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Premier League preview - 30th - 31st October 2010

last updated Friday 29th October 2010, 3:42 PM
It's a derby weekend for the Premier League with Newcastle United doing battle with Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park, Aston Villa playing out the Second City derby against Birmingham and Arsenal hosting bottom-of-the-table West Ham United.

Elsewhere Fulham will be trying to improve their point tally with a win over Wigan at The Cottage, Blackburn Rovers welcome champions Chelsea to Ewood Park, Manchester United lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur while Liverpool make the short trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Saturday - 30th October 2010

Arsenal v West Ham - 15.00
Arsenal will be hopeful of a slip-up from Chelsea as they look to narrow the gap between them and the leaders following a fine result at Eastlands last Sunday. The Gunners' victory at big-spending City was a major fillip for the club as they made it successive wins following a dip in form.

Their opponents West Ham, meanwhile, have mustered just six points from their opening nine fixtures while their slump at home to Newcastle put pressure back on manager Avram Grant, who had seen his men go four games unbeaten. And the omens are not great for the Hammers, who have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League matches with Arsenal.

Blackburn v Chelsea - 15.00
Pace-setters Chelsea head to the North West to meet Blackburn in one of five 3pm kick-offs. The Blues boast a five-point lead at the summit after their closest rivals Manchester City were beaten by now-second-placed Arsenal. One defeat and a draw aside, Chelsea's defence of their title has been ominous, with the club scoring 25 times and conceding just twice.

And Blackburn have scored just one goal in total in their last eight Premier League games against Chelsea. Furthermore, Rovers are only spared a place out of the bottom three on goal difference, with one success mustered since an opening day victory.

Everton v Stoke City - 15.00
Everton appear to be over their poor beginning to the season with the club having garnered eight points from a possible 12. The Toffees are next in action against Stoke City, who are seeking to halt a run of two straight losses.

Defensive solidity has arguably been key to Everton's improvement, with only one goal conceded in their last four Premier League games. Goals, though, have been at a premium, with just one averaged per game. Stoke, meanwhile, have struggled on the road this term, mustering just the one three-point haul thus far.

Fulham v Wigan Athletic - 15.00
Fulham take on Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Mark Hughes' men have slipped down the standings after failing to add to their one three-point haul achieved thus far. Indeed, the Cottagers are currently five matches without a victory, with just goal difference keeping them out of the relegation places. Furthermore, Fulham have won only three of their last 20 Premier League games.

The Latics have improved of late, suffering just one loss in their previous seven top-flight fixtures. Indeed, Wigan are unbeaten in their last four league games, their best run since February 2009.

Wolves v Man City - 15.00
Manchester City travel to Molineux as they go head-to-head with Wolverhampton Wanderers looking to bounce back. City manager Roberto Mancini, who is without key striker Carlos Tevez, will have taken heart from his team's performance with 10 men against Arsenal, but ultimately that loss saw them miss out on the chance to send out a loud and clear title message.

They will, however, be expected to respond against struggling Wolves, who lie second from bottom in the table. Mick McCarthy's charges are without a win since the opening day of the campaign, but they did perform very well at Stamford Bridge last weekend, with only a lack of a clinical touch denying them a shock result.

Man Utd v Tottenham - 17.30
On Saturday evening, Manchester United face Tottenham in a mouth-watering encounter at Old Trafford. Attention will likely focus on the Red Devils' Mexican striker Javier Hernandez following his fine form of late that has proved there arguably is life with or without Wayne Rooney. Hernandez's brace at Stoke sees United in third spot, and the last remaining unbeaten side in the top flight.

Spurs trail United, whom they have not beaten in the league at Old Trafford in 21 years, by two points after their 1-1 draw versus Everton, while manager Harry Redknapp will strive to ensure his players fully focus on their trip to the Theatre of Dreams, and not Tuesday's UEFA Champions League tie versus Inter Milan.

Sunday - 31st October 2010

Aston Villa v Birmingham - 12.00
On Sunday before the Tyne-Wear derby another derby takes place as Aston Villa face Midlands rivals Birmingham City at midday. Gerard Houllier's Villa currently lie in mid-table having won just one of their previous six league outings, although they did advance to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup on Wednesday, albeit in extra-time versus Burnley.

Worryingly for Villa though, the side have gone 254 minutes without a Premier League goal. Birmingham, meanwhile, notched a much-welcome success last weekend when they triumphed for just the second time this season, and a scalp at Villa Park would take them above their foes

Newcastle v Sunderland - 13.30
In a week when Newcastle boss Chris Hughton's future at the club was assured, the Magpies aim to make it back-to-back top-flight victories after they came from a goal down to win at Upton Park last weekend when they meet Sunderland on Sunday lunchtime.

Newcastle followed up that result with an exit from the Carling Cup versus Arsenal in midweek. But they boast a decent record versus their North East foes Sunderland, who have only won one of the last 11 Premier League matches against the Magpies. That said, the Black Cats head into the fixture in encouraging form, having gone seven games unbeaten, although they sit just a point above their opponents.

Bolton v Liverpool - 16.00
Finally on Sunday, Liverpool will be eager to prove they have turned a corner when the club tackle Bolton Wanderers. The Reds claimed just their second win of the term after they beat Blackburn at home last Sunday. That result, however, was not enough to lift them out of the drop zone.

A victory against Bolton, though, should be enough to see them rise away from the wrong end of the division. Bolton currently occupy eighth spot, three points above their weekend opponents. And the Trotters are without defeat in five league matches, although four of those games have ended in stalemates.







































































Source James Dall at SkySport
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