Warnock – Tugay Kerimoglu, R Savage – D Bentley, D Dunn, M G
Pedersen – R Santa Cruz or B McCarthy. Injuries and suspensions: J Roberts
(knee), B Berner (foot).
Reading (possible; 4-4-2): M Hahnemann – G Murty, M Duberry, I
Ingimarsson, N Shorey – L Rosenior, J Harper, B Gunnarsson, S Hunt – K
Doyle, D Kitson. Injuries and suspensions: B Convey (thigh), P Maté
(hamstring), K Cissé (knee), J Oster (ankle), G Little (Achilles), A Brown
(ankle).
Bill Edgar says Both clubs have an ever-present American goalkeeper
(Brad Friedel, of Blackburn, Marcus Hahnemann, of Reading) and are managed
by a former Manchester United player
Referee A Marriner Odds: Sky Bet: Home 4-6, Away 5-1, Draw 12-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 50% Away win 26% Draw 24%
Everton v Liverpool Today 12.45pm Sky Sports 1
Rafael BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, must decide whether to start with
Fernando Torres, who is recovering from a thigh injury. Xabi Alonso, the
midfield player, could figure at some point after injury. Tim Cahill, the
midfield player, may play for Everton after 12 weeks out with a foot injury.
Everton (possible; 4-4-2): T Howard – P Neville, A Stubbs, J Lescott, L
Baines – M Arteta, L Carsley, T Cahill, L Osman – Yakubu Ayegbeni, J
McFadden. Injuries and suspensions: A Johnson (ankle).
Liverpool (possible; 4-4-2): J M Reina – S Finnan, J Carragher, S
Hyypia, Á Arbeloa – J Pennant, S Gerrard, J Mascherano, J A Riise – F
Torres, A Voronin. Injuries and suspensions: D Agger (foot).
Bill Edgar says Everton’s 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Goodison Park in
the FA Cup in 1991, was the only occasion either side have scored more than
three goals in the past 61 Merseyside derbies
Referee M Clattenburg Odds: Sky Bet: Home 13-5, Away 11-10, Draw
9-4 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 26% Away win 46% Draw 28%
Fulham v Derby Today 3pm
Despite a place in the bottom three, Fulham’s only truly poor performance came
in a home defeat by Portsmouth two weeks ago. A win could haul them towards
mid-table. Billy Davies, the Derby manager, will be tempted to give Giles
Barnes his first start of the season. Craig Fagan is available after a
four-match ban.
Fulham (possible; 4-4-2): A Niemi – C Baird, A Hughes, C Bocanegra, P
Konchesky – S Davies, S Davis, A Smertin, H Bouazza – D Healy, C Dempsey.
Injuries and suspensions: B McBride (knee), J Bullard (knee), C John
(fever), L Cook (knee), M Volz (groin), P Christanval (knee), I Pearce
(calf), S Elliott (calf).
Derby County (possible; 4-4-2): S Bywater – A Griffin, D Leacock, D
Moore, J McEveley – T Mears, B Feilhaber, M Oakley, S Pearson – G Barnes, S
Howard. Injuries and suspensions: None.
Bill Edgar says Fulham’s 6-1 win at home to West Bromwich Albion two
seasons ago was the only one of their past 21 league victories to have been
secured by more than a one-goal margin
Referee P Dowd Odds: Sky Bet: Home 8-11, Away 9-2, Draw 12-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 69% Away win 13% Draw 18%
Manchester City v Birmingham Today 3pm
The home side go for their seventh successive win at the City of Manchester
Stadium in all competitions but may be without Elano, who returned only
yesterday from international duty with Brazil. Michael Johnson has recovered
from a groin injury. Johan Djourou is an injury doubt for the visiting team.
Manchester City (possible; 4-4-2): J Hart – V Corluka, R Dunne, M
Richards, J Garrido – S Ireland, D Hamann, M Johnson, M Petrov – E Mpenza,
Geovanni. Injuries and suspensions: D Sturridge (hip), V Bojinov (knee).
Birmingham City (possible; 4-4-2): M Taylor – S Kelly, R Schmitz, L
Ridgewell, F Queudrue – S Larsson, F Muamba, M Nafti, G McSheffrey – C
Jerome, O Kapo. Injuries and suspensions: M Forssell (groin), D Johnson
(hamstring).
Bill Edgar says City have avoided injuries. Only Richard Dunne’s
one-game ban has prevented the defence of Corluka, Richards, Dunne and
Garrido being ever present
Referee M Dean Odds: Sky Bet: Home 4-7, Away 11-2, Draw 5-2 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 49% Away win 24% Draw 27%
Middlesbrough v Chelsea Today 3pm
Middlesbrough have beaten Chelsea twice at home in the past two seasons and a
third victory would be received gratefully by a side who have amassed one
point from a possible 12. “Maybe it will play on Chelsea’s minds,” Gareth
Southgate, the manager, said. Mido should return from injury.
Middlesbrough (possible; 4-4-2): M Schwarzer – L Young, J Woodgate, C
Riggott, A Taylor – G O’Neil, G Boateng, F Rochemback, S Downing – Tuncay
Sanli, Mido. Injuries and suspensions: B Jones (thigh), J Arca (knee), J
Aliadière (hamstring), E Pogatetz (knee), M Bates (knee), R Huth (ankle).
Chelsea (possible; 4-3-3): P Cech – P Ferreira, R Carvalho, Alex,
T Ben Haim – C Makelele, F Lampard, J O Mikel – J Cole, D Drogba, F Malouda.
Injuries and suspensions: A Cole (ankle), M Essien (calf), J Terry (knee), M
Ballack (ankle), W Bridge (second match of three).
Bill Edgar says Chelsea’s only defeat by more than two goals in their
past 299 games came away to Middlesbrough. They lost 3-0 at the Riverside
Stadium in the league in February 2006
Referee M Halsey Odds: Sky Bet: Home 5-1, Away 8-13, Draw 5-2 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 19% Away win 56% Draw 25%
Wigan v Portsmouth Today 3pm
Wigan Athletic’s hopes of avoiding a fourth successive league defeat will be
lifted if Jason Koumas recovers from the hip and knee injuries that
prevented the midfield player appearing for Wales this week.
Wigan Athletic (probable; 4-4-2): C Kirkland – M Melchiot, E Boyce, T
Bramble, K Kilbane – P Scharner, M Brown, J Skoko, J Koumas – A Sibierski, M
Bent. Injuries and suspensions: E Heskey (foot)
Portsmouth (probable; 4-4-2): D James – G Johnson, S Distin, S
Campbell, H Hreidarsson – Lauren, S Davis, P Mendes, N Kranjcar – J Utaka, B
Mwaruwari. Injuries and suspensions: Kanu (knee), L Primus (knee).
Bill Edgar says Half of these clubs’ eight league meetings have come in
the fourth tier and they are the only Premier League teams whose average
attendance this season is below 20,000
Referee P Walton Odds: Sky Bet: Home 15-8, Away 7-5, Draw 12-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 33% Away win 39% Draw 27%
West Ham v Sunderland Tomorrow 4pm Sky Sports 1
West Ham United have not scored in their past two league games and are without
Dean Ashton, the striker, who has a knee injury. Fredrik Ljungberg’s calf
strain could keep him out. Sunderland are also depleted; Paul McShane starts
a three-match ban.
West Ham United (possible; 4-4-2): R Green – L Neill, D Gabbidon, M
Upson, G McCartney – L Bowyer, H Mullins, M Noble, M Etherington – H Camara,
C Bellamy. Injuries and suspensions: D Ashton (knee), S Parker (knee), J
Faubert (Achilles), N Quashie (foot), C Davenport (hernia), K Dyer (leg), R
Zamora (knee).
Sunderland (possible; 4-4-2): C Gordon – G Halford, N Nosworthy, D
Higginbotham, D Collins – G Leadbitter, L Miller, D Yorke, R Wallace – K
Jones, M Chopra. Injuries and suspensions: P McShane (first match of three),
K Richardson (back), A Cole (calf), C Edwards (hamstring), R Anderson
(ankle), D Whitehead (knee), S Varga (knee).
Bill Edgar says Sunderland have won none of their past 19 top-flight
games in London. Newcastle United, their local rivals, went 29 games without
a win in the capital up to December 2001
Referee C Foy Odds: Sky Bet: Home 4-5, Away 7-2, Draw 5-2 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 46% Away win 28% Draw 26%
Newcastle v Tottenham Monday 8pm Setanta Sports 1
Tottenham are yet to win away this season and Newcastle are undefeated at St
James’ Park, statistics that prompt anxiety from Sam Allardyce. “Tottenham
might be turning the corner,” the Newcastle manager said. “They’re on the
march.”
Newcastle United (possible; 4-4-2): S Given – H Beye, C Caçapa, A Faye,
J Enrique – J Milner, Gérémi, N Butt, C N’Zogbia – M Owen, M Viduka or O
Martins. Injuries and suspensions: A Smith (one match), F Ameobi (groin), D
Duff (ankle), P Ramage (knee), S Carr (hamstring).
Tottenham Hotspur (possible; 4-4-2): R Cerny – P Chimbonda, M Dawson, Y
Kaboul, Lee Young Pyo – A Lennon, J Jenas, D Zokora, G Bale – R Keane, D
Berbatov. Injuries and suspensions: P Robinson (calf), R Rocha (ankle), W
Routledge (knee), L King (knee), K-P Boateng (ankle), B Assou-Ekotto (knee).
Bill Edgar says Alan Smith, 26, the Newcastle forward, has received
nine red and 76 yellow cards. Alan Smith, the former Arsenal striker, was
never sent off and was booked once
Referee S Bennett Odds: Sky Bet: Home 11-8, Away 15-8, Draw 12-5
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 31% Away win 44% Draw 25%
Top scorers
Emmanuel Adebayor Arsenal 6 Benjani Mwaruwari Portsmouth 6 Nicolas
Anelka Bolton 5 Robin van Persie Arsenal 5 Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal
4 Robbie Keane Tottenham 4 Fernando Torres Liverpool 4 Gabriel
Agbonlahor Aston Villa 3 Stewart Downing Middlesbrough 3 Cameron
Jerome Birmingham 3 Kanu Portsmouth 3 David Kitson Reading
3
*seven others have scored three goals
Bad boys
Fouls committed
Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham 26 Alan Smith Newcastle 24 George
Boateng Middlesbrough 23 Didier Drogba Chelsea 22 Steve Howard Derby
22 Dean Ashton West Ham 20 John Carew Aston Villa 20 Gareth
Barry Aston Villa 19 Mikel Arteta Everton 17 Nicky Butt Newcastle
17 Sean Davis Portsmouth 17 El-Hadji Diouf Bolton 17 Olivier
Kapo Birmingham 17
Highlights BBC One 10.15pm, Sky Sports 1 11pm
