Weekend Soccer Predictions

The Premiership

Liverpool – Newcastle 1.60 – 7.47
It was a bit embarrassing that Liverpool could not defeat Blackburn the other day. Or, I should be embarrassed expecting a very one sided affair. Maybe it was, but Liverpool just cannot kill of their opponents at Anfield this season. They are 3-6-0 in their home games. I have my doubts about Dalglish as a match coach, but I seem to be on my own here. He is one of the untouchables in Britain.

S Gerrard made his come back against Blackburn and coach Dalglish has almost a fully fit squad to pick from. I say almost, because their ever present striker L Suarez will be suspended tonight. Andy Carroll against his former club, in other words.

Newcastle just about deserved the three points away to Bolton. It was not a great game, by no means, but definitely more offensive quality in the Newcastle side. M Williamson was back playing in their central defence. The previously suspended D Gosling will be available again, defence man Santon as well.

There has been some fantastic games between these two sides over the years. I recall a special 4-3 thriller. Not likely this time, as Liverpool have only scored five goals in their last six home fixtures. Home win? Maybe, maybe not, but the odds on the home win are quite simply a joke and you have to look the other way, or just leave this game out of your coupon. Both to score?

Manchester U – Blackburn 1.15 – 29.00
One of the oddest M United side that I have seen for quite some time played against Wigan at the week end. Carrick and Valencia in defence, no Rooney upfront, but this make shift United side were at their best, outclassing a poor Wigan side 5-0. United have lost another defender, J Evans, to an injury and it does not look good for P Jones and R Ferdinand. This leads us to believe that we will see Valencia and Carrick continuing in the United defence.

Blackburn have their own kind of defensive problems. Against Liverpool they started with a 17 year old player in their defence. Hopefully the Swedish wing back M Olsson will return tomorrow. D Dunn and J Hoilett will have late fitness tests.

Two injury ravaged sides, but there is a certain difference, as United have reserves in their squad that Blackburn can only dream of. I want Blackburn to succeed, but I am a realist. Not in this game, not tomorrow.

Arsenal – Q P R 1.29 – 14.23
Looking at the results in the last league round it must have been a clean sweep for the bookies. Low scoring games all of a sudden and draws everywhere. Arsenal could not defeat Wolves at the Emirates and they were not understrength at all. I only missed T Walcott in their starting line up. He will be back tomorrow, but could be that Wenger will give one or two of his troopers a rest.

The QPR coach Warnock always amuses me. His post match commentaries are so one sided that he makes all the other coaches (also extremely one sided) sound like neutrals. QPR continue to pick up away points and after their draw at Swansea they are 3-1-5 away from home. So far they have reached much better results on their travels. Wright-Phillips did not play in Wales, but he could return tomorrow. Traore, Bothroyd and Connolly look set to return, but A Ferdinand will be missing again.

This one? Backing mega favourites after the Boxing Day results? Forget about it, I guess.

Bolton – Wolves 2.30 – 3.50
I noticed that the Bolton coach is threatening to make wholesale changes for this match. Too many players lack character and are underperforming, according to Coyle. The way I see it Coyle does not have not that many options. S Ricketts, J Riley and G Steinsson, all defenders, will come in contention for this fixture. Wolves will be without their suspended midfielder Milijas in this match. Stearman will most likely replace the injured Zubar in their defence. Their hero against Arsenal earlier this week was of course their keeper Hennessy.

Bolton are 1-0-8 at home and rest assured that their players are aware of these depressing home statistics. Wolves are 1-2-6 away from home. Their point against Arsenal was their first away point for ages.

The draw! The odds are 3.52.

Chelsea – Aston Villa 1.30 – 14.20
Both Mikel and Ivanovic remain sidelined for Chelsea and for this game they have lost one more defender to an injury and that is Bosingwa. P Ferreira on the flank, I guess. Ramires will be available again. No E Heskey for A Villa and D Bent risks missing also this fixture. What it is left upfront? Agbonlahor of course, Albrighton, Delfouneso and N’Zogbia, but only Delfouneso and Agbonlahor can be considered strikers.

Suffice to say that Villa will probably? come weakened offensively to Stamford Bridge. Villa defence? Pretty strong! Add A Hutton to their squad.

Home win, but the odds on the home win have killed the match as a betting object.

Norwich – Fulham 2.63 – 2.92
It was a one sided affair, the Norwich home game vs Tottenham. Norwich had no chance at all, unable to create anything worthwhile during the 90 minutes. For the first time this season Norwich were more or less outplayed at their own place, the Carrow Road. Will it affect their future campaign? We will see tomorrow.

Defence man K Naughton will return to their squad tomorrow, but Tierney and De Laet are injury doubts.. Fulham were without both A Johnson and B Zamora against Chelsea. Starting with Orlando Sa and Frei the Fulham chances looked slim ahead of the match. Strong away point for Fulham and they are now 1-4-4 away from home. That is the way it usually looks for Fulham in their away games. They rarely pick up a three pointer on their travels, but they are known to draw a game or two. D Duff, A Johnson and B Zamora will not play tomorrow, but the veterans are not necessarily key players these days.

1X game.

Stoke – Wigan 1.75 – 5.50
No P Crouch playing for Stoke at the week end and they do not pose the same threat without him. Sorry about that Kenwyne Jones, but that is the way it is. Crouch is considered a major injury doubt also for this game Coach Pulis is taking no risks with Crouch. Wigan seem to pick their games. They were not at the races away to United, that is for sure. The game was already over when they were down to ten men. I would think that the Wigan coach Martinez has singled out this match as a winnable one, right or wrong, but I at least expect am improved Wigan display. Sammon will be available after all.What I think? Stoke as 1.75 favourites do not work for me. Wigan? Not likely.

Swansea – Tottenham 5.50 – 1.80
They looked like winners, Swansea after the first 45 minutes at home to QPR, usual possession stuff, but they could not go on to win the match. They are now 4-4-1 down in Wales. Defence man N Taylor will be back, but Rangel is very mych a serious doubt.

Tottenham had it so easy against Norwich and G Bale was in devastating form. Swansea play positive football, much like Norwich and much like Norwich they will probably be punished. I do not think that Swansea will change their approach. Ledley King and A Lennon will not play for Tottenham, but J Defoe could be ready.

Likely away win.

W B A – Everton 2.67 – 2.89
Have to say that WBA deserved their point at home to M City after a very disciplined and strong game. Great in defence and only the wood work prevented them from winning the match. I know, also Balotelli hit the wood work for City. Unbeaten in three games now despite two of them being away games. Their important midfielder Mulumbu is in danger of missing this game. Fellaini and Rodwell look set to be missing for Everton. Also Everton are building up a positive run, but they have enjoyed a more comfortable fixture list than WBA.

Definitely the better value on the home win, but Mulumbu must play. WBA then.

Sunderland – Manchester City 7.50 – 1.60
A ridiculous penalty decision went against Sunderland and they dropped two points against Everton. Still Sunderland are 2-1-1 during the O’Neill era and heading in the right direction. I am not convinced by their fire power, but that is my problem. Defenders P Bardsley and T Bramble are major injury doubts for this match.

Both M Richards and Kolarov will be back in contention for M City. City could not get to grips with the WBA defence. As always there are two theories after the match. WBA were magnificent or M City were not as direct, as sharp as before. You choose! Kind of crunch game for City and coach Mancini, this one. It goes quickly downhill when the doubts start setting in and City need to overcome this Sunderland side after their relatively poor display against WBA.

Now O’Neill’s team will be no pushovers and the odds on the away win are too short. Saying that, I cannot really see Sunderland winning on Sunday.

The Championship
I find no real value bet in the Championship, not this week either. That is the way it is from time to time.

Birmingham should win their home game against Blackpool, but I cannot really say that evens is a great price. Birmingham are 6-4-0 at their place, St Andrews, they welcome back their centre back C Davies for this match and they looked quite strong late on against W Ham. (1-1)

Nottingham have not scored in their last six league games, their squad is injury ravaged and they will face the established top six side Cardiff tomorrow. Sounds like an away win? Probably, but Cardiff are 3-7-2 away from home and these numbers scare me a bit. Cardiff should have buried Watford in the first half last week, but it was a second story in the second half and Cardiff were happy drawing the match.

X2 game, but OK, the away win and the odds are 2.79.

We are all waiting for Pearson’s Leicester to come good. Maybe tomorrow at home to the poor travellers Portsmouth? The odds on the home win are 1.80. Nothing special, I know.