EPL Week 37: Preview Of Saturday's Games

Birmingham vs Burnley

Birmingham will be without Carr after he received a ban from the FA for the gestures he made to Aston Villa last week, although on the bright side striker Benitez may make an appearance after a six week absence. Burnley defender Carlisle is injured again after twisting his ankle in training but Burnley could see the return of McCann, pending a late fitness test.

Burnley have been leaking goals and have not kept a clean sheet in 25 games whereas Birmingham are on very good home form and are undefeated in their last 13 matches on their own soil. It seems very unlikely that Burnley will pick up a positive result here.

Manchester City vs Aston Villa

Given’s shoulder injury could see either Fulop or Nielsen start between the post for Man City this weekend, although neither of the two keepers are of the same standard as Given.
Martin O’Neil is set to name an unchanged side for the sixth match in a row for their trip to Manchester and with Villa on good form lately it is rather unsurprising that he is not eager to shake things up. City have been struggling in recent weeks and this looks more than likely to be Villa’s match especially when you look at their recent away form.

Portsmouth vs Wolverhampton
 
Boateng and Finnan are both fit to return to the Pompey side after missing last weeks draw against Bolton.
Wolves are likely to give their young players and reserves a run out after they secured their Premiership safety last weekend. With no threat to their Premier League status left, the trip to Portsmouth will most probably be an enjoyable one for Wolverhampton fans.
Although Wolves secured safety they haven’t exactly been on top form. They haven’t won any of their last five matches while Pompey haven’t won any of their last seven so it would be hard to call the game on terms of form.
 
Stoke vs Everton

Stoke keeper Sorensen will miss the rest of the season after picking up an injury against Chelsea. Faye is likely to play even after limping off last week. Osman and Rodwell may or may not return to the squad pending late checks and both of them being on the brink of a clean bill of health.

Stoke have not beaten Everton since 1982 and with Stokes home form looking pretty bleak at the moment it seems fairly likely that this statistic wont change.
 
Tottenham vs Bolton
 
Tottenham may rest King for the trip to Manchester City next week. Aaron Lennon may return to the Tottenham side following his rather persistent groin strain.

Bolton will probably start with Holden although it seems doubtful that Basham, Gardner or O’Brien will be fit to play.

Bolton’s away form has been poor at best they have failed to score in seven of their last nine away games so this doesn’t look like a match they are likely to pick up a good result at even if Tottenham have been leaking goals recently.

Joe @ livescoredaily.com - livescore