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Manchester rivals seek tonic to Europa misery

ESPN staff
March 9, 2012
Manchester City were beaten by Sporting Lisbon in midweek - and the Premier League leaders lost captain Vincent Kompany to injury © Getty Images
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This weekend both of the Manchester sides, separated by two points at the top of the table, will attempt to bounce back from midweek Europa League defeats. Leaders City face a daunting trip to the Liberty Stadium - where Swansea have lost just twice this season in the top division - while United take on in-form West Brom. Elsewhere, Tottenham travel to Everton aiming to solidify their grip on a Champions League place in the face of mounting pressure from Arsenal, who play Newcastle on Monday. And at the bottom of the table, a couple of genuine six-pointers: Bolton v QPR and Wolves v Blackburn.

For talking points and predictions from every top-flight fixture, allow ESPN to preview the action below...

Saturday

Everton v Tottenham, LIVE on ESPN

Form: Everton are pulling off their usual trick of finishing the season strongly after a sketchy start: their last two home league fixtures have yielded victories over Chelsea and Manchester City. Quite the opposite for Spurs, who had not won in three - including losses against Manchester United and Arsenal - before beating Stevenage in a midweek FA Cup replay.
Key battle: The battle of the marauding fullbacks between Leighton Baines and Kyle Walker, both of whom will operate on the same side of the pitch, is likely to have a big say in the outcome of the match. Baines' crossing is one of the Toffees' main attacking weapons, while if injury doubt Aaron Lennon doesn't make it, Walker will need to make plenty of forward thrusts.
Player to watch: Jermain Defoe had a really good game against Stevenage in midweek - albeit against League One opposition - and, depending on the fitness of Rafael van der Vaart, is likely to be given another chance at Goodison Park. Can he keep himself in the Spurs team for long enough to force his way into the Euro 2012 squad?
Talking point: Things have started to go sour around Spurs of late, and they must now face up to the real prospect of being caught by neighbours and arch-rivals Arsenal, who are just four points behind them in fourth. Could the Gunners really do it? And how much is Harry Redknapp's link with the England job taking its toll on his Tottenham squad?
Bet of the day: Royston Drenthe to score anytime, 4/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-0


Chelsea v Stoke

Form: Roberto Di Matteo will be taking charge of Chelsea in the league for the first time, having masterminded a midweek victory over Birmingham. That being so, the dismal form in the final weeks of Andre Villas-Boas' tenure is perhaps not particularly relevant - although they were awful in his final game as manager: a 1-0 defeat at West Brom last weekend. Stoke have won their last two in the league, recording a clean sheet on both occasions.
Key battle: David Luiz has been at Chelsea for a year, yet is still to convince anyone that he's well suited to the physical challenge of the Premier League. The last thing he will want is a bruising encounter against the top division's most powerful side, and the likes of Peter Crouch and Jon Walters will aim to take advantage of any indecision shown by the Brazilian.
Player to watch: Raul Meireles doesn't appear particularly taken by the decision to dismiss his fellow Portuguese Villas-Boas, offering a muted celebration after scoring against Birmingham. Will be interesting to see how committed he appears to the cause.
Talking point: If Fernando Torres does not score within nine minutes of taking the pitch, then he will have gone 24 hours without finding the target, which officially makes him the man who couldn't score if he played all day. Alan Shearer has suggested a transfer away from Stamford Bridge may help the striker, but who's going to take the risk on him, especially when he's likely to command a huge transfer fee?
Bet of the day: Daniel Sturridge to score anytime in a 1-0 Chelsea win, 16/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-0


Wolves v Blackburn

Form: Wolves are in the midst of a dismal run, and have conceded five goals on two separate occasions in the last month - although they did pick up a point at Newcastle in Terry Connor's first game in charge on February 25. Blackburn have taken four points out of the last nine and, having looked in total disarray at points this season, are slowly crawling towards safety.
Key battle: Blackburn are hugely reliant on Yakubu for goals - the Nigerian has 13 from 18 starts in the league this season; their next-highest scorer can boast three - so Wolves will need to stifle both the striker and his supply line.
Player to watch: Roger Johnson was fined earlier this week for a breach of team discipline, but has been allowed to keep the Wolves captaincy - and he will be eager to justify Connor's judgement by producing a resilient performance at Ewood Park.
Talking point: Which of these two teams looks the more likely to avoid the drop into the Championship? And if they do, will it be on merit - or have they simply been lucky that the standard towards the bottom of the Premier League is as low as it's ever been?
Bet of the day: Draw H/T-Wolves F/T, 5/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1


Mario Balotelli ran riot last week against struggling Bolton, who have taken just one point from 15 © PA Photos
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Bolton v QPR

Form: The Trotters badly need a victory, having picked up just one point out of the last 15 available - although they won't have expected much from recent trips to Manchester City and Chelsea. QPR boss Mark Hughes will have been disappointed to take just one point from matches against Everton, Fulham, Blackburn and Wolves.
Key battle: Bolton chief Owen Coyle is hopeful that Kevin Davies will be able to make a return, having been absent since picking up a knee problem during a February defeat to Wigan. Anton Ferdinand will need to steel himself for a tussle with the targetman.
Player to watch: Ryo Miyaichi, on loan at Bolton from Arsenal, forced Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart to produce a terrific save at the Etihad last week - and, while he looks a little lightweight, he seems to have the talent to make a similar impact to the one Jack Wilshere made when borrowed from the Gunners two seasons ago. Miyaichi could prove the difference.
Talking point: Coyle has come out in support of friend Andre Villas-Boas in the past week, saying that he should have been given more time to work his magic at Chelsea. Is Coyle sending a veiled message to his Bolton paymasters, given he has a pretty precarious grasp on his own job at the Reebok?
Bet of the day: Bobby Zamora to score anytime in a 2-1 QPR win, 20/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-2


Sunderland v Liverpool

Form: Liverpool's Champions League ambitions are hanging by a thread following their defeat to Arsenal last weekend. Kenny Dalglish's side are now without a win in three league matches, although can still bask in the glow of a Carling Cup win in late February. Sunderland, more or less safe from the threat of relegation, bounced back from a 4-0 hammering at West Brom to grab a creditable draw at St James' Park in their most recent outing.
Key battle: Two players with something to prove: Nicklas Bendtner and Jamie Carragher. Bendtner, out of favour at parent club Arsenal, will want to prove he has what it takes to earn a move to a trophy-challenging team over the summer; Carragher will be out to show he still has enough about him to compete at the top level, having been marginalised by the form of Martin Skrtel and the injured Daniel Agger.
Player to watch: Liverpool's Jordan Henderson will be returning to the club he left last summer and, while he perhaps hasn't justified the lofty transfer fee he moved for, over the last few weeks he's looked more comfortable playing for a more illustrious club. Maybe he's got an outside chance of making his way into the Euro 2012 squad - particularly if U-21 chief Stuart Pearce stays in charge - providing he can string together a decent set of performances between now and May.
Talking point: Is Liverpool's progress in the cups - still in the FA, Carling already in the bag - masking what has been a pretty disappointing season, considering how much they spent last summer?
Bet of the day: Under 2.5 goals, 7/10 with bet365
Prediction: 0-0


Aston Villa v Fulham

Form: Villa are struggling to pull themselves away from the relegation places, and are winless in their last five in the league. Fulham have won each of their last three, including most recently a 5-0 thumping of Wolves.
Key battle: Clint Dempsey remains one of the most underrated players in the Premier League - if not the world - and the United States international has enjoyed another productive season, with 12 league goals and four assists. He has a Paul Scholes-esque tendency to time his runs into the box to perfection, so the Villa defence and midfield will need to keep their lines of communication open.
Player to watch: Pavel Pogrebnyak has been a sensation since arriving at Fulham, scoring five goals in three league starts. The striker is out of contract in the summer, and the Cottagers will want to get him snapped up as soon as possible if he continues this hot streak.
Talking point: Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has said that the anger aimed at boss Alex McLeish from the stands is having a negative influence on the players. But are the Villa fans for turning? Has ex-Birmingham boss McLeish found himself beyond the point of no return?
Bet of the day: 1-1 draw, 5/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1


Sunday

Swansea v Manchester City

Form: League leaders City's six-game winning run was snapped by a 1-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon in midweek, although they were unfortunate not to pick up at least a draw. Swansea were in danger of being sucked down the league until a key 2-0 victory at Wigan last time out.
Key battle: Got to be the central midfield area, where City will need to stop the Swansea trio monopolising possession, as they have done against pretty much every team they've faced this season, particularly at home. Expect Nigel de Jong to be pressed into service, with the Netherlands international tasked with snapping at the heels of the fleet-footed Swansea maestros.
Player to watch: City will be without captain Vincent Kompany, who was injured against Sporting, for this one - and Joleon Lescott is a fitness concern. The pressure will be on Stefan Savic to perform if selected for what would be only his fifth Premier League start.
Talking point: How big a loss is Kompany going to be for City? Could Mancini live to regret his decision to throw him into service in the Europa League - which, despite what the Italian has hinted at, is surely not as big a priority as the Premier League title is?
Bet of the day: Yaya Toure first scorer, 9/1 with bet365
Prediction: 0-1


Manchester United will be glad to see some Premier League action after a couple of harrowing nights in the Europa League of late © PA Photos
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Manchester United v West Brom

Form: Manchester United have lost their last two matches at Old Trafford - against Athletic Bilbao and Ajax in the Europa League - but just keep notching triumphs in domestic competition to pile more pressure on City. West Brom are playing as well as they have all season, winning their last three matches with an aggregate score of 10-1.
Key battle: United's midfield looked disconcertingly easy to slice through against Bilbao, and the visitors fired off shots from range at will, forcing David de Gea to produce a top-quality performance. With Chris Brunt, who possesses a missile of a left foot, poised to come back into the fold for the Baggies, De Gea cannot afford to switch off any time the ball is near his penalty box.
Player to watch: Danny Welbeck didn't feature in the defeat to the Spanish side in midweek, and will look at games like these as a chance to prove he has the quality to lead the line for England early on at Euro 2012 in the absence of the suspended Wayne Rooney.
Talking point: Similar to City's really, in that Ferguson is talking about leaving out a couple of key players for this one, with one eye on overturning the deficit they will face in Bilbao. West Brom picked up a 2-2 draw in this fixture last season - are they really to be underestimated? When did the Europa League recover its prestige?
Bet of the day: 2-1 Manchester United, 6/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1


Norwich v Wigan

Form: Wigan, at the foot of the table, took just one point from their most recent two matches - both of which were at home against teams in the bottom half. Norwich are 13 points away from 18th place, and arguably already free from the threat of relegation - although they have lost their last three in all competitions.
Key battle: Norwich have taken the league by storm, and most of that has been on the back of the fine scoring form of their front two, Grant Holt and Steve Morison, who can boast 18 league strikes between them. Antolin Alcaraz and Gary Caldwell will need to be at their very best.
Player to watch: Victor Moses has backed boss Roberto Martinez's decision to leave him on the bench last week, but the livewire forward will want to re-establish his place in the first team as soon as possible - starting at Carrow Road. Moses has lacked for end product all season - 72 shots, two goals in the league - and he needs to up his game in that regard.
Talking point: Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said he was still firmly behind Martinez after the defeat to Swansea. His loyalty is admirable, but was it really the right decision from Martinez to leave Moses, Hugo Rodallega and Mohamed Diame on the bench for such a crucial fixture?
Bet of the day: Grant Holt to score first in a 2-1 Norwich win, 30/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1


Monday

Arsenal v Newcastle

Form: The Gunners looked to be on their knees when, on February 18, they were knocked out of the FA Cup at Sunderland. But since then they have recorded wins against Spurs, Liverpool and AC Milan - results which have kept the wolves from Arsene Wenger's door. Newcastle are winless in three, and really need a victory to keep alive their fading hopes of securing a Champions League spot next season.
Key battle: The Gunners have something of an injury crisis in central midfield - although Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey could be back for this one - so Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye, two of the most impressive performers in the league this season, will fancy their chances of controlling that area. And if Arsenal can't control possession, it puts a lot of pressure on their creaky defence.
Player to watch: Two of the best young goalkeepers in the league on show here - Wojciech Szczesny and Tim Krul - and it's easy to imagine that both will be eager to display their talents. Krul has recently signed a new contract with the Magpies, and he has the crucial job of trying to deny Netherlands international team-mate Robin van Persie.
Talking point: Arsenal have reportedly agreed to sign Lukas Podolski from Cologne in the summer. The Germany international is a left-footed frontman, which will inevitably fuel speculation that he is being brought in to replace Van Persie, whose contract expires in summer 2013. Will Manchester City make another high-profile signing from the Gunners? Are we seeing the final run of games for Van Persie in an Arsenal shirt?
Bet of the day: The draw, 10/3 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1


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