Premier League Preview

 

Chelsea v Tottenham Saturday, 5.30pm

Chelsea have a fully-fit squad to choose from now that Alex, Michael Essien and Ramires all available after injury, it is expected that Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba will start in attack.

Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto who has impressed this season will miss out as he has a hamstring problem and Tom Huddlestone has an ankle injury. There is a small chance of Ledley King making his first appearance since October, having recovered from a groin problem.

Chelsea have won their past five home fixtures, as well as having won eight of their past nine home games against top-six teams, in comparison Spurs have a poor away record the Big Four where they have trailed at the break in six of their last eight and they have lost by two clear goals in seven of the games.

The Blues are 8/15 to keep the pressure on Manchester United whilst Spurs are 13/2 to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

 

Liverpool v Newcastle Sunday, 12.00pm

Andy Carroll will be desperate to play against his old team but is an injury doubt, he picked up a knock against Arsenal a fortnight ago which led him to miss their 5-0 win over Birmingham. Glen Johnson has a problem with his hamstring and is unlikely to feature.

Two players who will not feature are Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger who are both ruled out for the season.

Alan Pardew’s Newcastle side will be missing on-loan midfielder Stephen Ireland who is out for the rest of the season, the Irishman picked up an ankle injury against Blackpool last weekend. Steve Harper is fit again after missing the last two weeks but may only be on the bench as in-form Tim Krul is likely to keep his place in the starting 11.

Liverpool are undefeated at home under Kenny Dalglish with five wins and two draws, they have led at the break in five of the games and they have won-to-nil on four occasions. Meanwhile Newcastle have won just two out of nine of the away fixtures under Alan Pardew and have failed to score in four of their last six.

Traditionally a game that always has goals in it, over 3.5 goals is an interesting 2s. Liverpool are 1/2 to win whilst Newcastle are 7s to pull off a shock.

 

Arsenal v Man Utd Sunday, 2.05pm

The home side welcome back Thomas Vermaelen who has missed most of the season, this will be a much needed boost to a struggling Gooner’s defence that has missed the Belgian defender. Tomas Rosicky could also feature having recovered from an illness whilst Abou Diaby is expected to miss out with a calf injury.

Dimitar Berbatov will return to the United squad having missed the last three matches and Darren Fletcher could also feature but Owen Hargreaves will miss out as he is still injured.

Arsenal have drawn their last three home games and they have been level at the break in nine of their 17 home fixtures this term, whilst United have also drawn the first half of nine of their 17 away games this season and they have been tied at the interval in three of their past five league matches.

A home win is 13/8 whilst the league leaders are an attractive 19/10 with 5/2 for the game to finish level. With this game likely to be a tight affair odds of 4/5 for under 2.5 goals is worth looking at.