Arsenal v Aston Villa
Today 3pm
Arsenal have not won in their past three matches - in the FA Cup, Champions
League and Barclays Premier League. They have to regroup after the loss of
Eduardo da Silva to an horrific leg injury last week. Villa arrive at the
Emirates Stadium in rude health, having lost only once in their past 11
league matches.
Arsenal (possible; 4-4-2): M Almunia – B Sagna, W Gallas, P Senderos, G
Clichy – T Walcott, F Fàbregas, M Flamini, A Hleb – N Bendtner, E Adebayor.
Injuries and suspensions: Eduardo da Silva (leg and ankle), A Song (hip), K
Touré (calf), T Rosicky (hamstring), R van Persie (thigh), J Djourou
(groin), E Eboué (final match of two).
Aston Villa (probable; 4-4-2): S Carson – O Mellberg, C Davies, M Laursen,
W Bouma – S Maloney, N Reo-Coker, G Barry, A Young – J Carew, G Agbonlahor.
Injuries and suspensions: None.
Bill Edgar says Villa won away to Arsenal three times in 1993 but have
not done so since. However, they scored the first competitive away goal at
the Emirates Stadium, in August 2006.
Referee M Clattenburg
Odds: Sky Bet Home 1-2, Away 6-1, Draw 11-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 65% Away win 15% Draw 20%
Birmingham v Tottenham
Today 3pm
Birmingham have to recover from the fallout of the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last
weekend, when Martin Taylor was sent off for his foul on Eduardo da Silva.
They have not won in nine matches. Tottenham have to recover from their
exertions in winning the Carling Cup final. They are unbeaten in six games.
Birmingham City (probable; 4-4-2): Maik Taylor – S Kelly, R Jaidi, L
Ridgewell, D Murphy – S Larsson, D Johnson, F Muamba, G McSheffrey – J
McFadden, M Forssell. Injuries and suspensions: O Kapo (hamstring), C Jerome
(hip), F Queudrue (hamstring), Martin Taylor (first match of three).
Tottenham Hotspur (possible; 4-4-2): P Robinson – A Hutton, R Rocha, Y
Kaboul, P Chimbonda – A Lennon, J Jenas, D Zokora, S Malbranque – D
Berbatov, R Keane. Injuries and suspensions: M Dawson (hamstring), J
Woodgate (ankle), Gilberto (calf), G Bale (ankle), B Assou-Ekotto (knee).
Bill Edgar says In their past two matches, also against London
opposition (West Ham United, Arsenal), Birmingham have come from behind to
draw through a penalty by James McFadden.
Referee L Probert
Odds: Sky Bet Home 11-4, Away evens, Draw 9-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 24% Away win 52% Draw 24%
Derby v Sunderland
Today 3pm
Sunderland have the worst away record in the division but, if they are to win
on the road, Pride Park is the likeliest place. Danny Higginbotham, back
after a toe operation, should deputise for the suspended Danny Collins. Mile
Sterjovski is set to make his first start for Derby after Giles Barnes
twisted a knee in training.
Derby County (probable; 4-4-2): R Carroll – M Edworthy, D Moore, A Stubbs,
J McEveley – C Fagan, H Ghaly, S Pearson, M Sterjovski – K Miller, E Villa.
Injuries and suspensions: G Barnes (knee), C Davis (knee), D Leacock (hip),
T Mears (shin).
Sunderland (possible; 4-4-2): C Gordon – P Bardsley, N Nosworthy, J
Evans, D Higginbotham – D Whitehead, D Etuhu, D Murphy, A Reid – M Chopra, K
Jones. Injuries and suspensions: C Edwards (leg), R Wallace (knee), K
Richardson (hamstring), D Collins (one match).
Bill Edgar says Derby are on course for the fewest points per match in
the top flight (since 1888, counting three for a win), two years after
Sunderland’s record low (15 from 38).
Referee M Riley Odds: Sky Bet Home 9-4, Away 5-4, Draw 9-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 32% Away win 41% Draw 26%
Fulham v Manchester United
Today 3pm
Second place visits second-from-bottom as Roy Hodgson tries to win only his
second match in ten attempts since taking charge of Fulham. For United, who
have yet to win in London this season, Louis Saha could figure against his
former club, but Ryan Giggs and Nemanja Vidic may be rested because of
injuries.
Fulham (possible, 4-5-1): A Niemi – P Stalteri, A Hughes, B Hangeland,
P Konchesky – S Davies, J Bullard, M Volz, D Murphy, C Dempsey – B McBride.
Injuries and suspensions: S Elliott (Achilles); L Andreasen (one match).
Manchester United (possible, 4-4-2): E van der Sar – W Brown, R Ferdinand,
J O’Shea, P Evra – C Ronaldo, M Carrick, P Scholes, Nani – W Rooney, C
Tévez. Injuries and suspensions: M Silvestre (knee), B Foster (knee), R
Giggs (knee), N Vidic (calf).
Bill Edgar says Cristiano Ronaldo scored 32 goals in his first 157
United appearances (36 of which were as a substitute) but has added 47 in
the subsequent 65 (five as a substitute).
Referee M Dean
Odds: Sky Bet Home 10-1, Away 1-3, Draw 7-2
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 12% Away win 69% Draw 18%
Manchester City v Wigan
Today 5.15pm, Setanta Sports 1
Manchester City have won only two of their past ten league matches, whereas
Wigan looked impressive in their 2-0 victory over Derby County last
Saturday. Vedran Corluka and Elano are likely to return to replace Micah
Richards and Martin Petrov for City, while Wigan will probably be unchanged.
Manchester City (possible; 4-1-4-1): J Hart – N Onuoha, V Corluka, R
Dunne, M Ball – D Hamann – D Vassell, G Fernandes, Elano, S Ireland –
Benjani Mwaruwari. Injuries and suspensions: M Richards (knee), M Petrov
(first match of three).
Wigan Athletic (probable; 4-4-2): C Kirkland – M Melchiot, E Boyce, P
Scharner, E Edman – L A Valencia, M Brown, W Palacios, K Kilbane – M King, E
Heskey. Injuries and suspensons: R Taylor (rib).
Bill Edgar says Emile Heskey and Julius Aghahowa have not scored in 16
matches each, while Marcus Bent, a third Wigan forward, has gone ten games
without a goal.
Referee S Bennett
Odds: Sky Bet Home 4-6, Away 4-1, Draw 5-2
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 43% Away win 27% Draw 30%
Middlesbrough v Reading
Today 3pm After the furore over the “frivolous” appeal that earned Jérémie
Aliadière an extended ban, Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager,
said: “If we take any opponent for granted then we’ll get stung.” Reading
have had eight consecutive defeats and have not won since December 22, and
not once at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough (probable; 4-4-2): M Schwarzer – L Young, D Wheater, S Hines, E
Pogatetz – G O’Neil, F Rochemback, J Arca, S Downing – Afonso Alves, Tuncay
Sanli. Injuries and suspensions: R Huth (foot), M Bates (knee), T McMahon
(hamstring), J Aliadière (second match of four).
Reading (probable; 4-4-2): M Hahnemann – G Murty, K Cissé, I Sonko, N Shorey –
J Kébé, J Harper, M Matejovsky, S Hunt – L Lita, D Kitson. Injuries and
suspensions: M Duberry (knee), G Little (Achilles), B Gunnarsson (groin).
Bill Edgar says Middlesbrough have played eight FA Cup replays in the
past three seasons, twice as many as any other present Premier League club
(Reading are next with four).
Referee H Webb Odds: Sky Bet Home 5-6, Away 7-2, Draw 9-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 48% Away win 28% Draw 24%
Newcastle v Blackburn
Today 3pm
Not since December 8 have Newcastle fans left St James’ Park celebrating a
league win. Obafemi Martins, the Nigeria forward, is fit for the first time
under Kevin Keegan but may start on the bench. For Blackburn, David Dunn is
doubtful after injuring a calf in training, but André Ooijer is fit after a
hamstring problem.
Newcastle United (possible; 4-4-2): S Harper – H Beye, S Taylor, A Faye, L
Enrique – J Milner, N Butt, C N’Zogbia, D Duff – M Owen, A Smith.
Injuries and suspensions: Emre Belözoglu (calf), S Carr (hamstring), S Given
(groin), T Krul (shoulder), P Ramage (knee), M Viduka (calf).
Blackburn Rovers (possible; 4-4-2): B Friedel – B Emerton, C Samba, Z
Khizanishvili, S Warnock – D Bentley, S Reid, A Mokoena, M G Pedersen – R
Santa Cruz, B McCarthy. Injuries and suspensions: D Dunn (calf), R Nelsen
(hamstring), M Olsson (ankle).
Bill Edgar says Newcastle are six times closer to the relegation zone
(six points) than they are to the top of the Premier League (36 points).
Referee R Styles
Odds: Sky Bet Home 6-4, Away 7-4, Draw 11-5
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 35% Away win 39% Draw 26%
West Ham v Chelsea
Today 3pm
Chelsea begin a week that could make or break their season with a difficult
trip to East London, although for all the rivalry West Ham United have not
troubled them recently. Paolo Di Canio scored their most recent winner
against Chelsea six years ago.
West Ham United (possible; 4-4-1-1): R Green – L Neill, A Ferdinand, M
Upson, G McCartney – N Solano, M Noble, H Mullins, F Ljungberg – L Boa Morte
– C Cole. Injuries and suspensions: L Bowyer (abdominen), M Ethrington
(abdominen).
Chelsea (possible; 4-1-3-2): P Cech – P Ferreira, R Carvalho, J Terry,
A Cole – J O Mikel – M Essien, F Lampard, M Ballack – D Drogba, N Anelka.
Injuries and suspensions: None
Bill Edgar says These teams’ Premier League matches this season have
produced by far the fewest goals – West Ham’s 54, Chelsea’s 55. Liverpool’s
are the next lowest with 62.
Referee P Walton
Odds: Sky Bet Home 4-1, Away 4-5, Draw 11-5
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 17% Away win 58% Draw 25%
Bolton v Liverpool
Tomorrow 1.30pm, Setanta Sports 1
Jamie Carragher will return from suspension to make his 350th league
appearance for Liverpool. Daniel Agger is still out, despite playing for the
reserves in midweek. Danny Guthrie, on loan at Bolton from Liverpool, is
ineligible.
Bolton Wanderers (probable; 4-1-4-1): J Jaaskelainen – G Steinsson, A
O’Brien, G Cahill, R Gardner – J O’Brien – E-H Diouf, K Nolan, Andranik
Teymourian, M Taylor – K Davies. Injuries and suspensions: G McCann (back).
Liverpool (possible; 4-4-2): J M Reina – S Finnan, J Carragher, S
Hyypia, F Aurélio – Lucas Leiva, S Gerrard, J Mascherano, R Babel – F
Torres, P Crouch. Injuries and suspensions: A Voronin (ankle).
Bill Edgar says Jermaine Pennant and Steve Finnan are right-sided
Liverpool players who were once Notts County teammates and later had spells
at Birmingham City.
Referee P Dowd
Odds: Sky Bet Home 7-2, Away 5-6, Draw 9-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 20% Away win 54% Draw 26%
Everton v Portsmouth
Tomorrow 4pm, Sky Sports 1
Mikel Arteta, the Spanish midfield player, is a doubt for Everton with a groin
injury, while a number of players have a sickness bug. Everton, in their
pursuit of a Champions League place, have kept six clean sheets from their
past seven league matches.
Everton (probable; 4-4-1-1): T Howard – A Hibbert, J Yobo, P Jagielka,
J Lescott – L Osman, P Neville, L Carsley, S Pienaar – T Cahill – Yakubu
Ayegbeni. Injuries and suspensions: M Arteta (groin), A Gardner (knee), T
Gravesen (knee), I Turner (hip and thigh).
Portsmouth (probable; 4-1-4-1): D James – G Johnson, S Campbell, S Distin,
H Hreidarsson – P Bouba Diop – J Utaka, L Diarra, S Muntari, N Krancjar – J
Defoe. Injuries and suspensions: M Cranie (leg), P Mendes (ankle), D Nugent
(hernia), N Pamarot (knee), L Primus (knee).
Bill Edgar says Everton are on course to gain 70 points, their most per
match since they were champions in 1987. They have averaged 49 points over
the past ten seasons.
Referee A Marriner
Odds: Sky Bet Home 10-11, Away 3-1, Draw 9-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 49% Away win 25% Draw 26%
