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King Kenny comes home on big weekend for title race

ESPN staff
January 14, 2011
Frank Lampard will hope to inspire Chelsea's bid to get back into the title race on a big weekend of Premier League action © PA Photos
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After the thrills and spills of the FA Cup last week, normal service is resumed with a potentially explosive Premier League programme. Champions Chelsea will look to get their push back on track against Blackburn, Tottenham entertain leaders Manchester United, Arsenal and West Ham face off in front of the ESPN cameras, and there is a small matter of three genuine derby matches on Sunday, including King Kenny's Anfield homecoming at Liverpool.

Saturday

Chelsea v Blackburn
Form: Chelsea have won just one of their last nine league matches, but are coming off the back of a morale-boosting 7-0 win over Ipswich in the FA Cup. They play a Blackburn side in mixed form under Steve Kean, with two wins and two defeats from their last four league matches.
Key battle: Christopher Samba has made no secret of his desire to leave Ewood Park, and he will do his chances of a transfer no harm if he can keep Didier Drogba quiet. The big defender has been linked with Arsenal and Aston Villa, and a clean sheet against Chelsea would certainly give Arsene Wenger food for thought.
Player to watch: Frank Lampard. Two goals against Ipswich suggest the midfielder is getting back to full fitness following a four-month lay-off with a groin injury. His return to form could coincide with his team rediscovering their winning mentality.
Talking point: Rovers may not be signing Ronaldinho or David Beckham, but Blackburn fans may well be appeased with the imminent return of striker Roque Santa Cruz. The jury is still out for Venky's, but just how ambitious are the new owners?
Bet of the day: Chelsea rediscovered their shooting boots last weekend, and Blackburn could be on the wrong end of a drubbing. Lampard to score first in a 3-0 win: 22/1 with bet365
Prediction: 3-0

Manchester City v Wolves
Form: City are sitting pretty in second place, just two points off rivals Manchester United. Unbeaten in their last four league matches, Roberto Mancini's men will be wary of a Wolves side who responded to defeats against relegation rivals with victories over Liverpool and Chelsea.
Key battle: Richard Stearman has been a key player for Wolves this season, but he will have his work cut out against City captain Carlos Tevez. The Argentine is City's top scorer this season, and if Stearman can make it a frustrating afternoon for Tevez, Wolves could take something away from the City of Manchester Stadium.
Player to watch: Having warmed the bench for much of the early part of the season, Mancini could turn to Jo to replace the injured Mario Balotelli. With Bosnian hitman Edin Dzeko making a long-anticipated switch to Eastlands, Jo needs to make the most of any opportunities he gets.
Talking point: Can City succeed where Liverpool and Chelsea have failed? City lost the reverse fixture at Molineux in October, and will be desperate to prove their title credentials with three points in what should be a 'banker'.
Bet of the day: Jo to score first in a 3-1 win for Manchester City: 16/1 with bet365
Prediction: City to win 3-1

John Terry congratulates goalscorer Frank Lampard © PA Photos
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Stoke City v Bolton
Form: Bolton remain in the hunt for a top-six finish and possible European football next season, but they need to end a run of three league matches without a win. Stoke enter the match in unpredictable form at the Britannia Stadium, where they have beaten Liverpool and Everton, but lost to Blackpool and Fulham.
Key battle: Kevin Davies remains such a key figure for Bolton, as proved when he changed their FA Cup tie with York City. Stoke will need Robert Huth to continue his immense season for the club.
Player to watch: Ryan Shawcross. This time last season the England Under-21 international was being linked to a host of top clubs. His form has been less consistent over the past six months, raising question marks over how much potential the young defender boasts.
Talking point: Johan Elmander looked odds-on for a January move away from Bolton earlier in the campaign, but a spell of two goals in nine games has maybe served as a reminder to possible suitors over the frustrating side of the Swede.
Bet of the day: Stoke appear to be carrying the greater momentum into this match, back the home side for a 2-0 win: 8/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-0

West Brom v Blackpool
Form: Blackpool fans were singing Phil Brown's infamous jingle of "this is the best trip I've ever been on" during their 2-1 win over Liverpool. Victory did, though, end a spell of three consecutive defeats for the Tangerines. West Brom's desperation for three points is far greater after six straight losses, which have left them a point above the relegation zone.
Key battle: DJ Campbell does his best work away from home, scoring six of his eight goals outside of Bloomfield Road this season. Much will rely on forgotten Netherlands Under-21 international Gianni Zuiverloon in the Baggies' defence.
Player to watch: Matt Phillips might not start for Blackpool but he has the direct running style to terrorise fullbacks, as Aleksandar Kolarov discovered when eventually substituted by Manchester City.
Talking point: Charlie Adam is a £3.5 million target of Aston Villa and Birmingham, but Ian Holloway is refusing to allow his playmaker to leave. Will the Blackpool boss eventually pay the price in an era of player power?
Bet of the day: West Brom were excellent in their recent loss to Manchester United and their need for three points could make the difference at the Hawthorns, back the Baggies for a 1-0 win: 17/2 with bet365
Prediction: 1-0

West Ham v Arsenal
Form: Avram Grant has been here before. Last year he led Portsmouth to Wembley while seeing them relegated (albeit due to the club entering into administration), and now it appears relegation-threatened West Ham are on the verge of a cup final of their own. The same might not be said for Arsenal, who continue to refuse to put their best foot forward this season, inexplicably losing to Ipswich in their last game.
Key battle: Arsene Wenger's greatest battle is with his own players. One week they are maturing, the next they are making naive errors according to their boss. If Arsenal bring their A game to Upton Park, they will more-than-likely earn three points.
Player to watch: Scott Parker has been the Hammers' main man, but the work of Jonathan Spector has been one of the season's less expected talking points. Arsenal would be foolish to overlook the former Manchester United man when setting up their defence.
Talking point: Andrei Arshavin is capable of brilliance, as shown in games such as the 4-4 draw at Anfield a couple of seasons back. But more often than not, the Russian does a fantastic disappearing act, which begs the question: How much money would tempt Wenger to sell?
Bet of the day: Arsenal's record away from home at the so-called 'lesser clubs' has been excellent this season, only dropping points at Wigan and Sunderland. An early goal could set up a comfortable 3-0 win this weekend: 10/1 with bet365
Prediction: 0-3

Wigan v Fulham
Form: Wigan find themselves second from bottom despite losing only one of their last six league games. The problem is that they have also only won one, and they meet a Fulham side buoyed by a 6-2 humbling of Peterborough in the FA Cup.
Key battle: Diomansy Kamara grabbed a hat-trick for Fulham in that cup win, but will he get any change out of Steven Caldwell?
Player to watch: Charles N'Zogbia returns from a three-match suspension following his sending-off against Arsenal. The Frenchman has been linked to Liverpool, and usually he reserves his best form for when he's in the shop window.
Talking point: Is Mauro Boselli the worst signing in Premier League history? £6.5 million for a man who scored once against Swansea before heading for a loan move to Genoa.
Bet of the day: Wigan have been showing signs of improvement, back them for a 2-1 victory: 9/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Kyle Walker made a great start to his Aston Villa debut at Sheffield United © PA Photos
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Sunday

Birmingham v Aston Villa
Form: Birmingham remain one point above the relegation zone after one win in five league games, but they appear to be improving after drawing with Manchester United and beating Blackpool in two of their last three league fixtures. Aston Villa's last two Premier League away days produced a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City and a 3-3 draw at Chelsea.
Key battle: As a local boy Gabriel Agbonlahor always gets himself up for derby days, but will he get the better of Roger Johnson, with whom he has had a controversial battle in the past.
Player to watch: David Bentley. On loan from Tottenham and with a big point to prove, the England international will look to supply the bullets for the well-timed runs of Lee Bowyer into the box.
Talking point: Given the pressure Gerard Houllier finds himself under, how is it that Alex McLeish appears to have his board's full backing despite the threat of relegation?
Bet of the day: Derby days are generally tight affairs, so back the 1-1 draw: 5/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1

Sunderland v Newcastle
Form: The last time Sunderland hosted the Magpies they lost 2-1. However, that was Notts County in the FA Cup. Newcastle beat the Black Cats 5-1 at St James' Park, but they too are coming off a cup giant-killing at the hands of Stevenage.
Key battle: Kevin Nolan's goals sparked the Sunderland beating earlier in the season, but will he be outshone by young Jordan Henderson in the midfield?
Player to watch: Lee Cattermole always walks a fine line in any football match. How will he go in the atmosphere of a derby match?
Talking point: Should Cheik Tiote be available for this match? Sent off at Stevenage, Nolan claims Newcastle have been robbed of their best player.
Bet of the day: Sheer pride will see Sunderland tear into Newcastle this weekend. Back them to match the margin by which they lost earlier in the season, winning 4-0: 40/1 with bet365
Prediction: 4-0

Fernando Torres needs to lead from the front for Liverpool © PA Photos
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Liverpool v Everton
Form: Liverpool enter the Merseyside derby below their local rivals after losing 10 of 21 league matches this season. The Reds have lost both of Kenny Dalglish's opening two games as manager, but Sunday marks his homecoming at Anfield. Everton undoubtedly go into the fixture in better form after following up a 2-1 victory over Tottenham with a 5-1 drubbing of Scunthorpe.
Key battle: Louis Saha is beginning to find the net for the Toffees, scoring the opening goals in their last two fixtures, and Liverpool's shaky defence has not kept a clean sheet in five league games. Daniel Agger owes the Reds a performance after costly errors at Old Trafford and Bloomfield Road.
Player to watch: Fernando Torres. Liverpool have no Steven Gerrard so any victory will surely be inspired by their other talisman, who scored a beauty at Blackpool.
Talking point: Will Kenny Dalglish prove to be the right man for Liverpool? He has had an awful start, but Sunday represents the first chance for King Kenny to pick his best available side after a week getting to know the squad.
Bet of the day: Backed by a rousing atmosphere, back Liverpool to deliver for Dalglish with a 2-1 victory: 8/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Tottenham v Manchester United
Form: Manchester United remain unbeaten in the league, but they have won only two of nine away games and were extremely fortunate with refereeing decisions in the win at West Brom. Their record will get a severe test at Tottenham, who have lost only one of 11 league games at White Hart Lane.
Key battle: Wayne Rooney is back for United, and the England man was outstanding for the Red Devils in last season's fixture when he led the line after Paul Scholes was sent off. His battle with Michael Dawson will be one for the old-fashioned football fan.
Player to watch: Ryan Giggs was exceptional against Liverpool in the FA Cup, where the most contestable decision of the day was ITV's choice to hand Dimitar Berbatov man-of-the-match. Giggs will look to keep Alan Hutton honest at right-back.
Talking point: Has the circus surrounding David Beckham's on-off move to Tottenham distracted Harry Redknapp's squad ahead of Sunday's big game?
Bet of the day: Jermaine Defoe hit the net inside 60 seconds with an overhead kick in last year's fixture, and he marked his return from injury with a brace against Charlton in the FA Cup. Back the striker to score first in a 2-1 Tottenham victory: 40/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

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