We come into this weekend’s premier league fixtures after a successful weekend for the blog covering a reduced fixture list last week. This week has a packed fixture line-up featuring some relegation six pointers and some closely matched mid table teams.
Everton V Man City
After last weekend’s poor performance by Everton losing at home against Wigan in the cup David Moyes will be looking for a response from his team. Everton have been hovering just below the champion’s league position for most of the season and if they are to make a move into the top four they must start to convert draws into victories. Sadly for Everton they face a very tough run in facing Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal and this could see them fall out of the European positions altogether. Manchester City after the lost away to Southampton have come back to form emphatically winning all of their matches and not conceding a goal either. For them nothing less than victory is acceptable as they look to cut Manchester United’s lead. This match will be difficult hard fought contest but I believe City will come away with something from Goodison. Sadly it may well be a point and another nail in the title coffin.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Everton | Man City | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.8
|
Av.goals scored |
2.6
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.8
|
Av.goals conceded |
0.2
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Everton | Man City | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.79
|
Av.goals scored |
1.43
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.21
|
Av.goals conceded |
0.93
|
ANYTIME SCORER: C. Tévez @2.32
Aston Villa V QPR
Few would have thought a few weeks ago these teams would be the form teams in the relegation bottom five. But strangely these teams have discovered form and are slowly giving themselves a chance of survival. Villa’s only two defeats in the last five came in narrow matches against Arsenal and Manchester City. Whilst QPR have won their last two matches this is in no small part to the return to fitness of Zamora and Rémy. QPR for a period under Harry Redknapp have drawn the majority of their matches but struggled for goals. Suddenly they have found goals and are back in touching distance of their rivals. This match should could well contain goals as both of these teams must feel they can take three crucial points but also feel a lost could be fatal.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Villa | QPR | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.6
|
Av.goals scored |
1.2
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.6
|
Av.goals conceded |
1.6
|
| Villa | QPR | ||
| Av.goals scored |
0.79
|
Av.goals scored |
0.93
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.43
|
Av.goals conceded |
1.64
|
Southampton V Liverpool
This match really is between two teams with different atmospheres surrounding their teams. Southampton in recent weeks have lost vital matches and drawn to many matches and now find themselves dragged firmly back into the relegation fight, whilst Liverpool have now won four of their last five matches and the victory over Tottenham on Sunday now has them looking upwards and planning a assault on the European positions. Both of these teams have scored and conceded goals over the course of the season but in recent weeks both managers have tried to tighten up their defences. This has happened for Liverpool in home matches but they have still conceded regularly on their travels. Southampton’s only victory in their last five came at home against a below par Manchester City with their stock result being draws. This would have been ok but the teams below them have now started to find victories and put pressure on them. For Liverpool nothing less than a perfect finish to the season would see them trouble the top four but Brendan Rodgers still harbours that ambition. In my opinion Liverpool will take the points in this match and add yet more pressure to a Southampton team in decline.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Southampton | Liverpool | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.8
|
Av.goals scored |
3
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.8
|
Av.goals conceded |
1
|
| Southampton | Liverpool | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.36
|
Av.goals scored |
1.86
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.21
|
Av.goals conceded |
1.57
|
Stoke V West Brom
Few teams are in as poor form in the premier league as Stoke City currently, they have been in real serious decline recently and their normally reliable home form has left them as well. Their recent home defeat to West Ham was met with a chorus of boos from the home faithful. Tony Pulis is currently a manager under pressure and he now faces a West Brom team that have rediscovered some of their early season form of late. After suffering a mid season dip their victory at Anfield seems to have boost their confidence and self belief. Stoke only victory in their last five came at home against struggling Reading whilst West Brom’s only recent defeats came away against Chelsea and at home against a inform Tottenham. This could well be a close match with a draw my selection.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Stoke | West Brom | ||
| Av.goals scored |
0.6
|
Av.goals scored |
1.2
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.2
|
Av.goals conceded |
0.8
|
| Stoke | West Brom | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.29
|
Av.goals scored |
1.21
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.07
|
Av.goals conceded |
1.71
|
ANYTIME SCORER: R. Lukaku @.68
Swansea V Arsenal
Swansea come into this match feeling aggrieved with losing away to West Brom last week. In recent years the winners of the league cup have suffered a dip in form over the later part of the season, but currently Swansea seem to be bucking this trend. Winning three of their last five certainly stands them in good form heading into this match. Their opponents come into the match after a moral boosting victory over Bayern Munich in the champion’s league in midweek. Prior to the game the media had been quick to report how they would be playing a weakened team and question Arsene Wenger’s methods and job security. But suddenly after the victory the garden looks a lot greener for the Arsenal. In truth over the last five matches they have been very inconsistent with just two victories and three defeats. This is not form of a team looking to challenge for fourth position. This match should well contain goals and attractive football but I feel Arsenal may well have to accept a draw.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Swansea | Arsenal | ||
| Av.goals scored |
2.2
|
Av.goals scored |
1.2
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.6
|
Av.goals conceded |
1.4
|
| Swansea | Arsenal | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.93
|
Av.goals scored |
1.29
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.36
|
Av.goals conceded |
0.93
|
ANYTIME SCORER: O. Giroud @2.88
Manchester United V Reading
After all of their recent problems the last thing Reading currently need is a trip to Old Trafford. Losing all of their last five saw the board decide to look for a new manger and a change of direction. Sadly history shows that making such changes late in the season very rarely works. The new manager will have no transfer window to make any changes to his playing staff and with fixtures now coming thick and fast their will be little time for making dramatic changes to playing style or formations. One positive for Reading is they have managed to score regularly through the season but their main problem has been the conceding of over two goals per game through the season. Looking at Manchester United they have a had blip by the standards they have set this season with the loss at home to Real Madrid and the draw at home against Chelsea in the cup after taking a two nil lead. For all of their good form this season Manchester United have leaked goals but have managed to cope with this due to their outstanding attacking options and goals tally. Prior to these matches they had won all of their last three including a two one victory against Reading in the cup. This should be a comfortable home victory that should contain a few goals for the punter.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Man Utd | Reading | ||
| Av.goals scored |
2.2
|
Av.goals scored |
0.8
|
| Av.goals conceded |
0.8
|
Av.goals conceded |
2.4
|
| Man Utd | Reading | ||
| Av.goals scored |
2.71
|
Av.goals scored |
0.86
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.07
|
Av.goals conceded |
1.93
|
ANYTIME SCORER: W. Rooney @1.77
Thanks for reading and good luck to everyone!!!
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