Premier League 2 and 3 October
- Saturday -
Wigan - Wolves
DW Stadium
Kick-off: 12.45 BST
Last season: Wigan 0 Wolves 1, Wolves 0 Wigan 2.
Wigan: 1-2-2
Wolves: 1-2-3
Wigan (Possible, 4-5-1): Al Habsi; Boyce, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Thomas, Diame, Stam, McCarthy, N’Zogbia; Rodallega.
Wolves (Possible, 4-4-2): Hahnemann; Foley, Craddock, Berra, Ward; Edwards, Henry, Jones, Jarvis; Fletcher, Doyle.
Referee: Lee Mason. Matches: 3. R0 Y13.
Both teams are out of form and are in need of the points. Wigan lost here last season, but I expect it to be closer this time around.
Draw.
Birmingham - Everton
St Andrews
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: Everton 1 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 2 Everton 2.
Birmingham: 1-4-1
Everton: 0-3-3
Birmingham (Possible, 4-5-1): Foster; Carr, Johnson, Cann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Fahey, Bowyer, Hleb; Jerome.
Everton (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini, Arteta, Pienaar; Cahill; Yakubu.
Referee: Phil Dowd. Matches: 6. R2 Y26.
It has been more than a year since Birmingham last loss at home. They are unbeaten in their last 21 Premier League games there. Should be close.
Draw.
Stoke - Blackburn
Britannia Stadium
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: Blackburn 0 Stoke 0, Stoke 3 Blackburn 0.
Stoke: 2-1-3
Blackburn: 2-2-2
Stoke (Possible, 4-4-2): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins; Whitehead, Whelan, Diao, Etherington; Jones, Walters.
Blackburn (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet; Nzonzi, Jones; M Diouf, Pedersen, E Diouf; Kalinic.
Referee: Howard Webb. Matches: 3. R0 Y11.
Stoke were strong against Blackburn last season. Blackburn have failed to score in their last three games against the hosts. Kenwyne Jones has been a hit at Stoke since joining the club from Sunderland in the summer and I believe he could score in this one as well.
Stoke to win.
Sunderland - Manchester United
Stadium of Light
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: United 2 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 0 United 1.
Sunderland: 1-4-1
Manchester United: 3-3-0
Sunderland (Possible, 4-5-1): Mignolet; Onuoha, Turner, Bramble, Bardsley; Elmohamady, Henderson, Cattermole, Malbranque, Welbeck; Bent.
United (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Van der Sar; O’Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Park; Hernandez; Berbatov.
Referee: Chris Foy. Matches: 5. R0 Y15.
Manchester United have won their last four Premier League away games against Sunderland. But the Black Cats have impressed a bit recently. But United's victory against Valencia could prove a major boost for the visitors. Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has faced his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson 15 times and he is yet to win and has lost 12.
Manchester United to win.
Tottenham - Aston Villa
White Hart Lane
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: Villa 1 Spurs 1, Spurs 0 Villa 0.
Tottenham: 2-2-2
Aston Villa: 3-1-2
Spurs (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Gomes; Hutton, Corluka, Bassong, Bale; Huddlestone, Jenas; Lennon, Van der Vaart, Modric; Crouch.Villa (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Friedel; L Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing; A Young; Heskey.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Matches: 5. R1 Y15.
It was close between these two last season and Villa are unbeaten in their last three trips to White Hart Lane. Villa have won two out of two under new manager Gerard Houllier.
Less than 2.5 goals.
West Brom - Bolton
The Hawthorns
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: N/A.
West Brom: 3-1-2
Bolton: 1-4-1
WBA (Possible, 4-5-1): Carson; Jara, Pablo, Olsson, Shorey; Brunt, Scharner, Mulumbu, Morrison, Thomas; Odemwingie.
Bolton (Possible, 4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Lee, Holden, Muamba, Petrov; Elmander, K Davies.
Referee: Peter Walton. Matches: 1. R0 Y4.
The last three meetings between these two in the Premier League have ended in draws and Bolton impressed me a lot against Manchester United in their last games.
More than 2.5 goals.
West Ham - Fulham
Upton Park
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: West Ham 2 Fulham 2, Fulham 3 West Ham 2.
West Ham: 1-1-4
Fulham: 1-5-0
West Ham (Possible, 4-4-2): Green; Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson, Gabbidon; Dyer, Parker, Noble, Boa Morte; Obinna, Piquionne.
Fulham (Possible, 4-4-2): Schwarzer; Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido; Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Duff; Dempsey, Gera.
Referee: Andre Marriner. Matches: 5. R1 Y24.
Fulham remain unbeaten so far this season, but they have drawn five of their six games. I expect another entertaining game between these two, like the two last season.
More than 2.5 goals.
- Sunday -
Manchester City - Newcastle
City of Manchester Stadium
Kick-off: 13.30 BST
Last season: N/A.
Manchester City: 3-2-1
Newcastle: 2-1-3
City (Possible, 4-3-2-1): Hart; Boyata, K Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta; Milner, De Jong, Barry; Y Toure, Silva; Tévez.
Newcastle (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Krul; Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique; Routledge, Barton, Tiote, Ben Arfa; Nolan; Carroll.
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Matches: 5. R2 Y12.
City had 15 points at this stage last season while they have only 11 points now. City have kept successive clean sheets against Wigana nd Liverpool and should win this one as well.
Carlos Tevez to score.
Liverpool - Blackpool
Anfield
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
Last season: N/A.
Liverpool: 1-3-2
Blackpool: 1-1-3
Liverpool (Possible, 4-1-3-2): Riera; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger; Meireles, Poulsen, Cole; Gerrard; Kuyt, Torres.
Blackpool (Possible, 4-3-3): Gilks; Eardley, Evatt, Cathcart, Crainey; Vaughan, Adam, Taylor-Fletcher; Campbell, Harewood, Ormerod.
Referee: Mike Jones. Matches: 3. R0 Y11.
Liverpool have gone three games without a League win, something that is their worst run in a season since January 2008. The Reds are 16th in the Premier League with just six points. Blackpool have struggled in the Premier League and should lose this one.
Liverpool to win.
Chelsea - Arsenal
Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 16.00 BST
Last season: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3, Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0.
Chelsea: 5-0-1
Arsenal: 3-2-1
Chelsea (Possible, 4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Ramires; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.
Arsenal (Possible, 4-3-2-1): Almunia; Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy; Eboué, Song, Diaby; Nasri, Arshavin; Chamakh.
Referee: Mike Dean. Matches: 5. R0 Y15.
The Blues won both meetings between these two last season. If the hosts lose this one it will be the first time in 159 Premier League games that theyw ill have lost successive games. Arsenal failed to impress me against West Brom last weekend and I expect the hosts to win this one.
Chelsea to win.
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