Who to back and who to avoid this weekend
Published on: 15th October, 2009
Who to back and who to avoid this weekend | Related News
I said a couple of weeks ago that I’m sure Arsenal are on a winning roll and I fancy them to win again this weekend against Birmingham and I expect another imperious performance from Andrei Arshavin, who scored for Russia in the week and is likely to do so on Saturday.
Birmingham’s only League win at Arsenal in the last 85 years (43 games) was in October 1957 and I’ll be backing Arsenal to ‘win to nil’ on Saturday as they have kept nine clean sheets in the last 12 League meetings.
Paul Hart’s charges should have beaten Everton in their last home game, they were solid at Wolves, and will be upbeat after the uncertainty off the field has ended.
I think life will be far harder for Chelsea at Aston Villa.
Villa are in really good form and have a decent record against Chelsea at Villa Park, where they have only lost once in the last ten years; 1-0 in February last season. I fancy them draw as these two have drawn four of the last seven PL meetings and incredibly six of the last ten at Villa Park have ended in stalemate.
I don’t think it will be easy for Man Utd at home to Bolton. Bolton have had more success at Old Trafford (7 points) than at the Reebok (6 points) against United and will pack men behind the ball and make life hard for them again on Saturday. A hard fought 1-0 home win makes some appeal.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard’s fitness will be crucial to Liverpool’s hopes of getting three points at the Stadium of Light.
The stats point to an easy away win as Liverpool have won the last six meetings with Sunderland without conceding, and have lost on only one of their last 26 visits. However, with or without Torres and Gerrard I’m still not convinced by the current Liverpool side and can see Sunderland, who have started PL games so well this season, leading at half-time and being pegged back for a draw in the second half. I will therefore be having a speculative bet on Sunderland half-time, draw full-time.
Do you remember April 24th 2005? That was the day Harry Redknapp first came back to Fratton Park with Southampton, after walking out on Portsmouth in 2004.
The intense, hostile, and particularly nasty atmosphere paralysed the visitors from the outset. Pompey were 4-1 up at half-time and the ‘Fratton Faithful’ had got their revenge. Whether the home supporters are right or wrong to give Harry a hard time after everything he did for the club is immaterial – they will.
Paul Hart’s charges should have beaten Everton in their last home game, they were solid at Wolves, and will be upbeat after the uncertainty off the field has ended. Portsmouth have won three of the six PL meetings with Spurs at home and look good value to put one over their former manager.
Readers Comments
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard’s fitness will be crucial to Liverpool’s hopes of getting three points at the Stadium of Light.
No Rooney, trouble for Man U!!!