The race for Europe

Friday, 03/02/2012

by Ger McCarthy

Arsenal v Blackburn

Arsene Wenger’s side kick off another weekend of Premier League action with Saturday’s lunchtime encounter at home to struggling Blackburn Rovers. Failure to make any headline signings during the transfer window served to only further frustrate Arsenal’s fans who have yet to win a league game in 2012. Steve Kean’s side are in the midst of a relegation battle despite avoiding defeat away to Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton in recent weeks. The manager needs transfer-listed Chris Samba. Verdict: Arsenal.

Norwich v Bolton Wanderers

Paul Lambert watched his side produce one of their worst displays of an otherwise encouraging Premier League campaign in the 3-0 defeat at Sunderland during the week. The Canaries have the chance to erase the memory of that insipid performance at home to in-form Bolton where City have picked up 16 points so far this term. One victory in their last three outings has seen Norwich drop into the bottom half of the table while the eight points picked up by Bolton in recent weeks has Owen Coyle’s side in confident mood and out of the relegation zone. A 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal during the week suggest Wanderers are still fighting. Verdict: Draw.

QPR v Wolves

Another club enjoying a recent renaissance is Mark Hughes’ QPR with new signing Djibril Cisse on target in the midweek draw away to Aston Villa. Rangers are now three points clear of the drop zone having reinforced their squad during the January transfer window. Mick McCarthy is under severe pressure as Wolves travel to Loftus Road this weekend searching for their second win in eleven Premier League outings. Calls for McCarthy to resign echoed around Molineux following Wolves’ 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool during the week and another defeat at QPR could prove the final straw for the Irish manager. QPR are on a high since the arrival of Cisse and Bobby Zamora. Verdict: QPR win.

Stoke City v Sunderland

Two sides locked together in the top half of the table on 20 points apiece cross swords at the Britannia Stadium this weekend with Stoke hoping to avoid a third consecutive Premier League defeat. Tony Pulis’ side has only won four times on home soil this season although there were encouraging signs in the 2-0 loss at Old Trafford during the week. Stoke must avoid defeat to maintain their flagging European ambitions but can expect the toughest of tests from a Sunderland side looking for their fifth win in six matches. Martin O’Neill has turned the Black Cats’ fortunes around since taking over at the Stadium of Light and the current form of James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon is impressive. Verdict: Sunderland win.

West Brom v Swansea

A late Somen Tchoyi goal earned West Brom a 1-1 draw at Fulham during the week and Roy Hodgson will be hoping for a similar battling display for the visit of Swansea. The Baggies are eight points clear of the bottom three but have only managed two victories at home this season suggesting Swansea have a decent chance of building on their encouraging start to life in the Premier League. Brendan Rodgers’ outfit have produced some sparkling football throughout 2011 and 2012 but are without a victory in their last two outings. Verdict: Draw.

Wigan v Everton

Roberto Martinez’s Wigan currently occupy the bottom bertn lost their last four encounters. A side devoid of confidence and desperate for a win have it all to do ahead of the visit of in-form Everton. New signings Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar could feature for David Moyes’ side that recorded a morale-boosting 1-0 win over league leaders Manchester City at Goodison Park during the week. A fifth away win of the season could elevate Everton up into eighth. Verdict: Everton win.

Man City v Fulham

Roberto Mancini will be anxious to return to winning ways when Fulham visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. City’s 1-0 loss away to Everton was only their third defeat of a marvellous campaign that has seen the Citizens win all eleven of their home games. The on-going Carlos Tevez saga should not have a detrimental effect on City who will look to David Silva to unlock a Fulham defence that has conceded 14 goals on the road this term. The loss of Bobby Zamora to QPR could prove crucial as the Cottagers have recently slipped into the bottom half of the table. Verdict: Man City win.

Sunday

Newcastle v Aston Villa

Newcastle host Aston Villa in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off with Alan Pardew’s high-flying side just three points off a Champions League berth. Newcastle defeated Blackburn during the week to leap above both Liverpool and Arsenal into fifth and with their three Senegal internationals about to return early from Africa Cup of Nations duty the Magpies look set for a positive conclusion to the season. Villa’s inconsistent form sees Alex McLeish’s side searching for only their fourth win on the road this season despite the return to form of Darren Bent and Robbie Keane’s positive impact since signing on-loan from LA Galaxy. Verdict:  Newcastle.

Chelsea v Manchester United

No doubting the match of the weekend as Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea hope to halt Manchester United’s title push at Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side has won eight of their last ten Premier League fixtures although United needed two converted penalties to see off a dogged Stoke earlier in the week. The current goalkeeping situation at Old Trafford means any one of Ben Amos, Anders Lindegaard or David de Gea could be between the sticks. Chelsea’s fading title hopes suffered another setback with a 1-1 draw away to Swansea last time out and AVB desperately needs star striker Fernando Torres to rediscover the form of two seasons ago whilst a Liverpool player. Verdict: Man United.

Monday

Liverpool v Tottenham

A cracking Monday night fixture between two clubs harbouring serious hopes of making next season’s Champions League sees Liverpool hosting Spurs at Anfield. Eleven points seperates the sides with Tottenham going for their fourth win in six outings. Liverpool have missed Luis Suarez’s cutting edge up front but the form of Craig Bellamy has proven a welcome fillip for a side that has defeated both Manchester clubs in League and FA Cup ties in the past fortnight. All signs point to a high-scoring affair. Verdict: Draw

Follow Ger on Twitter: @offcentrecircle

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