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United aim to banish derby ghosts

October 28, 2011

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In an intruiging weekend of Premier League action, a wounded Manchester United aim to recover some pride, Arsenal look to continue their resurgence against a Chelsea side potentially distracted by the John Terry saga, while Roy Hodgson takes on former club Liverpool, live on ESPN. Read on for our preview...

Betting: Norwich to deepen Blackburn's woes

Saturday

Chelsea v Arsenal

Form: Nine-man Chelsea were stunned by QPR last weekend, losing 1-0 at Loftus Road, but remain third in the table. The Gunners are yet to triumph away from home in the league - although they have won seven of their last eight in all competitions.
Key battle: Arsenal have had trouble playing out of defence when Mikel Arteta is closed down by the opposition's attackers, so the likes of Frank Lampard and Juan Mata will aim to press him into a mistake. Does Arteta have the technique and composure to pass such a test?
Player to watch: Thomas Vermaelen is in line for a first Premier League appearance since August following injury - and his defensive partnership with Per Mertesacker, eagerly anticipated by fans, could make the difference between Arsenal finishing in the top four or not.
Talking point: Is Chelsea skipper Terry going to be handed a start, given the accusations of racism being levelled at him? It's easy to imagine the controversy affecting his performance - but does Andre Villas-Boas have enough faith to start David Luiz in such a crucial match?
Bet of the day: Chelsea to win to nil, 7/4 with bet365
Prediction: 2-0

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Everton v Manchester Utd

Form: United are in second place, but still sore after a 6-1 home pasting at the hands of arch-rivals Manchester City last weekend. Everton ended a run of three straight defeats with an away win over Fulham in the most recent round of league fixtures.
Key battle: Ashley Young began his United career at 100mph, yet has failed to live up to those standards in recent weeks. He will fancy his chances of giving Everton's right back - whether Phil Neville or Tony Hibbert - a torrid time, given his pace advantage.
Player to watch: Rio Ferdinand has been heavily criticised following a dismal performance in the Manchester derby, and he will be desperate to prove that his career is not in terminal decline, with Phil Jones waiting in the wings to inherit a centre back berth.
Talking point: How will United respond to being put in their place by City, who recorded a victory that appeared to herald a shift in the balance of power - not only in Manchester, but also in English football.
Bet of the day: Young to score anytime, 21/10 with bet365
Prediction: 1-3

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West Brom v Liverpool, LIVE ON ESPN

Form: Liverpool's Champions League charge has been derailed by a pair of home league draws against Norwich and Manchester United, while West Brom have taken seven points from the last nine available.
Key battle: In the absence of Shane Long, who is absent with a knee injury, the goalscoring burden will fall on Peter Odemwingie. The Nigeria international's pace and movement could give Jamie Carragher, never the most mobile, a serious headache.
Player to watch: Luis Suarez has been in the headlines of late, first accused of racism and then of diving, but he continues to look dangerous - and his terrific Carling Cup brace in midweek ensured the Reds conquered Stoke.
Talking point: The intriguing sub-plot here is Roy Hodgson facing the club that dismissed him in January. He masterminded a 2-1 Baggies victory when the sides met during April, and will be desperate to repeat the trick.
Bet of the day: The draw, 23/10 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1

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Manchester City v Wolves

Form: City are undefeated in the league this season and sit top of the table - and, ominously for Wolves, they triumphed 5-2 at Molineux in the midweek Carling Cup encounter. Mick McCarthy's men ended a three-match losing run by battling back to earn a 2-2 draw with Swansea last weekend.
Key battle: After struggling to justify his pampered treatment at Manchester City for so long, Mario Balotelli is finally beginning to sparkle. If Roger Johnson isn't on his game, it could be a long afternoon for the visitors.
Player to watch: David Silva has impressed at City ever since joining, but his destructive showing against United has earned him comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The ingenuity of his passing and movement is a sight to behold, and should be too much for the Wolves midfield and defence to handle.
Talking point: City's senior players have been stressing all week that the victory over Manchester United will mean nothing unless they can also take all three points against Wolves. Do they possess the ruthlessness required of champions?
Bet of the day: Mario Balotelli to score first and Manchester City to win, 9/2 with bet365
Prediction: 3-0

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Sunderland v Aston Villa

Form: Villa's unbeaten start to the Premier League season was unceremoniously snapped by Manchester City on October 15, then one week later they lost at home to West Brom. Having flirted with the relegation places, Sunderland earned some breathing room with a 2-0 victory over Bolton last Saturday.
Key battle: Darren Bent returns to his old stomping ground insisting that he did not leave the Black Cats in the lurch when he exited in January. Wes Brown will need to recover some of his finest Manchester United form if he is to stifle the livewire frontman.
Player to watch: Jermaine Jenas, on loan from Tottenham, is in line to make his Villa debut having recovered from thigh and Achilles knocks. The England international's industry will be particularly useful in tricky away assignments such as this one.
Talking point: How safe is Steve Bruce's job at Sunderland? They spent heavily in the summer, bringing in a rash of new players, but have been poor at the Stadium of Light this season, winning just one of their first four league games.
Bet of the day: 2-2, 14/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-2

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Norwich v Blackburn

Form: Blackburn are rooted to the foot of the table with five points from nine fixtures; Norwich have acquitted themselves admirably in their first campaign back in the Premier League and are eighth, one point behind Arsenal.
Key battle: Canaries goalkeeper John Ruddy is being talked of as an England candidate after a fine display at Anfield last weekend - it will be instructive to see how he deals with the pressure that brings.
Player to watch: Junior Hoilett looks one of the few players capable of producing some magic in an otherwise unremarkable Blackburn team. The winger's lightning pace could hold the key to Rovers' chances at Carrow Road.
Talking point: Key duo Scott Dann and Steven Nzonzi are back for Blackburn - can they provide some much-needed resilience, in the process relieving the pressure on beleaguered Rovers boss Steve Kean?
Bet of the day: Home win, 9/10 with bet365
Prediction: 1-0

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Swansea v Bolton

Form: Bolton appeared to have turned a corner when they beat Wigan on October 15, but were dire in a 2-0 home defeat against Sunderland seven days later. Swansea, three places above Bolton in 15th, are unbeaten - and yet to concede - at home.
Key battle: Darren Pratley, now of Bolton, comes up against his former club following a summer move to the Reebok, putting him in direct competition with promising youngster Joe Allen, who now walks in the boots Pratley once filled.
Player to watch: Danny Graham has netted three in his last three games - goalscoring form that looks likely to keep Swansea in the Premier League. Could he earn an England call-up for pre-Euro 2012 matches?
Talking point: Where did it all go wrong for Bolton? The wheels came off at the end of last season, and their malaise has continued at the start of the present campaign.
Bet of the day: 2-1 Swansea, 15/2 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

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Wigan v Fulham

Form: Wigan have lost their last seven matches in all competitions, while Fulham have tasted defeat in their most recent three. Don't expect this one to produce a classic.
Key battle: Top scorer Franco di Santo missed Wigan's defeat at Newcastle last weekend, but is expected to return - and his physicality should push Brede Hangeland right to the limit.
Player to watch: Bobby Zamora missed an absolute sitter against Everton last weekend, then the Toffees went up the other end and scored, before winning 3-1. The England international has a lot of making up to do, so he should be highly motivated.
Talking point: Mohamad Al Fayed's "flop" blast at former boss Mark Hughes has overshadowed the build-up to this contest - do such comments really help Martin Jol's team?
Bet of the day: The draw, 9/4 with bet365
Prediction: 0-0

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Sunday

Tottenham v QPR

Form: QPR were tumbling down the table until that stunning win over Chelsea, while Tottenham have recovered from a poor start to record five wins in their last six matches in all competitions.
Key battle: Spurs' midfield is full of guile with both Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart in the mix, so Joey Barton and Shaun Derry will need to be at their most tenacious to stop the Tottenham tormentors from weaving their magic.
Player to watch: Adel Taarabt hasn't reproduced last season's Championship form in the Premier League, and he would love to make his mark on the top division against the club that let him leave.
Talking point: Anton Ferdinand is the other party involved in the John Terry race row - will Neil Warnock feel happy to throw him in to the action following his "crazy" week?
Bet of the day: Van der Vaart to score first, 5/1 with bet365
Prediction: 4-1

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Monday

Stoke v Newcastle

Form: Newcastle are still unbeaten in the league this season and sit fourth in the table, level on points with Chelsea. Stoke have been inconsistent, and enter having suffered back-to-back defeats.
Key battle: Magpies skipper Fabricio Coloccini isn't the tallest centre half in the league, so Peter Crouch will aim to profit from any aerial assault that Stoke launch. The former Tottenham striker has done OK since his August switch, netting twice in six league games.
Player to watch: Yohan Cabaye has been terrific since joining Newcastle, and of late has added goals - two in his last two - to his mastery of the midfield. The league's bigger clubs are sure to be keeping an eye on his progress.
Talking point: How are Newcastle going to cope without Shola Ameobi, who is out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury? Alan Pardew acknowledges the news comes as a blow: "He'll be a loss to us and I think our fans will see that now - how important he is when he's not there."
Bet of the day: Stoke win, 11/10 with bet365
Prediction: 1-0

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