Saturday, 11 April 2009Barclays Premier LeagueLiverpool v Blackburn, 12:45 Sky Sports 1Chelsea v Bolton, 15:00Middlesbrough v Hull, 15:00Portsmouth v West Brom, 15:00Sunderland v Man Utd, 15:00Tottenham v West Ham, 15:00Wigan v Arsenal, 15:00 Stoke v Newcastle, 17:30 Setanta Sports 1Sunday, 12 April 2009Barclays Premier LeagueAston Villa v Everton, 13:30 Setanta Sports 1Man City v Fulham, 16:10 Sky Sports 1Chelsea v BoltonIt's been a fascinating week in the Champions League and plenty of opinions will have changed as to just who now has the momentum from the Premier League's 'big four'. There can surely be little doubt that Chelsea not only bagged the best result in the quarter-final first legs but also produced by far the best performance as they were outstanding in winning 3-1 at Liverpool. Two of the goals may have come from the head of defender Branislav Ivanovic but there was real attacking fluency to the Blues' play and that could mark a turning point as they've managed just seven goals in their last eight Premier League games. But for Wednesday's display we'd have been tempted by the 15/8 on offer about the teams being level at the break as that's been the case in a staggering seven of Chelsea's last 10 top-flight matches. It's also worth noting that Bolton have drawn their last two at Stamford Bridge, score the bulk of their goals in the first 45 minutes and remain in relatively decent nick. However, the feelgood factor suddenly surrounding Chelsea is just enough to put us off getting involved. Verdict: Chelsea 3 Bolton 0Liverpool v BlackburnThe snipers have been out for Liverpool following Wednesday's reverse at Anfield but it's not as if Rafa Benitez's men turned in a shocker. Their zonal marking at corners cost them dear but that apart there was plenty to like about their display and we're not about to write them off in the Premier League title race. This game though is exactly the sort of fixture that has cost them dear this season as they've drawn six times at Anfield in the league and every one of those was against a side in the middle of the table - Everton (6th), West Ham (7th), Fulham (9th), Manchester City (10th), Stoke (13th) and Hull (15th). Blackburn head into this is 14th place on the back of taking 11 points from their last six games to continue their upward momentum since Sam Allardyce's arrival. Those stats - and a strangely subdued performance from skipper Steven Gerrard on Wednesday night - suggest swerving the Reds at 1/3 has to be sensible course of action. However, Fernando Torres to find the net at even money with Blue Square makes far more appeal as he's looked right back to his best in recent weeks, scoring scored six in his last 10 during what's been a seriously tough run of fixtures. He's also fresher than most as the season reaches its climax and will get chances against a Rovers defence which has just one clean sheet in 11. Verdict: Liverpool 2 Blackburn 1 Middlesbrough v Hull CityBoro's inconsistency has long made them a team to steer clear of from a betting point of view and they make zero appeal at around the even-money mark in this. For that even money you are getting a team which has won just one of their last 19 matches in the top flight and has slid into the bottom three with barely a whimper. Admittedly Hull have been in a similar rut since their amazing start to the campaign but there have at least been some encouraging signs recently as they've lost just one of their last four to keep their heads above water in the relegation scrap. And the foundation of that improved form has come at the back as they've conceded just the two goals. The problem is that they've lacked a cutting edge at the other end of the pitch and none of those games has threatened to breach the 2.5-goals mark. With so much at stake at the Riverside, going under that tally is the confident call because it would also have collected in every one of Boro's last eight matches at home. Three of those fixtures have also finished 0-0 so 'no goalscorer' at 17/2 is worth adding to the staking plan.Verdict: Middlesbrough 0 Hull 0 Portsmouth v West BromWest Brom should be getting used to these 'last-chance saloon' games but we've probably passed the point now where the Baggies can entertain realistic hopes of survival. They've had two huge matches against Bolton and Stoke and managed just a solitary point, leaving boss Tony Mowbray to admit: "It makes life very difficult for us." And he was surely clutching at straws when he said there is less expectation for their remaining games on the road because their away record is P15 W1 D3 L11. They are also running into a Pompey side which has performed superbly under Paul Hart, losing just once in six matches to give their survival hopes a massive boost. That lone defeat was a 1-0 reverse against Chelsea so there was little disgrace in that and the 4/5 chalked up about a home win in this makes plenty of appeal. However, we're going to be a little more ambitious and split stakes on a couple of emphatic Pompey victories, with 4-0 and 4-1 both available at 40/1. No side has a worse goal difference on the road than the Baggies (F6, A27) and with belief ebbing away there's got to be the chance of another capitulation.Verdict: Porsmouth 4 West Brom 0 Stoke City v NewcastleThere are some fascinating matches this weekend and this one is right up there with them - and the good news is that it also provides a decent betting opportunity. The 'relegation six-pointer' cliche will no doubt be trotted out plenty of times before kick off but that's a little disrespectful to Stoke. For the Potters are now six points clear of the drop zone after three wins in their last four and their success has been built almost entirely on their displays at the Britannia Stadium. They've won as many games at home this term as Chelsea and the Blues are one of only three teams - Manchester United and Everton are the other two, so it's a select group - to have taken maximum points from a visit to the Potteries. Newcastle are nowhere near that sort of standard and it's hard to see how Alan Shearer is going to transform them between now and the end of the season. If it happens then it's likely to be at St James' Park in any case - and just two wins out of 15 on their travels show what a soft touch they've been on the road. Stoke caused Newcastle all sorts of problems in the reverse fixture, coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, and Tony Pulis' men look overpriced at 6/4 to pile the pressure on the Magpies by taking all three points this time.Verdict: Stoke 2 Newcastle 0 Sunderland v Manchester UnitedIt seems astonishing that the side which broke all sorts of records for Premier League clean sheets earlier in the season has now imploded so spectacularly. But that's what's happened to United's defence who have now conceded at least two goals in each of their last four games. They somehow got out of jail last time out in the Premier League against Aston Villa but were given a dose of their own medicine in midweek by Porto. However, the good news for the Red Devils is that they are scoring plenty at the other end and they are also up against a Sunderland outfit which has managed just 29 goals in 31 games, fewer than any other side outside the relegation zone. Indeed the focus on the trials and tribulations of north-east rivals Newcastle and MIddlesbrough has deflected plenty of attention away from the Black Cats' plight as they are desperately treading water themselves down in the lower reaches of the table. They've lost three on the trot and have scored just two goals in the last six so should provide perfect opposition for the Red Devils to resume normal service - with the 5/4 about United winning to nil making more appeal than 1/2 for the 90-minute result. Better still is the 7/1 aboutNemanja Vidic finding the net - he's back from suspension, twice went close against Porto in midweek and Sunderland's last two games have seen them concede headed goals to West Ham's James Tomkins and Manchester City's Micah Richards. Verdict: Sunderland 0 Manchester United 2 Tottenham v West HamIt looks like seventh place in the table will be good enough for a place in Europe and that means the Hammers are well on course for a Europa League spot. However, take a look at their recent away results and you wonder how. They've lost to relegation candidates Middlesbrough and Bolton and drawn at Newcastle. They did win at Wigan and draw at Arsenal - both creditable results - but both of those sides were on poor runs at the time. They face another tough assignment here as Tottenham have lost just a single home game (to Everton) in 17 since Harry Redknapp took charge in late October. In their last four league games at the Lane, Spurs have crushed Boro and Stoke, beaten Chelsea and held Arsenal, conceding just one goal in the process. West Ham's main goal threat, Carlton Cole, remains sidelined so we're happy to back Spurs at 4/5.Verdict: Tottenham 2 West Ham 0 Wigan v ArsenalWigan were awful at Everton last weekend and few could argue they didn't deserve the 4-0 beating they received. Yet they may well be catching Arsenal at just the right time. The Gunners will have an eye on Wednesday's return Champions League quarter-final with Villarreal and will definitely be without Manuel Almunia, William Gallas and Gael Clichy, all injured in Spain in midweek. Robin van Persie and Eduardo are doubts too and with Wednesday's clash looming large it's hard to see them being risked. It may also be sensible to think back to this time last year. Then Arsenal were in the middle of a European quarter-final with Liverpool and made numerous changes for their Saturday clash. Admittedly that was a Wednesday-Tuesday turnaround, as opposed to this season's Tuesday-Wednesday, but with Arsenal having established a gap of six points in fourth there's certainly a case to be made for resting players. If they do, Wigan's home record seems good enough for them to take advantage - they've lost just four times at the JJB this term and just once since October. They are 9/2 to win the game - perhaps worth taking if you wait to see the team line-ups - but probably a safer bet is to back them and the draw in the double-chance market. Doing this you can effectively lay Arsenal at 23/20 with Boylesports. Odds-on in places, it looks worth a go.Verdict: Wigan 1 Arsenal 1
