Premier League picks and previews 2010-11 (Page 1 of 37)

Premier League 14, 15 and 16 August

- Saturday -

Tottenham - Manchester City
White Hart Lane
Kick-off: 13:45
Last season: Tottenham 3-0 Manchester City, Manchester City 0-1 Tottenham.
City have struggled a lot in their recent frendlies. They have a lot of new players and I believe it will take some time for them to settle. I believe this could be tight.
Less than 2.5 goals.

Aston Villa - West Ham
Villa Park
Kick-off: 16:00
Last season: West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham.
The hosts are currently without a boss following Martin O'Neills resignation. I believe Villa could struggle in this one and expect a tight game between these two.
Less than 2.5 goals.

Blackburn - Everton
Ewood Park
Kick-off: 16:00
Last season: Everton 3-0 Blackburn, Blackburn 2-3 Everton.
There were plenty of goals between these two last season and I believe in many in this one as well.
More than 2.5 goals.

Bolton - Fulham
Reebok Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00
Last season: Fulham 1-1 Bolton, Bolton 0-0 Fulham.
Both meetings between these two last season ended in draws and I believe this one could be close as well. Fulham boss Mark Hughes' first game in charge.
Draw.

Sunderland - Birmingham
Stadium of Light
Kick-off: 16:00
Last season: Birmingham 2-1 Sunderland, Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham.
Birmingham had an impressive start to last season and managed a good finish. Sunderland have a decent team and I believe they have a good chance of winning this one.
Sunderland to win.

Wigan - Blackpool
The DW Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00
Last season: Not played.
I believe Blackpool will struggle in the Premier League. Wigan have a decent team. The Blackpool boss has woved to attack this season and I believe this one will be entertaining.
More than 2.5 goals.

Wolves - Stoke
Molineux Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00
Last season: Stoke 2-2 Wolves, Wolves 0-0 Stoke.
Stoke have already signed players such as Kenwyne Jones this summer and I believe they have a good chance of getting something from this away game.
Stoke to win.

Chelsea - West Brom
Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 18:30
Last season: Not played.
Chelsea did not impress me in the Community Shield against Manchester United. But it will be key in their battle to retain the title to win home games such as this one.
Chelsea to win.

- Sunday -

Liverpool - Arsenal
Anfield Road
Kick-off: 17:00
Last season: Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal, Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool.
What a first game of the season for both of these teams. I expect it to be close in Roy Hodgson's first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool.
More than 2.5 goals.

- Monday -

Manchester United - Newcastle
Old Trafford
Kick-off: 21:00
Last season: Not played.
United are famous for their slow starts to the season, but with in-form players such as Javier Hernandez I believe they will be able to win this one.
Manchester United to win.

Possible starting XI's and more info for this weekend:

Premier League 14, 15 and 16 August

- Saturday -

Tottenham - Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur (Possible, 4-4-2): Gomes; Hutton, Dawson, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale; Crouch, Defoe.
Manchester City (Possible, 4-4-2): Hart; Richards, Boateng, Kompany, Kolarov; De Jong, Barry, Y Toure, Silva; Tévez, Adebayor.
Referee: A Marriner. Matches (last season): 28. R: 9.Y: 97.

Aston Villa - West Ham
Aston Villa (Possible, 4-4-2): Friedel; Cuéllar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; A Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing; Carew, Agbonlahor.
West Ham United (Possible, 4-5-1): Green; Faubert, da Costa, Upson, Ilunga; Parker, Noble, Hitzlsperger, Diamanti; Cole, Piquionne.
Referee: M Dean. Matches (last season): 30. R: 116.Y: 6.

Blackburn - Everton
Blackburn Rovers (Possible, 4-5-1): Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Jones, Givet; Emerton, Nzonzi, Andrews, Dunn, Pedersen; Roberts.
Everton (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Bilyaletdinov, Rodwell, Arteta, Pienaar; Cahill; Saha.
Referee: P Dowd. Matches (last season): 29. R: 88.Y: 5.

Bolton - Fulham
Bolton Wanderers (Possible, 4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Weiss, Muamba, Petrov, Taylor; Klasnic, K Davies.
Fulham (Possible, 4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff; Zamora, Dempsey.
Referee: S Attwell. Matches (last season): 15. R: 82.Y: 2.

Sunderland - Birmingham
Sunderland (Possible, 4-4-2): Mignolet; Bardsley, Bramble, Mensah, Richardson; Malbranque, Cattermole, Henderson, Reid; Bent, Campbell.
Birmingham City (Possible, 4-4-2): Foster; Gardner, Ridgewell, Johnson, Dann; Larsson, Ferguson, Michel, Fahey; Zigic, Jerome.
Referee: A Taylor. Matches (last season): 2. R: 5.Y: 0.

Wigan - Blackpool
Wigan Athletic (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Al Habsi; Boyce, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Figueroa; Diame, Thomas; Moses, Watson, Rodallega; Boselli.
Blackpool (Possible, 4-3-3): Gilks; Eardley, Baptiste, Evatt, Crainey; southern, Vaughan, Adam; Euell, Taylor-Fletcher, Harewood.
Referee: M Halsey. Matches (last season): 1. R: 0.Y: 0.

Wolves - Stoke
Wolves (Possible, 4-4-2): Hennessey; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Van Damme; Jones, Guedioura, Henry, Jarvis; Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher.
Stoke City (Possible, 4-4-2): Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham; Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington; Sidibé, Fuller.
Referee: L Probert. Matches (last season): 22. R: 75.Y: 6.

Chelsea - West Brom
Chelsea (Possible, 4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou, Drogba, Anelka.
WBA (Possible, 4-5-1): Carson; Jara, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Mulumbu, Brunt, Morrison, Dorrans, Thomas; Miller.
Referee: M Clattenburg. Matches (last season): 31. R: 84.Y: 5.

- Sunday -

Liverpool - Arsenal
Liverpool (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Kelly; Gerrard, Lucas; Pacheco, Cole, Jovanovich; Ngog.
Arsenal (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Almunia; Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Clichy; Eboué, Diaby; Walcott, Nasri, Arshavin; Chamakh.
Referee: M Atkinson. Matches (last season): 30. R: 122.Y: 5.

- Monday -

Manchester United - Newcastle
Manchester United (Possible, 4-4-2): Van der Sar; O’Shea, Vidic, Evans, Fabio; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Park; Owen, Rooney.
Newcastle United (Possible, 4-4-2): Harper; Perch, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson; Routledge, Guthrie, Barton, Nolan; Gutiérrez, Carroll.
Referee: C Foy. Matches (last season): 26. R: 69.Y: 2.

Premier League 11, 12 and 13 September

- Saturday -

Everton - Manchester United
Goodison Park
Kick off: 12.45 BST
Last season: United 3 Everton 0, Everton 3 United 1.
Everton (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Arteta, Fellaini, Rodwell, Pienaar; Cahill; Beckford.
United (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Van der Sar; O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Carrick, Park; Berbatov; Rooney.
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Matches: 3. R2 Y10.
Everton managed a 3-1 win here last season, but I believe United want revenge for this defeat that could be part of the reason why they did not win the title. Everton boss David Moyes has won just two of the 18 Premier League meetings he has had with Sir Alex Ferguson.
More than 2.5 goals.

Arsenal - Bolton
Emirates Stadium
Kick off: 15.00 BST
Last season: Bolton 0 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 4 Bolton 2.
Arsenal (Possible, 4-3-3): Almunia; Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Clichy; Song, Fabregas, Diaby; Walcott, Chamakh, Arshavin.
Bolton (Possible, 4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Lee, Holden, Muamba, Petrov; Elmander, K Davies.
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Matches: 2. R0 Y16.
Arsenal have won their last seven League games against Bolton and have managed to score 17 goals. They have never lost at home to Bolton.
Arsenal to win with 0-1 handicap.

Fulham - Wolves
Craven Cottage
Kick off: 15.00 BST
Last season: Wolves 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 0 Wolves 0.
Fulham (Possible, 4-4-2): Stockdale; Pantsil, Hughes. Hangeland, Calcido; Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Duff; Dempsey, Dembele.
Wolves (Possible, 4-4-2): Hahnemann; Foley, Craddock, Berra, Ward; Jarvis, Henry, Jones, Van Damme; Ebanks-Blake, Doyle.
Referee: Phil Dowd. Matches: 3. R0 Y10.
Bobby Zamora is out with a thigh problem for Fulham. These two teams have met twice here in the Premier League and both meetings have ended without goals.
Less than 2.5 goals.

Manchester City - Blackburn
City of Manchester Stadium
Kick off: 15.00 BST
Last season: Blackburn 0 City 2, City 4 Blackburn 1.
City (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Hart; Richards, K Toure, Kompany, Lescott; De Jong, Barry; Milner, Y Toure, Johnson; Tevez.
Blackburn (Possible, 4-4-2): Robinson; Salgado, Nelsen, Samba, Givet; M Diouf, Grella, Jones, E Diouf; Kalinic, Benjani.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Matches: 2. R0 Y4.
City will be desperate to bounce back from their 1-0 loss at Sunderland and I believe they will have no problems doing so.
Manchester City to win with 0-1 handicap.

Newcastle - Blackpool
St James' Park
Kick off: 15.00 BST
Last season (Championship): Blackpool 2 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 4 Blackpool 1.
Newcastle (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Harper; Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique; Ben Arfa, Smith, Barton, Gutierrez; Nolan; Carroll.
Blackpool (Possible, 4-3-3): Gilks; Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey; Grandin, Vaughan, Adam; Varney, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell.
Referee: Lee Mason. Matches: 1. R0 Y3.
Newcastle won 4-1 when these two met here last season in the Championship and I believe they will manage to win it again this time.
Newcastle to win with 0-1 handicap.

West Brom - Tottenham
The Hawthorns
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: N/A.
WBA (Possible, 4-5-1): Carson; Jara, Olsson, Tamas, Shorey; Odemwingie, Morrison, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt; Fortune.
Tottenham (Possible, 4-4-2): Cudicini; Kaboul, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Van der Vaart, Bale; Crouch, Keane.
Referee: Howard Webb. Matches: 0. R0 Y0.
In the 57 meetings in the League between these two there have been nine draws. Spurs have failed to impress me so far this season, but I believe they will win this one.
Tottenham to win.

West Ham - Chelsea
Upton Park
Kick off: 15.00 BST
Last season: West Ham 1 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 4 West Ham 1.
West Ham (4-5-1): Green; Jacobsen, Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga; Faubert, Parker, Noble, Boa Morte; Cole, Obinna.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Cole; Kalou, Essien, Mikel; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.
Referee: Chris Foy. Matches: 3. R0 Y9.
West Ham boss Avram Grant face his old club in this one and I believe the Blues will put even more pressure on Grant by winning this one.
Chelsea to win.

Wigan - Sunderland
DW Stadium
Kick off: 15.00 BST
Last season: Wigan 1 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Wigan 1.
Wigan (4-4-2): Al-Habsi; Boyce, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Diame, Thomas, Stam, Rodallega; Boselli, Di Santo.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Mignolet; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Bramble, Richardson; Elmohamady, Cattermole, Henderson, Welbeck; Gyan, Bent.
Referee: Peter Walton. Matches: 1. R0 Y4.
The Black Cats have only managed to win twice from their nine League visits to Wigan. Sunderland have been pritty decent and managed a 1-0 win at home to Manchester City. Wigan have failed to impress me, but recorded a strong 1-0 win at Spurs. Should be close.
Less than 2.5 goals.

- Sunday -

Birmingham - Liverpool
St Andrew's
Kick off: 16.00 BST
Last season: Liverpool 2 Birmingham 2, Liverpool 1 Birmingham 1.
Birmingham (4-4-2): Foster; Ridgewell, Johnson, Dann, Carr; Bowyer, Gardner, Ferguson, Larsson; McFadden, Jerome.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Konchesky; Poulsen, Meireles; Maxi, Gerrard, Jovanovic; Torres
Referee: Mark Halsey. Matches: 1. R0 Y2.
The last four meetings between these two sides in the Premier League have ended in draws, but I believe Liverpool will be able to win this one.
Liverpool to win.

- Monday -

Stoke - Aston Villa
Britannia Stadium
Kick off: 20.00 BST
Last season: Villa 1 Stoke 0, Stoke 0 Villa 0.
Stoke (4-4-2): Sorensen; Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Collins; Wilkinson, Delap, Whitehead, Etherington; Jones, Walters.
Villa (4-4-1-1): Friedel; L Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing; A Young; Carew.
Referee: Lee Probert. Matches: 2. R1 Y2.
Welcome back to the Premier League Gerard Houllier. This game will kick off Houllier's life as Aston Villa manager. Stoke are strong and there are often few goals when they are involved.
Less than 2.5 goals.

Arsenal vs Bolton

Arsenal's last five games:
Aug 28, 2010    Blackburn 1 - Arsenal 2    EPL
Aug 21, 2010    Arsenal 6 - Blackpool 0    EPL
Aug 15, 2010    Liverpool 1 - Arsenal 1    EPL
Aug 7, 2010    Legia Warsaw 5 - Arsenal 6    Club
Aug 1, 2010    Arsenal 3 - Celtic 2    Club

Bolton's last five games:
Aug 29, 2010    Bolton 2 - Birmingham 2    EPL
Aug 24, 2010    Southampton 0 - Bolton 1    Carl
Aug 21, 2010    West Ham 1 - Bolton 3    EPL
Aug 14, 2010    Bolton 0 - Fulham 0    EPL
May 9, 2010    Bolton 2 - Birmingham 1    EPL