HAVING A GOOD DAY LADS? THOUGH I KNOW I NEED TO PLAY IT SAFE, I NEED A GOOD WIN. THIS IS MY 5-FOLD FOR THE DAY: ENGLAND - PREMIER LEAGUE ARSENAL VS SUNDERLAND KICK OFF AT 15.00 GMT FACTS ARSENAL Kieran Gibbs came off after 30 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Bayern and is expected to miss the welcome of Sunderland with Nacho Monreal set to deputise. Abou Diaby, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Kim Källström and Thomas Vermaelen are all sidelined through injury. Yaya Sanogo is expected to lead the attack once again. SUNDERLAND Carlos Cuéllar and Keiren Westwood are closing in on a return from injury, while Steve Fletcher has begun training again. Wes Brown will serve the final game of his suspension. Gus Poyet is expected to make a number of changes from the side that won 1-0 against Southampton, bringing in the likes of Adam Johnson, Liam Bridcutt and Marcos Alonso into the starting XI. STATISTICS There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Arsenals last 9 home games in the Premier League. Under 2.5 goals 2.31 Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in 8 of their last 9 home matches in the Premier League. Arsenal are undefeated in their last 12 home matches in the Premier League. There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Sunderlands last 3 away games in the Premier League. Arsenal are undefeated in their last 7 home matches against Sunderland in all competitions. Sunderland are undefeated in their last 6 away matches in the Premier League. Sunderland have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 away matches in the Premier League. PREDICTION Arsenal have lost one of their last 20 Premier League matches with Sunderland, conceding just the once in their last 5 league meetings with the Black Cats at the Emirates. Sunderland enter the fixture on a run of just 3 defeats in their last 16 in all competitions, though Gus Poyets side havent played in the league since the 2-0 defeat to Hull after their game with Manchester City was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. The Gunners mayve lost to Bayern in midweek, but have enough about them to come secure maximum points. LINE UPS ARSENAL (4-2-3-1) Szczesny, Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Sagna, Wilshere, Arteta, Cazorla, Özil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanogo SUNDERLAND (4-3-3) Mannone, Alonso, Vergini, O’Shea, Bardsley, Colback, Bridcutt, Sung-Yueng, Borini, Altidore, Johnson OVER 1.5 GOALS ODDS AROUND 1.24 MANCHESTER CITY VS STOKE KICK OFF AT 15.00 GMT FACTS MANCHESTER CITY Sergio Agüero and Matija Nastasic are both closing in on a return to fitness, though the home tie with Stoke will likely come too soon for the duo. Aleksandar Kolarov is expected to drop back to left-back, while Martín Demichelis should start alongside Vincent Kompany in defence despite his red card against Barcelona on Tuesday. Álvaro Negredo, Jesús Navas and Gaël Clichy could all make way for Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Samir Nasri. STOKE Stoke could be without Robert Huth, Matthew Etherington, and Andy Wilkinson through injury, though theyll be assessed closer to kick off, but Oussama Assaidi has picked up a knee injury. The Potters will not have played for 10 days by the time the encounter with City comes around and will have appreciated the extra rest. Mark Hughes could bring Steven NZonzi and Wilson Palacios into the starting XI to solidify the midfield at the expense of Glenn Whelan and Jonathan Walters. STATISTICS Man City have kept a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 home matches against Stoke in all competitions. Man City are undefeated in their last 13 matches against Stoke in all competitions. Man City have scored at least 3 goals in their last 3 home matches against Stoke in all competitions. Man City have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 7 home matches against Stoke in all competitions. Stoke have failed to win their last 11 away matches in the Premier League. Man City are undefeated in 13 of their last 14 matches in the Premier League. Man City have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 home matches against Stoke in all competitions. PREDICTION Manchester City have won all 5 of their Premier League home meetings with Stoke, 4 of those ending 3-0, and will aiming to secure a win on the back of the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona. Stoke have the joint worst away record in Englands top tier this term and its expected theyll struggle against a City side that has largely impressed at the Etihad Stadium this season. Regardless of Tuesdays defeat, City are expected to come away with the win. LINE UPS MAN CITY (4-4-2) Hart, Kolarov, Demichelis, Kompany, Zabaleta, Silva, Fernandinho, Touré, Nasri, Jovetic, Dzeko STOKE (4-2-3-1) Begovic, Pieters, Wilson, Shawcross, Cameron, Palacios, N’Zonzi, Arnautovic, Adam, Odemwingie, Crouch OVER 2.5 GOALS ODDS AROUND 1.47 WEST BROM VS FULHAM KICK OFF AT 15.00 GMT FACTS WEST BROM Billy Jones is a doubt after missing the draw with Chelsea last time out with a knee injury. Sessegnon, Olsson, Anelka and Popov remain absent. Pepe Mel could stick with the same team that picked up an impressive result last time out, with Thievy up front. FULHAM Felix Magath takes charge of his first game as Fulham manager. Maarten Stekelenberg picked up a nasty eye injury against Liverpool but that shouldnt stop him playing here. It remains to be seen what exactly Magath will change at Fulham, but he will have record signing Kostas Mitroglou available, but he may not be ready to start. STATISTICS There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 14 of Fulhams last 17 games in the Premier League. There have been under 2.5 goals scored in West Broms last 6 home games in the Premier League. West Brom have drawn their last 3 home matches in the Premier League. Fulham have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 6 matches in the Premier League. Fulham have lost 5 of their last 6 matches in the Premier League. Fulham are undefeated in their last 6 matches against West Brom in all competitions. PREDICTION Two teams in real trouble meet at the Hawthorns this weekend, with Felix Magath taking the reigns at Fulham, charged with getting them out of trouble at the bottom of the table. Pepe Mel is still in search of his first win as the Baggies boss, but he has yet to lose at home, picking up impressive 1-1 draws against Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea. This is the first game at the Hawthorns he has taken charge of that he will be expected to win, and he really needs to if fans are to start believing that bringing him in was the right idea. This is a real six-pointer, and a new manager will boost the visitors, so yet another 1-1 draw could be on the cards. LINE UPS WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-3-3) Foster, Ridgewell, Dawson, McAuley, Reid, Brunt, Yacob, Morrison, Berahino, Thievy, Amalfitano FULHAM (4-4-1-1) Stekelenburg, Riise, Heitinga, Burn, Riether, Richardson, Kvist, Sidwell, Dejagah, Holtby, Bent OVER 1.5 GOALS ODDS AROUND 1.29 CARDIFF VS HULL KICK OFF AT 15.00 GMT FACTS CARDIFF Cardiff crashed out of the FA Cup at the weekend and the 0-0 midweek draw with Aston Villa last time out sees them sit just 2 points off bottom. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will likely be without injured trio Matthew Connolly, Jordon Mutch and Gary Medel, while Mark Hudson will be assessed closer to kick off. Craig Bellamy is suspended. Kim Bo-Kyung and Magnus Wolff Eikrem are expected to come into the midfield. FULHAM Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long are available to manager Steve Bruce after both were forced to miss the FA Cup draw with Brighton on Monday and should come back into the starting XI. Allan McGregor is available following suspension and is expected to start, while Abdoulaye Faye should partner Curtis Davis at centre-back again with James Chester and Paul McShane set to miss out. Theyre joined on the sidelines by Robbie Brady and Liam Rosenior, while Joe Dudgeon is a doubt. STATISTICS There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Hulls last 7 away games in the Premier League. Cardiff have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 matches in the Premier League. Cardiff have failed to win 9 of their last 10 matches in the Premier League. PREDICTION Cardiff have now failed to score in 14 Premier League games this season, more than any other team, and the Bluebirds will need to find their scoring boots if theyre to stave off the threat of relegation. Hulls poor away form leaves them just 3 points above the relegation zone, though they secured an impressive win in their most recent game away from home. Both sides are in dire need of points to secure their Premier League safety, but a draw is a likely outcome. LINE UPS CARDIFF (4-4-2) Marshall, John, Turner, Caulker, Théophile-Catherine, Zaha, Bo-Kyung, Eikrem, Noone, Campbell, Jones HULL (4-4-2) McGregor, Figueroa, Davies, Faye, Elmohamady, Quinn, Huddlestone, Livermore, Koren, Jelavic, Long OVER 1.5 GOALS ODDS AROUND 2.88 ( YES, AROUND 15/8!!!) WEST HAM VS SOUTHAMPTON KICK OFF AT 15.00 GMT FACTS WEST HAM West Ham have no fresh injury worries for the visit of Southampton. Andy Carroll serves the final match of his suspension. His absence has not proven all that much of a problem for the Hammers, with Carlton Cole an adequate stand-in. SOUTHAMPTON Victor Wanyama returned to the starting lineup for the FA Cup clash at West Ham last week, and he could play from the off again. Gaston Ramirez and Dejan Lovren remain absent for Saints. Jay Rodriguez will return to the XI. STATISTICS West Ham have kept a clean sheet in their last 4 matches in the Premier League. West Ham have seen under 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 10 matches against Southampton in all competitions. There have been under 2.5 goals scored in West Hams last 4 games in the Premier League. West Ham have won their last 3 matches in the Premier League. West Ham have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches in the Premier League. Southampton are undefeated in their last 6 matches in the Premier League. PREDICTION West Ham are currently on a run of 4 consecutive clean sheets, and have thus taken 10 points from a possible 12 over the past few weeks. No team has kept 5 Premier League clean sheets in a row this season, and the Hammers face a tough task if they are to do so now. Southampton have won their last 2 away games without conceding and havent failed to score on the road in a league game since visiting Arsenal in November. The Hammers won this clash 4-1 last season, but Southampton are much improved now and this one could end in a draw. LINE UPS WEST HAM (4-2-3-1) Adrián, McCartney, Collins, Tomkins, Demel, Taylor, Noble, Downin, Nolan, Jarvis, Cole SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1) Boruc, Shaw, Fonte, Yoshida, Clyne, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Rodriguez, Davis, Lallana, Lambert OVER 1.5 GOALS ODDS AROUN 1.33 HAVE YOU READ THIS ONE PROPERLY??? YOU BET 10 & BANK 90! WOULD YOU CALL THAT A PROPER START OF THE WEEKEND?!? WHAT YOU RECKON? THE SNIPER
Posted on: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:30:00 +0000