Portsmouth v SunderlandWigan Athletic v Stoke City
Bolton v Fulham
Arsenal v Liverpool
Fulham v Burnley
Manchester City v Bolton
Blackburn v Hull City
Aston Villa v Manchester United
West Ham United v Birmingham City
Everton v Chelsea
Tuesday, February 9
Wigan Athletic v Stoke City
Verdict: Wigan lie perilously close to the relegation zone in 16th position. The Latics are just 2pts above West Ham United in 18th spot but with a game in hand. The did at least arrest their 3 game losing streak with a deserving 1-1 draw at Sunderland. Stoke City continued their fine form on the weekend, recording a 3-0 home win over Blackburn which sees them unbeaten in 6 consecutive matches, in all competitions.
Stoke City's form is perhaps a little deceiving as five of their last 6 matches were played at The Brittania Stadium. Their form on their travels is particularly bad (1-5-5) which includes a run of 5 away games without a goal. Despite only gaining a single point from their last two fixtures, Wigan Athletic has played some good football in recent weeks and were perhaps unfortunate to lose against Everton (0-1) in their last home fixture.
With three home fixtures on the bounce, Wigan Athletic must see this as the perfect opportunity to get themselves up the table. Stoke City lie in the comforts of midtable so believe the home side will be the more desperate side here. In addition, the visitors have the distraction of an FA Cup 6th round fixture on Saturday and also the arrest of striker Ricardo Fuller on the weekend will not help team focus here.
Pick: Wigan Athletic -0.25 @1.98 (sbobet, 10 units)
Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 Stoke City
Manchester City v Bolton
Verdict: Manchester City will look to get their European aspirations back on track after a surprise 2-1 loss at Hull City. The Sky Blues trail 4th placed Liverpool by 3pts but with two games in hand. Today's visitors to the City of Manchester Stadium, Bolton, can count themselves extremely unfortunate after their scoreless draw against Fulham. Striker, Kevin Davies, had a legitimate goal incorrectly chalked off by referee Clattenberg in a game that the Wanderers deserved to win.
Despite their patchy away form, Manchester City have been very solid at home and in fact remain undefeated in front of their home fans (8-3-0). Bolton have registered only 8pts from a possible 30 on their travels and with a long injury list to contend with including key men Gary Cahill, Steinsson, Ivan Klasnic and possibly Fabrice Muamba, they are really up against it. Despite their short comings on their travels, Bolton have managed to score at difficult places like Manchester United, Aston Villa, Burnley, Birmingham City, Fulham, and Arsenal this season so they are every chance of registering a goal here.
In closing, I expect Manchester City to get back on track here in a high scoring encounter. Manchester City do have their defensive problems but their midfield and attack is likely to get them the 3pts comfortably against a depleted Bolton side.
Picks:
Manchester City -1AH @1.78 (sbobet, 10 units)
Manchester City 2 - 0 Bolton
Over 2.5 goals @ 1.77 (sbobet, 10 units)
Manchester City 2 - 0 Bolton
Fulham v Burnley
Verdict: Since their 3-0 demolition of Manchester United, Fulham have looked like a pale shadow of their former selves. They put in another toothless performance in their scoreless draw at the Reebok Stadium on the weekend. This type of performance has been the norm for the Cottagers since the turn of the year, registering a record of 1-1-4 with only 3 goals scored during this period.
Results wise, Burnley hold an identical form record but they have faced a tough fixture list. They have performed well in losses against Everton (2-0), Manchester United (3-0), and Chelsea (1-2) but just haven't had the quality to put away their chances. The Clarets did however break their 4 game losing streak on the weekend with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers West Ham United.
Fulham's form can be attributed to their long injury list. With money at a premium at Craven Cottage, manager Roy Hodgson, hasn't had the opportunity to strengthen his small squad. The Londoners' early season form however does see them in a comfortable 10th position, 10pts above the relegation zone. In total contrast, Burnley lie just 2pts above 18th placed West Ham United and will fight tooth and nail to get something from this game. Fulham lack inspiration and perhaps the quality of personel at the moment so I expect the Clarets to get a rare away point/s to take back to Turf Moor.
Pick: Burnley +0.75AH @1.95 (sbobet, 10 units)
Fulham 3 - 0 Burnley
Wednesday, February 10
Wolverhampton v Tottenham
Verdict: Wolverhampton succumbed to a Kevin Phillips double strike to let a 1-0 goal lead slip while Spurs frustrations in front of goal continued at White Hart Lane. Wolves remain winless in their last 6 encounters after they led for the majority of the game at Birmingham City, only to concede two late goals. Tottenham's enterprising football was only good enough for a point against defense masters Aston Villa in their scoreless draw. Spurs had an impressive 15 shots on target but found American keeper Brad Friedel in top form.
Tottenham are playing good football at the moment but have come up against some tough opposition since the turn of the year. Croatian Luka Modric is beginning to find his old form since his long injury lay-off while former fringe players, Bentley and Bale, have shown that they do have a future at the London club. Wolverhampton lie in 19th position, 5pts above bottom club Portsmouth. They have some players in good form like Jarvis and Doyle but their season form of 3-3-6 (GD of -8) at the Molineaux Stadium is not very intimidating.
Tottenham have shown a knack of defeating struggling teams like Blackburn, Portsmouth, West Ham United, and Hull City this season and I expect them to continue that trend here. Wolves are scoreless in their last 3 home encounters which doesn't bode well against the striking power (and good defensive form) of the visitors.
Pick: Tottenham -0.5AH @1.85 (pinnacle, 10 units)
Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Tottenham
Blackburn v Hull City
Verdict: Both teams are coming off contrasting results on the weekend as The Rovers were humiliated 3-0 at Stoke City whereas Hull City caused the upset of the round, a 2-1 home win over Manchester City. That win ensured move Hull City out of the relegation zone and into 15th position, 4pts behind Blackburn who lie in 12th spot.
Hull City have done well since the turn of the year in managing to take points from Manchester City (as mentioned above), Chelsea, and Tottenham. The Tigers are still winless on their travels so any result at Ewood Park will be a bonus. Blackburn can thank their strong home record of 6-4-2 to find themselves in the position they are in now. Under the reign of Sam Allardyce, Blackburn play an uninspiring brand of football that is highly reliant on set-pieces. With big man Christopher Samba suspended and creative midfielder David Dunn still out, the home side are short of some attacking weapons. The Tigers have only scored 7 goals in 12 games on their travels and with the like of Bullard, Giovanni, and Marney missing from their ranks I can't see them creating more than a handful of opportunities.
These teams played out a scoreless draw back in December and I expect another low-scoring encounter here.
Pick: Under 2.5 goals @1.89 (pinnacle, 10 units)
Blackburn 1 - 0 Hull City
Everton v Chelsea
Verdict: Following the 1-0 derby defeat at Liverpool, Everton take on league leaders Chelsea without the services of two of their better players, namely Pienaar and Fellaini. The visitors travel to Goodison Park on the back of an impressive 2-0 victory over fellow Londoners in Arsenal. Drogba scored both goals and is bang on form following his brace at Hull City a week earlier.
The absence of the above-mentioned players for the home side is a big blow as Fellaini does well to screen the defence whereas Pienaar is arguably the team's hardest working midfielder. Both these players are replaced by the recently returning Arteta and light weight Leon Osman. It's hard to see these players curbing Chelsea's forward progression through midfield. Having said that, Chelsea's away form has been patchy with only a single victory in their last 5 encounters away from Stamford Bridge.
Everton are a difficult team to keep scoreless at Goodison Park but they do let in their fare share of goals too. As explained above, the home side have replaced tough hard working midfielders with flair players. I'm expecting an open game here with goals.
Pick: Over 2.25 goals @1.80 (sbobet, 10 units)
Everton 2 - 1 Chelsea
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