Will his return boost Liverpool?
Birmingham are still hovering just above the relegation zone but continue to show the sort of determination needed to stay in the top division. Having said that, four goals in six home games is a serious problem.
Fulham have recovered from a disappointing start and are now in a more realistic mid-table position. However, they have only managed one win away from home so far this season.
Neither team scores many goals and this one is unlikely to be a bonanza in that department.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-1
When Wigan won comfortably at Burnley a few weeks ago I thought that would be the beginning of the end for Burnley who had started well at home but disastrously away. If they started to lose home games they had no chance.
Since then they have easily beaten Hull at home and then got a great 3-3 draw at Manchester City. They currently sit in a remarkable tenth place.
Villa are fifth but are really inconsistent. Their last two games sum them up, Last time out they hammered Bolton 5-1 with a display of fast and exciting football that their opponents couldn’t live with. The time before that they lost 2-1 at struggling West Ham.
If the good Villa turn up they’ll be too strong for Burnley.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-2
Top of the league by five points and a 100% home record of six wins, scoring sixteen goals and conceding just one. Chelsea are pretty good at Stamford Bridge!
Wolves are battling away but find themselves in the drop zone with just one away victory to their name.
If Chelsea slip-up here it would be a major shock.
SoccerNews prediction: 3-0
Fourth from bottom plays third from bottom in a six-pointer at the KC Stadium.
Hull have actually won three of their six home games and beat Stoke 2-1 last time out in a result that delayed the departure of their manager Phil Brown.
West Ham have won just once away and had a disappointing defeat at home to Everton in their last game. Having said that the last time they played away from Upton Park they got a very creditable draw at Sunderland in a game they could and should have won.
I think West Ham may improve their record and Phil Brown could be looking for work early next week.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-2
The first of the Scouse v Manc derbies sees City travelling to Liverpool. Both teams would have had high hopes for challenging for the title this season but poor results see them in sixth and seventh place struggling to mount a challenge for the top four.
Neither team goes into the game with any form. Liverpool drew at home to Birmingham and lost at Fulham in their last two and City drew at home to Burnley and away to Birmingham in theirs.
This is a difficult one to call but I think Liverpool might just add to the pressure on Mark Hughes.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-1
The second Manc v Scouse derby sees Everton travel to Old Trafford.
Everton are a disappointing twelfth at the moment although confidence will have been boosted by a win at West Ham last time out.
United are five points off the lead and will be smarting from what they thought was an injustice in their defeat at Chelsea. United are normally pretty formidable when they think they’ve been hard done by and I fear for Everton.
SoccerNews prediction: 3-0
Steve Bruce’s men still sit eighth in the Premier League and they are having a good season. However, recent form has seen home draws against Villa and West Ham and a defeat at Tottenham.
Arsenal are looking unstoppable, but the loss of the excellent Robin van Persie is a seriously big blow for them. If they can cope with his loss then I expect them to continue their great form.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-2
Sunday 22nd November
What a thriller this one could be. Dour Bolton take on even dourer Blackburn. Sky Sports have chosen this one to be the early Sunday afternoon game live on television. At least that’ll give me a chance to catch up on some sleep if I have late one on Saturday!
SoccerNews prediction: 0-0
When you are struggling at the bottom of the table and signs of a recovery have been dented by a defeat at Blackburn, just about the last place you would want to go would be Stoke.
Stoke don’t look quite as formidable at home this season and they have lost a couple, but they will surely be too formidable for Portsmouth.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
The early season promise of Tottenham has faded a little but they are still holding on to fourth place. They were pretty poor against Sunderland last time out but still managed to pick up the points and that is meant to be the sign of a good side.
Wigan are the most inconsistent team in the country. They can beat Chelsea and lose to Hull. Anything could happen with them which makes their games the toughest to predict.
I fancy Tottenham to be too strong whichever Wigan side turns up.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
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