English Premier League Preview, Match Day 24
Saturday’s Games - February 6, 2010
Liverpool vs. Everton
Liverpool picked up three vital points last weekend in their 2-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield. Dirk Kuyt bagged his eigth goal of the season to put the Reds in the lead; Insua got Liverpool’s second when his errant shot took a wicked deflection off Kevin Davies. Ngog missed what looked like a sitter when Jaaskalienen parried a Gerrard shot. Must it be said that they miss Fernando Torres’s scoring prowess? The Reds are in fifth place on 41 points. They gained ground on fourth place Tottenham, who only managed a point against Birmingham. Speculation on manager Rafa Benitez’s future job prospects continues, but the win over Bolton takes some pressure off him. A win for Liverpool on Saturday combined with anything less than a win for Spurs will put Liverpool into fourth, right where Rafa Benitez promised they would be by the end of the season.
Everton have been gaining strength. With four wins in their last five Premier League games and nine consecutive league games unbeaten, they are now on a run of form that recalls last season’s fine run. Mikel Arteta has returned from injury. Philippe Senderos has come in on loan from Arsenal. Landon Donovan, on loan from the LA Galaxy, got his first goal for the club in the 2-0 win over Sunderland. And of course Marouane Fallaini, Steven Pienaar and Tim Cahill have been commanding in the midfield. Everton lost to Liverpool at Goodison Park in the earlier fixture this season, so they’ll see a win as a just reward that may have the positive side effect of moving them closer to a Europa League entry. Watch Liverpool vs Everton Live
Bolton vs. Fulham
Owen Coyle’s Bolton created chances against Liverpool at the weekend. Korean Lee Chung-Yong exposed Liverpool’s defensive frailties on several occasions in the first half. They were unlucky not to score when Liverpool's Greek defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos saved on the line from Lee’s shot from an acute angle. The January transfer window has closed now but not before Bolton made some additions to their squad: American International Stuart Holden came in from Houston Dynamo on a free transfer, Slovakian midfielder Vladimir Weiss has come over from Manchester City on loan, and young English midfielder Jack Wilshere has come in from Arsenal on loan. Bolton are a wafer-thin one point above the relegation level and Coyle will be hopeful that his trio of young transfers can prop his side up.
Fulham sent striker Diomansy Kamara off on loan to Celtic. But manager Roy Hodgson’s timing was bad. After making the commitment to Celtic it was discovered that Andy Johnson would need surgery on his knee. With several other key injuries limiting his selection, including that of American international Clint Dempsey, Hodgson then picked up three players just before the close of the January transfer window. Liverpool defender Christopher Buchtmann came over on an 18-month contract, defender Nicky Shorey came over from Aston Villa loan, and striker Stefano Okaka came over from Roma, also on loan. With five consecutive losses hanging over them, the Cottagers picked up a welcome three points midweek with a 1-0 win over bottom-feeders Portsmouth at Craven Cottage. Jonathan Greening nabbed his first goal for the club. Greening’s marksmanship notwithstanding, Fulham will be relying on Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland, and new signing Okaka to provide the firepower when the face Bolton on Saturday. Watch Bolton vs Fulham Live
Tottenham v Aston Villa
David Bentley got a second consecutive start for Tottenham at the weekend and he returned Harry Redknapp’s trust with a fine display of trickery and pace in Spurs 1-1 draw against Birmingham at St. Andrews. Jermain Defoe scored the Tottenham goal. But Redknapp’s men were ultimately disappointed by their inability to maintain the lead and now they are just a point above Liverpool and two above Aston Villa in the battle for fourth. Spurs have purchased defender Younes Kaboul from Portsmouth for a reported £5 million, and striker Robbie Keane has been loaned out to Celtic where he’s likely to play regularly. A loss to Villa on Saturday will see Tottenham’s fourth place applecart upset, and a good result for Liverpool combined with anything less than a win for Spurs will put Liverpool into fourth, right where Rafa Benitez promised they would be by the end of the season.
Aston Villa broke their four game losing streak with a 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage last weekend. Gabriel Agbonlahor bagged a brace and garnered praise from his boss Martin O’Neill. The win puts seventh place Villa at 40 points, keeping pace with fifth place Liverpool who also won at the weekend, and gaining ground on fourth place Tottenham who could only manage a point at Birmingham. A win on Saturday vaults Villa past Spurs, and if Everton can take three points off Liverpool it will be a big day for the Villains. Watch Tottenham vs Aston Villa Live
Manchester United vs. Portsmouth
Manchester United romped all over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium last weekend, beating the Gunners 3-1. Wayne Rooney’s goal, United’s second of the match, displayed his prodigious talent in all its glory. The win ran United’s points tally up to 53, four in front of Arsenal and one behind Chelsea who still had a game in hand at the time. That game in hand was played on Tuesday against Hull and although Chelsea would have been expected to extend their lead by three points over United, the best they could do was a draw. Thus, United are still within striking distance of the league leaders, who are perched just two points above the Red Devils. Rio Ferdinand, banned for four matches, has served one and still has three more to sit out. However, he has appealed his one-match frivolous appeal conviction.
Despite his club’s financial problems Portsmouth manager Avram Grant and his men are putting up a brave fight. A loss to Manchester City at the weekend could have been no surprise to anyone. And yet, to their credit, Pompey took the fight to the Citizens. A 1-0 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday was characterized by a similar fighting spirit. Grant has made some last minute transfers to staunch the bleeding. Former Tottenham and Standard Liege defender, and now free agent, Ricardo Rocha joins Pompey. Jamie O'Hara has been recalled from his loan spell with Tottenham. And Quincy Owusu-Abeyie has come in on loan from Spartak Moscow. But Avram Grant must be thankful now that the January transfer window has closed lest club administrators sell more players out from under him. Portsmouth visits Old Trafford on Saturday firmly rooted in last place. Chances of picking up three points? Slim. Watch Man Utd vs Portsmouth Live
Hull City vs. Manchester City
A win at home against Wolves at the weekend would have carried Hull City out of the relegation zone, but they squandered the lead twice to draw 2-2, thus condemning themselves, at least for the time being, to the specter of a future in the League Championship. Surprisingly, however, the Tigers took some of the steam out of Chelsea on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw at KC Stadium, thus doing Manchester United a big favor. Manager Phil Brown has made clear how important the home fans’ support will be as the club tries to avoid relegation. He’ll be glad therefore that Saturday’s match against Manchester City is at KC Stadium. Hull City have hung on to Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt despite a reported £5 million offer from Wolves near the end of the January transfer window.
Manchester City got three points against Portsmouth at the weekend on goals by Emmanuel Adebayor, his first since returning to the club following the attack his Togo team suffered in Angola, and Vincent Kompany, his first this season. Sharing the same points level with fifth place Liverpool on 41 points, City are nevertheless sitting in sixth due to goal difference. Yet City find themselves in a good place this weekend. Their closest competitors in the league all face tough opposition: Liverpool play Everton and Tottenham meet Aston Villa. Although three points are never guaranteed, City manager Roberto Mancini has to like his club’s odds against Hull. A good result for City could see some change in the fourth and fifth spots if Liverpool or Spurs falter. But given Hull’s draw with Chelsea midweek, Mancini won’t be taking any chances. New signing Adam Johnson, late of Middlesbrough, is likely to be in the squad Saturday when the Citizens travel to Hull. Defenders Wayne Bridge and Joleon Lescott are said to be available, as is Patrick Viera, who is yet to make his debut for City. Watch Hull vs Man City Live
Burnley vs. West Ham
New manager Brian Laws has brought fresh blood into Burnley during the January transfer window. Frederic Nemani from Monaco, Leon Cort from Stoke, Nicky Weaver from Dundee United, Danny Fox from Celtic, and just at the close of the window Jack Cork and David Nugent from Chelsea and Portsmouth respectively. Living in the drop zone at 20 points, Burnley will leapfrog West Ham with a win at Turf Moor. The Clarets have lost four games out of four under Laws, but Turf Moor is no picnic for opposing teams, so West Ham will have to be on their game to come away with the three points.
With three consecutive draws West Ham have moved up to 15th place in the table on 21 points. Only goal difference floats them above Bolton, Wolves and Hull, all of whom are at the same points level. There is no margin of error available to the Hammers in their match on Saturday against Burnley, who are at 20 points and face relegation. The Hammers’ new owners have turned to the transfer market to reinforce their hopes of Premier League survival, bringing in strikers Benni McCarthy from Blackburn Rovers, Mido who has been on loan in Egypt from Middlesbrough, and Brazilian striker Ilan from St. Etienne. They passed on Robbie Keane reportedly because they couldn’t afford his salary. Watch Burnley v West Ham Live
Sunderland vs. Wigan
Thirteenth place Sunderland hosted twelfth place Stoke City on Monday but the best they could manage was a share of the points through a 0-0 draw. Wigan, their Saturday opponents, are just two points back. Sunderland’s form has been poor and so they’ll be keen to ensure that they get maximum points against the Latics. The point spread among the lower echelon teams is thin, and despite their position in the league, Sunderland will be keenly aware that they are just four points above the drop zone. Manager Steve Bruce has been busy shoring up defense and attack in the January transfer window. Defender Matthew Kilgallon came over from Sheffield United in mid-January. On the last day of the transfer window, Scottish international defender Alan Hutton came in from Tottenham on loan, and Zimbabwean striker Benjani came in on loan from Manchester City.
Wigan signed two forwards before the close of the transfer window. Bolivian international Marcelo Moreno came in on loan from Shaktar Donetsk, and English striker Victor Moses arrived from Crystal Palace. Moses signed a three and a half year contract for £2.5 million. Young Moses, a former English under-19 international, is nothing if not confidant, having already expressed that his move to Latics might herald a future full international call up for England. Wigan boss Roberto Martinez will hope that kind of attitude has a positive effect on his team’s performance. A loss to Notts County midweek has sent Wigan crashing out of the FA Cup, and they’ve lost their last two Premier League matches. Watch Sunderland vs Wigan Live
Stoke City vs. Blackburn Rovers
Stoke City played Sunderland to a 0-0 draw on Monday and manager Tony Pulis appears to have been happy with the result, claiming on Stoke’s website that Sunderland’s “£30 million pound strike force”of Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent didn’t get a shot in. Fair enough; the moral victory is undoubtedly a nice bragging point. But at the end of the day its goals that count, and Stoke failed to score. Pulis had hoped to sign Portsmouth’s England international goalkeeper David James during the transfer window just concluded but that deal fell apart and they signed Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic instead. Stoke captain Abdoulaye Faye is looking forward to facing Blackburn, now managed by his old boss Sam Allardyce. But back spasms forced him out of the Sunderland match and so his participation at the weekend is open to question. A win against Blackburn on Saturday will move Stoke up past Rovers in the league table.
Turkish international midfielder Yildiray Basturk has joined Blackburn Rovers on loan from Stuttgart through the end of the season. Basturk is a player reminiscent of those that manager Sam Allardyce proved a master of securing while he was at Bolton. Like Hierra, Campo, Okocha and others he brought to Bolton, Big Sam sees Basturk as a fellow who could make an impact for Rovers in the Premier League. Meanwhile discontented striker Benni McCarthy has gone to West Ham. Rover’s last six matches include two wins three draws and only one loss, that being a 4-1 away defeat to Manchester City. But looking only at their last six away games the situation is somewhat more dire, with zero wins. An away loss to Stoke on Saturday would have consequences: Stoke would leapfrog Rovers in the league table. Watch Stoke v Blackburn Live
Sunday’s Games - February 7, 2010
Birmingham City vs. Wolves
Birmingham’s defense, so solid this season, was stretched by Spurs’ David Bentley and Gareth Bale at the weekend in their 1-1 draw at St. Andrews. Spurs were the better side most of the game but Birmingham showed abundant character in the face of adversity as they fought back from a goal down. Indeed, it was their defense that created their stoppage time equalizer, working the ball from their own penalty box up into the Spurs box where fullback Liam Ridgewell knocked the ball home. Recent transfer Michel got his first taste of the Premier League and looked as little out of sorts, perhaps due to the pace of the English game.
It’s a frail platform of mere goal difference that holds Wolves above the drop zone. Attempts to bring some name players to Molineux during the transfer window, in particular Hull’s Stephen Hunt and Tottenham’s Robbie Keane, have been unsuccessful, so Mick McCarthy and his men will have to rely on available resources. Three losses followed by two consecutive draws is Wolves league record of late, and a surprise FA Cup loss midweek to Crystal Palace will undoubtedly cause some soul searching at Wolverhampton. Perhaps the only bright side at least is that the loss to Palace didn’t affect the league standings.
Chelsea vs. Arsenal
Chelsea missed a chance to extend their league lead by an additional three points on Tuesday when they failed to dispatch Hull, and instead shared the points in a 1-1 draw at KC Stadium. Chelsea had to come from behind and it was Didier Drogba who scored the equalizer in his first game back from the African Cup of Nations. Instead of a comforting four point lead over Manchester United the Blues find themselves a mere two points in front. Michael Essien is out again having suffered a knee injury while on international duty with Ghana in the African expedition.
Arsenal failed to keep the pace with Manchester United last weekend. They were second best, there can be no doubt. Thomas Vermaelen, who had come off the previous week against Aston Villa due to a suspected broken leg, was a surprise starter against United. But neither he nor William Gallas nor Gael Clichy could stop the Mancunian onslaught. Arsenal still sit in third place in the league but they have lost ground to both United and this week’s opponents, league leaders Chelsea. Having lost big to both Chelsea and United this season, manager Arsene Wenger must now harbor concern over the ability of his team to compete at the very top of the league. Watch Chelsea v Arsenal Live
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