Arsenal v Wigan Today 3pm
This is a symmetrical sort of fixture. Arsenal have won nine of their Premier
League fixtures and conceded ten goals, while Wigan have lost nine and
scored ten. Wigan’s hopes of avoiding defeat probably rest on the suspension
of Cesc Fàbregas. Emile Heskey, Wigan’s talisman, is close to recovery, but
will miss out.
Arsenal (possible; 4-4-2): M Almunia – B Sagna, K Touré, W Gallas, G
Clichy – E Eboué, Gilberto Silva, Denilson, T Rosicky – E Adebayor, Eduardo
da Silva. Injuries and suspensions: A Diaby (back), M Flamini (thigh), A
Hleb (hamstring), R van Persie (knee), F Fàbregas (one match).
Wigan Athletic (possible; 4-4-2): C Kirkland – M Melchiot, A Granqvist,
T Bramble, K Kilbane – L A Valencia, P Scharner, D Landzaat, J Koumas - A
Sibierski, M Bent. Injuries and suspensions: E Heskey (foot).
Bill Edgar says Arsenal’s past seven goals in all competitions have
been scored by seven players: Hleb, Adebayor, Flamini, Gallas, Fàbregas,
Denilson, Eduardo.
Referee P Walton Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 1-7, Away 11-1, Draw 5-1 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 81% Away win 6% Draw 13%
Birmingham v Portsmouth Today 3pm
Eric Black takes charge of Birmingham City for the first time at the start of
the post-Steve Bruce era. The former manager left a legacy of five defeats
in six league matches, the only win coming against Wigan Athletic, his new
club. Portsmouth have not lost in eight league matches and a Uefa Cup place
is a realistic target.
Birmingham City (possible; 4-4-1-1): Maik Taylor – S Kelly, J Djourou,
L Ridgewell, R Schmitz – D de Ridder, S Larsson, M Nafti, F Muamba – O Kapo
– M Forssell. Injuries and suspensions: S Parnaby (knee), B Oubiña (knee), D
Johnson (hamstring), C Jerome (hernia), W Palacios (compassionate leave).
Portsmouth (probable; 4-5-1): D James – G Johnson, S Campbell, S
Distin, N Pamarot – J Utaka, P Bouba Diop, S Davis, S Muntari, N Kranjcar –
B Mwaruwari. Injuries and suspensions: Kanu (hamstring), M Cranie (leg), L
Primus (knee).
Bill Edgar says Steve Bruce’s reign as the Birmingham manager started
and ended with 2-1 defeats by Midlands rivals (Wolverhampton Wanderers and
Aston Villa).
Referee M Atkinson Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 7-4, Away 5-4, Draw
11-5 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 36% Away win 38% Draw 26%
Bolton v Manchester United Today 3pm
The weekend after an international break is often a good time to play
Manchester United, but not many of their players represented their countries
in midweek. Nemanja Vidic should play despite a back problem. For Bolton,
Nicolas Anelka (hamstring) and El-Hadji Diouf (suspension) should return.
Bolton Wanderers (possible; 4-3-3): J Jaaskelainen – G Cid, A Meïté, A
O’Brien, R Gardner – K Nolan, I Campo, G McCann – K Davies, N Anelka, E-H
Diouf. Injuries and suspensions: B Dzemaili (knee), N Hunt (shoulder).
Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): E van der Sar – W Brown, R
Ferdinand, N Vidic, P Evra – C Ronaldo, O Hargreaves, M Carrick, R Giggs – C
Tévez, L Saha. Injuries and suspensions: B Foster (knee), G Neville (calf),
P Scholes (knee), M Silvestre (knee), Park Ji Sung (knee), W Rooney (ankle).
Bill Edgar says Wednesday’s defeat by Croatia was the first England
team, including substitutes, not to feature a United player in 115 games
since they played Morocco in a friendly in May 1998.
Referee M Clattenburg Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 6-1, Away 2-5, Draw
11-5 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 17% Away win 60% Draw 23%
Derby v Chelsea Today 5.15pm, Setanta Sports 1
Chelsea will test the fitness of Petr Cech (calf) and Didier Drogba (knee),
while John Terry and Ashley Cole, unfit for England in midweek, may return
after injury. Claude Davis and Dean Leacock, who missed the 5-0 defeat by
West Ham United, return to bolster Derby’s defence and Kenny Miller is fully
fit again.
Derby County (possible; 4-3-3): S Bywater – A Griffin, D Moore, C
Davis, J McEveley – M Oakley, D Leacock, S Pearson – C Fagan, K Miller, G
Barnes. Injuries and suspensions: A Todd (back).
Chelsea (possible; 4-3-3): P Cech – J Belletti, Alex, J Terry, A Cole –
M Essien, J Obi Mikel, F Lampard – S Wright-Phillips, S Kalou, J Cole.
Injuries and suspensions: R Carvalho (back), D Drogba (knee), P Ferreira
(knee), M Ballack (ankle).
Bill Edgar says Watford did not concede five goals in a league match
when finishing bottom last season. Derby have let in at least five in three
of their opening 13 league games.
Referee A Marriner Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 7-1, Away 2-7, Draw 7-2 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 7% Away win 78% Draw 15%
Everton v Sunderland Today 3pm
Everton are looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games, but have the
weakest defence in the top half of the table. Andrew Johnson, the forward,
is in contention, but may have to settle for a place on the substitutes’
bench. Sunderland have yet to win away in the league this season.
Everton (possible; 4-4-1-1): T Howard – T Hibbert, J Yobo, J Lescott,
Nuno Valente – M Arteta, L Osman, L Carsley, S Pienaar – T Cahill – Yakubu
Ayegbeni. Injuries and suspensions: I Turner (hip).
Sunderland (possible; 4-4-2): C Gordon – G Halford, P McShane, D
Higginbotham, I Harte – C Edwards, D Whitehead, D Etuhu, R Wallace – M
Chopra, K Jones. Injuries and suspensions: F Richardson (back), R Anderson
(ankle), N Nosworthy (hamstring).
Bill Edgar says Everton’s record this season with Tim Cahill in the
team is five wins, one draw and no defeats. Without Cahill, it is six wins,
two draws and five defeats.
Referee P Dowd Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 8-15, Away 9-2, Draw 5-2 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 54% Away win 21% Draw 25%
Manchester City v Reading Today 3pm
Manchester City defend the top flight’s only 100 per cent home record, against
Reading, who have gained only one point away from home this season. “It’s
unlikely they will go the full season being unbeaten at home, so why
shouldn’t we be the ones to break their record?” Steve Coppell, the Reading
manager, said.
Manchester City (probable; 4-4-1-1): J Hart – V Corluka, M Richards, R
Dunne, J Garrido – S Ireland, D Hamann, G Fernandes, M Petrov – Elano – D
Vassell. Injuries and suspensions: M Johnson (abdomen), V Bojinov (knee), D
Sturridge (hip and thigh).
Reading (probable; 4-4-2): M Hahnemann – G Murty, I Sonko, I
Ingimarsson, N Shorey – L Rosenior, B Gunnarsson, J Harper, B Convey – K
Doyle, D Kitson. Injuries and suspensions: M Duberry (ribs), G Little
(Achilles).
Bill Edgar says City, in seven home league matches, have had wins of
either 1-0 (five) or 3-1 (two). Last season, Arsenal’s first eight home
league games ended 1-1 or 3-0 (four each).
Referee S Tanner Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 8-15, Away 9-2, Draw 5-2 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 41% Away win 32% Draw 26%
Middlesbrough v Aston Villa Today 3pm
Gareth Southgate beware. During a previous home defeat by Aston Villa, Steve
McClaren, the manager at the time, had a season ticket thrown at him by a
disgruntled fan. The deposed England head coach is unlikely to be in
attendance to witness the first steps towards redemption by Scott Carson,
the goalkeeper.
Middlesbrough (possible; 4-4-2): M Schwarzer – L Young, J Woodgate, D
Wheater, E Pogatetz – G O’Neil, G Boateng, F Rochemback, S Downing – J
Aliadière, Tuncay Sanli. Injuries and suspensions: A Taylor (foot), B Jones
(knee), M Bates (knee), J Arca (knee), Mido (groin).
Aston Villa (possible; 4-4-2): S Carson – M Laursen, O Mellberg, Z
Knight, W Bouma – N Reo-Coker, G Barry, S Petrov, A Young – J Carew, G
Agbonlahor. Injuries and suspensions: None.
Bill Edgar says Middlesbrough have fielded nine of their former
trainees in the Premier League this season and Aston Villa have picked six
of theirs.
Referee K Stroud Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 8-5, Away 11-8, Draw 11-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 42% Away win 32% Draw 27%
Newcastle v Liverpool Today 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1
Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle United manager, will be bemoaning the
international break after injuries to Michael Owen (thigh) and Steven Taylor
(back). Rafael BenÍtez might feel the opposite, with Fernando Torres set to
return after an adductor injury.
Newcastle United (possible: 4-4-2) S Given – H Beye, D Rozehnal, N
Butt, C N’Zogbia – Gérémi, A Smith, J Barton, J Milner – O Martins, M
Viduka. Injuries and suspensions: C Babayaro (back), Caçapa (knee), S Carr
(hamstring), D Duff (ankle), A Faye (thigh), M Owen (thigh), P Ramage
(knee), S Taylor (back).
Liverpool (possible; 4-4-2) J M Reina – S Finnan, J Carragher, S
Hyypia, F Aurélio – R Babel, S Gerrard, J Mascherano, J A Riise – F Torres,
A Voronin. Injuries and suspensions: D Agger (foot), X Alonso (foot), Y
Benayoun (shin), J Pennant (shin).
Bill Edgar says Allardyce has made a “poor” start at Newcastle; Martin
O’Neill, of Aston Villa, is the “obvious” choice for England. Points per
game at their clubs: Allardyce 1.50, O’Neill 1.42.
Referee A Wiley Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 11-5, Away evens, Draw
11-5 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 20% Away win 55% Draw 25%
Fulham v Blackburn Tomorrow 4pm, Sky Sports 1
Two former international managers are pitted against each other at Craven
Cottage. Mark Hughes, whose side have lost only once away in the league this
season, signed a new contract at Ewood Park yesterday. Lawrie Sanchez has no
new injury problems.
Fulham (possible; 4-4-2): A Niemi – C Baird, A Hughes, C Bocanegra, P
Konchesky – S Davies, D Murphy, S Davis, C Dempsey – D Healy, S Kuqi.
Injuries and suspensions: N Ashton (thigh), J Bullard (knee), P Christanval
(knee), L Cook (knee), S Elliott (calf), K Keller (bicep), B McBride (knee),
I Pearce (ankle).
Blackburn Rovers (possible; 4-4-2): B Friedel – B Emerton, C Samba, R
Nelsen, S Warnock – D Bentley, A Mokoena, R Savage, M G Pedersen – B
McCarthy, R Santa Cruz. Injuries and suspensions: S Reid (knee), A Todd
(knee), D Dunn (one match).
Bill Edgar says These teams gained automatic promotion to the top
flight together in 2001 and have finished between sixth and sixteenth since.
Referee M Dean Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 7-4, Away 5-4, Draw 11-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 40% Away win 35% Draw 24%
West Ham v Tottenham Tomorrow 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1
Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper, gets the chance to show Steve McClaren
why he should have been in the England squad. West Ham’s injury problems are
easing and Dean Ashton, Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Hayden Mullins are
ready to start.
West Ham United (possible; 4-4-2): R Green – L Neill, D Gabbidon, M
Upson, G McCartney – N Solano, M Noble, S Parker, M Etherington – L Boa
Morte, C Cole. Injuries and suspensions: C Bellamy (groin), K Dyer (broken
leg), J Faubert (Achilles), L Bowyer (one match).
Tottenham Hotspur (possible; 4-4-2): P Robinson – P Stalteri, P
Chimbonda, M Dawson, Lee Young Pyo – A Lennon, D Zokora, J Jenas, K-P
Boateng – D Berbatov, R Keane. Injuries and suspensions: B Assou-Ekotto
(knee), A Gardner (ankle), L King (knee), S Malbranque (ankle), R Rocha
(ankle).
Bill Edgar says This will be the first top-flight match to pit Lennon
against McCartney, if selected. Aaron Lennon (right wing) and George
McCartney (left back) could be in direct opposition.
Referee M Riley Odds: Ladbrokes: Home 11-8, Away 8-5, Draw 11-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 32% Away win 43% Draw 25%
Top scorers
Benjani Mwaruwari Portsmouth 8 Emmanuel Adebayor Arsenal 7 Nicolas
Anelka Bolton 6 Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal 6 Robbie Keane Tottenham
6 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester Utd 6 Gabriel Agbonlahor Aston
Villa 5 Didier Drogba Chelsea 5 Olivier Kapo Birmingham 5 Benni
McCarthy Blackburn 5 Fernando Torres Liverpool 5 Robin van
Persie Arsenal 5
Playmakers
Leading assists
Carlton Cole West Ham 6 Mikel Arteta Everton 5 Elano Manchester
City 5 Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal 5 Frank Lampard Chelsea 5
El-Hadji Diouf Bolton 4 Grant Leadbitter Sunderland 4 Wayne
Rooney Manchester United 4 Nicky Shorey Reading 4 Shaun
Wright-Phillips Chelsea 4 Ashley Young Aston Villa 4
Highlights: BBC One 10.30pm, Sky Sports 1 10.15pm
