English Premier League: Week 38 Previews

Arsenal vs Fulham

Clichy could return after missing the last match with a minor ankle injury and Arshavin is likely to return now as he is fully fit while Vela will probably loose his spot.

Fulham are expected to put out a limited squad as they should rest key players for the Europa league final on Wednesday. Although Zamora and Duff would not be able to play regardless as they are both receiving treatment on ankle injuries.

Arsenal have never lost at home to Fulham and with the away side looking to field a second string squad it appears that this is not a tradition that will be broken this season.


Aston Villa vs Blackburn

Villa have no new injury problem and should name the same squad for the sixth match in a row. Milner should make is 200th league start this Sunday.

Diouf is still absent and Nzonzi could miss out after having had an operation to remove his wisdom teeth.

Villa are unbeaten in their last eight matches at home, having won six. Blackburn have not exactly been sloppy recently and have been pretty solid on the road.


Bolton vs Birmingham

Holden could make an appearance after being declared fit and returning from a leg injury which has kept him out of the Bolton squad for two months. Basham and O’Brien could make a return although it is only an outside chance.

With nothing to play for this season, Birmingham have said that they will be giving a few of their fringe players a match. So expect to see a fairly altered Birmingham lineup.

Normally Birmingham would be the favourites for this match although with the side not fielding their best the match could go either way, depending on how well Birmingham’s second stringers perform.

Burnley vs Tottenham

Carlisle should return to the squad although McCann is still unavailable for the final match of the season.

With fourth place in the bag it seems almost a certainty that Tottenham will name a changed line up for tomorrows match and with nothing to play for giving a run out to the second stringers seems the logical thing to do.

Burnley have been on very poor form and normally that alone would be enough to write them off against Tottenham, however with Tottenham likely to field a severely weakened squad it may be to early to say that Spurs will win.
 

Chelsea vs Wigan

Chelsea are likely to play the same side that beat Liverpool in this all important and potentially title winning match. Both Chelsea and Wigan are missing more than a few players due to injury although Wigan look by far the worse for wear.

This match is only ever really going to go one way. It would be ludicrous to predict a Wigan victory when they haven’t won even one of their last five away games and the performances that they have put in are certainly not up to a standard that would easily threaten Chelsea.

Chelsea have won 16 of their 18 matches at Stamford Bridge only failing to beat Everton and Manchester City and although the pressure is on this should certainly be No. 17.

Everton vs Portsmouth

Everton’s injury worries have come to an end much to late in the season to achieve their European aspirations. It seems that with the club locked firmly in 8th place Moyes will make several changes to the squad and let a few bench warmers have a run out.

Portsmouth on the other hand are without 10 players through injury. Although it is not as though anything could help them now, the club being firmly relegated.

Everton are by far the favourites for this match and the Toffees have not lost in their last 10 matches whereas Pompey although having won their last match have looked nothing short of awful all season. The match should go Everton’s way.
 

Hull vs Liverpool

Hull seem likely to start youngster Atkinson after he scored in his debut on Monday. The injured Bullard and Folan are probably not going to feature in the match.

Rodriguez and Johnson have major doubts although it looks like Carragher may return to the squad and make his 435th appearance for the club surpassing the club record.

Hull have not played well this season and although Liverpool have not been particularly good on the road they certainly appear to have the edge over Hull.

 

Manchester United vs Stoke

Rio Ferdinand may start after his brief appearance on Monday. Hargreeves will also be hoping for a run out after coming of the bench for the first time since 2008 in United’s last match.

Stoke are going to field the same side that beat Fulham midweek and Tony Pulis has no new injury concerns to worry about.

Man United need to win here if they are to have any hope in claiming the title this season. Of course, this does rely on Chelsea slipping up, which is rather unlikely. Stoke have not beaten United at Old Trafford since 1984 and it seems this will not be changing.

 

West Ham vs Manchester City

West Ham will be without Collison who is undergoing surgery and could be out for up to nine months.

Man City will be without Barry and Lescott and it looks like Fulop will play the last match of the season ending his loan spell at Man City.

City have been pretty poor away from home this season, but they are undoubtedly a better side than West Ham. This match is quite important for West Ham to avoid a major embarrassment and if the club doesn’t win here it will be a new club record for fewest wins in a top flight season.


Wolverhampton vs Sunderland

Jarvis will return to Wolves for the last match of the season. Jarvis is likely to be the only change to the Wolverhampton side for the game.

Cattermole will not return to the Sunderland, but the side will be bolstered by the return of Hutton from suspension.

Both sides have been very poor lately and with neither side having a great deal to play for a lack lustre show could be on the cards. Sunderland have been leaking goals and have only kept one clean sheet in their last nine matches which means that hopefully we may see a high scoring game.

Joe @ live scores and sports