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United look to move a step closer to 19th league title

ESPN staff
April 8, 2011
Dimitar Berbatov will be keen to get back in the headlines in the absence of Wayne Rooney © Getty Images
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Betting: Tottenham could have a hangover

Champions League quarter-finals hogged the back pages in midweek but the Premier League will once again occupy the column inches this weekend. Leaders Manchester United are closing in on a 19th league title but they will be unable to call upon the suspended Wayne Rooney when they host Fulham. Arsenal will aim to stay in hot pursuit with a win at struggling Blackpool, while Liverpool welcome a Manchester City side craving consistency. At the other end of the table West Ham and Wigan face tough away trips to Bolton and Chelsea respectively, meaning Wolves will be determined to make the most of home advantage when they welcome Everton to Molineux.

Saturday

Manchester United v Fulham
Form: United's narrow triumph at Stamford Bridge in midweek was their fifth win on the bounce in all competitions. Ominously for Fulham, United's home form is unrivalled - 14 victories have come from 15 games, so Rooney's omission may well go unnoticed. Fulham look a match for anyone at Craven Cottage but it's on the road where their problems lie - they've only mustered one victory on their travels.
Key battle: Rio Ferdinand looked like he had never been away when he returned from injury to help United block out Chelsea. Bobby Zamora is fit and firing again so Ferdinand's fragile body will face a fierce examination.
Player to watch: Dimitar Berbatov has taken a back seat in recent weeks but the league's top scorer will be keen to remind Sir Alex Ferguson of his capabilities, so Fulham beware.
Talking point: Why is Fuham's away form so bad? They may have to wait for it to improve because they have failed to score in their last three league visits to Old Trafford.
Bet of the day: Berbatov to bag a hat-trick: 22/1 with bet365
Prediction: 3-0

Blackburn v Birmingham
Form: Blackburn enter the fixture on the back of a morale-boosting 0-0 draw at Arsenal and they will be desperate to follow it up with a much-needed three points - you have to go as far back as January 23 for their last victory. Birmingham finally got back to winning ways with a narrow triumph over Bolton last weekend and a rare victory away from St Andrews would complete a terrific couple of weeks for the Blues.
Key battle: Phil Jones performed manfully when deployed in central midfield against Arsenal and he is likely to continue in the role in the absence of Steve Nzonzi, who is suspended. Birmingham's midfield destroyer Lee Bowyer will relish the confrontation.
Player to watch: Veteran Kevin Phillips has scored two in his last three games and he will want to make the most of his current goal rush.
Talking point: Will Blackburn break their winless run? The record books suggest they will - when the two teams have met on the last nine occasions in the league and in cup competitions, the home side has won every time.
Bet of the day: Phillips to score first and Blackburn to win 2-1: 95/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Bolton v West Ham
Form: Since reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup courtesy of a battling victory over Birmingham, Bolton have been on the wrong side of their last two fixtures. In general, their home form has been impressive - they've only suffered two defeats at the Reebok Stadium in 15 league encounters, so they will be confident of bouncing back from their recent woes. The Hammers will want to banish the memory of their 4-2 defeat to Manchester United but their poor form on the road may prove a stumbling block.
Key battle: Scott Parker has enjoyed a terrific season, proving that a top player can shine even when their team is battling at the wrong end of the table. Fabrice Muamba has a great engine and will hound Parker all day long, but the West Ham man seems to thrive when presented with a challenge.
Player to watch: Johan Elmander is beginning to regain the form he showed at the start of the season and that's bad news for a delicate West Ham defence.
Talking point: West Ham hold a dire record at Bolton - in 27 league visits they've lost 20, drawn four and won three.
Bet of the day: Bolton to win 2-1: 8/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Nicolas Anelka could ignite Chelsea's misfiring strikeforce © PA Photos
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Chelsea v Wigan
Form: Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Stoke all but ended their title challenge, and a bad week became a terrible one when Wayne Rooney put Manchester United in the driving seat in their all-English Champions League quarter-final. Wigan are fighting for their lives and, after two straight defeats, they've given themselves a lifeline with four points from a possible six.
Key battle: David Luiz was cup-tied for the clash against United but the Brazilian returns to the fold. Hugo Rodallega has pace to burn but he may not get a chance to use it if Luiz puts himself about as only he can.
Player to watch: With Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres failing to strike up a decent partnership in attack, Nicolas Anelka may be the man to spark Chelsea into life.
Talking point: Is it little wonder Wigan sit at the foot of the table when you consider they have only scored 29 goals in 31 games?
Bet of the day: Anelka to score first and Chelsea 2-0: 16/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-0

Sunderland v West Brom
Form: Sunderland will still be licking their wounds after their crushing 5-0 defeat to Manchester City and they need to get their season back on track, and fast, to avoid being sucked into the relegation battle. Roy Hodgson's West Brom are flying high at the moment, they've won two of their last three and haven't been beaten since early February.
Key battle: Lee Cattermole versus Youssuf Mulumbu doesn't need selling. Expect that battle to go the distance.
Player to watch: Baggies captain Chris Brunt possesses a lethal strike - just ask Liverpool's Pepe Reina - and Sunderland will be desperate not to give him a sniff near their box.
Talking point: Sunderland's goal drought currently stands at 439 minutes. Kieran Richardson may provide a cutting edge should he come through a late fitness test.
Bet of the day: Brunt to score first goal: 11/1 with bet365
Prediction: 0-1

Tottenham v Stoke City
Form: Spurs endured a torrid time at the Bernabeu earlier in the week and, worryingly for Harry Redknapp, his troops haven't found the back of the net in four matches. Stoke deservedly picked up a point against Chelsea but, such is their dismal record away from home, they may settle for another draw at White Hart Lane.
Key battle: Jermain Defoe is one of the quickest forwards in the league and he'll want to use his speed to keep out of the clutches of Robert Huth.
Player to watch: Jon Walters bewitched the Chelsea defence with a fine run and finish to showcase his talent, a talent that he is beginning to harness.
Talking point: Spurs like to play eye-catching attacking football but the lack of goals in recent times highlight their current struggles. Their dry patch has lasted 402 minutes.
Bet of the day: Walters to score first goal and a 1-1 draw: 55/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1

Wolves v Everton
Form: After putting together a string of encouraging results, last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Newcastle was a bitter pill to swallow for Wolves. One week they look a side that can mix it with the big boys and the next they appear destined for the Championship. Mick McCarthy's team need to find some consistency, especially on the road where they've only won two of 16 games, while seventh placed Everton look safe on 41 points. They did well to snatch a point against Aston Villa last time out but seven draws away from home tells its own story.
Key battle: Everton's injury problems are excessive at the moment and Phil Neville may be needed to fill the void in the middle of the park. Karl Henry will make his transition anything but seamless.
Player to watch: Leon Osman pops up every now and again with a timely goal and Everton may need him to make it a more regular occurrence if they are to catch sixth-placed Liverpool.
Talking point: Everton may be decimated with injuries but of greater concern to David Moyes may be the fact the Toffees have not won at Molineux for 29 years.
Bet of the day: Wolves to win 2-1: 9/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Theo Walcott scored a stunning hat-trick against Blackpool back in August
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Sunday

Blackpool v Arsenal
Form: Blackpool are in free fall, losing three of their last four to leave them flirting with the drop zone. Arsenal's title aspirations were dealt a major setback when Blackburn departed the Emirates Stadium with a point and, should United take another three points on Saturday, more dropped points for the Gunners would surely prove the final nail in the coffin.
Key battle: There is so much pressure on Charlie Adam's shoulders. If he dominates the centre of the pitch then Blackpool more often than not enjoy a positive result. If he gets the better of Cesc Fabregas then the current cloud hanging over Bloomfield Road has a better chance of lifting.
Player to watch: Theo Walcott struck his first club hat-trick when Arsenal bludgeoned six past a hapless Blackpool earlier in the season. The flying winger will want to resume his love affair with all things orange.
Talking point: The Tangerines own an unenviable record - they have the worst home statistics in the Premier League with only four victories and 15 points at Bloomfield Road, so welcoming the team with the best away record may not be the ideal motivator.
Bet of the day: Walcott to score a hat-trick: 28/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-3

Aston Villa v Newcastle
Form: Aston Villa would expect to have more than six wins from their 15 home fixtures and if they did they'd most probably not find themselves floundering in 16th place. Newcastle's emphatic win over Wolves last time out stopped a run of two straight defeats and they could be as high as seventh if they beat Villa and other results go their way.
Key battle: With Kevin Nolan unavailable after picking up his 10th yellow card, Joey Barton will carry the burden of controlling the centre circle for Newcastle. Nigel Reo-Coker goes about his business in a no-nonsense way and the pair could serve up a treat for those who prefer attrition over flair.
Player to watch: Despite Villa scratching around for form, Ashley Young continues to make things happen and his individual displays have been one of few plus points for Gerard Houllier.
Talking point: Gerard Houllier saluted his side's "character "and "fighting spirit" in their 2-2 draw with Everton but he will be hoping they don't have to call upon those qualities against Newcastle.
Bet of the day: A 2-2 draw: 14/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-2

Monday

Liverpool v Manchester City
Form: A 2-1 loss at West Brom put the brakes on Liverpool's encouraging run in the league. Their home form has been pretty good this season, however, and they have fifth-placed Tottenham in their sights. City returned to winning ways with a thumping 5-0 destruction of Sunderland but their inconsistency may prevent them from bettering their position of third.
Key battle: Carlos Tevez may not miss his snood quite as much now the weather has taken a turn for the better and if the sun helps him raise his level by even 5% then Jamie Carragher faces a tricky evening.
Player to watch: Liverpool have been rocked by the news Steven Gerrard will miss the run-in with a groin strain, leaving Raul Meireles with big shoes to fill. The Portuguese midfielder has looked impressive in recent weeks but the spotlight will fall on him now more than ever.
Talking point: Why are City so inconsistent? They have the players, maybe it's the manager and his negative tactics? Old news perhaps.
Bet of the day: A 1-1 draw: 5/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1

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