Filed under: Predictions | Tags: Arsenal, Bolton, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Predictions, Premier League, West Ham
Arsenal, United and City are all in action today, taking on West Ham, Liverpool and Fulham respectively. If all things go according to form, the top four of the Premier League come 7PM will involve all three clubs and Chelsea. The way things are looking, that top four won’t change for the rest of the season.
Arsenal are more than capable of losing at West Ham today. Their only London derby of the campaign so far was a tight 1-0 win at Fulham, which could have gone against them at various moments in the second half. If the North London club really want to be seen as challengers to United’s crown, only three points will do; however they get them. Arshavin, Fabregas and van Persie must avoid being physically dominated by a neat West Ham spine and the budding partnership of Gallas and Vermaelen will be relied upon to supply only their third league shut-out of the season.
United and Liverpool go head to head in an hour or so, I’ve got analysis fatigue when it comes to this game, you can read my thoughts on it here, here and here.
Manchester City will expect a win today but shouldn’t underestimate Fulham who took Roma to the wire on Thursday night. Hangeland will take heart from Bramble’s performance against Adebayor last week for Wigan, while Hodgson will have to think long and hard about his best options up-front. An away goal is needed, does he have the man to get it? Jonathan Greening should look forward to lining-up again after a fantastic performance in Europe.
Bolton and Everton both take indifferent form with them to The Reebok Stadium this afternoon. Moyes will have to put his side’s thrashing at Benfica behind him as he attempts to break down a stubborn Bolton side. Megson on the other hand, will rely on Davies to bully a bonding Everton defence into making the mistakes that may decide the game. Everton’s classy attacking players will need to make efficiency their main objective today.
My predictions for the fixtures are…
PREMIER LEAGUE
Bolton-0 Everton-2
Liverpool-1 Manchester United-3
Manchester City-2 Fulham-1
West Ham-0 Arsenal-2
Filed under: Results | Tags: Championship, Cheslea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Results, Sir Alex Ferguson
The day of reckoning has finally arrived, a selection of Liverpool fans squealed down their phones at talk radio hosts this morning, declaring everything from “It’s the owners fault and Rafa’s god!” to…well that’s about all they said. No league title in nineteen years, £200Million spent in five and it’s the owners fault, it couldn’t possibly be the manager of whom, it has been established, has easily had the talent on his roster during his tenure to prevent over-reliance on the two (three if you include Mascherano, although he’s the only one of the three that can’t carry the side on his own) players he currently relies on.
I think enough has been said about the potential outcome of today’s game. A United side without Fletcher in the big game can be opened up, but a Liverpool side without etc. can be found etc. just as easily.
HULL AND POMPEY HURT MY EYES
Spurs dropped a home point against Stoke when they fell asleep in the last five minutes. Were they so pissed off at not finding the winner that they collectively decided to concede the goal to teach themselves a lesson? Tony Pulis won’t mind though, as I said yesterday, he’s already planning for a third season in the Premier League.
Chelsea put five past Blackburn, adding to the six they leaked in London against Arsenal last week. While the result may never have been in doubt (especially with Franco Di Santo barred from playing against his parent club) the manner in which Chelsea banished their Aston Villa demons was forceful and a little bit spiteful, (in a good way) sending on another striker at 5-0.
Hull and Pompey played out a 0-0 draw. Nothing more to say about the game. I hear a few Hull fans talking about Phil Brown being allowed to take this season to its natural conclusion as he made it when he kept it in The Championship in his first season etc. I don’t think that flies though as he’s clearly not getting the best out of his side and hasn’t for almost twelve months. The pool of talent willing to take on the challenge may be smaller than it would have been in the summer but I can’t see Hull in the Premier Leaugue next season at this rate, I can’t see them stringing two wins together as things stand. Pompey at home, right now, is as close to a banker as this league will throw up for Hull.
As predicted, Villa bottled their chance to climb above Arsenal into the top four with a 1-1 draw against Wolves, which, while including a fantastic Gabby goal, could have seen Wolves claim two more penalties than they eventually won. Michael Kightly continues to impress me.
Wigan claimed an important away victory at Burnley, who took the lead through Steven Fletcher who I think will find the net more regularly as the season goes on. Brian Jensen’s slip and eventual injury offered Hugo Rodallega the equaliser on a plate but his second goal was pure class. A win that was always likely for Wigan, but one that Martinez may be looking back on come May with some satisfaction.
Steve Bruce took his brand spanking new Sunderland side down to Birmingham to face his former club yesterday and felt the full-wrath of a side possessed. Great sprayed passing from Seb Larsson carved open Sunderland’s improving central defence on several occasions. A class showing from McFadden reminded many what a player he can be on his day and but for a narrow miss in the dying moments of the game, Darren Bent could well have secured an equaliser for The Black Cats.
STILL NO WIN FOR KEANE
The way Ipswich ended last season, under new coach Roy Keane, promised a real threat this term. Something’s gone wrong though, Keane lost a few Magilton players, brought in a few Sunderland lads and the balance is gone. The way Plymouth are playing at the moment a victory was there for the taking, but yet again Ipswich seemed satisfied with the point. The Suffolk side are a win away from escaping the drop-zone which will keep him in a job for at least another week, but the amount of investment fed into this side (not least on Keane’s wages) will see demands increase as the weeks move on. They can still mount a play-off challenge but they’ll have to get their skates on.
That play-off push is already hotting up with further wins for Bristol City, QPR and Cardiff, while Blackpool could only manage a draw away against Swansea. Preston, Sheffield United and Derby’s potential promotions look further away in my mind.
Let’s see how my predictions went, here’s a prediction, not so well?
PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham-2 Sunderland-1 (1-2)
Burnley-1 Wigan-3 (1-0)
Chelsea-5 Blackburn-0 (2-0)
Hull-0 Portsmouth-0 (1-2)
Tottenham-0 Stoke-1 (2-0)
Wolves-1 Aston Villa-1 (1-3)
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Barnsley-2 Bristol City-3 (1-2)
Coventry-0 West Brom-0 (1-1)
Crystal Palace-1 Nottingham Forest-1 (1-1)
Derby-2 QPR-4 (0-2)
Newcastle-2 Doncaster-1 (3-0)
Peterborough-3 Scunthorpe-0 (1-1)
Plymouth-1 Ipswich-1 (1-2)
Preston-2 Middlesbrough-2 (2-1)
Sheffield United-3 Cardiff-4 (3-2)
Swansea-0 Blackpool-0 (1-2)
LEAGUE ONE
Brentford-2 Stockport-0 (2-0)
Brighton-0 Oldham-2 (1-2)
Bristol Rovers-1 Yeovil-2 (2-1)
Carlisle-2 Southend-1 (2-0)
Colchester-2 Walsall-1 (2-0)
Exeter-1 Wycombe-1 (1-1)
Gillingham-1 Charlton-1 (1-2)
Hartlepool-1 Tranmere-0 (3-1)
Huddersfield-4 Leyton Orient-0 (1-2)
Millwall-2 Leeds United-1 (1-2)
Norwich-1 Swindon-0 (3-1)
Southampton-3 MK Dons-1 (2-2)
LEAGUE TWO (Saturday fixtures)
Barnet-3 Darlington-0 (3-0)
Bournemouth-3 Grimsby-1 (2-0)
Bradford-1 Hereford-0 (1-1)
Bury-2 Rotherham-1 (1-2)
Chesterfield-5 Burton Albion-2 (1-0)
Lincoln City-0 Torquay-0 (1-0)
Macclesfield-2 Dag & Red-2 (1-3)
Morcambe-2 Northampton-4 (1-1)
Notts County-2 Crewe-0 (3-2)
Port Vale-1 Cheltenham-1 (2-0)
Rochdale-1 Accrington Stanley-2 (2-1)
Shrewsbury- 3 Aldershot-1 (3-1)
