Football fanatic John Wisdom offers his insights into this weekend's Premier League fixtures:
PREDICTION: Arsenal 1 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur
The last couple of home games for Arsenal have suggested that the Emirates is no longer the fortress it once was. That being said, away to Arsenal is never easy and I expect this one to be tight. The only time Tottenham have won away to Arsenal was in May 1993. Tottenham raise their game for the big matches leading to them winning some big scalps under Harry Redknapp and it is for that reason that I expect them to edge it in this one. Both sides have looked vulnerable at the back and it has the potential to produce great attacking football. Definitely the most eagerly awaited game this weekend.
PREDICTION: Birmingham City 0 – 0 Chelsea
Chelsea’s defeat to Sunderland last weekend was the shock result of the season as yet. Many had been predicting them to run away with the title after their impressive start, however recent injury problems have drawn them back into the clutches of the chasing pack. Without Lampard, Terry and Essien I expect Chelsea to struggle against a Birmingham side who have drawn their last 7 games at home to “Big Four” opposition.
PREDICTION: Blackpool 1 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The team with the worst home form in the league against the team with the worst away form, it has classic written all over it. These are the important games for these sides if they are to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation at the end of the season. I see these sides cancelling each other out.
PREDICTION: Bolton Wanderers 2 – 0 Newcastle United
Newcastle and Bolton have both made impressive starts to the season and Owen Coyle and Chris Hughton deserve praise for the work they have done. Chiek Tiote, so often a calming and controlling influence in the Newcastle midfield is suspended for this one, as is Joey Barton who has provided the majority of the assists for Andy Carroll’s goals this season. I suspect that Carroll will be tired after playing 75 minutes for England midweek. Bolton on the other hand are on a roll and with Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies up front I expect this will be a tough day for the Magpies. A fairly comfortable victory for the home side.
PREDICTION: Manchester United 3 – 0 Wigan Athletic
Manchester United will win comfortably today at Old Trafford. Wigan are the most erratic team in the Premier League at the moment and you never know which side are going to turn up. With Rooney returning to the bench and Scholes back after a one match ban I expect this to be all one way traffic.
PREDICTION: West Bromwich Albion 0 – 1 Stoke City
West Brom, after a brilliant start to the season are slightly stalling, falling from 4th to 12th with three losses in their last four games. Stoke on the other hand are on the ascendency chasing a third consecutive Premier League victory. I expect Stoke’s physicality to be too much for West Brom today with both Kenwyn Jones and Ricardo Fuller in good form.
PREDICTION: Liverpool 1 – 1 West Ham United
Liverpool have become used to their mid-table mediocrity. Once a fixture like this would have been regarded as an easy win, these days it is not so. Under pressure West Ham manager Avram Grant has recently got West Ham have been playing better than their table position suggests. Minutes away from drawing at the Emirates, I expect them to go to Anfield and manage to hold out for a point this time. Liverpool without Gerard will be void of ideas in the midfield.
PREDICTION: Blackburn Rovers 2 – 0 Aston Villa
Villa will hope that their draw with United last week can spark them into mounting a charge up the table. However Blackburn present a completely different type of challenge. Villa excel when the game is fast moving and that is exactly what Blackburn will prevent. Buoyed by their £43 million takeover I expect Blackburn to boss this one with questions still to be answered about where Villa are going to get their goals from.
PREDICTION: Fulham 1 – 1 Manchester City
Half of the last 14 fixtures between these two clubs have ended in a draw and that is how I expect this one to end. Mark Hughes will want to take a scalp against the club that dropped him last year with Mancini out to prove that he is a worthy successor.
PREDICTION: Sunderland 2 – 1 Everton
Buoyed by their win against Chelsea last week I expect Sunderland to continue their good run of form at home. The prospect of the returning Darren Bent alongside Asamoah Gyan is exciting. Unfortunately for Everton I don’t think that they have enough upfront to trouble Sunderland in this fixture.
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