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Three points that could change a season

ESPN staff
April 22, 2011
Sunderland are currently in free fall © PA Photos
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After last weekend's FA Cup semi-final excitement, the focus returns to the Premier League - with the small matter of relegation and the title destination edging ever closer to being decided.

Chelsea and Arsenal are both chasing down Manchester United, with a slip up from any one of the three clubs potentially changing the face of the title race.

At the bottom, however, it's all about picking up precious points. If Sunderland's recent slump tells us anything, it is that no club can feel themselves completely safe from the dreaded drop until the sums indicate that is unequivocally the case.

Betting - Villa to win for Houllier?

Saturday

Manchester United v Everton
Form: One of these teams is second in the league form table, while the other is seventh - but not necessarily the one you would expect. Everton have not lost in their last six - winning four - while United have suffered two defeats and a draw in the same span, a sequence they will be looking to improve on as they try to close out a 19th title.
Key battle: Nani has been a handful for the majority of full-backs this term and Leighton Baines will have to be on his game if he is to avoid becoming another to fall under the Portuguese's spell.
Player to watch: Leon Osman has excelled in recent weeks and, if his performance last week against Blackburn is anything to go by, his eye-catching form is here to stay.
Talking point: Will United's unrivalled home form see them be crowned champions for a record 19th time? Old Trafford has become something of a fortress once again, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side enjoying 15 wins and a draw from 16 fixtures at the Theatre of Dreams.
Bet of the day: Everton don't seem to fear facing Manchester United, and could potentially hold onto a 0-0 draw in a way other teams have agonisingly failed to do at Old Trafford this season: 12/1 with bet365
Prediction: 0-0

Aston Villa v Stoke
Form: FA Cup finalists they may be, but Stoke's recent league form has suffered slightly as a consequence. Tony Pulis' side have won just one of their last six, drawing two in the process. Villa, meanwhile, have won three and lost two in the same period - a run that has brought them to the edge of safety for another season.
Key battle: Kenwyne Jones is in a rich vein of form currently, and was instrumental as Stoke fought back to win when the two sides met earlier in the season. Recalled to the side after falling out of favour for a period, James Collins will need to be on his best to counter the dreadlocked one.
Player to watch: At £18 million, Darren Bent was considered something of a panic buy when he arrived in January. But a game-winning performance at the weekend could secure Villa's top flight status for another year - and thus provide early vindication of their purchase.
Talking point: How will Villa's players react to manager Gerard Houllier's hospitalisation - will it be more positively than Stoke's response after a week of FA Cup final celebrations?
Bet of the day: A 2-1 home win, reversing the score earlier in the season, seems good value: 15/2 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Blackpool v Newcastle
Form: Newcastle went a long way to securing their Premier League status with a hard-earned point against Manchester United on Tuesday, but things are exceptionally tight at the bottom and the Magpies in ninth sit just seven points ahead of Blackpool who occupy the final relegation spot. The Tangerines' superb start to life in the top flight is a distant memory and after being thumped at home by Wigan, find themselves in the drop zone. Ian Holloway's men have taken just one point from the last 18 available.
Key battle: Blackpool have conceded a whopping 69 goals - seven more than any other side in the top flight and during Newcastle's draw with Manchester United, Shola Ameobi threw in one of his more accomplished displays. The forward has had another stop-start season, but he could well view a clash with the Tangerines' leaky defence as the chance to show that he can still be a force for Newcastle
Player to watch: Blackpool really do need their players to stand up and be counted. DJ Campbell has scored 10 goals this season and he is likely to get chances against Newcastle's defence. But it remains to be seen if he can convert them.
Talking point: Charlie Adam did not break his foot against Wigan at the weekend, so may not have played his final game for the club just yet. His commitment has never wavered and it would be somewhat fitting if he was patched up, rolled out and promptly led his side to victory.
Bet of the day: A Charlie Adam to score in a 2-1 win for Blackpool: 22/1 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Liverpool enjoyed a dramatic finish against Arsenal last weekend © PA Photos
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Liverpool v Birmingham
Form: Under Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool have played six home games in the league, winning four and drawing the other two. Their form overall is patchy, however, with one victory in three matches highlighting their inconsistent performances. Birmingham's 3-1 defeat at Chelsea in midweek leaves them five points clear of the drop zone with five fixtures remaining. Squeaky bum time, indeed.
Key battle: Andy Carroll finally opened his Liverpool account with two goals against Manchester City a couple of weeks ago, but he is still searching for his best form. Roger Johnson will be aiming to prolong the hunt for the England striker.
Player to watch: All eyes will be on Liverpool's Jay Spearing after the midfielder was singled out by his manager for his recent showings.
Talking point: Only Manchester United and Chelsea have accumulated more points at home this season than Liverpool, so it's pretty obvious why they find themselves battling with Everton and Bolton for sixth spot.
Bet of the day: Birmingham have enjoyed trips to Anfield in the past, but this is a new Liverpool with a renewed vigour. A narrow 2-1 win seems likely: 15/2 with bet365
Prediction: 2-1

Sunderland v Wigan
Form: Sunderland are on a terrible run, picking up one point from a possible 27. Alarmingly for Steve Bruce, the Black Cats have shipped 12 goals in four matches and, with their strikers firing blanks all too frequently, it's little wonder they are embroiled in a relegation scrap. Wigan are enjoying a mini revival and their recent efforts have lifted them out of the drop zone for the first time in two months.
Key battle: Emmerson Boyce isn't one to shirk his defensive responsibilities and can regularly be found giving strikers a tough time. Danny Welbeck is an up-and-coming forward but he'll quickly become a man after this engagement.
Player to watch: Tom Cleverley has impressed lately and he'll need to continue to shine if Wigan are to build on their encouraging form.
Talking point: Wigan only need one win to better last season's points tally of 36.
Bet of the day: How about Hugo Rodallega - the club's new all-time leading Premier League goalscorer - to get another in a massively important away win? 15/2 with bet365
Prediction: 1-2

Tottenham v West Brom
Form: Spurs are on a run of draws - four in their last six - that has hampered their pursuit of another year in the Champions League. In contrast, West Brom under Roy Hodgson have gone on a Champions League-level run of results - losing just once in their last six, winning three to sit third in the current form table.
Key battle: Luka Modric, especially in the possible absence of Gareth Bale, is the heartbeat of this Spurs side. The onus will be on the likes of Chris Brunt and James Morrison to shackle the Croatian and prevent him pulling too many strings.
Player to watch: After a shaky few games, Heurelho Gomes will want to ensure he keeps a clean sheet in a must-win home game for his side.
Talking point: Spurs need to start winning again to qualify for next season's Champions League - but how much has the dramatic midweek draw with arch-rivals Arsenal taken out of them?.
Bet of the day: West Brom to be leading at half-time, but the game to be a draw at full-time: 16/1 with bet365
Prediction: 1-1

Wolves v Fulham
Form: Two teams with identical recent records - two wins, two draws and two defeats from their last six. But one team is practically safe already, while the other still desperately needs points to avoid the drop.
Key battle: When the two teams met in September, Bobby Zamora suffered a broken leg in a challenge with Karl Henry. Now feeling his way back into action after a prolonged recovery, it remains to be seen how the striker reacts to facing the no-nonsense midfielder once again.
Player to watch: Moussa Dembele scored twice in the reverse fixture earlier this season ... but he hasn't scored in the Premier League since. That needs to change soon.
Talking point: Having won 24 of their 32 points so far this season at home, can Wolves afford not to pick up three points in this clash? Or will they eventually have to find a big result away from home to stay up?
Bet of the day: Wolves' players should be firmly up for this as games run out in the relegation dog-fight. A 3-1 win seems a good value option: 20/1 with bet365
Prediction: 3-1

Chelsea v West Ham - Live on ESPN
Form: West Ham have steadily got things going in recent weeks, winning twice and drawing another to give themselves more hope of staying up. Chelsea, after that horror run around Christmas that seemed to end their title challenge, have somehow fought back into contention with five wins and a draw in their last six - the best recent record in the league.
Key battle: Without the newly-crowned FWA player of the year, Scott Parker, how will Thomas Hitzlsperger fare in shackling Frank Lampard in the heart of midfield - can he give the Hammers the base for a much-needed result?
Player to watch: Fernando Torres. Has he scored yet for Chelsea? No. But that has to change at some point - against one of the worst defensive sides in the league would seem like as good an opportunity as any.
Talking point: Carlo Ancelotti says Chelsea are out of the title race, despite being level on points with Arsenal (whose manager, Arsene Wenger, insists hope is still very much alive). Who is right?
Bet of the day: Torres to score and Chelsea to win looks enticing: 7/2 with bet365
Prediction: 4-1

Sunday

Arsene Wenger seems to be fighting the world at the minute © PA Photos
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Bolton v Arsenal
Form: Two teams in desperate need of pick-me-ups clash, with Bolton licking wounds following their FA Cup semi-final mauling by Stoke and Arsenal seeing their title hopes slip when surrendering a two-goal lead against Tottenham. Bolton have had another solid season in the league and with 43 points to their name, manager Owen Coyle must guard against the Benidorm factor creeping in. That, however, is unlikely with Arsenal making the trip to the Reebok. These two sides have served up some crackers over the years and with Arsenal still in the title hunt, they will be looking to build on their winning run against the Trotters which stands at nine games.
Key battle: This is likely to be won in the midfield trenches and with Cesc Fabregas producing such a sublime display against Tottenham without getting the desired result, he is likely to want revenge. Fabrice Muamba, who began his career with Arsenal, may well be the man who has to keep his former team-mate under wraps.
Player to watch: Gary Cahill has long been linked with a move to Arsenal and after blotting his copybook somewhat as Bolton shipped five goals at Wembley last weekend, he won't want to let another chance to impress. He may not endear himself to Arsene Wenger if he puts the skids under Arsenal's title charge by keeping Robin van Persie quiet, but it's all about the long game.
Talking point: Arsenal's title challenge has been derailed by failing to kill off games. Tottenham on Wednesday was just the tip of the iceberg (Newcastle, Spurs again, Sunderland etc). The record is doing nothing to quash claims that they have a soft underbelly and Wenger really does need his players to show they are up for the fight.
Bet of the day: A Samir Nasri snapped a goal drought in the league stretching back to New Year's Day and he can open the floodgates with the opener: 11/2 with bet365
Prediction: 1-2

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