West Brom Flying Without 'Wingie and Petr not Cech-ing in at Reading but Tottenaham Can Spur on in Midweek

So often a class of two of the “big 4” in the past this games has become somewhat less of a big deal. They are sixth and seventh in the table and not out of the race for fourth just yet but they need to string a good run together as they are four and seven points adrift respectively.

Head-to-Head

The Gunners won 2-0 at Anfield in September and the record of all their meetings since 1905 is 66 to 65 in favour of Liverpool.

I never noticed any bad blood between these two so the above average amount of cards in these ties is surprising.

Last season Liverpool gained their first win at Arsenal since 2000 when they beat the 10 men with two late goals. In fact there has not been a first half goals in their meetings at The Emirates since 2008.

Stats/Form

Liverpool have conceded at least twice against all teams ahead of them in the table bar Chelsea who scored once. The Reds have dominated the leagues lower sides but are yet to register a win against top half opposition taking only five points from 33 available.

Arsene Wenger’s side have lost only twice in 16 to teams below them in the standings. They have scored two-thirds of their goals at home.

While Arsenal were less than impressive in the cup they overcame Brighton and Hove Albion but Liverpool were dumped out by Oldham who are 55 places and two divisions below them in league standings.

They teams between them have only one league draw since November.

Team News

Mikel Arteta is out for the home side with a calf injury while Gervinho is playing the Cup of Nations. While Brendan Rodgers has no new fitness concerns for his squad.

Verdict

Neither side would leave you with much hair if you are a fan and their unpredictable nature makes it hard to call but home advantage is important to Arsenal and they are the more likely winners.

I fancy both teams to score at 8/13 and this could be a bloodbath so over 3.5 goals at 7/4 both prices with Ladbrokes.

Head-to-Head

For a team that draws so often it is surprising to see that Everton have only drawn once with West Brom in their meetings this century. During their fruitful early season spell West Brom won this tie 2-0 at the Hawthorns and are one of only three sides to take Everton’s scalp this season.

They have only won once at Everton in six visits in “modern times” a 4-1 victory in late 2010.

Victor Anichebe must enjoy playing West Brom as he has three goals against them including one in each fixture last season.

Stats/Form

Depite their reasonable form the Baggies are now four games without a win. They have conceded in every away game.

Everton have been abysmal in putting away chances in their past two league games but their FA Cup win may have banished that bout of poor confidence and given that the Baggies are allergic to away clean sheets they should manage one today.

It is ludicrous to think that someone has drawn more often than Everton but last night Stoke forged one ahead in that race that nobody tries to win and Everton can get back to 12 all tonight.

Team News

The transfer speculation surrounding Peter Odemwingie coupled with the time off given by manager Steve Clarke means he is not available. They will also be without midfielder Zoltan Gera through injury.

Both Irish Internationals Seamus Coleman and Darren Gibson are out through injury for the Toffees.

Verdict

Simply a draw is the best option until Everton can manage to start scoring more freely. Priced at 16/5 with Bet365

Head-to-Head

Spurs won this meeting last season with two Gareth Bale goals but Norwich then won at White Hart Lane and managed a draw there earlier this campaign also. Their League Cup game resulted in a win for the Canaries in October.

All three meetings have been level at half time.

Stats/Form

With the exception of Liverpool no side have given Norwich a hiding at home but they have only managed one point since that fabulous run of 10 unbeaten from late October to mid December. Having been in the top seven are now 13^th and win is badly needed to steady the ship.

Without keeper John Ruddy they are not the same defensively with only one clean sheet.

AVBs side are unbeaten in seven and only Everton conquered them in their last 11. They got out of jail with a deserved point at home to Man United in their last league game but lost to Leeds in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Most of their goals came away from home so you can see them in an attacking mindset tonight again. Jermaine Defoe has scored nine of his 10 goals against bottom half opposition so he is a likely scorer tonight (5/1 first goalscorer)

Team News

As well as the mentioned John Ruddy, Steve Morrison is on the long term injury list at Carrow Road.

William Gallas is out with a calf injury, Sandro on the long term casualty list and Adebayor is in Africa otherwise no new team news for Spurs.

Verdict

It is hard to see Norwich getting something from this although their home record means they deserve respect. Tottenham took a blow on the weekend but their main focus is the league and can win without conceding (9/4 Ladbrokes). The Half-time/Full-Time to be Draw/Tottenham -4/1 William Hill.

And a repeat of last season’s result is not unforeseeable so Tottenham 2-0 Correct Score at 10/1 with Bet Victor.

Head-to-Head

Chelsea had two goalies stretchered off in the first ever meeting between these two, a game that would have been more at home in the NFL where a last second goal line clearance from Drogba gave the Blues all three points on that occasion.

Reading failed to get the better of them in five meetings and lost 4-2 in their August meeting.

Stats/Form

Reading have won three of their last four and are in good heart, they came from behind in two of those. They put four past Sheffield United in the cup and are showing the kind of form that saw them win last years Championship.

They shipped a lot of goals to the Champions League sides bar City so they are vulnerable to an in form Chelsea.

Only a shock defeat to QPR saw defeat for Chelsea in their past eight league games and they have won their last four away. In a crazy FA cup weekend Chelsea were held to a draw by Brentford.

Team News

No new selection worries for Reading.

Chelsea will be without Petr Cech who infamously suffered a head fracture at this ground that resulted in the donning of a scrum cap in every game hence. David Luiz is also injured, while Hazard (suspended) and Moses and Mikel (International Duty) are also unavailable.

Verdict

26 points is the gap in the table and despite their good run Reading will have more realistic targets. However the week has had some strange results so far and life will not be easy for Rafa’s team. 

The greater firepower should win it for Chelsea as it did it their meeting earlier this campaign, if they escape without a goalie stretchered off they will not be too disappointed!

 *Fulham-West Ham and Man United-Southampton omitted.

Tough to Call in the Football, a hotly contested weekend of games

QPR V Tottenham

A London Derby where Harry Redknapp faces the club that sacked him last June. The home side pulled off the shock of the season when beating the then in form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham won this meeting earlier in the year after coming from a goal down. QPR won this corresponding fixture last season on their late survival charge and they would greatly welcome back to back wins.

Spurs though have scored in every away game since they lost here in April while QPR really need to grease their goal-scoring hinges if they are to climb of the bottom rung of the table.

Rangers held out and caught out Chelsea but while they may manage it for a while here I think AVBs side can get the better of them.

The Half-time/Full-Time to be Draw/Tottenham at 4/1 with Paddy Power looks great value and a win for Spurs at 10/11 with William Hill is too good to pass up.

Aston Villa V Southampton

Safe at this point to call this a relegation battle with both sides less than a point from the drop zone. Both performed well in their last league games but both were well beaten in their recent cup games.

Southampton got their first win of the season by thrashing Villa 4-1 at St Mary’s and given the current form of Villa you would not altogether rule out a repeat result. Following five straight away losses for Nigel Adkins side at the start of the season they have taken at least a point from three of their last four on the road.

The Saints have a few injury worries coming into this so could be vulnerable if Aston Villa can put their game face on.

The historical record between these two clubs is very even and this game should be no different, Southampton are on a run of draws and could extend that here.

Everton V Swansea

On a weekend of what on paper are very tight games to call this one is no different. These two are among the hardest teams to beat in the division.

Everton inflicted on Swansea their heaviest defeat of the season with a 3-0 win at the Liberty Stadium. Michael Laudrup’s side have been better defensively away from home and have managed more wins on the road than in Wales, and transferred that to the Capital One Cup with a win at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Everton lost their unbeaten home record to Chelsea the last time they played at Goodison Park but are having a great season in the main.

I expect this game to be hotly contested from the off and has the potential to be a fantastic game. Everton have more in attack than Swansea and should be able to break them down at some point, one goal could be enough to win this and I believe Everton will be the ones to get it. Swansea have not scored against Everton in three games since their promotion and Everton to win to nil at 7/4 is the value.

Fulham V Wigan

The Cottagers gained a somewhat surprise win over West Brom at the Hawthorns to put an end to a tough run. Wigan were, to quote Mick McCarthy from a few years back, “absolutely mullered” by Manchester United on their last league appearance.

Martin Jol’s side won this meeting in September and have a very good record against the Lattics who have not beaten the London side since 2006. Fulham have scored exactly twice in this fixture for the past four seasons.

This campaign the two sides between them have played in 11 games that finished 2-1 including their first meeting this term. I expect a similar result here again for two sides that are usually very bound by trends.

Fulham at Evens to win the game at 15/2 for a 2-1 correct score are the call.

Norwich V Newcastle

Both teams are on a run they would dearly love to end. Newcastle have lost nine of their last 11 league matches and are without a win away from home and Norwich have lost their last 4 since going 10 unbeaten.

The Canaries are five points ahead of the Magpies in the table and deservedly so. Alan Pardew could welcome Cabaye and Ben Arfa back into the side after injury and following the departure of star man Demba Ba they will be needed. Norwich striker Grant Holt could be fit to start following two games out with a hamstring injury.

Newcastle won their early season meeting 1-0 with Ba getting the all important goal but a lot has happened in both sides’ seasons since.

Liverpool, Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs are the only ones who took full points from Carrow Road since 2011 so that tells you the task Newcastle face.

This game will depend on who makes it back fit for both sides but at this point Norwich look the stronger. They can end their run of league defeats after their confidence boosting FA Cup win and are a good price at 5/4 to do so.

Reading V West Brom

If you are picking which game to watch on the red button this will be the lowest in your order of preference. The Royals have the odd island of good form in their ocean of harsh reality this season, one of those came around Christmas time but their work is cut out for them here.

It is no accident that West Brom are only three points away from the Europa League places. They were surprise losers against Fulham on New Year’s Day but would be even more surprise losers if they went down here.

The Baggies beat Reading 1-0 at The Hawthorns in September but historically have a rather poor record at The Madejski with only one win in 9 visits. With that in mind a bit of insurance for betting purposes may be wise and West Brom Draw No Bet at 8/11 with Hills is the verdict.

Stoke City V Chelsea

The Potters have a reputation of taking the scalps of the bigger sides at the Brittannia but Chelsea are not one of those. Since 2008 they have only taken two of a possible 27 points versus Chelsea who have taken the lion’s share of 23 in their meetings and Tony Pulis’s side managed the meagre 3 goals in all their meetings in those years.

One thing that will be hugely in favour of the home side is the absence of Petr Cech through injury, he has coped so well over the seasons with the shelling that is usually received when playing Stoke.

Rafa Benetiz has come under fire from fans and media once again following their defeat by Swansea at home in the League Cup and QPR in the league.

It is a mild surprise to see Chelsea odds on to win at Stoke who are unbeaten this season at home. It took a late Ashley Cole goal to gain victory in their meeting in September and a dour affair is almost assured.

Only once have Chelsea loose against Stoke and handed out a walloping but mostly the great Didier Drogba was the match winner. Now without a forward player of his status and suitability to the opposition they could struggle.

Under 2.5 goals at 7/10 and Stoke with a goal headstart at 17/20 with Stoke sponsors Bet365 both look worthy of a punt.

Sunderland V West Ham 

As I alluded to earlier in the piece we have games that are very hard to call and this may be the hardest on Saturday. In 66 meetings since 1923 Sunderland have one win more than West Ham in their encounters. It is the London side who hold the advantage in the league table though.

They drew a goal apiece 4 months ago and both drew in the FA Cup last weekend, West Hams was more substantial as theirs came against Man United. The return of a number of players from injury and suspension since their last league outing has boosted Sam Allardyce’s side.

Martin O’Neill has plenty of injury worries especially defensively and West Ham’s good set piece ability could expose that. It is a game that is too tough to call given that Sunderland have home advantage and no matter what the result it would be no surprise as anything could happen.

New resolution needed from QPR and Newcastle this year

Chelsea V Queens Park Rangers
·         3 words should some up this game, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea.

·         The Blues are playing brilliantly in recent times and they are playing the leagues official worst team.
·         Against Lieverpool, QPR were beaten before all the fans could take their seats. A similar feeling that they experienced in this fixture last April.
·         QPR have done well against Chelsea at Loftus Road in recent times but have only gained 1 point at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era.
·         No racism to worry about with John Terry out injured and Anton Ferdinand seemingly out of Harry’s favour so Ashley Cole should have handshakes all round. Petr Cech is out after going off injured a few days ago.
·         Expect QPR to try and keep things tight and drag this game down, so on that note is plausible that the first goal could be a set piece and Ivanovic to score anytime at 7/1 with William Hill and chief creator Juan Mata anytime assist at 13/8 with Boylesports both look good value bets.
·         Chelsea have too much quality and are in great form so they should win with a couple to spare.

Luis Suarez: 3 goals in 4 appearances V Sunderland

Liverpool V Sunderland
·        When these sides met in September it ended a goal apiece with strikes from both of the sides leading scorers Suarez and Fletcher respectively.
·         The last 2 Anfield meetings have ended in a draw also.
·         On recent form the teams, both managed by Northern Ireland natives are very evenly matched. Both won 3 and lost 2 of their past 5. Both have scored in each of their last 7 matches and the pair have 7 clean sheets each this season.
·         Stats show that they are evenly matched but the one thing that may swing it in favour of Liverpool is the injury to John O Shea and the good form of the Reds star players Gerrard and Suarez.

Newcastle V Everton

·         At Goodison Park in late September this was quite the game. A 2-2 draw that had it all.
·         Everton really put it up to the red hot Chelsea, leading and peppering their goal, hitting the posts on multiple occasions before losing out 2-1.
·         Marouane Fellaini returns after suspension to bolster their midfield weakened thru injury.
·         The Magpies need to improve at the back, they have conceded 11 in their last 2 games and the top 6 have put 22 past them in 7 matches this campaign.

Fellaini: The Belgian returns from suspension
(photo: Evertonfc.com)

·         David Moyes team suffered defeat for the first time since mid November 3 days ago but are in pretty good shape to avoid the same fate here, they have only drawn a blank in front of goal once in 20 league appearances.
·         Alan Pardew has plenty of selection worries, injuries and transfer speculation both contributing. They are there for the taking for Everton.

*All crests from Wikipedia