Super Saturday In The English Premier League, Plus a Massive Monday Derby!

This weekend's Premier League programme promises some serious excitement and thrills.

The Sports Betting Review weekend preview features three of the biggest matches on this Super Saturday, plus Monday's all-important Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton:

Bolton v Manchester United

Saturday 17 January 2009, Reebok Stadium

Kickoff: 15:00

Bolton

Bolton Wanderers lost their last league outing 1-0 away against Arsenal and have won just once in their last six games since their 4-1 away win against Sunderland.

This six game run has included five defeats, with defeat in each of their last three matches (with Bolton also failing to find the net in these matches), and has yielded just 3 points from the 18 available. They have scored 4 times and leaked 10 goals in the process, and have slipped to twelfth in the table.

The Trotters have been given clearance for loan signing Sebastien Puygrenier to play, following his move from Zenit St Petersburg. Gary Megson has ruled out the signing of Brazilian winger Denilson following his trial and the speculated move for Jamie Bullard, but there is a clear intention for further improvements, which is sure to add a mixture of excitement and motivation to existing players for forthcoming games.

Bolton captain Kevin Nolan will be unavailable as he serves the second of a two match suspension, but Greter Steinssen will return after a one match reprimand. Nicky Hunt will also be unavailable with a thigh injury, along with Gavin McCann (ankle) and Ricardo Vaz Te (knee), while Gary Cahill (back), Tamir Cohen (hamstring) and Joey O’Brien (thigh) have a chance of returning.

Manchester United

Manchester United won their last league outing 1-0 at home against Wigan Athletic and are undefeated in nine games since losing 2-1 away against Arsenal.

This nine game run has included seven wins, with four in their last four matches and yielded 23 points from the 27 on offer. Man Utd have scored 13 goals and conceded none to build nine straight clean sheets, as they have moved up to second in the league.

The Red Devils have taken a blow with Wayne Rooney suffering a hamstring injury in their midweek victory over Wigan ruling him out for at least three weeks. They will also have to do without Patrice Evra (foot), Owen Hargreaves (knee) and Rio Ferdinand (back), whilst Jonny Evans (foot) and Carlos Tevez (ankle) are both doubts, but Wes Brown (ankle) could return.

Prediction

Manchester United lost 1-0 to Bolton in this corresponding fixture last season, but have already beaten the Trotters 2-0 earlier this season Old Trafford. The reigning champions are in top-of-the-table form, whilst Bolton are on a terrible run.

With Bolton finding it particularly difficult to score recently, coupled with Manchester United seemingly impenetrable defense, it seems Bolton’s best chance will be to adopt an approach of avoiding defeat.

Despite the fact that this will be The Red Devils third game in 7 days, and that they have number of big players injured, Bolton could also have several players missing. Also, with the absence of Kevin Nolan likely to be a significant blow to Bolton, the league’s in-form team should be favourites for a testing away win.

Chelsea v Stoke

Saturday 17 January 2009, Stamford Bridge

Kickoff: 15:00

Chelsea

Chelsea lost their last league outing 3-0 away against Manchester United, their first defeat of the season away from home. They have won twice and drawn four times in their last eight matches, yielding 10 points from the 24 available. During that run, they found the net 8 times and leaked 8 goals, slipping down to third in the table.

Speculation has re-ignited over the future of Didier Drogba, after he was left out of the starting line up for The Blues’ midweek FA Cup match. Also, some below-par performances for Chelsea have lead to concerns for Phil Scolari's future at the club.

Chelsea continue without long term absentee Micheal Essien (knee), although Alex (hamstring) and Florent Malouda (hamstring) could return.

Stoke

Stoke City drew their last league match 0-0 at home to Liverpool, extending a run of seven games since their last victory (1-0 at home against West Bromwich Albion).

They have drawn four and lost three during this run, gaining just 4 points from the 21 on offer. They have scored 4 goals and conceded 9 in these matches, as they now sit seventeenth in the league.

The Potters this week signed former England international striker James Beattie from Sheffield United, and with the recent transfer of Matthew Etherington from West Ham, this will boost their attacking options.

Stoke will have to do without Andrew Wilkinson and Ricardo Fuller, as both are unavailable serving FA suspensions, whilst Mamady Sidibe is doubtful with a knee injury.

Prediction

Chelsea beat Stoke 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium earlier in the season, but they are on far less convincing form at the moment than they were at that point.

Chelsea have an increasingly poor record at home this season and are currently suffering with their overall form and, with Stoke's recent result against Liverpool and the arrival of James Beattie (who has a good record against Chelsea) giving them a boost, this game could be tougher for The Blues than the table suggests.

However, it may take a very special moment from Beattie or a key mistake from the Blues to turn the tide, as Chelsea will be favourites to bounce back from their humiliation last week with a win in this encounter.

Hull v Arsenal

Saturday 17 January 2009, KC Stadium

Kickoff: 17:30

Hull

Hull City lost their last league outing 2-0 away against Everton are haven’t tasted victory in five games since beating Middlesbrough 2-1 at home.

They have lost four and drawn the other game in this winless run, gaining 1 point from 15 available. Hull have scored four goals in the process and conceded 13, falling down to eighth in the table.

The Tigers have this week signed left winger Kevin Kilbane from Wigan Atheltic and attempts to sign West Ham’s Louis Boa Morte and Sunderland’s Dean Whitehead have further signalled Phil Brown’s intentions to boast the quality and competition in the squad before the January window closes.

Hull have taken a blow with George Boateng suffering a knee injury in their midweek victory over Newcastle in the FA Cup, whilst Caleb Folan (knee), Andy Dawson (achilles) and Anthony Gardner (thigh) are all doubtful.

Arsenal

Arsenal beat Bolton Wonderers 1-0 in their last league outing, extending a run to seven games undefeated since losing 3-0 away against Manchester City.

They have won four and drawn three of those seven games, picking up 15 points from the 21 available. During this run, they have found the net on 9 occasions, whilst being breached 5 times, as they currently sit fifth in the league.

Arsene Wenger has revealed that The Gunners have reached a stage of negotiations to sign Andrei Ashavin and is hopeful of signing him before the transfer window closes, signaling his plans boost the quality of the team sheet and garner something extra from the existing players with higher class competition.

Arsenal will have to do without Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Mikael Silvestre (thigh) and William Gallas (hamstring), whilst Alex Song (thigh) has a chance of returning.

Prediction

Hull beat Arsenal 2-1 at Emirates Stadium earlier in the season; however, The Gunners have since found some stability and more resilience as attested by their current avoidance of defeat, whilst Hull's form has stalled recently.

Hull may find new motivation from added competition and attempts to improve the squad, as well as confidence from their previous victory over The Gunners, but despite the Gunners having a string of key players injured (with Cesc Fabregas and William Gallas being particularly key), Arsenal will have more freshness following Hull’s mid-week match and will go into this match as favourites to go home with all three points

Liverpool v Everton

Monday 19 January 2009, Anfield

Kickoff: 20:00

Liverpool

Liverpool drew 0-0 with Stoke City in their last league outing, extending a run to ten games undefeated since suffering their only league defeat of the season (2-1 away to Tottenham).

They have won five and drawn five during this undefeated run, yielding 20 points from the 30 on offer. Liverpool have scored 19 goals on that run whilst conceding 5, to currently sit top of the table.

In a week where Rafa Benitez has made several suggestions of favouritism for Manchester United, he also underwent a third operation on his kidney stones problem, leaving club assistant Sammy Lee to take charge of preparations for The Reds, whilst Benitez recovers.

Xabi Alonso will be fit following his return from a foot injury; however, Martin Skrtel (knee) and Phillip Degan (metatarsal) and Alvaro Arebloa (hamstring) are doubts.

Everton

Everton beat Hull City 2-0 at home in their last league outing, and are undefeated in five league games since losing 3-2 at home against Aston Villa.

They have won four of those five games, accumulating 13 points from the 15 available. Everton have scored 5 goals and conceded none, to build five consecutive clean sheets and move up to sixth in the league.

Everton will be without £15m club record signing Marouane Fellaini, as he serves a 2 match FA suspension for collecting his 10th booking in Everton’s last league match against Hull.

Everton will have to do without Joseph Yobo (hamstring), Ayegbeni Yakubu (calf), Louis Saha (hamstring) and James Vaughan (knee), whilst Nuno Valente (knee) and Lars Jacobsen (shoulder) could make their return.

Prediction

Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in this corresponding derby fixture last season and backed that up with a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park earlier this season, with both goals from Fernando Torres. The recovered striker could also be the key in this match, as The Toffees are not giving away many chances in recent matches.

The Reds could be knocked off the top of the table by the time they kick off this match if Manchester United make it three wins since Rafa Benitez’s recent monologue suggesting that the reigning champions are nervous, and this will only add extra pressure to the game for Liverpool.

Where Liverpool will look to Fernando Torres, Everton will look to another Spaniard in their playmaker Mikeal Arteta, who has scored two free kicks in his last two games and could break the deadlock again in this encounter.

This will be a fiercely contested and close derby and, although the form guide will go out the window, Everton look likely to cause another home upset for Liverpool.

These previews are by Sports Betting Review, where you can find the best bookmakers online, their biggest free bets and a guide to football betting.