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A happy anniversary for Fergie?

November 4, 2011

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In a tantalising weekend of Premier League action, the big guns are all on duty on Saturday - with Chelsea travelling to Blackburn, Manchester United at home to Sunderland and leaders Manchester City facing QPR at Loftus Road in front of the ESPN cameras. Liverpool and Arsenal are on home soil, while unbeaten Newcastle get the action underway at home to Everton. Read on for our preview...

Betting: Stoke to extend Bolton's woes

Saturday

Arsenal v West Brom

Form: The resurgence of Arsenal was slowed somewhat with a 0-0 draw against Marseille in the Champions League, but on the domestic front Arsene Wenger's men have been superb. Chelsea were stunned last weekend, which was the Gunners' third win on the spin in the Premier League. Consistent is not a word to describe West Brom. They were abject in the defeat to Liverpool, snapping a four-game unbeaten run which included wins over Midlands rivals Aston Villa and Wolves.
Key battle: Many eyes will be trained on Robin van Persie who is in as good a form as anyone in Europe at present. But this could allow another forward to sneak under the radar. West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is the sort of player who is boiling when hot and freezing when cold. Arsenal's defence has looked improved of late, it can only get better with the return of Thomas Vermaelen, but they will need to be alert if Odemwingie is on a good day.
Player to watch: We obviously couldn't ignore RvP. Ten goals this season, including a hat-trick to down Chelsea, highlight his importance to Arsenal. He was given a rest against Marseille, coming on in the second half, but he will be let loose on West Brom. Jonas Olsson and co. will have their work cut out to keep the Dutchman quiet.
Talking point: Is the balance of power in London shifting, back the way of Arsenal? After a start to the season that had many calling for Arsene Wenger's head, the Frenchman's star is shining bright once more. The Gunners are now just three points adrift of north London rivals Spurs and with Chelsea struggling, Wenger's men have the chance to put further pressure on the top four with a home win.
Bet of the day: Arsenal to win both halves, 9/4 with bet365
Prediction: 3-1

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Aston Villa v Norwich

Form: Hands up those who would have had Norwich in the top eight after 10 games of the season? Thought not. Paul Lambert's side have attacked their task with relish, attempting to play the right way and earned rave reviews in defeat to Manchester United and also grabbed a point at Liverpool. Raising themselves against the big boys is not what will keep them in the league, they will live or die on their performances against the teams further down the pecking order. Alex McLeish's Villa are included in that bracket. They sit one place below the Canaries and it is fair to say McLeish is still to win over the Villa faithful following his arrival from Birmingham. Things started well, with Villa going on a seven-game unbeaten run but they have lost two of their last three.
Key battle: Gabriel Agbonlahor is likely to find the Norwich defence a little less intimidating than UFC fighter Rashad Evans who he squared up to in midweek. The Villa forward has looked sharp in recent weeks, he is the club's top scorer, and his lightning pace will be a real threat for a Norwich defence that leaked three goals against Blackburn.
Player to watch: Jermaine Jenas is keen to make up for lost time, having failed to make an appearance since joining the club on loan from Tottenham. The midfielder, who has still not given up hope of returning to the England fold, is recovered from the leg injury that followed an Achilles problem. McLeish has said he is unlikely to start Jenas, but he may well be given his debut at some stage.
Talking point: Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent weeks, having been suspended by the club after his arrest on suspicion of drink driving. The Scotland international is back in the squad and available for selection but will McLeish risk throwing him into the heat of battle?
Bet of the day: Gabriel Agbonlahor to score at any stage in a 1-1 draw, 20/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1

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Blackburn v Chelsea

Form: Football fans virtually to a man expected Rovers boss Steve Kean to be under pressure, but not so his Chelsea counterpart Andre Villas-Boas. Rovers have taken the controversial step of banning fans from bringing banners to Ewood Park calling for Kean to be axed. Their anger has built up over the past three months, with Rovers winning just one of their opening 10 games. Chelsea remain in the top four, but Villas-Boas' honeymoon period is over. Defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal in the league were followed by a draw at Genk in the Champions League.
Key battle: Fernando Torres' fine run of form was interrupted by his suspension, but the Spaniard is still among the most feared strikers on the planet and it is likely to be a major clash between him and Rovers' no-nonsense centre-back Chris Samba. The pace of Torres against the power of Samba. Something will have to give.
Player to watch: Juan Mata has been compared favourably with Manchester City's David Silva following some fine early efforts in the Premier League. He has looked very classy, a proper player, as some say. But during the defeat to QPR the R's midfield got amongst him and he looked decidedly uncomfortable before going off injured. Rovers' midfield are sure to have taken note and Mata's response will be worth noting.
Talking point: John Terry continues to be in the spotlight, with the police now looking into the race row. He sat out the draw with Genk, but has been given the full backing of Villas-Boas. Terry was criticised for Robin van Persie's second goal during the loss to Arsenal, with many finding him at fault for an unfortunate slip. Nothing was said about the awful pass from Florent Malouda that put Terry in trouble and prior to that moment he had looked pretty solid. A battle at Ewood Park will be right up Terry's street and watch out for a chest-out display from the England captain.
Bet of the day: Fernando Torres to score at any time in a 3-0 win for Chelsea, 13/1 with bet365
Prediction: 0-3

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Liverpool v Swansea

Form: Having spent big in the summer, expectation is high at Anfield and Liverpool are making a respectable fist of pressing for a top-four spot. The Reds have been a shade inconsistent, with wins over Arsenal and Everton and a draw with Manchester United, mixed with a loss to Stoke and draw with Norwich. They will come up against a Swansea side who are easy on the eye. The Swans' climb to 10th place has been built on an unbeaten home record, which is in stark contrast to a record on the road that has yet to yield a win.
Key battle: Liverpool are without their captain Steven Gerrard, but in his absence Jordan Henderson has stepped in alongside Charlie Adam and performed with real maturity. Swans boss Brendan Rodgers has decent attacking options in midfield in the shape of Scott Sinclair, Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer, but much will depend on how they cope with stifling the Liverpool threat.
Player to watch: Andy Carroll eased the pressure on his shoulders a shade with a goal against West Brom. The former Newcastle man has seen his thunder stolen by the brilliant form of Luis Suarez. Carroll has yet to hit the net at Anfield this season but a home game against a side yet to win on the road hands him the ideal chance to pay back another chunk of his £35m transfer fee.
Talking point: Carroll's transfer fee dwarfs the £20m the Reds shelled out to prise Stewart Downing away from Aston Villa. The left foot is supposed to be a wand. If that's the case he would not be making it on to the set of any Harry Potter remakes as he is without a goal or an assist to his name. With Euro 2012 around the corner, time is pressing for the former Middlesbrough man.
Bet of the day: First goal to be a header, 4/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-0

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Manchester United v Sunderland

Form: The stats suggest United shook off their mauling at the hands of Manchester City, as wins over Aldershot, Everton and Otelul Galati paint a decent picture. But they were far from convincing in any of those games and appeared punch drunk. Wayne Rooney was deployed in midfield against Galati and such is his class, he cruised through the game. But Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen for his side to find a performance to match their last three games. Steve Bruce's Sunderland have found a foothold in recent weeks, beating Bolton and drawing with Aston Villa, but they lost keeper Simon Mignolet to a horror facial injury at the weekend.
Key battle: United have a midfield headache, with Ashley Young, Ryan Giggs and Tom Cleverley definitely out, and Anderson doubtful. Rooney is likely to be pushed back into an advanced role, but it is not clear who Ferguson will field in a central role. The chosen two could be in for a tough afternoon, as Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole is set for a recall to replace David Vaughan. There are few more tenacious players in the game than Cattermole and he is sure to ruffle feathers.
Player to watch: Nemanja Vidic seems set to start, having shook off his injury problems. But the old guard at Old Trafford is under pressure. With Rio Ferdinand being told by Sir Alex that he has to adapt his game after losing a bit of zip and Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans improving all the time, the focus will be on Vidic to prove he is still the main man in the back four.
Talking point: It's Ferguson's 25th anniversary in charge of United and it is likely to be a party atmosphere at Old Trafford. And the Red Devils could hardly have asked for a better side to take on to mark the occasion, as Sunderland have not beaten United since 2000 and their last win at Old Trafford came in 1968.
Bet of the day: Manchester United to keep a clean sheet, 5/6 with bet365
Prediction: 3-0

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Newcastle v Everton

Form: It is a surprise to many that heading into November, Newcastle are one of only two sides with unbeaten records in the league. Alan Pardew's side have produced a blend of gritty determination and ruthless efficiency. This was displayed with victory over Stoke, their fourth from the last five league games. Everton are 12 points behind third-placed Newcastle and are just five places above the foot of the table. The Toffees were arguably unlucky to be beaten by Manchester United last week, but are paying the price for not being ruthless enough in front of goal.
Key battle: This one is likely to be won in the midfield trenches. Danny Guthrie stepped in for the injured Cheik Tiote against Stoke and did not let his manager down, dovetailing superbly with Yohan Cabaye. The Newcastle central two will face a battle with Phil Neville and Jack Rodwell for the upper hand.
Player to watch: Central defenders are in the spotlight at the moment. John Terry for things other than football, while Rio Ferdinand has been told by Sir Alex Ferguson that he is too slow to be an automatic starter for Manchester United. So is there room in the England camp for a new man? Pardew thinks so and has been championing Steven Taylor for international recognition. He has been impressive alongside Fabricio Coloccini this season. Can he keep it going now he is the focus of attention?
Talking point: Are Newcastle punching above their weight? Many think so, while the other camp are suggesting the time has come to consider the Magpies for European contention. A home game against a well-drilled Everton side will tell much - as their next three games are Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea. Don't get carried away just yet, Magpies fans.
Bet of the day: Steven Taylor to score at any stage, 11/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-0

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QPR v Manchester City

Form: The ESPN cameras will be at Loftus Road to see if Neil Warnock can be the man to mastermind a first Premier League defeat of the season on Manchester City. After beating Chelsea in battling fashion, QPR were brought back down to earth with a thud as Tottenham proved much too good. It has been a season of mixed fortunes for the R's, while it has been a season of stunning highs for City. Roberto Mancini's men have picked up 28 out of a possible 30 points - with the high point being the 6-1 drubbing of Manchester United. They have not suffered any sort of hangover and the juggernaut shows no signs of stopping.
Key battle: Mancini has injected silk to complement the steel and the player at the heart of their brilliant attacking play has been David Silva. The Spaniard is making the early running for player of the year honours, looking a class apart to the majority in the league. A certain Adel Taarabt could do a lot worse than take a look at Silva for a player to model himself on. Taarabt played a huge part in getting QPR promoted but life in the Premier League has so far proved a bridge too far. There is no doubting the skill he possesses, but he has been unable to impose himself on games this season. It could well be a similar story.
Player to watch: Where to start with the talent in City's ranks? We won't. Instead the focus can shift to Joey Barton. Take away his Twitter musings and off-field chat, you have a player who is good enough to get in the England squad. He has thrived since his move from Newcastle but taking on a side of world stars will tell a lot about both his ability to compete on the highest stage and whether the temperament can stand up to the test.
Talking point: We're only 10 games in, but with nine wins in the bank City are favourites to win the title. Not only that, there is a chance that Chelsea's record of 95 points from the 2004/2005 season is under threat. Is it too early to be handing the title to Mancini's men?
Bet of the day: City to keep a clean sheet, 11/10 with bet365
Prediction: 0-2

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Sunday

Bolton v Stoke

Form: Blackburn boss Steve Kean is topping the market for the Premier League sack race, but Bolton boss Owen Coyle has seen his odds contract on the back of a run of eight defeats from 10 games. Bolton are just one spot off the foot of the table and were beaten by Swansea last time out. A ray of light for Bolton is that they are facing a Stoke side who have found it tough to back up in the league following European nights. The Potters beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Thursday, but they must bounce back from an arduous journey.
Key battle: Gary Cahill saw a summer move to Arsenal fail to materialise, but he has been praised by his manager for the way he has buckled down. The England defender will find himself in a battle on Sunday, as Stoke boss Tony Pulis can throw the likes of Peter Crouch, Kenwyne Jones and Jon Walters into battle. It does not take a rocket scientist to work out that this one could be won in the air.
Player to watch: The Reebok is proving to be anything but a fortress for Bolton this season. Five losses from five games suggest the Trotters have not enjoyed any home comforts. If Bolton are to dig themselves out of trouble, they will need their strikers to come to the party and David Ngog needs to show his prowess in front of goal. He has netted just once since his move from Liverpool, which is simply not good enough.
Talking point: What is it about teams and European hangovers? Stoke have won just once on the back of a European night and the rot is starting to set in. Yes Stoke have to contend with a long round trip from Tel-Aviv, but you can bet your bottom dollar they are not camped in cattle class. Bolton have not won at home this season, Stoke do not like playing following European games. Something has to give, surely?
Bet of the day: The two teams to cancel each other out. Take the no goalscorer, 10/1 with bet365
Prediction: 0-0

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Fulham v Tottenham

Form: Two teams in good form meet at Craven Cottage. Take out the defeat of a virtual second team at Rubin Kazan on Thursday and Tottenham are flying. Following the mauling by Manchester City in August, Tottenham have won six of seven games in the league to move up to fifth in the table. Fulham are in similarly good form. They deserve extra credit for being the only side to have taken a point off Man City this season and were impressive in European action against Wisla Krakow on Thursday.
Key battle: Midfield battles often decide the destiny of games and it is likely to ring true here. Spurs have not looked back since bringing in Scott Parker and he has proved the perfect foil for the craft of Luka Modric. Fulham have their own pass master in Danny Murphy and how the likes of Steve Sidwell support him will be pivotal to the outcome.
Player to watch: Andrew Johnson produced a dazzling display in the win over Wisla Krakow, scoring one of the best goals of the season to date, and the former Everton flyer now looks fully recovered from the injuries that threatened to derail his career. Johnson is clearly a confidence player and he will put pressure on a Tottenham defence creaking at the seams.
Talking point: The confidence of Johnson is in stark contrast to his strike-partner Bobby Zamora. He is on the fringe of the England team when in top form, but he has cut a frustrated figure this season. There is talk of a rift with manager Martin Jol but the best way to silence the snipers is to hit the goals trail.
Bet of the day: Bobby Zamora to score first in a 1-0 win, 30/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-0

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Wolves v Wigan

Form: Wolves find themselves perilously close to the drop zone - only two points separate them from Blackburn and 19th-placed Bolton. They've lost their last two matches, conceding eight goals in the process, and have not won in the league since August 21. Wigan are rock bottom and are still awaiting their first win on the road this term. Alarmingly, they've lost their last seven top-flight encounters.
Key battle: Wolves need to learn to shut up shop and Wigan need to learn how to put the ball in the net. Two key men tasked with applying the theory will be Roger Johnson and Franco Di Santo. Johnson needs to start justifying his £7 million price tag with some inspiring defensive displays, while Di Santo needs to re-establish his goal-scoring touch that saw him bag three in three earlier in the campaign.
Player to watch: Wayne Hennessey may be a strange choice but the Latics keeper has a point to prove after costing his side dear with a decisive blunder last time out against Manchester City. Up until he got caught in possession - with his blocked clearance leading to Edin Dzeko giving City the lead - Hennessey pulled off a string of fine stops, and he'll be desperate to atone for his error with some similar heroics against Wolves.
Talking point: We're not even a third of the way through the season and yet it doesn't feel premature to say this is a six-pointer. Both teams are on a dreadful run but one victory could be the boost they need ahead of a busy Christmas period.
Bet of the day: A hard-fought 1-1 draw: 5/1 at bet365
Prediction: 1-1

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