English Premier League Football: Boxing Day Big Match Preview

Boxing Day promises a feast of football in the English Premier League. We preview the three biggest matches of the day:

Stoke vs. Manchester United

Britannia Stadium

Kickoff: 12:45

Stoke

Stoke lost 3-0 away in their last league outing against Blackburn, increasing a run of four games without a win. They have collected three points from a possible 12, whilst scoring three goals and conceding six in the process since their last victory (1-0 against West Bromwich Albion at home).

Stoke's home form is good, with five wins and two draws in nine league games and a total of 17 points collected, one that only three other teams have bettered.

Stoke have several injuries with Mamady Sidibe ruled out with a knee injury, whilst Leon Cort (groin) and Salif Diao (calf) seem likely to miss out. Andy Griffin (ankle), Rory Delap, (shoulder) and Ryan Shawcross (back) are all doubtful, but Dave Kitson (knee) and Liam Lawrence (ankle) seem to have a good chance of recovering from their injuries.

Manchester United

Manchester United drew 0-0 away to Tottenham in their last league outing, stretching their run to five games undefeated. These last five games include three wins and a total of 11 points collected from a possible 15, since their last loss (2-1 away to Arsenal). Their undefeated run is also accompanied by not conceding a single league goal, whilst scoring eight goals in the process.

The Red Devils were in Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup tournament during the last weekend of league fixtures, losing third place to Aston Villa in the process. However, Man Utd still have two games in hand.

In Japan, Manchester United beat Gamba Osaka 5-3 in the semifinal and won 1-0 in the final against Liga de Quito, to be crowned world champions and give a boost to their season. However, the taxing journey, jet lag and two-time acclimatization from England to Japan before Japan back to England again will be taking its toll on the United players.

Manchester United will be without Ben Foster (wrist), Wes Brown (ankle) and Owen Hargreaves (knee).

Prediction

Manchester United beat Stoke 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season, with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and one each from Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck. Stoke headed into that encounter on better form. They are currently, whilst the reigning champions go into this match, on better form than the last matchup.

On the other hand, the current European and now world champions will have to get over jet lag following their successful exploits in Japan, as with their FIFA Club World Cup final match being played last Sunday, there will be little time to adjust and prepare for this early Friday afternoon kick-off.

Stoke’s tendency to take their advantage at home will give them a better chance. They have nearly their entire first team with doubts over fitness or injured, including the team’s highest assist-maker Rory Delap as a key concern, so their preparations will also be far from ideal either.

Even if Stoke City manage to get a strong team out, they will still be underdogs for this encounter, as the newly crowned world champions, Manchester United, are favourites for the victory.

Liverpool vs. Bolton

Anfield

Kickoff: 15:00

Liverpool

Liverpool drew 1-1 in their last league outing away against Arsenal, and although they are undefeated in seven league games since their only loss in the league so far (away against Tottenham), they have won only one of their last five games.

This run has included four draws, three of which came successively at Anfield, and yielded seven points from the 15 available whilst scoring six goals and conceding four.

Fabio Aurelio has a chance of recovering from the calf injury that has kept him out, whilst Fernando Torres is doubtful with a hamstring injury. Liverpool will have to do without Martin Skrtel (knee) and Phillip Degan (metatarsal).

Bolton

Bolton beat Portsmouth 2-1 at home in their last league outing. The Trotters have won three and lost three of their last six league matches and have scored 11 goals in the process whilst conceding 11 also.

They currently hold ninth place in the league. Bolton will have to do without Tamir Cohen and Joey O’Brien, both of whom have hamstring injuries, whilst Ricardo Vaz Te will also miss out with a knee injury.

Prediction

Liverpool beat Bolton 4-0 in this corresponding fixture last season and have already beaten Bolton 2-0 this season at the Reebok Stadium, with goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool has dominated most of this season’s match; however, Bolton have won two more games and collected two more points than Liverpool since their last meeting. Also, Liverpool have dropped points in their last three home games, which casts doubts over their likelihood to prevail in this encounter.

However, Bolton’s last three defeats came against the teams currently holding the top three positions in the league, so despite their current strong form, the sheer margin in the league standings indicate that Liverpool should be too much for Bolton, making The Reds likely to get their first victory at home in four games.

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

Villa Park

Kickoff: 17:15

Aston Villa

Aston Villa come into this match on superb form, after a 1-0 away win against West Ham made three wins on the bounce and their sixth league game undefeated since losing 2-1 at home against Middlesbrough. They have collected 14 points from a possible 18 in their last six matches.

Villa have scored 10 goals and conceded four during this run and currently sit third in the table, taking over from Manchester United following their lack of action in last weekend’s round of fixtures.

Aston Villa will have to do without John Carew (back) and Wilfred Bouma (ankle); otherwise they have a clean bill of health.

Arsenal

Arsenal travel to Villa Park having drawn at home in their last league match 1-1 against Liverpool, their second consecutive 1-1 draw and their fourth winless game in the last six matches, collecting only eight points from the last 18 available.

Arsenal have scored five goals and conceded eight during this spell and currently sit fifth in the league.

Arsenal have taken a blow with the news that Cesc Fabregas suffered a knee injury against Liverpool and will be ruled out. The Gunners will also have to go without long term absentees Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), whilst Kolo Toure is a doubt (calf).

Prediction

Aston Villa lost to Arsenal 2-1 in this corresponding fixture last season, but have beaten them 2-0 already this season, at the Emirates Stadium. Aston Villa thoroughly outplayed Arsenal that day with a high work rate and pace in attack, as Gabriel Agbonlahor in particular terrorised Arsenal’s defence, causing the opening own goal and scoring the second.

Agbonlahor is likely to be Aston Villa’s key man again, but with Ashley Young in particularly good form as well, the Arsenal defence are likely to have another tough day.

Aston Villa’s excellent current form since beating Arsenal means they are in an even stronger position heading into this game than for the previous encounter, and coupled with their home advantage this time round, Aston Villa should be favourites for the win.

Enjoy the football and have a great holiday season!

These previews are from Sports Betting Review, where you can also find accurate bookmaker reviews and the best free bets online.