EPL: Boxing Day Title Battle

Aston Villa vs. Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur is no longer considered as a team that is challenging for Europa league places, but one challenging for the top four and with a bit of luck, challenging for the Premier league title, too.

However, Tottenham faces a big task ahead to live up to those credentials when they face Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Even though Aston Villa's form might suggest otherwise, this really is a crunch match and Gerard Houllier will be looking forward to getting a win against a top side and prove that training ground bust-ups will not be affecting the team.

Tottenham have the real possibility of catching Chelsea, who are just four points ahead of them in the Barclays Premier league table, but are facing a much sterner opposition in Arsenal.

Aston Villa on the other hand, have all to play for especially given that they are just four points above the relegation zone, despite winning the Midlands derby a few weeks ago.

The weather seems to not have recovered from the previous week and even though both teams are looking to get on with the game, there is a real possibility of this game being postponed.

Aston Villa - Tottenham kicks off at 18:30 CET on Villa Park.

Blackburn vs. Stoke

This will be the second match that Steve Kean will be taking over and this is just the kind of game that Sam Allardyce would have loved to manage. Physicality does not get any better than this game and this literally is the clash of the titans.

It was announced earlier in the week that Kean will be in charge of the team duties at least till the end of the season, but Kean will be hoping that he can carry on for much longer by impressing the owners.

Tony Pulis is the sort of manager who loves this kind of a game and one can expect a lot of long balls.

Pulis will also be aware of the fact that they lost against Blackpool in their last match and such a defeat previously resulted in four straight defeats. He will be hoping that it will not be occurring this time around and hence, Blackburn can expect no less than a resilient Stoke City.

Christopher Samba is a major doubt for the game, not only due to his intentions to leave the club, but also due to his ankle injury.

Blackburn -  Stoke kicks off at 16:00 CET on Ewood Park.

Blackpool vs. Liverpool

This is one of the fixtures that are in great danger of being cancelled due to the inclement weather.

It is mostly due to the fact that Blackpool do not have a under soil seating system like many other Premier league clubs and this means that, even if the roads and transportation are perfect, the game could still be canceled.

However, if the game does go on, Roy Hodgson’s side will be looking to take advantage of the week-long break they enjoyed due to the cancellation of the Fulham game to avenge the defeat at the hands of Newcastle United.

Ian Holloway managed to stop the slide temporarily by winning against Stoke City a fortnight ago and if this game does carry on, it represents a great opportunity to instill the side with confidence once more by winning against a top Premier league club.

However, the spirit of the side could be dampened a little by the news that Steven Gerrard is back for Liverpool, and that is huge boost for Roy Hodgson.

Daniel Agger is also back from injury, but Blackpool do not have any positive news on the injury front, with almost none recovering from their injuries.

Blackpool - Liverpool kicks off at 16:00 CET on Bloomfield Road.

Bolton vs. West Brom

It is really surprising to know that Bolton Wanderers could be in the fifth position by the end of this weekend if results in other grounds go their way.

This is an incredible achievement from the team and it is quite far from the relegation zone that they were favourites to be in, at the start of the season.

Another team that has managed to go beyond expectations is West Brom. Even though their form has slightly dipped, they still remain in the 11th place, with a healthy six-point difference between them and the relegation zone.

Even though the situation is comfortable for Roberto di Matteo at the moment, he will know for sure that it can change any moment in the Barclays Premier league since it was not long ago that Hull City were in a similar kind of position, but managed to avoid the drop only by the skin of their teeth.

West Brom and Bolton head into the match in the best possible condition, with both teams not having any major injury worries and being able to field their full strength teams. Players like Jlloyd Samuel and Ricardo Gardner are still missing for Bolton, though.

Bolton - West Brom kicks off at 16:00 CET on Reebok Stadium.

Everton vs. Birmingham

After the stunning victory against Manchester City midweek, Everton will be hoping to inflict the same on a Birmingham City side that is clearly lacking in confidence.

The victory against Manchester City stopped the slide of consecutive draws for David Moyes and he will be hoping for no less than a victory at home.

Even though Everton claimed a stunning victory against Manchester City, it has done little to raise their position, which still remains precarious in the Barclays Premier league.

Only five points separate them from going into the relegation zone, but on the positive side, they are only five points below the sixth place, which would guarantee them Europa league places.

Birmingham City on the other hand, look more and more desperate as the season goes on and it is in no way helped by the fact that they are just two points above the relegation zone.

Alex McLeish's men will have to score more goals and fast. They will be helped by the returning Liam Ridgewell and Alexander Hleb.

Everton, though, will have to contest the game without Phil Jagielka, who has still not recovered from the thigh injury he suffered in the game against Manchester City.

Everton - Birmingham kicks off at 16:00 CET on Goodison Park.

Fulham vs. West Ham

Few would have predicted that this match would have been a six-pointer at the start of the season, but so desperate has been the form of both clubs that they are now finding themselves in the relegation zone and they are separated by just three points.

It could without doubt, turn out to be the last match for Avram Grant if he fails to win, although Mark Hughes is not in any better position than the Israeli. While it is draws that have hurt Fulham, it is the huge number of losses that have hurt West Ham United.

Fulham will take confidence from the fact that West Ham United have not won a single away game all season long.

Also, Mark Hughes will be delighted with the swift recovery of a number of his star players. Moussa Dembele is facing a late fitness test before a decision is taken for his inclusion in the game, while for West Ham United, stars like Robert Green and Valon Behrami are expected to return.

Even though Fulham have the best chance of winning the match, Avram Grant will be feeling confident after their draw against Blackburn last weekend.

Fulham - West Ham kicks off at 13:00 CET on Craven Cottage.

Arsenal vs. Chelsea (Dec. 27)

Arsenal and Chelsea will face off at the Emirates Stadium on Monday knowing that Manchester United could be five points ahead of them if they managed to beat Sunderland.

Hence, it is vital that both teams go out for a win and anything less than that will mean that Manchester United will be the winners of the weekend.

However, the winner of this fixture could be the side that can pose a threat to Manchester United's supremacy.

Both Chelsea and Arsenal had positive news in the injury department, with Frank Lampard being expected to be named in the starting line-up and Abou Diaby recovering from his injury. He is expected to play a role in this match.

Arsene Wenger has consistently lost against Manchester United and Chelsea for the past few seasons and he will be hoping that there is a reversal of fortunes.

However, Chelsea are the clear favourites, especially due to the fact that Drogba seems to have fully recovered from his malaria illness.

Thomas Vermaelen is still out for Arsenal and will not be featuring in this match. This only enhances the odds of Drogba scoring in this match.

Arsenal - Chelsea kicks off at 21:00 CET on Emirates

Man United vs. Sunderland

Manchester United could take a huge step in securing the title by going five points ahead of Arsenal and a whopping six points ahead of Chelsea, both with a game to spare.

This is because both the London clubs do not face each other until Monday and with such extreme weather in the capital city, it could also be postponed.

Manchester United went into Christmas at the top of the Premier league and they will be looking to extend that advantage into Boxing Day and further.

This match represents one of the greatest opportunities to do so especially given that Sunderland have not won against Manchester United at Old Trafford for a very long time.

Steve Bruce will be hoping to change exactly that after his team came very close to securing at least a draw in the past two seasons.

With Manchester United suffering from lack of goals from Wayne Rooney, Steve Bruce will have no better chance than this to secure a result.

Manchester United will be boosted by the return of Nemanja Vidic, after he recovered sufficiently from flu.

Sunderland are not lucky with the injuries this time around and they will also have to do without Danny Welbeck.

Man Utd - Sunderland kicks off at 16:00 CET on Old Trafford.

Newcastle vs. Man City

Newcastle United got the morale-boosting win against Liverpool a fortnight ago, but they face a much sterner opposition in Manchester City, who will be looking to avenge the defeat at home by Everton.

With all the future surrounding Carlos Tevez, it was quite clear why they lost against Everton. However, with his future all sorted out now, they will be a much greater force to reckon with than Liverpool.

Alan Pardew said that he would have to win the Newcastle United fans very quickly, and even though the Manchester City match represents a tough game for doing that, winning this match would certainly endear him to the fans.

Roberto Mancini is turning into a coach who does not tolerate any indiscipline, and that showed in the apparent sacking of Mario Balotelli from training, and he could also be not included in this match.

Such stern reactions towards a star player will certainly help improve team morale and everybody can be expected to perform to their best.

The big talking point of the game will certainly be Nigel de Jong, but Roberto Mancini confirmed that the Dutchman will be playing, despite the possibility of him facing strong reactions from the crowd.

Newcastle - Man City kicks off at 16:00 CET on St James' Park.

Wolverhampton vs. Wigan

It is certainly not the time when Mick McCarthy and Roberto Martinez will be looking forward to weekend breaks, which happened unusually due to extreme weather last weekend.

With the two clubs in precarious positions, there will be more looking forward to having a run of games that could possibly turn their fortunes.

This is the second six-pointer match that will be happening this weekend and there will, without doubt, be some eyes on the match happening at the Craven cottage between Fulham and West Ham United.

This is because the four teams at the bottom of the table face each other and hence that could be a lot of movement down at the bottom of the table this weekend.

Mick McCarthy will be hoping that his side will be coming out on top after an impressive victory against Birmingham City last time around, but form rarely counts in this sort of a fixture and Roberto Martinez will be looking forward to welcoming a number of key players back from injury.

Club captain Gary Caldwell and a few others will be back for Wigan Athletic, while Wolverhampton Wanderers are having a tough time with injuries lately.

Wolverhampton - Wigan kicks off at 16:00 CET on Molineux.