Saturday
Fixture: Blackburn 0-0 Stoke
Venue: Ewood Park (Blackburn home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: Blackburn's 2-0 victory over Bolton could mean one of two things: that Blackburn's threatened upper mid-table like form is finally here, or that Bolton really are pants relegation fodder.
I think it is a little of both.
Blackburn sullied that result in midweek with a 3-0 loss at Fulham, but the Europa Cup participants are a step up from these two.
In the middle of the Premier League home form is proving crucial, as Stoke would attest. The ninth place side have managed just one victory this season, and that was a freaky 1-0 win at Tottenham. They were battered.
Blackburn victory here, but only just.
Betting Advice: 2pts Blackburn to win at 20/21 (1.95 at Boylesports)
Fixture: Fulham 1-1 Bolton
Venue: Craven Cottage (Fulham home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: Fulham's lowly position (and I say lowly, they are still mid-table) is based solely on a reasonably tricky European campaign which has hurt their domestic campaign. Ask Everton how tricky it is and they have a bigger squad.
Anyhow, they are back in England and looking at getting a run together. The midweek 3-0 win at Blackburn might actually be better form that people expect, because Blackburn are no bad shakes.
It is difficult to see how Bolton will approach this game because nothing has worked for them this season.
The bookies are getting nervous on a home win and are dropping the price in spades. Get on!
Betting Advice: 5pts Fulham to win at 10/11 (1.91 generally)
Fixture: Portsmouth 1-4 Man Utd
Venue: Fratton Park (Fulham home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: The bookies are mad. New manager at the bottom club will mean something for Portsmouth. And the Red Devils have form of losing at Portsmouth. And they have form of losing to the smaller clubs this season.
In fact, they make a habit of it. Too big a price on the home team to ignore.
Betting Advice: 1pt Portsmouth to win at 9/1 (10.0 generally)
Sunday
Fixture: Everton 0-2 Liverpool
Venue: Goodison Park (Everton home)
Kick-off: 1.30pm BST
Verdict: The Merseyside derby is a poor relation of the big London derby occurring today these two clubs are in a story old state. Liverpool are out of the Champions League, which may not hurt them financially as much as most, but still is wounded pride; while Everton are slumping from one loss to the other.
Everton, surprisingly if you read the papers, are the side who should be most worried. They are lurching towards the Premier League trapdoor but, their biggest worry, is the manner of their fall. The side is incoherent, poor tactically, play as strangers, and have a manager that is being openly critical.
Perhaps the Merseyside derby will turn it round for them as derbies often do. But their form in the derby is poor of late and Liverpool are a still even with their problems a huge step up for them.
Betting Advice: 1pt Liverpool to win at 5/4 (2.25 generally)
Fixture: Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea
Venue: Emirates Stadium (Arsenal home)
Kick-off: 4pm BST
Verdict: Arsenal lost last week away in the cold, hard environment of the Stadium of Light, in a way that suggested Alan Hansen was right: you can't win anything with kids.
However, at home they are comfortable and they are kings: they have a perfect five from five, scoring 20 and conceding just 4. It is also worth noting that Arsenal, if they win this game and then win their two games in hand as expected will leapfrog Chelsea at the top.
That aside, Chelsea have struggled on their travels as well with two defeats and may find the constant barrage a real difficulty.
Betting Advice: 1pt Arsenal to win at 7/4 (2.75 generally); 2pts more than 2.5 goals at Evens (2.0 generally)
NO BETS
Saturday
Man City are an erratic force at the moment, while Hull are on form. Can't see past the draw though
Res: 1-1
West Ham are unbackable even against a Burnley side that are relying on home form to keep them in the Premier League next season
Res: 5-3
Wigan shipped nine against Man Utd last weekend, but Sunderland at home will be a chance to get back on the level
Res: 1-0
Tough tie at Villa Park this week and difficult to predict who out of Aston Villa and Tottenham, both on form will take the honours
Res: 1-1
Sunday
Always best to avoid derbies, especially Midlands derbies which are fiery and unpredictable. Birmingham's visit to Wolves is no exception
Res: 0-1
