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.

Super Sunday Preview: The Higher Ranking to Prove Their Power

THE BLUES lost a 2-0 lead to draw with Southampton in midweek and will quickly look to rectify that and do a double over their London rivals this season.

That game ended The Gunners good start to the campaign and they have been in and out since. The same is true of Chelsea who are prone to the odd stinker but showed against Stoke last week that they are still capable of getting in the grove (not a deserved winning margin though).

The recent head to head of these teams is rather even and Arsenal pulled off a huge 5-3 victory in this fixture a season ago. Van Persie was their key man that day and without him the bigger sides have shut them out.

Liverpool are the only top 10 side they scored more than once against and only one they also beat away from The Emirates.

Although Chelsea have a better record on their travels than at home, tthe leaders, Man United, and the trailers, QPR, are the only two clubs to win at Stamford Bridge this campaign. Arsenal took a long time to find their feet against Man City last week and Chelsea are unlikely to afford them any easier an opportunity.

Arteta, Rosicky (injury) and Gervinho (African Cup Of Nations) are absent for Arsene Wenger and from Rafa Benitez side Victor Moses and Mikel are playing in Africa.

Chelsea will probably prevail and if you fancy them to win then you will not complain about the Even money available in a couple of places. Bookings are usually not scarce in these encounters and Im willing to trust the bookmakers opinion and back the spread on 4-6 cards inclusive at 10/11 with William Hill

EARLIER this season Tottenham gained a victory at Old Trafford, the last time they had done Brad Friedel was their only player who had been born.

United have only failed to win twice in the league in nearly four months since. Spurs are on a good enough run themselves, only Everton taking their scalp in their last 10.

The home side have failed to score more than once in this corresponding meeting since the 2001/02 season and are 11 seasons without beating Fergie’s side at White Hart Lane.

The United team will be dead keen to gain revenge as the manner in which they lost in Spetember did not reflect their foothold in the game. Vidic is now back and the Manhester side are far more resolute since only conceded once in the three league games the Serbian’s return.

Tottenham will have limited attacking options with Adebayor gone to Africa and the firepower United have will make life difficult for them. AVBs side excelled themselves once already in beaten them in the reverse fixture but I can’t foresee it again.

Im going to take a stab on Man United to win by a couple of goals, they are 7-2 with Paddy Power with the -1 Handicap and history suggests that is not too hard to do here.

Reading Into The Form, The Royal's Look a Good Bet

                     

PERENNIAL headline maker Luis Suarez has scored a hat-trick in the last two meetings with Norwich one of those was in Liverpool’s 5-2 victory at Carrow Road in September.

Norwich kept their first clean sheet since John Ruddy got injured against Newcastle last weekend but rarely threatened with a clear cut chance in a dour 0-0.

With exception to the 3-1 loss to Aston Villa, Brendan Rogers side have only conceded once in seven games at home since September.

Norwich have fallen behind in seven of their away matches and have also been behind at half time in six. Liverpool have done the half time/full time in the lead in 6/8 of their victories so are taken to do the HT/FT at 5/6 generally.

      

A NUMBER of years ago Diomanzi Kamara became a Fulham hero in this game, he scored twice to pull Fulham who were 20 minutes from being swallowed by relegation. In fairness to the Cottagers who usually have a poor record when away from the bank of the Thames, The Etihad is one place they have a decent record.

Last season was the first time they lost a game here since 2006. Manchester City came from behind to overhaul Martin Jol’s side in their meeting in late September and on recent form you would have to expect them to win again.

Vincent Kompany won his appeal against a red card received at Arsenal but City are without Yaya Toure who is on International Duty with Ivory Coast for the next few weeks. Augero is a doubt with the hamstring injury that has kept out since New Year’s Day. Fulham have no new injury concerns.

The London side have been within a goal or drew with all of the top 6 bar Tottenham and I think backing them with the +2 handicap will give you a good run for your money at 11/10 and the +1 Handicap Draw at 3/1 both with Bet365.

ALAN Pardew can be thankful for his luck for once this season. Senegal were disqualified from the 2013 African Cup on Nations and Shola Ameobi was not selected by Nigeria so he will have first team forwards available.

Cheick Tiote is absent on account of the Africa competition and Ben Arfa, Danny Simpson and Steven Taylor are still injured so the Geordies are still weakened considerably. They have only taken eight of a possible 39 points in the past three months.

Reading on the other hand were never better, I said last week their game against West Brom would probably not be great but I couldn’t have been more wrong, it was a fantastic match where Reading scored three late goals to perform a heroic escape with a win.

The reverse tie finished 2-2 earlier in the campaign with Newcastle relying on Demba Ba for their brace. Reading have an extremely poor away record, picking up only two points on the road, one of those at basement club QPR.

Reading have scored 70% of their goals at home but will have their tails up after last week and may throw caution to the wind. Without Ba and Ben Arfa Newcastle will be relying heavily on Cisse for goals and it remains to be seen can he find them.

There is not a whole lot between these in the table and The Royals will not have a better opportunity to get an away victory especially as they would feel they should have won the reverse fixture.

The verdict is Reading Draw No Bet at 5/2 with Paddy Power.

WIGAN got a much needed confidence boosting win over League One Bournemouth in the FA Cup in midweek while Sunderland suffered a disappointing loss to Bolton.

The Black Cats won this 1-0 earlier on in the term and have been doing ok since mid-December winning four times, Wigan have won only once in the league in same time..

Martin O’Neill’s side have a mixed away record, but their record against bottom half sides reads DWDLWDLWWW. Compare this to only one win against top half opposition.

Wigan really suffer from the January blues, they have only won a lowly three league games during the month in their seven seasons in the division, and all 3 of those wins came against sides that are no longer in the top flight.

On that evidence Sunderland +1 Handicap 4/6 generally and Draw No Bet at 13/8 with Bet365 look solid shouts.

BOTH sides are hampered by injury but QPR could win that race with a number of their concerns possible to return.

West Ham fared ok but ultimately lost out against Man United in the FA Cup but QPR have done well also, winning their cup game and getting a win and a draw in their last two league games, also against London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.

Harry Redknapp appears to have worked his special ability of turning around a plummeting club and get them marching together to safety.

Sam Alardyce’s side won at Loftus Road in October but QPR are a better team since the turn of the year. If Chamahk can rediscover his old form he could be a big player for West Ham after moving on loan.

I wouldn’t expect a classic but West Ham are not easy to get the better of at Upton Park and a draw would be the most likely result all things considered. But I would not venture a bet.

TODAY’S visitors have gone from formidable to embarrassing in their last three league games, they scored effectively 4 of the oppositions goals for them in their last two home games and were wiped at Man City.

 They have failed to score and conceded seven recently, admittedly against Champions League sides.

The Swans are enjoying a decent time of things, they are very difficult to break down. Peter Crouch scored twice to give The Potters victory in September and the two clubs have very similar records since, losing only the occasional game and drawing plenty of games.

The Welsh side won this game last season but Stoke will be determined to get back to the formidable manner in which they operated for most of the season.

It is hard to expect a goalfest, Stoke’s away games usually have two goals or less, both Manchester sides and Wigan are the only sides to put more than one past Asmir Begovic.

Under 2.5 goals looks highly likely on all evidence but something tells me that Tony Pulis could send out a more attacking side this weekend and Stoke can bounce back. An extremely hard game to call as you would expect with a point separating them in the table.

Both sides seem to enjoy drawing and why fight the urge, get on at 12/5 with Bet365.

The home side have been playing good stuff recently so it is surprising to see they have lost their last three, especially as they could have been expected to win both. Aston Villa on the other hand it is no surprise at all to see they are winless since before the Christmas programme.

Romelu Lukaku has been a tough opponent this season and scored twice last week. Steve Clarke will take plenty of positives from last week’s game but will also be eager to see his side more resolute at the back.

This is a derby game and may be what Villa need to try and get them going again. The sides drew 1-1 in their first meeting this year but Paul Lambert would probably grasp your arm off at an offer of such a result this time.

Villa are the leagues joint lowest scorers but if there is a chink in West Brom’s armour it is their weakened midfield through injury/international duty.

All things considered West Brom are expected to take all three points as their local rivals have not beaten them for the last two seasons. 8/11 is a about the right price with Bet365 that the Baggies will not disappoint three times in a row.

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