A Massive Midweek in English Premier League Football

Following a superb weekend of FA Cup Football, we're back to business in the English Premier League for some super mid-week fixtures. What surprises will this round's matches hold, as the title chase continues for the league's top teams?

West Brom vs Manchester United

Tuesday 27 January 2009, The Hawthorns

Kickoff: 19:45

 
West Brom

West Bromwich Albion won their last league match 3-0 at home to Middlesbrough, making a run of three wins in their last five games (all at home).

West Brom have lost two out of those five games to gain nine points from the 15 that were available. They are also unbeaten in four games at home since losing 3-0 at The Hawthorns against Chelsea. WBA have found the net on eight occasions and been breached five times during their last five games, as they sit rock bottom of the table in 20th place.

The Baggies are ridden with knee and hamstring injuries and will have to do without Ishmael Miller (knee), Neil Clement (knee), Jonas Olsson (knee), Abdoulaye Meite (hamstring) and Leon Barnett (hamstring), whilst Gianni Zuiverloon (knee), James Morrison (hamstring), and Luke Moore (hamstring) could make the squad.

Manchester United

Manchester United beat Bolton 1-0 away in their last league outing, extending a run of ten games undefeated since their last league defeat (2-1 away against Arsenal).

The reigning champions Man Utd have won eight and drawn two of this ten game streak, including six 1-0 victories; picking up 26 of the 30 points that were available. Whilst going undefeated, Man U have scored 14 goals and conceded none, equalling the Premiership record of 10 consecutive clean sheets whilst moving into pole position in the league.

Manchester United will have to do without Anderson (leg), Jonny Evans (ankle), Rafael (hamstring), Owen Hargreaves (knee), Patrice Evra (ankle), and Wayne Rooney (hamstring), but Rio Ferdinand has a chance of recovering from his back injury and Wes Brown (ankle) could be fit.

Prediction

West Brom lost 4-0 against Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier this season; however, it’s a different picture for both teams this time round.

Both are ravaged by injuries to several players, which slightly counts in Man Utd's favour given their squad superiority and that they are currently the league’s most in-form team.

Manchester United will have difficulty fielding a senior back four with five injury concerns in that area, but if any one returns in time, they’ll be able to field a proven quartet, whilst West Brom are struggling in different areas.

West Bromwich Albion’s recent good home record will give them confidence for this match and make this a real test for the new Premiership leaders; however, Manchester United will still be favourites for victory in this encounter.

Portsmouth vs Aston Villa

Tuesday 27 January 2009, Fratton Park

Kickoff: 20:00

Portsmouth
 
Portsmouth drew 1-1 away against Tottenham in their last league outing, extending a run to six games without a win since beating Blackburn 3-2 at home.

They have drawn twice and lost four of those six games, gaining two points out of the 18 that were available. Portsmouth have hit the back of the net four times whilst conceding 11 goals during their winless run, slipping down twelfth in the league standings.

Portsmouth have signed Jermaine Pennant from Liverpool on loan, which should boost the competition and quality in their wide areas.

Pompey will have to do without Papa Bouba Diop (knee), while Jerome Thomas (back) is a doubt, but Richard Hughes should return. Also, midfielder Niko Kranjcar will now be out for a lengthy period following the recent news that he has torn a groin muscle.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa won their last league outing 2-1 away against Sunderland, building up a fantastic run of ten games undefeated since their last league defeat (2-1 at home against Middlesbrough).

They have won seven and drawn three during this run; yielding 24 points from the 30 offered. During their hot streak, Aston Villa have scored 17 goals and conceded eight, as they currently sit fourth in the league.

Aston Villa will be without Ashley Young as he serves a three match FA suspension for a sending off, and Wilfred Bouma with an ankle injury, whilst John Carew (back) and Martin Laursen (knee) have a chance of making the squad.

Prediction

Portsmouth beat Aston Villa 2-0 in this corresponding fixture last season and the sides drew 0-0 at Villa Park earlier this season.

This match sees the Premiership’s currently most in-form away team in Aston Villa (having won their last five in a row on the road) against Portsmouth, who cannot buy a win at the moment, so the tide is definitely with Aston Villa. Furthermore, Portsmouth's shock defeat in the FA Cup to Swansea on Saturday will do little to boost their team morale.

The loss of Ashley Young, however, cannot be overlooked for Villa, as he has been their most outstanding player this season. Also, the arrival of Jermaine Pennant at Portsmouth should give Pompey a lift, if only psychologically for now given his lack of recent matches.

Portsmouth will hope to continue adding to their more encouraging recent results, which began with their draw against Spurs a week ago. Therefore, this game should see an improved Portsmouth, but Aston Villa will be the most likely of the two to get the victory.

Chelsea v Middlesbrough

Wednesday 28 January 2009, Stamford Bridge

Kickoff: 19:45

Chelsea

Chelsea won their last league outing 2-1 at home against Stoke City, making it their second league win in the last six games.

They have drawn three and lost one of those last six games, yielding nine points from the 18 offered. The Blues have scored seven goals and leaked seven also during this spell, slipping down to third in the league.

Chelsea have recently suffered a big blow with news that Joe Cole will be out for the rest of the season with cruciate knee ligaments injury and he joins Michael Essien (knee) on the long term injury list, whilst Deco (calf) and John Terry (back) are expected to be fit.

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough lost 3-0 in their last league outing away against West Bromwich Albion, extending a miserable run of 10 games without a win since beating Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.

They have lost six and drawn four during this winless run, collecting four points from the 30 that were available. Boro have found the net five times and leaked 16 goals in the process of falling to eighth in the league table.

Middlesbrough have agreed to the signing of midfielder Ben Watson from Crystal Palace and have captured Marlon King on loan from Wigan Athletic, with Mido likely to go the other way on loan.

Boro will be without Didier Digard as he serves a three match FA suspension for a sending off, as well as the injured Josh Walker (ankle), Jeremie Aliadiere (ankle) and Justin Hoyte (knee), whilst Chris Riggott (concussion) and Emanuel Pogatetz (hamstring) should recover in time to be available.

Prediction

Chelsea won 1-0 against Middlesbrough in this corresponding fixture last season and also beat them 5-0 away earlier this season.

The Blues’ home form is way below their standard of recent seasons and they are not yet comfortable playing teams at Stamford Bridge. However, their last minute victory against Stoke last match will have gone some way towards repairing this, as well as boosting the team's faltering morale.

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, are on a far more terrible run in general, made worse by their hapless defeat in their last league match against West Brom. This spells trouble for Boro that the arrival of Ben Watson and Marlon King won't repair on its own.

Chelsea will be mourning the loss of Joe Cole, but the availability of several others will ease the affect on the team sheet, as last season’s runners-up seem likely to make it two home wins in a row as favourites in this encounter.

Wigan vs Liverpool

Wednesday 28 January 2009, JJB Stadium

Kickoff: 19:45

Wigan

Wigan Athletic lost their last league outing 1-0 away against Manchester City, making back to back 1-0 defeats following a run of six wins out of seven.

They have won six of their last nine league games and lost three (all 1-0 away), yielding 18 points from the 27 offered. Wigan have found the net 10 times and leaked five goals during those nine games. They have also won their last five home games since drawing 0-0 at the JJB Stadium with Stoke City, and they currently sit seventh in the league table.

Wigan agreed to sell star midfielder Wilson Palacios to Tottenham and have loaned out Marlon King to Middlesbrough, with Wigan likely to get Mido to arrive on loan as part of the deal. Also, Wigan are on the verge of signing Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega from Mexican club Necaxa. Lastly, Wigan have also just agreed to sell striker Emile Heskey to Aston Villa.

The Latics have not a single reported injury concern!

Liverpool

Liverpool drew 1-1 at home against Everton in their last league outing, extending a run to eleven games undefeated since their last and only league defeat of the season so far (2-1 away against Tottenham).

They have won five and drawn six during these eleven games, taking 21 points from the 33 that were available. Liverpool have scored 20 goals and been breached six times since last losing, as they currently sit second in the league table.

Liverpool have loaned out winger Jermaine Pennant to Portsmouth for the remainder of the season. The Reds have also reportedly been approached by a Kuwaiti billionaire for a possible takeover bid that would see the club given greater buying potential, although the Kuwaiti group in question has denied having such talks.

Liverpool will be without Philipp Degan, whilst Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso (foot) have a chance of making the squad.

Prediction

The Latics lost 1-0 in this corresponding fixture last season and also lost 3-2 against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season; however, the form of both teams has reversed since then. Wigan are one of the league’s most in-form teams recently, whilst Liverpool have dropped points in various games that should have been winnable on paper.

The loss of Wilson Palacios will be far greater to Wigan than that of Jermaine Pennant to Liverpool, but the possible arrival of Mido before kick-off could alleviate that somewhat, if only in spirit. The Latics are showing a lot of activity in the transfer market, which should remind the squad that more is being asked of them despite their rise to seventh in the league.

The Reds could be excited by a potentially prosperous future with rumours of a wealthy takeover. Also if Xabi Alonso makes it for kick-off, Liverpool will be further boosted in a tangible way—he would likely help win the midfield battle even more comfortably for the Reds following Wigan's sale of Palacios, who has shone in that area this season.

The signs are that this game will be very closely contested. Although Liverpool go into the match as the bookmakers' favourite to win (see below), Wigan’s overall balance of quality and super-spirit should be enough to match a fairly stuttering Liverpool in this encounter. 

Everton vs Arsenal

Wednesday 28 January 2009, Goodison Park

Kickoff: 20:00

Everton

Everton drew their last league outing 1-1 away against Liverpool, extending a run to six games undefeated since losing 3-2 at home against Aston Villa.

They have won four and drawn two of those six games, taking 14 points from the 18 offered. The Toffees have scored 8 goals and conceded one, achieving five consecutive clean sheets during this 6 game run to sit sixth in the league table.

Everton will have to do without Ayegbeni Yakubu (calf), Louis Saha (hamstring) and James Vaughan (knee), whilst Joseph Yobo (hamstring), Nuno Valente (knee), and Lars Jacobsen (shoulder) have a chance of returning.

Arsenal

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

They have won five, including their last three on the bounce, and drawn three during this eight game run; taking 18 points from the 24 that were available. The Gunners have scored 12 goals and leaked six during the run, as they sit fifth in the league.

Arsenal are still in negotiations to sign Russian star Andrei Arshavin before the end of January, and if a deal was agreed, he would likely boost the midfield with his presence and quality.

The Gunners will have to do without captain Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Mikael Silvestre (thigh), but William Gallas (hamstring) is likely to recover to make the squad. Brazilian striker Eduardo has recently stated that he is ready to return to Arsenal's first team, after recovering from a potentially career-ending injury that he suffered last February.

Prediction

Everton lost 4-1 against Arsenal in this corresponding fixture last season and also lost 3-1 against them at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season.

Both teams have improved their form since their last meeting, with The Toffees narrowing the gap to just one place below the The Gunners after a string of fine recent results slightly bettering that of Arsenal.

Everton’s striker crisis has been eased by the scoring form of Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta, whilst the loss of captain Cesc Fabregas and constant attempts to bring in Arshavin appears to have coincided to have galvanised The Gunners into a series of solid results.

Everton’s home form has improved significantly to be a positive factor, and it may put the tie between the two evenly matched teams slightly in their favour. Another special free kick from Arteta could possibly make the difference again in what is set to be an extremely close and exciting match.

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