Premier League predictions

Feast of football or a bore draw?

Being just four points behind the leaders and with United and City playing each other this is a great chance for Arsenal to establish themselves as the main contenders. Wolves had a fantastic win against the leaders last week but can’t really be expecting to get anything from this trip to London.

Arsenal had the demoralising experience of seeing a four goal lead wiped out at Newcastle last week, but I’m sure they will have recovered from that and won’t make any similar mistakes today.

Soccernews prediction: 3-0

The home side are edging their way to safety after a dodgy spell that saw them in trouble. A draw at home to Manchester City followed by a crucial win at West Ham have allowed everyone at St Andrews to breathe a little easier. Now that Obefemi Martins has been cleared to play, they might even try attacking occasionally!

You know what you are going to get from Stoke and they are very good at what they do. It is simply a question of whether Birmingham can cope with it. They are probably one of the teams best equipped to do so and I expect them to open up an even bigger gap over the bottom three.

Soccernews prediction: 1-0

A game between two of the teams who made incomprehensible decisions to sack their manager earlier in the season. Both teams did quite well in the aftermath of the sackings, but they are both struggling a bit now.

Blackburn have lost three on the bounce and Newcastle haven’t won in five. Their confidence will be high, however, after their remarkable comeback last week.

It is really difficult to pick a winner, so I won’t.

Soccernews prediction: 1-1

I really, really want Blackpool and Ian Holloway to stay in the Premier League. They have been a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately the early season success and optimism is beginning to become a distant memory as they have lost five in row and plummeted down the table.

At the same time Blackpool have fallen apart, Aston Villa have started to put some together and are looking like a decent team again. Sad though I am to say it, you have to fancy Villa here.

Soccernews prediction: 0-2

The Dalglish factor has been remarkable at Liverpool. I expected the fans to rally round and the players to play with a bit more of a smile on their face, but I didn’t think he would have such an impact on performances and results. They suddenly look like a top six team again.

Wigan are funny. Every time I am about to write them off they go and get a good result. They are unbeaten in three and scored four last week in their win over Blackburn. They will give it a go but I think the momentum is all with King Kenny and his men.

Soccernews prediction: 3-1

What a big game this is. It is probably the biggest Manchester derby since the last one! Such is the hype that the media have been fanning all week. Still, it is an important game in terms of the Premier League title.

United slipped up at Wolves last week to lose for the first time. Despite that, they are still four points clear at the top and five points above third placed City.

A lot will depend on how City shape up. Will they do what they did in the reverse fixture and at Arsenal and sit with everyone behind the ball looking for a 0-0? If they do, they’ll probably get it. If they try to attack we could have a great game of football. I suspect the former may be the case.

Soccernews prediction: 0-0

Seventh plays fifth in a game where Sunderland will be keen to show that they can match the big boys after their 4-2 defeat at home to Chelsea in their last home game. They also slipped up away at Stoke last week, conceding late to lose 3-2. Steve Bruce will be concerned by the number of goals they are conceding, particularly coming up against such an attacking threat.

Tottenham have gone off the boil a little but they are unbeaten in four league games and are still flirting with the top four. I fancy them to show that Sunderland are just not quite at the top level yet.

Soccernews prediction: 0-2

Two of the struggling clubs meet each other at the Hawthorns. West Brom have Roy Hodgson in charge for the first time following the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo. Roy is a top manager and a top bloke and I can’t question his appointment, but the sacking of Di Matteo was unjustified, unfair and, frankly, disgusting.

West Ham have just about stuck with their manager Avram Grant although you feel that every game could be his last. A win for the Hammers will take them above their opponents. A defeat will leave them in very deep trouble. I think they’ll be in trouble.

Soccernews prediction: 2-1

Sunday 13th February

Owen Coyle’s Bolton side had a great start to the season and they still sit eighth in the table, but they have only won one of their last eight Premier League games, losing five of them. They really need to pick up a win to stop the season fading away.

Everton are only four points above the drop zone but have a fit Louis Saha banging in the goals. If he stays fit, they will be more than fine. I expect them to edge closer to safety tomorrow.

Soccernews prediction: 0-2

Monday 14th February

At the start of the season with Fulham so poor and Chelsea and so good this would have been a St Valentine’s day massacre (see what I did there?). But now Fulham are much harder to beat and Chelsea are a shadow of their former selves.

It will be the second chance for Fernando Torres to show that he isn’t the same player that we’ve seen over the past few months for Liverpool. In Hangeland and Hughes, however, he is up against one of the more solid defensive partnerships.

I reckon Chelsea will win, but only just.

Soccernews prediction: 0-1