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Premier League Week 24

HangTheDJ

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Liverpool versus Chelsea and the Tyne-Wear derby top the bill in the final weekend of Premier League action before an arduous 2009 winter transfer window is battened down until the summer.'Rumour' has been the buzzword during the month of January, and the speculation has gusted through the rectangular frame to mixed reaction from football-folk. The novelty of so-called 'links' has begun to wear off. The name of a certain Zenit St Petersburg playmaker no longer conjures up a vivid image of gazelle-like dribbling and roof-of-the-net finishing, instead inflicting an involuntary spasm at the neck.The weekend, however, puts a spanner in the hearsay merry-go-round, presumably because Fleet Street finds itself occupied with filling their sheets with actual football played on grass, rather than the pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey fiction. A full programme of fixtures awaits in the space of 48 hours, with the first of 10 encounters beginning at the Britannia Stadium at lunchtime on Saturday.Stoke City host Manchester City, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1, with the former craving for a reprieve. Tony Pulis' side sit second from bottom, while they have failed to send the net a-rippling in their last three home games - even with sports day shot-putt champion Rory Delap in tow. City, flexing their financial bicep this month via the swallow of an Abu Dhabi United Group steroid or two, are on their best league run of the season, with a return of 10 points from a possible 12.Six 3pm kick-offs then await, including Arsenal's London derby with West Ham United. Arsene Wenger's side have convinced few despite their nine-game unbeaten run, although they tackle the Hammers - the first team to win at Emirates Stadium - boasting a decent record against their several capital rivals. Gianfranco Zola's men, meanwhile, have begun to find their feet, with striker Carlton Cole appearing to become the physical handful most had predicted he could have been in terms gone by.Fourth-placed Aston Villa tackle Wigan Athletic seeking to keep their high-flying momentum friction-free. Villa, while not performing at their peak, have ground out victories in recent weeks, and that is a sure sign of a team heading in the right direction under the Ulsterman. Wigan have lost arguably their two key players in Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios, and the former is set to face his previous club, but will be optimistic boss Steve Bruce has what it takes to soldier on manfully.Middlesbrough are on a torrid run, without a three-point haul in 11 outings, but young manager Gareth Southgate has the backing of the board and will be eager to repay their faith - a quality few clubs can brag these days. Their opponents are Blackburn Rovers, a team that is somewhat ironically paying dividends from a change of head coach. Sam 'been-there-got-the-t-shirt' Allardyce is unbeaten in seven encounters in all competitions, and may be wondering whether you need Roque Santa Cruz if you already have Benni McCarthy.Tony Adams takes his Portsmouth charges to Fulham as a manager under pressure and a dog lover who confuses most in press conferences. Pompey are without a victory since the end of November and Adams may be the bookmakers' favourite as the next to feel the slice of the axe, but a spirited display in their midweek defeat to Villa was no doubt a foundation to build on. Fulham have stuttered of late, but their home record is strong and they will be confident of making it eight games without a loss at Craven Cottage.Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur meet, with the duo both lying on 24 points in the table. Neither team has found the formula for consistency this season, and predicting the outcome of this match-up could prove a little tricky - one to avoid for those of you old to enough to be considering an accumulator - amid Bolton's poor home form and Spurs' ropey away streak. The pair sit just three points above the drop zone, and, with that in mind, this could prove to be a decisive result come the end of the season.The final traditional kick-off time sees Hull City tackle fellow promoted club West Bromwich Albion. After a wonderful start to life in the big-time, the Tigers have adopted doggy paddle and are sinking with concrete in their boots. Phil Brown has sought buoyancy in the likes of Jimmy Bullard, and will soon hope for air. Meanwhile, the bottom-of-the-table Baggies must shake themselves of their drubbing at the hand of Manchester United on Tuesday evening and focus on defeating those around them.Premier League champions and current leaders Manchester United are in imposing form after they made it six straight successes during midweek. Their defence has been ruthless and has gone a record-breaking 17 hours 12 minutes without conceding. However, they face Everton, who boast the remarkable kangaroo-leap of Tim Cahill. After a patchy beginning to the term, the Toffees can head to Old Trafford with belief that a result is certainly not beyond them.Sky Sports 1 & HD1 brings you all of Sunday's top-flight action, starting with Newcastle United against Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park. The Magpies must improve, and fast, with their backline leaking goals and a tongue-tied Joe Kinnear reeling after news of Michael Owen and Joey Barton's long-term injuries. The Black Cats have faired poorly at the Magpies' home ground in the past, but could see the forthcoming game as an opportunity to leave their neighbours smacked with an unfamiliar feeling.Lastly, second and third lock horns at Anfield in the shape of Chelsea and Liverpool , respectively. The heat is boring down on Reds manager Rafa Benitez after yet another draw and further puzzling substitutions. The occasion for Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is a chance to prove his mettle against the 'big four' after so far coming up short, amassing just one point from a possible 12. A stalemate would be useful to neither.
Saturday 31st January12:45 Stoke vs Man City - Sky Sports 115:00 Arsenal vs West Ham15:00 Aston Villa vs Wigan15:00 Bolton vs Tottenham15:00 Fulham vs Portsmouth15:00 Hull vs West Brom15:00 Middlesbrough vs Blackburn17:30 Man Utd vs Everton - Setanta Sports 1Sunday 1st February13:30 Newcastle vs Sunderland - Sky Sports 116:00 Liverpool vs Chelsea - Sky Sports 1I'm hoping for a win for us today. Holte will be rocking and John should be on the bench which will hopefully give everyone a boost. Plus Valencia is possibly out for them.Red = who I think will winGreen = drawStoke vs Man CityArsenal vs West HamAston Villa vs WiganBolton vs TottenhamFulham vs PortsmouthHull vs West BromMiddlesbrough vs BlackburnMan Utd vs EvertonNewcastle vs SunderlandLiverpool vs Chelsea
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*goes to bet against villa* JJ predicting they will win you know smharsene might as well play the kids for the rest of the season they got 4th in the bag now

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brought in beattie in my fantasy side will get a bag of goals for stoke

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you mean 9?

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