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How can you top last weekend’s goal fest? The Manchester derby is a good place to start, as leaders Man Utd welcome Roberto Mancini’s pretenders to the throne for a match of potentially epic proportions. Elsewhere, Arsenal will be keen to bounce back after giving up a four-goal lead at Newcastle last Saturday. The Gunners will be wary of the visit of Wolves, especially as Mick McCarthy’s team ended Man Utd’s unbeaten run last weekend. Roy Hodgson, newly appointed West Brom’s manager, has little time to prepare his relegation- threatened team for the arrival of West Ham.
Man Utd v Man City - Away win - 4.50 at Bet365£200 Free Bets
Fulham v Chelsea - Correct score 1-2 - 7.00 at 888Sport£20 Free Bet
Arsenal v Wolves - Over 2.5 goals - 0.57 at Victor Chandler£25 Free Bet
Sunderland v Tottenham - Over 2.5 goals - 2.08 at Betfair£25 Free Bet
Man Utd v Man City - Carlos Tevez to score first - 5.00 at Bwin£30 Free Bet
Birmingham v Stoke - Correct score 1-1 - 5.50 at Ladbrokes£10 Free Bet
Man Utd v Man City 12 Feb 12:45
A title decider at Old Trafford? Could be, though the Red half of Manchester has experience on its side, not to mention a five-point lead over Roberto Mancini’s side. City have failed to score in four of the last five league encounters with United, but with skipper Carlos Tevez in brilliant form, United’s defence – minus Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans, crucially – will be tested. Expect a tight, European-style game; whisper it, but Sir Alex Ferguson would
probably take a draw here.
Prediction – Tevez the hero – Away win
Arsenal v Wolves 12 Feb 15:00
Arsene Wenger probably endured several nightmares this week after his team gave up a 4-0 lead at St James’ Park. Lightning can’t strike twice, surely? Well, Wolves’ confidence is high after denting Man Utd’s unbeaten record, but surely it’s asking too much for Mick McCarthy’s team to pull off another shock. The Gunners are simply too good not to bounce back with three points here.
Prediction – Gunners close gap at top – Home win
Birmingham v Stoke 12 Feb 15:00
We doubt this will fixture will win any beauty contests, but there will be plenty of blood and thunder (and the occasional long throw-in), which after all is part of what makes the Premier League so entertaining. And don’t anticipate a goal-fest. There have been just 25 goals scored at St Andrews in the league this season, fewer than at any other ground in the top flight.
Prediction – 1-1 is the percentage shout – Draw
Blackburn v Newcastle 12 Feb 15:00
The form book points to a home win – Blackburn have won their last six Premier League games against Newcastle. There is also the danger of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ for Alan Pardew’s team, who must be buzzing after last Saturday’s incredible 4-4 draw against Arsenal. All of which suggests that Rovers will bring the Magpies back down to earth with a nasty bump.
Prediction – Rovers ruin Newcastle’s high – Home win
Blackpool v Aston Villa 12 Feb 15:00
Whisper it, but Blackpool are slipping inexorably into the relegation zone, much as Hull City did a couple of seasons ago despite a good start to the campaign. Behind Ian Holloway’s bluster, Blackpool have earned just 11 points at Bloomfield Road, fewer than any other team on their own ground. And with Villa on the up, seemingly revitalised by the capture of Darren Bent, this could be another nail in Blackpool’s coffin.
Prediction – Blackpool on the wane – Away win
Liverpool v Wigan 12 Feb 15:00
Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in a row in the Premier League, while the Latics have won just one of their 13 Premier League games against teams in the top half of the table this season. All of which points to another three points for the ever- improving Reds (Liverpool have won more points than any other top-flight team since Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson) – and without a certain Fernando Torres!
Prediction – Reds continue upward trend – Home win
West Brom v West Ham 12 Feb 15:00
West Brom have just appointed former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson as their new manager. It’s a tough gig for Hodgson, as the Baggies are only one place above the drop zone, and with some tricky fixtures on the horizon. His first job is to engineer a win against fellow strugglers West Ham. The Irons have lost only two of their 14 matches against teams currently in the bottom half of the table.
Prediction – Hodgson makes his point – Draw
Sunderland v Tottenham 12 Feb 17:30
If you fancy a comeback in any fixture this weekend, look to the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (much to Steve Bruce’s chagrin), while Spurs have won the most points from losing positions. Sunderland have a decent record at home though, and should be good for a point against Harry Redknapp’s team.
Prediction – Honours even – Draw
Bolton v Everton 13 Feb 16:00
Just the one Sunday showdown this weekend, and it’s an old-school clash between two of English football’s grand old teams. A win for Everton would lift them up into the top half of the table, above Bolton, but the Toffees face a stiff physical challenge at the Reebok – Bolton have committed more fouls than any other team in the Premier League (357) so far this season!
Prediction – Honours even – Draw
Fulham v Chelsea 14 Feb 20:00
What could be more romantic than a west London derby on Valentine’s Day? In-form Fulham have won their last three Premier League home games without conceding a goal, while Chelsea have scored four goals in each of their last two league away games. Something’s got to give, and we tip Chelsea to take all three points at the Cottage.
Prediction – Fernando Torres off the mark – Away win
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