SATURDAY Aston Villa v Fulham
Fulham picked up a good point away from home against Liverpool last week - and in fact they might have snatched even more at Anfield. But, having seen Arsenal of late, Villa will believe that if they can really push on now they can take a firm grip on that fourth spot in the table. They had a good result themselves against Manchester United last time out and they will be just too strong for Fulham. Verdict: 2-1 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7742072.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> Middlesbrough v Newcastle Newcastle got a wonderful draw at Chelsea last week, while losing at home to Bolton was a major blow for Middlesbrough. But the formation that Newcastle played last week was something like 1-10-0 and, although it worked because it got them a point at Stamford Bridge, I am not even sure whether they had a shot in anger on goal. They will have to change that approach at Boro and before the match against Chelsea their form on the road was iffy at best - they have not won away in the league yet. Boro's defeat last time out means it could be quite a nervy game for both sides but I think they will both get a point out of this one. Verdict: 1-1 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7742078.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> Stoke v Hull Stoke have got a better home record than two of the top four - Chelsea and Aston Villa, while Hull have not won for five games and this could be a big scalp for Stoke. It is not that teams have started to work Hull out now, more that they had an absolutely brilliant start and people are taking them really seriously - for example they see Geovanni and think 'we had better stop him playing'. It is getting more and more difficult for them but, in fairness, they keep coming back - they came back against Manchester City and against Portsmouth last week. When you play Stoke, you have to deal with everything they bring to the table and if Hull don't they will be beaten. Verdict: 2-1 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7742081.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> Sunderland v Bolton This is a tricky one to call because Bolton have won three out of their last four games and Sunderland are a real Jekyll and Hyde side - you never know whether they are going to be good or bad - which must be sending their manager Roy Keane absolutely barmy. Also, Sunderland's front players have not really gelled - can Djibril Cisse play with Kenwyne Jones? We all remain to be convinced. But, having said all that, Sunderland do get it right occasionally. They are due a decent performance and I think they will pick up a much-needed home win. Verdict: 2-0 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7742083.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> Wigan v West Brom Wigan got a very good win against Everton on Monday and I can see them making it two in a row at home against West Brom. What Wigan have got, even on a bad day, is that they are difficult to play against. They don't give very much away, they are strong physically and they have got some skilful players too. West Brom are struggling to come to terms with the Premier League in so far as when they manage to stop other teams scoring they cannot score at the other end. It is a really difficult process for them to adjust and they have a lack of quality in key areas at the moment. Verdict: 2-0 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7742085.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> SUNDAY Man City v Man Utd (1330 GMT) City did the double over United last season, which was a great achievement for their former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson during his time in charge there. But they will be hard pressed to do the same under Mark Hughes this time. For me, the problem for them at the moment is that they are their own worst enemies when they have not got the ball. As good as last week's win was for City against Arsenal, when they have not got the ball they invite people on to them and if you do that against United then it is tantamount to committing footballing suicide. Verdict: 0-2 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7747653.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> Portsmouth v Blackburn Portsmouth at home are tough to beat - Fratton Park is a place that Premier League teams do not like going to because they know Pompey do have a real go at them there. The thing with Blackburn is that at the moment they do not really know where their next win is going to come from. Confidence for them is at rock bottom even though they have not really been playing that badly. Verdict: 2-1 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7747654.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> Tottenham v Everton Tottenham had lots of chances to win more comfortably than they did against Blackburn last week and they should get another three points here. As every game goes by, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is getting his methods into play. The players' confidence is built up and you just fancy them at home against the majority of teams. After going five games unbeaten before they lost to Wigan, David Moyes must have thought his side had turned the corner. You would have fancied Everton to go to the JJB Stadium and at least get a point but they did not play well at all - it was a non-performance. I think we will see a better display from them at White Hart Lane but it will not be enough to stop Tottenham. Verdict: 2-1 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7747655.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> Chelsea v Arsenal (1600 GMT) Arsenal got a late goal in their Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday, which made all the difference on the night but all is still not right for them. But Chelsea were poor, at best, against Bordeaux and they really did pinch a point in France. This could well end up being a draw as well because I think Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will get it right tactically at Stamford Bridge. In contrast, although I think Luiz Felipe Scolari has a very effective Plan A for Chelsea, I am not sure there is a Plan B yet. If you can stop their full-backs coming forward I am not sure he has anything different up his sleeve. Verdict: 1-1 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7747649.stm> ________________________________ size=1 width="100%" align=center> MONDAY Liverpool v West Ham (2000 GMT) If Chelsea are held, this game could possibly see Liverpool go back to the top of the table. West Ham got a very good win last week at Sunderland - and they needed it, no doubt about that. But Gianfranco Zola's side will get a real examination at Anfield. Liverpool create a lot of chances, it looks like all their players are fit and I can't see West Ham getting anything out of this one. Verdict: 2-0 Match preview <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7748435.stm> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
