Premier League Predictions: Match Week 20 – Part 1
Festive period is always tough but the cold this year has brought mixed fortunes for all clubs. Blackpool simply cannot get a game and their festive period has become somewhat of a ‘restive’ period.
Meanwhile http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809, Birmingham, Everton and of course Blackpool got some rest on Sunday after their matches were called off due to severe weather conditions. They will all be fresh against teams who will be playing their second game in 48 hours time- which
is not easy in temperatures of up to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
Anyway, we got our job to do here, which is to make predictions for the games to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll start off with the team who has revitalised their title ambitions, Manchester City, who are at home and up against a struggling Aston
Villa.
Manchester City vs. Aston Villa
Manchester City will be buoyed by their terrific result away at Newcastle United. City, who made a bright start at St James Park- when they scored 2 goals in first 5 minutes- will be hoping to replicate that against Aston Villa on Tuesday.
Carlos Tevez added two more goals to his tally and will once again be the man to watch. However, it is still not sure whether http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mario-Balotelli-c23937 will start or will be on the bench again.
Villa are in serious trouble now, having lost 4 of their last 6 matches and they will be disappointed that they failed to get anything against 10-men Spurs side at Villa Park.
Manchester City who were beaten last time at home by Everton will be looking to get things right this time against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Houllier’s men, which we believe, is going to be a relatively easy task.
Prediction: 2-0
Stoke City vs. Fulham
Wigan’s victory meant that Fulham are now in the drop zone, after their home defeat to fellow relegation contenders, West Ham United. Mark Hughes is under tremendous pressure to get things right at the club or else he could be shown the door.
Stoke, meanwhile will be confident going into this game, after they beat Blackburn away from home. Stoke are a tough team to beat, especially at home and although their star man Mathew http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Etherington-c12941 is doubtful for this one, we believe this is very much a
winnable fixture for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tony-c35440 Pulis’ men.
Fulham who have drawn three and lost three in their last 6 league matches will be hoping of a turn in fortune. Sunday’s showing would have left even the most optimistic Fulham fans with little hope of win. However, a draw would be considered a decent, if
not the required result.
Prediction: 1-0
Sunderland vs. Blackpool
Blackpool players should run twice as much as the Sunderland players on Tuesday as they have played only one game in just over a month’s time and their last match was played on 11 December.
We really cannot judge what form or shape Blackpool players are in, however, we know Sunderland players will be low on confidence after they were torn to shreds by Manchester United.
Sunderland had played some decent football until their visit to Old Trafford but Steve Bruce will make sure his side is ready to face a team who will be a lot fresher than his team.
Sunderland are seventh in the table and know that a win will take them above Bolton who play http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 at Stamford Bridge.
Blackpool on the other hand would like to hit the ground running after playing very little football and Ian Holloway told the media that it has been difficult to train the way they wanted to, due to adverse weather conditions.
This one is a tough one to call, fatigue can play a big part at this stage of the season and this is what will favour Blackpool, who we believe will manage to take something away from this game.
Prediction: 1-1
Continued in part 2
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