English Premier League: Saturday Roundup and Predictions – Part 1
There are seven Premier League matches to be played on Saturday.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton
Tottenham is flying high in the League. The team is fifth on the table and just behind Manchester United on goal difference. Tottenham beat Fulham away in its last Premier League outing. Harry Redknapp's team gave a respectable display in its Champions League match against current European champions F.C. Internazionale. Gareth Bale scored a second-half hat-trick after going 4-0 down in the first half – showing just why top clubs so badly want to sign the player.
Captain Ledley King and Vedran Corluka are still out of the game with groin injuries, and Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson are out with ligament damage. Jamie O’Hara and Jonathan Woodgate are out for a long time. However, Rafael van der Vaart will return from suspension and Younes Kaboul might be back from his hamstring injury.
Everton is also on the up after its 2-0 derby win against Liverpool. But they are facing some injury problems that could cost them dearly: Leon Osman is out with an ankle problem for six weeks and another midfielder, Mikel Arteta, is doubtful due to a shoulder injury. Marouane Fellaini with a hamstring injury, Jack Rodwell with an ankle injury, and Ross Barkley with a broken leg, have all been sidelined for some time. Steven Pienaar, who had a groin problem, and Louis Saha with his calf strain, are also struggling for full fitness.
Nevertheless, the match is set to be very entertaining, as both teams play attacking football. It is predicted that it will be a high-scoring game in which Tottenham may overpower Everton.
Birmingham City vs. Blackpool
Birmingham could find themselves in the relegation spot if they lose to Blackpool, so this is a must-win game for them. Blackpool is sitting in the top half of the table and will be looking to beat Birmingham to ascend even higher up the table and avoid a relegation battle at later stages. Ian Holloway, the Blackpool manager, has been fortunate that his squad didn’t have much injury problems although Billy Clark, Alex Baptiste and Louis Almond will not feature in the match against Birmingham due to injury.
M€arlon Harewood (Blackpool) would be looking to force his way into starting eleven.
Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) will be given a late fitness test; Jerome suffered ankle injury during training. But if he is unable to make it Birmingham knows they have Nikola Zigic, He scored against Arsenal in the 2-1 defeat and looked in good form.
Birmingham has a slight edge over Blackpool because of its home advantage.
Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chelsea is currently at the top of the league table, just two points above second-placed Manchester City. Carlo Ancelotti is experienced enough to know that no match is easy and Chelsea must play well to maintain its top position on the table.
Regarding team news, Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea) will be looking for a first start since last October against the Wolves at Stamford Bridge. Another player who will be making a comeback is Chelsea top scorer and striker Didier Drogba. Drogba missed two games – one 0-0 draw against Aston Villa and Chelsea’s Champions League win over FC Spartak Moscow in midweek. But they will be missing some key players like Frank Lampard (groin), Yossi Benayoun (Achilles), Alex (thigh), and Daniel Sturridge (ankle).
The Wolves will be without Michael Mancienne, who is loaned from Chelsea. Karl Henry (Wolves) is suspended and defender Jody Craddock has a hip injury. Steven Hunt (Wolves) is also likely to miss the trip to Stamford Bridge. David Davis (Wolves), who is just 19 years of age, has been recalled from loan and might play against the Champions.
Chelsea at home would be too big a task for Mick McCarthy (Wolves Manager). He will look to save his squad from embarrassment and play a packed midfield. Chelsea should win this game by a comfortable margin.
To be continued.
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