Aston Villa v Sunderland
Today 3pm
Villa are seeking a first win in four to resurrect their hopes of qualifying
for Europe. Martin O’Neill will recall Craig Gardner to replace the
suspended Olof Mellberg. Sunderland, without an away win this season, have
Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy, Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra pushing
for recalls.
Aston Villa (probable; 4-4-2): S Carson - C Gardner, Z Knight, M
Laursen, W Bouma – M Harewood, N Reo-Coker, G Barry, A Young – G Agbonlahor,
J Carew. Injuries and suspensions: C Davies (Achilles), O Mellberg
(one match).
Sunderland (possible; 4-4-2): C Gordon – P Bardsley, J Evans, N
Nosworthy, D Collins – C Edwards, D Whitehead, A Reid, K Richardson – D
Murphy, K Jones. Injuries and suspensions: D Etuhu (knee), R Wallace
(knee).
Bill Edgar says These clubs won a combined 11 league titles before the
First World War, but have added only two since then (one each).
Referee H Webb Odds: Skybet Home 8-15, Away 5-1, Draw 12-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 64% Away win 15% Draw 21%
Blackburn v Wigan
Today 3pm
Blackburn need to improve on their performance in the draw at home to Fulham
if they are to maintain hopes of European qualification. Wigan will be
without Jason Koumas after his sending-off against Bolton Wanderers but
Steve Bruce’s side know that a victory will go some ways to securing their
safety.
Blackburn Rovers (possible; 4-4-2): B Friedel – A Ooijer, C Samba, Z
Khizanishvili, S Warnock – D Bentley, S Reid, D Dunn, M G Pedersen – J
Roberts, R Santa Cruz. Injuries and suspensions: B Emerton (groin), R
Nelsen (hamstring).
Wigan Athletic (possible; 4-4-2): C Kirkland – M Melchiot, E Boyce, P
Scharner, E Edman – L A Valencia, W Palacios, M Brown, K Kilbane – E Heskey,
M King. Injuries and suspensions: A Sibierski (calf), J Koumas (first
match of three).
Bill Edgar says Each team have a player with the name of a significant
Spanish city. Blackburn have (Roque) Santa Cruz, capital of Tenerife; Wigan
have (Luis Antonio) Valencia.
Referee M Dean Odds: Skybet Home 8-11, Away 10-3, Draw 9-4 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 53% Away win 21% Draw 26%
Bolton v Manchester City
Today 3pm
Bolton are on a five-match league losing run, but their effort against
Manchester United on Wednesday was buoyant. Gary Megson needs to improve his
record of five wins in 20 Premier League games if the club are to stay up.
City can still flirt with a place in Europe, but have lost their
early-season sparkle.
Bolton Wanderers (possible; 4-1-4-1): A Al Habsi – G Steinsson, A
O’Brien, N Hunt, R Gardner – J O’Brien – K Davies, G McCann, D Guthrie, M
Taylor – E-H Diouf. Injuries and suspensions: J Jaaskelainen
(back).
Manchester City (possible; 4-1-4-1): J Hart – V Corluka, R Dunne, N
Onuoha, J Garrido – G Fernandes – N Castillo, M Johnson, S Ireland, Elano –
Benjani Mwaruwari. Injuries and suspensions: M Richards (knee), M
Ball (knee), D Hamann (one match).
Bill Edgar says Gary Megson, the Manchester-born Bolton manager, twice
finished fifth in the league table when playing for Manchester City, in 1991
and 1992.
Referee A Marriner Odds: Skybet Home 6-4, Away 6-4, Draw 11-5 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 45% Away win 27% Draw 27%
Everton v West Ham
Today 5.15pm, Setanta Sports 1
Everton lost in the league for the first time in 2008 last week, but have
already beaten West Ham in the Carling Cup and league this season. Andrew
Johnson is likely to be out with a groin problem and Tim Cahill has foot and
hip injuries. For the visiting team, Bobby Zamora, Carlton Cole and Matthew
Upson are doubtful.
Everton (possible; 4-4-2): T Howard – P Neville, P Jagielka, J Yobo, J
Lescott – L Carsley, L Osman, M Arteta, S Pienaar – V Anichebe, Yakubu
Ayegbeni. Injuries and suspensions: T Gravesen (knee), J Vaughan
(knee), A Johnson (groin), I Turner (hip), A van der Meyde (calf).
West Ham United (possible; 4-4-1-1): R Green – L Neill, A Ferdinand, M
Upson, G McCartney – N Solano, S Parker, H Mullins, F Ljungberg – L Boa
Morte – D Ashton. Injuries and suspensions: J Faubert (calf), D
Gabbidon (groin), M Etherington (groin), L Bowyer (groin), C Bellamy
(groin), C Davenport (neck), N Quashie (ankle), J Collins (knee), K Dyer
(leg).
Bill Edgar says Freddie Sears, 18, has scored as many goals (one) in
his 15 minutes in a West Ham shirt as Carlton Cole, his fellow striker, has
managed in his past 17 and a half hours.
Referee M Halsey Odds: Skybet Home 8-11, Away 10-3, Draw 9-4 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 56% Away win 20% Draw 25%
Middlesbrough v Derby
Today 3pm
Goals are likely to be at a premium as two of the Premier League’s three
lowest-scoring clubs this season meet. Derby have earned half their tally of
ten points against North-East sides, a statistic Middlesbrough will be keen
for them not to add to because victory will all but go some ways to securing
their safety for another year.
Middlesbrough (possible; 4-4-2): M Schwarzer – L Young, R Huth, D
Wheater, E Pogatetz – G O’Neil, G Boateng, M Shawky, S Downing – J
Aliadière, Tuncay Sanli. Injuries and suspensions: M Bates
(knee), B Jones (finger), S Hines (thigh), Mido (first match of three), F
Rochemback (first match of two).
Derby County (possible; 4-4-2): R Carroll – M Edworthy, D Leacock, D
Moore, J McEveley – M Sterjovski, R Savage, D Jones, E Lewis – K Miller, E
Villa. Injuries and suspensions: A Stubbs (calf), S Pearson (hernia), G
Barnes (knee), C Davis (knee), T Mears (calf).
Bill Edgar says Derby are on course for the top flight’s worst
goals-per-game record since league football began in 1888. Seven from the
last eight will equal Sunderland’s 2003 low.
Referee M Atkinson Odds: Skybet Home 4-9, Away 11-2, Draw 11-4 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 68% Away win 12% Draw 20%
Newcastle v Fulham
Today 3pm
Five of Fulham’s remaining eight league games are away from home, where they
have not secured a victory for 18 months. Those three points came at St
James’ Park, where Jimmy Bullard suffered a devastating knee injury.
Newcastle, fellow relegation candidates, cannot afford another such result.
Newcastle United (possible; 4-3-3): S Harper – H Beye, S Taylor, A
Faye, J Enrique – J Barton, N Butt, Gérémi – M Owen, M Viduka, O Martins. Injuries
and suspensions: J Milner (foot), Emre Belözoglu (calf), S Carr
(hamstring), S Given (groin).
Fulham (possible; 4-4-2): K Keller – P Stalteri, A Hughes, B Hangeland,
P Konchesky – L Andreasen, J Bullard, D Murphy, S Davies – E Johnson, B
McBride.
Bill Edgar says Kevin Keegan has no wins in nine at Newcastle, but it
is far from the worst managerial start in the North East this decade. Mick
McCarthy lost his first ten at Sunderland in 2003. Referee A Wiley Odds:
Skybet Home 4-5, Away 3-1, Draw 9-4 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 45% Away
win 30% Draw 25%
Reading v Birmingham
Today 3pm
Could be viewed as the mother of all relegation six-pointers. Reading have won
two of their past three matches and were a tad unlucky to lose away to
Liverpool last weekend. Birmingham have recorded only one league victory
since Boxing Day, against a Tottenham Hotspur side suffering a post-Carling
Cup hangover.
Reading (probable; 4-4-2): M Hahnemann – L Rosenior, A Bikey, I
Ingimarsson, N Shorey – J Oster, J Harper, M Matejovsky, S Hunt – K
Doyle, D Kitson. Injuries and suspensions: G Little (Achilles
tendon), G Murty (knee), B Gunnarsson (groin).
Birmingham City (probable; 4-4-2): Maik Taylor – S Kelly, R Jaidi, L
Ridgewell, D Murphy – S Larsson, F Muamba, D Johnson, G McSheffrey – M
Forssell, J McFadden. Injuries and suspensions: O Kapo (hamstring).
Bill Edgar says For the third successive season, Kevin Doyle, the
Reading striker, has scored more goals away than at home in all
competitions.
Referee M Riley Odds: Skybet Home 11-10, Away 2-1, Draw 9-4 Fink Tank
prediction: Home win 58% Away win 20% Draw 22%
Tottenham v Portsmouth
Today 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1
Juande Ramos, the Tottenham head coach, expects an open match. In 23 matches
at White Hart Lane, 99 goals have been scored. “It creates a nice spectacle,
but we need more control to concede fewer goals,” Ramos said.
Tottenham Hotspur (possible; 4-4-2): P Robinson – A Hutton, J Woodgate,
M Dawson, Gilberto – A Lennon, T Huddlestone, J Jenas, S Malbranque – D
Berbatov, R Keane. Injuries and suspensions: B Assou-Ekotto (knee), G
Bale (ankle).
Portsmouth (possible; 4-5-1): D James – G Johnson, S Distin, H
Hreidarsson, Lauren – J Utaka, P Mendes, R Hughes, L Diarra, N Kranjcar – M
Baros. Injuries and suspensions: P Bouba Diop (first match of two), S
Muntari (first match of two), N Pamarot (knee), L Primus (knee), S Campbell
(knee), J Defoe (ineligible).
Bill Edgar says The three 4-4 draws in the Premier League this season
have come in a triangle: Tottenham v Aston Villa; Chelsea v Aston Villa;
Tottenham v Chelsea.
Referee P Dowd Odds: Skybet Home 10-11, Away 5-2, Draw 9-4 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 55% Away win 23% Draw 22%
Chelsea v Arsenal
Tomorrow 4pm, Sky Sports 1
Chelsea must forget the capitulation and controversy away to Tottenham Hotspur
on Wednesday night. Nicolas Anelka, the striker, could return from a
hamstring injury. Arsenal, after four successive league draws, have to get
back on track – and quickly.
Chelsea (possible; 4-1-4-1): C Cudicini – P Ferreira, R Carvalho, J
Terry, A Cole – C Makelele – J Cole, M Essien, F Lampard, S Kalou – D
Drogba. Injuries and suspensions: P Cech (ankle).
Arsenal (probable; 4-4-2): M Almunia – B Sagna, W Gallas, K Touré, G
Clichy – E Eboué, F Fàbregas, M Flamini, A Hleb – R van Persie, E Adebayor. Injuries
and suspensions: A Diaby (calf), Eduardo da Silva (leg and ankle), T
Rosicky (hamstring), J Djourou (groin).
Bill Edgar says As Chelsea host Arsenal, the last side to beat them
away in the league (78 games ago), Fulham visit Newcastle United, venue for
their last away league win (32 games ago).
Referee M Clattenburg Odds: Skybet Home 6-5, Away 12-5, Draw 9-4 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 51% Away win 23% Draw 26%
Manchester United v Liverpool
Tomorrow 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1
Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful that Edwin van der Sar will return in goal for
United, but Rio Ferdinand is struggling with a back problem. Rafael BenÍtez
may name an unchanged team – a sign that things are going well for Liverpool
after seven straight wins.
Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): E van der Sar – J O’Shea, W Brown,
N Vidic, P Evra – C Ronaldo, O Hargreaves, Anderson, R Giggs – W Rooney, C
Tévez. Injuries and suspensions: None.
Liverpool (possible; 4-2-3-1): J M Reina – Á Arbeloa, J Carragher, M
Skrtel, F Aurélio – J Mascherano, X Alonso – D Kuyt, S Gerrard, R Babel – F
Torres. Injuries and suspensions: D Agger (foot).
Bill Edgar says Only six top-flight games have been staged previously
on Easter Day. United have never played on this day; Liverpool have won away
to Tottenham and Blackburn.
Referee S Bennett Odds: Skybet Home 10-11, Away 10-3, Draw 9-4 Fink
Tank prediction: Home win 50% Away win 24% Draw 26%
Top scorers
Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 24 Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 20
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 19 Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 14
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 13 Benjani Mwaruwari (Man City 12 for
Portsmouth) 13 Yakubu Ayegbeni (Everton) 12 Roque Santa Cruz
(Blackburn) 12 Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea, 10 for Bolton) 11
Carlos Tévez (Man Utd) 11
Goal makers
Assists: Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 15 Cesc Fábregas (Arsenal) 13
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 10 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 10
Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland) 9 Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) 9 Wayne
Rooney (Man United) 9 Carlton Cole (West Ham) 8 Martin Petrov
(Man City) 8 Nicky Shorey (Reading) 8 *six players have seven
