Stoke - Wolverhampton

With five games to play, Stoke still aren’t safe with five points more (and this game in hand) than Wigan. They have only two wins out of last eight league games (total of eight points), but at home their record is more than decent (as always under Pulis). They have won four and drawn two out of last six at Britannia. Ricardo Fuller is out, John Carew is available.

Mick McCarthy and Wolves are felling the fire under the feet. They are one point below the line and are in the group of 7-8 clubs who have every reason to worry about Premiership status. Even a point wouldn’t improve their position too much and I believe they’ll go for a win. Problem is they have the worst away record in Premier with only two wins out of 16 games and total of eight(!) points (defeated Villa and L’pool though). Stephen Hunt is contention, Ebanks-Blake in doubt.

At the first glance and as the odds suggest, this should be a nervous game and low scoring affair. But, the fact is one point doesn’t mean too much for any side. Stoke are favourites and I think they won’t just sit back and keep the opening score. Why should they? They’re hosting the worst travellers in the league. On the other hand, Wolves will have to find the way to score which should make them even more vulnerable than usual. Also, I wouldn’t overlook the possibility goal difference will be very important at the end. I’ll go against public opinion and take goals.

 Bet: Over 2.5
Odd: 2.14 188bet
Stake: 7/10
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Liverpool - Aston Villa

I think Liverpool are in uptrend. They look better on the pitch, Hodgson’s vision should finally be applied and they should start climbing on the table. Four consecutive home wins, three in Premier and Napoli in EL. Despite the defeat, they looked good at White Hart Lane. Lucas and Meireles are compensating Stevie G’s absence very well. Key players were rested from a trip to Romania and only change will be Kyrgiakos who should start instead Jamie Carragher.

Liverpool were one of my favourite clubs, until Houllier became a manager. The ugliest football I had ever seen. Kicking the long balls, Heskey tries to make a header to young Owen and his runs. And these three moves all the game. Simply, I started to be happy whenever Houllier lost the game with this degradation. However, I assume he’ll try to make from Villa something like that. Defensive formation with fast wingers and tall strikers. And that L’pool took bunch of trophies during his era. He’ll also miss his key man, Ashley Young. Agbonlahor and Carew are far shape from previous season. Defence line looks extremely shaky nowadays, since they lost three in a row and conceded at least twice in last five! Villa have the worst league record against top five clubs and have just one win at Anfield from last 17 encounters.

Even without Gerrard (I don’t think Carragher is so big loss), Liverpool should be enough for this Villa. With three points, home side would climb to 8th place and then could start thinking about chasing CL spot. No big philosophy, home win here is a pure logic for me.

Bet: Liverpool -1ah
Odd: 1.95 Betsson
Stake: 8/10

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Tuesday's column

BREAKING GOSSIP

The United States are keen on England's proposed training base for next year's World Cup. England boss Fabio Capello has been impressed with the Royal Bafokeng sports campus near Rustenburg but has delayed a final decision as he was unhappy with the grass on the training pitches. (Daily Mirror)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City could make a £12m bid for Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm in January.(The Sun)
Aston Villa striker John Carew is a £5m target for Turkish giants Fenerbahce.(Daily Mirror)
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is planning to make a move for former Inter Milan striker Adriano, who is available on a free transfer from Brazilian side Flamengo.(The Sun)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has played down rumours of a move for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko next summer. (Daily Mail)
Tottenham's out-of-favour striker Robbie Keane is a loan target for Celtic.(Daily Mirror)
Portsmouth's Algerian midfielder Nadir Belhadj is frustrated at being on the bench and is willing to quit the club in January in order to make sure of a place at the World Cup.(The Sun)
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has arranged a behind-closed-doors match in order to take a look at Angola defender Francisco Zuela, who plays for Russian side FC Kuban.(Daily Mirror)
Liverpool will complete the signing of highly-rated 16-year-old Kristján Gauti Emilsson later this week. The central defender, who plays for Icelandic champions FH, has also had trials with Manchester United and Rangers.(Daily Mail)
Barcelona winger Jeffren Suarez, who was once a target for Arsenal, has been offered to Wigan, Blackburn and Everton. (Daily Mirror)
Nottingham Forest are to make a £2m offer for Plymouth striker Jamie Mackie. (The Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

England manager Fabio Capello will not allow David Beckham to act as an ambassador for the country's 2018 World Cup bid during next year's tournament in South Africa.(The Sun)
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has apologised to his squad following reports of a bust-up with striker James Beattie after the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal.(Daily Mail)
Football's governing body Fifa has stopped Aston Villa's signing of Australian midfielder Reece Caira. Fifa rules state that the 16-year-old cannot play until he is 18, in January 2011.(Daily Mirror)
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says it is his midfield, and not goalkeeper Petr Cech, that is to blame for the defeat at Manchester City.(The Guardian)


AND FINALLY

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas admits his side are facing an uphill battle this season, because they are too small. The side that took to the field against Stoke on Saturday had the shortest average height of any of the Premier League clubs.(The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk

West Ham Utd. - Aston Villa

West Ham opened the recent season with an away win against Hull City (2-0), but since then they’ve noticed eleven competitive games (nine in Premier) without a single win. Club solved a problem in attacking line by bringing Italian Alessandro Diamanti, but recent concern is defense line that are leaking too much goals. West Ham conceded 14 goals in last six games in Premier! However, their performance looks better than results. Two 2-2 draws, against Arsenal at home and Sunderland on the road, bring the hope for better future. At their home, Boleyn Ground (commonly known as Upton Park), Hammers have two draws and two defeats and desperately need a win that would move them from the relegation zone. On that task will be without midfielder Radoslav Kovac who is suspended following his recent sending off against Sunderland, while Kieron Dyer remains on injury list with a hamstring problem. But, big boost for team’s morale will be a return of key midfielder Scott Parker.

 

The Villains took only two points from last three games on the road (Blackburn Rovers 1-2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 and Everton 1-1), but still hold a high position in Premier and win at East London would launch them on place number four. Champions League spot is a target for Villa in last few years and tonight could be only the additional motive. However, Villa look in not so good shape lately (after win over Chelsea 2-1) and currrently Upton Park looks like a tough place to go. Norwegian John Carew put a good display against Everton and he’s expected to begin the game in attack alongside excellent Gabriel Agbonlahor. Manager Martin O'Neill will have some problems in midfield as Stiliyan Petrov and James Milner are carrying the knocks. They’ll face a late fitness test, while Nigel Reo-Coker (ex West Ham) and Fabian Delph are standing by to replace them. And while this duo could be replaced without too much problems, headache for O’Neill is suspension of his key defender, Carlos Cuellar at right-back. Villa are unbeaten in their last six meetings with West Ham (three wins and three draws).

 

West Ham chase a first home win to run from the bottom, Villa want a move to Champions League spot, both sides won’t be satisfied with one point. Hosts will attack, but I doubt their defense can stop killer duo Carew- Agbonlahor. Bet on goals looks like a logic conclusion. Betfair offer 2.22. Over.

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Maybe one more before the kick-off.

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Iceland 1-1 Norway

Norway's qualification bid for South Africa 2010 suffered a setback as they were held to a draw by Iceland in Reykjavik tonight. John Arne Riise had put the hosts ahead with a sweetly-struck free-kick after ten minutes before Eidur Gudjohnsen equalised on the half-hour to deny Norway three precious points. 
Norway striker John Carew was unlucky not to have been awarded a second half penalty, but it would have been more than they deserved. The draw leaves Norway three points behind second-placed Scotland after they won 2-0 at home to Macedonia in Glasgow. 
An eventful opening period was marked by Riise's thunderous free-kick with ten minutes on the clock. The former Liverpool defender lined-up the set-piece from 25 yards and blasted in a shot that left Iceland goalkeeper Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson with no chance of making a save. 
Iceland stepped up their game after going behind and were deservedly on level terms when Gudjohnsen headed home. The away defence allowed the Barcelona attacker too much space and he made them pay by forcing his effort home. 
Norway had been happy to get to the break on level terms and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty soon after the restart when Carew seemed to be felled. Kristian Sigurdsson looked to have fouled the Aston Villa striker but referee Alexandru Tudor waved play on. 
Norway desperately sent players forward as they looked to secure a win to build on the momentum of their 4-0 victory over Scotland last time out, but despite their intentions they could find no way through the Iceland defence. 
It leaves them level on seven points with Macedonia, who they meet in Oslo on Wednesday knowing that anything but victory could spell the end of their hopes of reaching next summer's FIFA World Cup™
www.fifa.com

Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz his number one summer transfer target - and hopes he can land him for a cut-price £12m. (Daily Express) 
Wenger's interest in Santa Cruz could signal the end of Emmanuel Adebayor's Arsenal career. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester City say they may miss out Santa Cruz but are back in the race to sign £35m-rated Valencia striker David Villa. (The Independent) 
And City are interested in winger Arjen Robben, who could be offloaded by Real Madrid in the summer. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United are poised to make a £30m bid for Lyon striker Karim Benzema - to replace Carlos Tevez. (The Sun) 
Tevez has told Madrid's Cadena COPE radio station that he is likely to leave Manchester United at the end of the season. (Press Association)
Everton manager David Moyes is set to make a £6m bid for Rennes full-back Rod Fanni. (The Sun) 
Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has revealed that he rejected an offer to move to Manchester City. (The Guardian)
And Everton winger Andy van der Meyde, who is a free agent in the summer, is wanted by both Stoke and Wolves. (Daily Mail) 
Djibril Cisse's goal drought could lead to him failing to secure a permanent deal with Sunderland. (The Sun) 
Stoke manager Tony Pulis wants the club to finish as high in the league as they can so that he can sign Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley in the summer. (Daily Mirror) 
Wigan boss Steve Bruce will turn his attention to Manchester United's Fraizer Campbell after an unproductive scouting trip to Mexico. (The Sun) 
Aston Villa striker John Carew has disappointed Tottenham by insisting he wants to stay in Birmingham. (Daily Star) 
Promoted Wolves want to bring experienced Liverpool centre half Sami Hyypia to Molineux. (The Sun)  

OTHER GOSSIP 

Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand will be out of action for at least three weeks after the cracked rib he picked up during the Champions League win over Arsenal led him to start coughing up blood. (Daily Mail, Daily Mirror) 
However, some reports are saying Ferdinand's injury is not as bad as first feared and the 30-year-old could be fit to face Arsenal in the second leg on Tuesday. (Daily Star, The Guardian)
West Ham's European hopes have been dealt a blow with the news that midfielder Scott Parker is unlikely to play again this season. (Various) 
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has warned Barcelona's players, who complained about being kicked during the Champions League semi-final first leg, that they will be just as tough at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea midfielder Jon Mikel Obi has been told that he will have to wait until the summer before discussions open on a new contract. (Daily Telegraph) 

AND FINALLY 

Newcastle tea lady Kath Cassidy, who has spent over 40 years serving cuppas to the great and good at St James' Park, has her own ideas about how to motivate the players in their battle against relegation. 
"I might go into the dressing room before a game with my picture of Jackie Milburn holding his medals. I'd say to the players 'Get your finger out, look what he won for £20 a week.'" (The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk