A preview of the weekend's Premiership matches
Chelsea v Wolves
André Villas-Boas is flailing a little as he struggles to defend his high line defence, a system that Mick McCarthy hopes to exploit by his players lifting balls over the top to test John Terrys creaking legs. Wolves, in 17th place, could do with a win: but they wont get one here, will they?
Odds Chelsea 1-4 Wolves 14-1 Draw 11-2
Stoke v Blackburn
Stoke have got off to their worst start in a Premier League season: they have lost their last four league games and are just three points above the drop zone. Jonathan Woodgate is fit for Stoke but Peter Crouch is a doubt with a groin injury. The same injury is likely to rule out Blackburns Chris Samba.
Odds Stoke 4-5 Blackburn 4-1 Draw 13-5
West Brom v Tottenham
Roy Hodgson hailed a near-perfect performance by his side after last weeks win over Bolton and Albion can trouble the Spurs defence, but with Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart in impressive form, they are unlikely to be able to subdue the visitors attacking prowess. An away win in a high-scoring game could be on the cards.
Odds West Brom 10-3 Tottenham 10-11 Draw 11-4
Manchester U v Newcastle U
United have regressed (or, depending on your point of view, progressed) into grind mode in the Premier League – a trio of 1-0s have seen them keep pace with the leaders but win few plaudits. Newcastle will fancy their chances of taking a point, despite the probable absence of Cheick Tioté.
Odds Man Utd 2-5 Newcastle 10-1 Draw 4-1
Norwich v QPR
Neil Warnock ’s lengthy injury list is exacerbated by the absence of Joey Barton, who is suspended after picking up five yellow cards, although Heidar Helguson, scorer of five goals in his last five games, has been passed fit. Norwich have fewer fitness concerns.
Odds Norwich 5-4 QPR 5-2 Draw 5-2
Arsenal v Fulham
What crisis? The Arsenal support will hope to revel in a sixth straight league win. Fulhams ex-Tottenham manager, Martin Jol, once squared up to Wenger on the touchline. He obviously hadnt seen the size of my fists, Jol said. The scale of Fulhams challenge is clear.
Odds Arsenal 4-9 Fulham 8-1 Draw 7-2
Sunderland v Wigan
City are in trouble in the Champions League now because Napoli rose to the occasion on Tuesday. This match will show whether Manicinis squad can regroup against a Liverpool side who are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions following the 2-1 defeat of Chelsea last weekend. Odds Liverpool 9-5 Man City 13-8 Draw 12-5
Sunderland will feel that, with the money they have spent, they should beat a team like ours, said Roberto Martínez, cranking up the pressure on the manager he succeeded. Martínezs players are likely to be in wounded mode. We are hurting, he said. We feel we are owed some points.
Odds Sunderland 8-11 Wigan 9-2 Draw 14-5
Swansea v Aston Villa
Aston Villa have thrown away nine points from winning positions. Only two visiting clubs have scored at the Liberty Stadium in 2011-12, and only one of those – Manchester United – have left with all three points, so Villa will be hoping that their captain and midfield lynchpin, Stilian Petrov, overcomes a hamstring strain and is able to start.
Odds Swansea 5-4 Aston Villa 12-5 Draw 5-2
Bolton v Everton
Victory at Wigan and the 5-0 hammering of Stoke seemed to suggest a corner had been turned, but last weeks reverse at West Brom was depressingly familiar for Bolton. David Moyes could empathise given Evertons struggles. Bolton are the only side not to have drawn so far. This could be it.
Odds Bolton 9-4 Everton 7-5 Draw 12-5
