Arsenal v West Ham UnitedBlackburn v Chelsea
Everton v Stoke City
Fulham v Wigan Athletic
Wolverhampton v Manchester City
Manchester United v Tottenham
Aston Villa v Birmingham City
Newcastle United v Sunderland
Bolton v Liverpool
Blackpool v WBA
Saturday, October 30
Everton v Stoke City
Verdict: Everton will look to stretch their current 4 game unbeaten run today after a spirited 1-1 draw at Tottenham. The Toffees have now picked up 8pts from a possible 12 following a tough run of fixtures so should see the visit of Stoke City as a winnable game. The Potters have had a tough time of it recently, especially on their travels, after a brilliant September. They have lost at Wolves, Chelsea, and Bolton this season as well as at West Ham in the midweek League Cup fixture. Last time out in the BPL, Stoke City lost 1-2 to Manchester United with Tuncay's brilliant strike their only shot on target for the entire game.
Everton are likely to regain the services of Mikel Arteta for this encounter which is a big plus for the home side whereas Stoke City will have to make do without their most potent weapon, Rory Delap, who has succumbed to injury. Everton have only conceded twice in their last 5 games so I find it hard to see the visitors creating too many goal scoring opportunities to win the game. In contrast, Yakubu is coming into a bit form, holding the ball up well and bringing the like of Cahill, Pienaar, Baines and Arteta into the game. As a result, I give the home side strong chances of breaching the Stoke defence atleast once.
Pick: Everton -0.75AH @1.79 (sbobet, 10 units)
Everton 1 - 0 Stoke City
Wolverhampton v Manchester City
Verdict: Relegation candidates, Wolverhampton, will aim to upset one of the big boys of the Premier League after recently giving a good account of themselves against Chelsea and Manchester United. In their last league game, Wolves dominated possession away to Chelsea and created plentiful opportunities, only to lose 2-0. In the midweek League Cup fixture at Manchester United, Wolves lost in a 3-2 thriller after coming from behind twice befored Chicharito fired in a late winner. Manchester City suffered their heaviest loss of the season so far with an 0-3 defeat to Arsenal, at the City of Manchester Stadium. Boyata's 5th minute sending off did not help matters but more cause for concern (than the result) will be the injury to main man Carlos Tevez.
Despite their lowly position, Wolverhampton are a tough team at The Molineaux and have lost only once there this season, an unfortunate 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa. In contrast, Manchester City has been less than convincing on their travels and have been rather fortunate to get some positive results, ie. 0-0 at Tottenham and the 2-3 win at Blackpool. The absence of Tevez is a big blow for the visitors as they will miss his goals and the work ethic that he brings to the team.
Pick: Wolverhampton +1AH @1.70 (sbobet, 10 units)
Wolverhampton 2 - 1 Manchester City
Sunday, October 31
Bolton v Liverpool
Verdict: Liverpool returned to winning ways after a hard fought 2-1 win over Blackburn on the weekend. The win ensured that the Merseysiders got themselves out of the dreaded relegation zone on goal difference. Bolton hung on for a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic to stretch their unbeaten run in the league to four games. Elmander scored again for the Wanderers to take his goal tally to 5 for the season.
Bolton will aim to finally put to rest a four year losing streak against the Reds when they do battle at The Reebok today. There's probably no better time to be facing Liverpool, a side low in confidence in addition to a poor away record that stretches well into last season. The Wanderers have further cause for optimism as they are undefeated on their home turf this season, a run of results that include a creditable 2-2 against Manchester United. Bolton's weakness is probably their wing-backs in Steinsson and Robinson but Liverpool's lack of width, highlighted by the absence of Glen Johnson and Kuyt, gives the visitors no real advantage. I don't believe Liverpool deserves favouritism here after an unconvincing win over Blackburn so I side with the hosts to take atleast a point.
Pick: Bolton +0.25AH @1.97 (sbobet, 10 units)
Bolton 0 - 1 Liverpool
Monday, November 1
Blackpool v WBA
Verdict: Newly promoted sides, Blackpool and West Brom, probably have a little more to play for than just 3 Premiership points today as they are both widely predicted to be fighting relegation come the end of the season. WBA has been the revelation of the Premier League so far, collecting 15pts from a possible 27, and currently occupying 6th position. Their good form continued last weekend with a come from behind 2-1 win over Fulham. Blackpool are also doing reasonably well for a promoted side, taking some big scalps and ruffling a few feathers on their way to 10pts from a possible 27. They were rather dissapointing in the 2-0 loss at Birmingham City last weekend, conceding scrappy goals from set-piece situations.
Despite their winless streak at Bloomfield Rd, Blackpool has played good football in front of their home fans. Aside from the 2-2 draw against Fulham, they can consider themselves unfortunate to lose 1-2 against Blackburn (last minute Emerton goal) and 2-3 against Manchester City. On recent form, all the pressure is on WBA as everyone expects them to win this game. In addition, the news that the 'spine' of the team (Odemwingie, Morrison, Ollson) are unavailable for this game gives me the impression that the visitors will find the going tough today.
Pick: Blackpool DNB @2.35 (sbobet, 10 units)
Blackpool 2 - 1 WBA
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