Premier League Predictions- Week Nine

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Each week, I will now post my predictions for the weekend, and see if i can get more right than BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson.

This week, for the 5-6 February, the predictions below stand.

This week's predictions	Score	Lawro	Edward
Aston Villa v Fuham	2-2	2-1	1-0
Chelsea v Liverpool	0-1	2-0	3-0
Everton v Blackpool	5-3	2-0	1-1
Man City v West Brom	3-0	2-0	4-0
Newcastle v Arsenal	4-4	0-2	0-3
Stoke v Sunderland	3-2	2-0	1-2
Tottenham v Bolton	2-1	2-0	3-1
Wigan v Blackburn	4-3	1-1	1-2
Wolves v Man Utd	2-1	0-2	0-3
West Ham v Birmingham	0-1	2-1	1-1

I expect the big winners this weekend to be Manchester City. Roberto Mancini;s side have been threatening to fire for some time now and, after their draw at Birmingham midweek, I think we could see an adverse effect against a West Brom team which concede goals for fun and haven't scored on their last four away games.



Edin Dzeko has yet to hit the back of the net in the league for City, but I expect him to get off the mark against West Brom.

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City's home record is generally pretty good, winning their last 3 in the league but the goals continue to fly in, with Mancini's side having scored four goals in three of their last four home ties.

If City are to challenge for the title, they would need to improve their goal difference, with Arsenal being ten goals better off with 14 games left to play.

Dzeko would be my pick for any fantasy teams this weekend, providing he starts alongside Tevez, while David Silva is set to be included alongside the Toure brothers, who were both missing in their 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

It's important that City win and they could really add to West Brom's problems, the Baggies being only two points clear of the relegation zone and having recorded only eight points away from home all season, four of which being against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Peter Odemwingie has scored nine goals and The Baggies have never lost when he has scored.

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It's worrying times for the Midlanders but Peter Odemwingie's goals might be the difference between staying up and going down, although Carlos Vela;s introduction will be interesting and surely his quality will show on occasions. Big players perform on big occasions, it's a big game for the Baggies tomorrow ahead of ties with West Ham, Wolves, Stoke and Birmingham over the coming weeks.

The other big winners of the weekend could be Arsenal, who travel to St James' Park for the second time this season, having beaten the Toon army in the 5th round of the League Cup.

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Games like this will define Arsenal's league season but their away record has improved this season, having picked up 10 points from their last four away days.

If they can carry on where they left off, without the injured Samir Nasri, they can keep the pressure on Manchester United, who face Wolves before the Manchester derby next Saturday.

It seems the return to fitness of Robin van Persie has really made a difference to the Gunners and Arsenal have started playing the football we grow to expect, especially with Cesc Fabregas returning to form.






Robin van Persie has scored 5 goals in his last three league games and also scored against Leeds in the FA Cup replay.




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On the contrary, Newcastle are looking to life after Andy Carroll and it seems a strange decision not to have brought anyone in, even on loan, to replace the physical front-man on transfer deadline day.

The fans will have been looking forward to a decent season but whether Shola Ameobi (who is out injured for 6 weeks), Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands can score enough goals remains to be seen.

They couldn't hit the target against Fulham as the side fell to their first league defeat in 5, but a league double for the Magpies doesn't look likely, with the team having only won two of their 16 Premier League games with Arsenal.

The big game is obviously at Stamford Bridge, where Fernando Torres is set to make his bow against his last club, Liverpool.

It will be interesting to see how the Spaniard fits into the system, but I'd guess that he'd play on the right of the three, with Drogba down the middle and Anelka on the left.






Chelsea's front three will have to be switched after they signed Fernando Torres for £50m.




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Another interesting selection will be whether Florent Malouda will again be on the bench, with the French winger out of form and having now lost a previously cemented place up front.

Carlo Ancelotti might have problems selecting Malouda, with Lampard, Ramires and Michael Essien looking solid in midfield, but it's a selection problem that the boss will welcome, given Chelsea's recent lack of strength in depth.

Liverpool are also looking forward, having beaten the Blues at Anfield earlier in the season, so it will be good to see how Luis Suarez applies himself against a top team.

The Uruguayan score on his debut against Stoke and will be looking to get his name on the score sheet yet again.

It's sure to be a good game but I think Chelsea will be inspired by their new signings. Although Torres will be all the rage before the game, Liverpool's defence can't just worry about him or someone like Anelka will step up and hurt them, with the Frenchman failing to punish sloppy defending in the reverse fixture.

Good luck to everyone's teams this weekend.

Want to play along? Please discuss your predictions below.

Chelsea Testing Liverpool's Resolve

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Two weeks ago, I questioned Roman Abramovic's stance over transfers, with little world class talent coming in and the likes of Michael Ballack departing, but it seems the Chelsea owner has finally seen the light, that they need some younger players if they are to succeed in his much wanted Champions League.

Finally, after 18 months of speculation, Chelsea have bid for Fernando Torres.

The Liverpool striker, 26, had been a fraction of his old self under Roy Hodgson, but now King Kenny has returned, the striker has hit three goals in four league games and looks to be back on song.

El Nino, the kid, has grown up over the last two seasons at Liverpool, firing a better strike rate than Didier Drogba's last season, despite the Ivorian claiming the Premier League golden boot.

Drogba and Torres have an opportunity to better their acquaintance.

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A statement on the BBC's website from a Liverpool FC spokeman said "The player is not for sale."

The offer, which is believed to be in the region of £35-£40 million, follows their last bid, in May, for the hit-man who Carlo Ancelotti would seem a perfect partner for the flourishing Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge.

Torres would offer something different to both of them and I could see them complimenting each other well in the three-pronged attack which Chelsea have become accustomed to.

The big person in this situation is Torres himself, with the club failing to make the Champions League last season and looking unlikely to do so again given their opening period.

Could a player like Torres go two seasons, in the prime of his career, without playing in Europe's best knockout competition? I'd say not.

It could be down to the player whether any movement happens but, with the transfer window looming and closing on Monday night at 10pm, a decision must happen quickly for both parties to sort out their squads.

Torres, of course, would be ineligible for both the FA Cup and the Champions League, having also represented Liverpool in Europe, but his presence in the league alone could see Chelsea push Manchester United to the line, especially with the Champions still to face the current league leaders twice.

That would see Torres face up against Nemanja Vidic again, with the Liverpool striker having won the battle on several previous occasions.

Torres has often left Manchester United, and Nemanja Vidic, flat on their backs when he's played against them.

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The problem, should Torres leave, is what Liverpool could do next.

Obviously, they've been linked with Luis Suarez, who is currently at Ajax, but he, in no way, could replace a World class striker if Liverpool still have ambitions.

On the other side, you wonder whether Torres has fully recovered from his knee injury which he sustained before the World Cup, where he went the entire tournament without scoring.

If that is the case, Liverpool should take £40 million and run but it seems unlikely, given his age, that he is passed his best.

Carlo Ancelotti admitted after the Bolton game that he hoped to agree terms with Brazilian centre back David Luiz soon.

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It would certainly be a statement of intent were the Londoners to come back with an improved offer to accompany David Luiz, who is expected to sign from Benfica, as Abramovic decides whether he would like to make inroads into the transfer market and sent a message of intent to Europe.

Will Torres go to Chelsea? Who would Liverpool sign? Please discuss below.

Ancelotti to Drop Chelsea Experience?

Rumours have emerged after Carlo Ancelotti's press conference ahead of Chelsea's home game with Blackburn that the Italian might drop the out-of-form Michael Essien and Didier Drogba in favour of youth players Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge, who both impressed in last weekend's demolition of Ipswich Town in the FA Cup.

With the Londoners out of sorts in the league and Blackburn having won their last three, the game is sure to be high tempo, but Chelsea have a fantastic record against Blackburn, particularly at home, and I have them down to win the game in this week's predictions.

It would be a huge shock, in my eyes, if Drogba in particular was left out, given he was the Premier League's top scorer last season and hassles defences even when he doesn't play well.

There's been some speculation over who will start up front, but Ancelotti can't afford any slip ups.

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It would be a huge boost for Blackburn if the Ivorian's name is missing from the team sheet and Chelsea can't afford to hand away any advantage with the way their playing.

A loss of form from the striker would seem a good reason to drop him, but surely if they are to muster any title challenge, Drogba has to be playing and he has to find his form.

That might only come with game time and surely there are enough goals in a Chelsea side for whom Nicolas Anelka hasn't scored in the league since they travelled to Blackburn in October.

Similar might be said of both Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard, although the England international has been injured, who have both scored only once in the same time period.

You would think that this form, which has seen Chelsea take seven points from the last 27 available, only 10 less than they lost in the whole of last season.

Maybe Ancelotti has something up his sleeve, or maybe he's been told to change things by Roman Abramovic, who has been strangely quiet since Russia won the 2018 bid, despite the manager saying they need to buy a centre back.

Perhaps that centre back could be someone of the stature of Christopher Samba, who will again skipper Rovers today despite criticising the club's new owners, Venky's, and their lack of communication with the players.

Florent Malouda had a fantastic start to the season but, like several other Chelsea players, has gone off the boil over the last month.

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It will be interesting to see how the Stamford Bridge crowd react to the introduction of youth tomorrow, if the gaffer decides for it, which I don't think he can afford to with his job seemingly on the line amongst the managerial chop and changing in England's top flight.

It's been some time since the Blues really clicked in the league and tomorrow is a fantastic chance to re-start their season and really turn it on.

Will Drogba start later? What will the score be? Please discuss below.

Premier League Predictions- Week Seven

Credit; here

Each week, I will now post my predictions for the weekend, and see if i can get more right than BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson.

This week, for the 15/16 January, the predictions below stand.

This week's predictions	Score	Lawro	Edward
Birmingham v Aston Villa	1-1	1-1	1-2
Chelsea v Blackburn	2-0	2-0	5-0
Liverpool v Everton	2-2	1-1	2-2
Man City v Wolves	4-3	2-0	4-0
Stoke v Bolton	2-0	2-1	0-0
Sunderland v Newcastle	1-1	2-0	1-3
Tottenham v Man Utd	0-0	2-1	1-1
West Brom v Blackpool	3-2	2-1	1-1
West Ham v Arsenal	0-3	0-2	1-2
Wigan v Fulham	1-1	1-1	2-1

This weekend promises to be a true cracker with no less than four derby games, a battle of the promoted teams, and United travelling to Spurs, but how can you predict results in the Premier League at the moment?

I expect the big winners this weekend to be Chelsea. The Champions have been out of the goals and form of late, but with quality comes expectation and they have to step it up sooner rather than later.

Blackburn are no lightweights and won't be pushed around but have an awful record of late at Stamford Bridge, having lost 5-0 last season and only scoring once in their last six visits.

On paper, it doesn't look good and one player who usually plays well against Blackburn is Nicolas Anelka, who has scored four in his last five start against the North West outfit. Anelka also had a good record against Rovers for City and may be one to bank on for the fantasy league team,providing he starts ahead of Solomon Kalou.



Rovers fans, players and staff, will be sick of the sight of Nicolas Anelka, who has always scored goals against them.

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Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba both scored in the 5-0 victory last season and if they return to form, it could be a long, hard Saturday afternoon for Steve Kean's side.

Another team who are due a big score are Manchester City, who face a Wolves side who beat them 2-1 at Molineux in October.

The records don't make good reading for City fans and, although they have won their last 3 home games against Wolves 1-0, although the Midland side won 1-0 on the previous three occasions at Maine Road.

City's home form this season, however, is very good and they have only lost one of their last seven at Eastlands, and winning four of their last five.




Edin Dzeko will be hoping to win lots of trophies at Manchester City and they can go top with a win at home to Wolves.

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It will be interesting to see whether new signing Edin Dzeko makes his first start alongside Carlos Tevez, with Mario Balotelli out injured, and City will be all out to claim top spot before their city rivals travel to Spurs on Sunday.

At the bottom, West Brom will be looking to stop the rot against a Blackpool side who will be high on confidence after their 2-1 midweek win against Liverpool.

The Baggies have lost their last 6 in all competitions and in the preview on who I think will go down, I identified their lack of a natural goalscorer, a leaky defence, and a lack of discipline might send them down, but it's crucial they get something on Saturday.

Another few wins for Blackpool and they'll secure their place in the Premier League for a second season, a huge achievement for the smallest club in the league. Ian Holloway has brought the club on leaps and bounds and it wouldn't be a total surprise if they went to the Hawthorns and took three points, with DJ Campbell on fire and Charlie Adam running the midfield.





Gary Taylor-Fletcher and DJ Campbell were both on target against Liverpool on Wednesday.







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Roberto Di Matteo simply has to get a result to stop the slide and I think they might, but it might not be three points which they desperately need.

You can take your pick for the game of the weekend, but I'd suggest that Sunderland will be all out for revenge after their 5-1 reverse to Newcastle not even 3 months ago.




Kevin Nolan scored a hat-trick against Sunderland last time the sides met.


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It will be interesting to see whether Sunderland can find a better performance this time and I expect that, along with the game at White Hart Lane to be the pick of the action.

The final word, however, lies with West Ham, who simply have to beat Arsenal at home after Avram Grant was handed a stay of execution.

He might need something special but miracles do happen.

Good luck to everyone's teams this weekend.