English Premier League Round 16 (12/12 - 13/12)

Stoke City v Wigan Athletic
Chelsea v Everton
Birmingham City v West Ham United
Bolton v Manchester City
Tottenham v Wolverhampton
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Burnley v Fulham
Sunderland v Portsmouth
Liverpool v Arsenal


Saturday, December 12
Birmingham City v West Ham United
Team news: Birmingham City - Phillips (IN) -- West Ham United - Cole (OUT), Hines (OUT), Upson (OUT), Jimenez (OUT), Noble (IN)

Verdict: In-form Birmingham City will look to make it 7 games unbeaten on the bounce when they take on injury-ravaged West Ham. Alex McLeish has the luxury of fielding an unchanged squad from the one that defeated Wigan Athletic 3-2 in Round 15. West Ham manager, Gianfranco Zola, only wished he had his full compliment of players available as the 'spine' of his team in Carlton Cole and Matthew Upson are still sidelined.

Birmingham may not be free scoring at home (5 goals in 7 games) but they have conceded only 4 goals, the least of any team in the Premiership. Good news for the home side is that West Ham have let in 16 goals in their last 6 fixtures. Conceding 3 goals against the like of Hull City and Burnley does not bode well for the Hammers, especially when they have to make do without their top marksman.

Pick: Birmingham -0.25AH @1.85 (sbobet, 7 units)
Birmingham 1 - 0 West Ham United

Bolton v Manchester City
Team news: Bolton - Davies (IN) -- Manchester City - Ireland (IN), Bellamy (IN)

Verdict: Second from bottom Bolton take on a buoyed Manchester City team who have finally discovered that winning feeling. It's been all good news for Manchester City in recent weeks with wins over Arsenal (3-0 in League Cup) and league leaders Chelsea (2-1), in addition to Robinho declaring that he would like to stay at the club for the next 5 years. In complete contrast, Bolton manager Gary Megson is under pressure with his team winless in their last 5 league encounters and just 2pts above bottom side Portsmouth.

The problem for Bolton has been primarily their defence as they have yet to keep a clean sheet all season. Manchester City do have enough talent to keep that miserable streak running so the omens are not good for the home side. There is a glimmer of hope though for Bolton as the visitors seem to let their guard down when they play against unfashionable opposition. I expect goals here as a desperate Bolton side and a careless Manchester City side fight for maximum points.

Pick: Over 2.25 goals @1.71 (sbobet, 7 units)
Bolton 3 - 3 Manchester City

Chelsea v Everton
Team news: Chelsea - Essien (OUT), Kalou (OUT), Deco (unavailable) -- Everton - Heitinga (IN), Cahill (susp.), Yobo (OUT), Distin (50/50).

Verdict: Stalling Chelsea will look to get back to winning ways against a slowly improving Everton. Chelsea are winless in their last 3 competitive fixtures following their 'meaningless' 2-2 draw against APOEL midweek. Winning is a habit and Chelsea seem to have just lost that for the moment. Despite only achieving a single victory in their past 9 league fixtures, Everton will go to Stamford Bridge with some hope of upsetting the apple cart. The visitors performed heroics against Tottenham in Round 15, fighting back from a 2-0 deficit to snatch a point. Coupled with their fine 1-0 away win against AEK in Athens, and their good showing (but unfortunate result) against rivals Liverpool, Everton is slowly on the up.

Battles between these two teams have been historically tight in the past. Everton have in fact managed to hold their more fancied rivals to scoreless draws in their last 2 league meetings. With Chelsea not on top of their game at the moment and Ancelotti perhaps having to juggle his resources to avoid burnout (play against Portsmouth in 4 days), I fancy Everton to keep it close here. In addition, Everton have the added rest and the advantage of putting all their energies and focus on this game, considering they have a meaningless encounter against BATE Borisov midweek (Everton have already qualified to the next stages of Europa).

Pick: Everton +1.75AH @1.98 (sbobet, 7 units)
Chelsea 3 - 3 Everton

Tottenham v Wolverhampton
Team news: Tottenham - Modric (doubtful), Palacios (doubtful) -- Wolverhampton - Keogh (OUT), Kightly (OUT), Jones (doubtful)

Verdict: Wolverhampton broke an 8 game winless streak against Bolton in Round 15 with Serbian midfielder Milijas the star of the show, in a 2-1 win. Tottenham dropped a certain 3pts at Everton after Defoe missed a penalty with virtually the last kick of the game, eventually having to settle for a 2-2 draw. Despite their setbacks in recent weeks against strong opposition, Tottenham are playing good football and creating plentiful opportunities. Wolves have only managed to keep one clean sheet and one win away from The Molineaux all season. With Tottenham 'burning' from their shortcomings on their travels in recent weeks, they return back to White Hart Lane for the first time since the 9-1 mauling of Wigan Athletic, looking to put things right. I can't see anything but a comfortable win for the Londoners.

Pick: Tottenham -1.5AH @1.78 (sbobet, 6 units)
Tottenham 0 - 1 Wolverhampton

Liverpool v Arsenal
Team news: Liverpool - Torres (IN), Babel (doubtful) -- Arsenal - Eduardo (doubtful), Diaby (doubtful), Walcott (IN)

Verdict: With the surprising misfirings of Chelsea and Manchester United yesterday, this game perhaps takes on an added significance. The good news for Liverpool is that their treatment table has been cleared of its most influential players as Torres and Gerrard set to take the field together for the first time in over a month. In contrast, Arsenal's injury crisis seems to be getting worse as they are starved of all their striking power, leaving Arsene Wenger with no option to field an underdone Walcott and midfielder Arshavin in the forward line. Liverpool have been dissapointing this season but they have shown to raise their game against their biggest rivals, namely Everton and Manchester United, games where the Reds have collected maximum points. In addition, Arsenal have only kept one away clean sheet this season which is a concern for the visitors, keeping in mind their lack of strike power and Liverpool's recent solid form in defence (3 clean sheets in last 4 competitive fixtures).

Pick: Liverpool -0.25 @1.82 (sbobet, 7 units)
Liverpool 1 - 2 Arsenal