Premier League predictions

This week’s midweek Premier League schedule boasts four games that could have tremendous significance in both the race for the title and Champions League football.

For the first time in five months, Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City side go into a league encounter knowing not even victory is good enough to wrestle away the lead from rivals Manchester United, as his side take on Chelsea at the Etihad.

Defeat or even a draw for Tottenham at home to Stoke will incredibly leave the door open for Arsenal to take third place if Arsene Wenger’s men beat Everton away – though that’s a big if as the Toffees look to bounce back from consecutive disappointments.

The final game sees QPR face the Premier League’s best mid-table side, Liverpool. Though the Reds still hope to finish in the top four, there is a point where wishful thinking becomes completely delusory. Come on Cisse!

Last week’s score: 5 (very minor improvement)
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Barclays Premier League
Wednesday March 21, 2012

Manchester City 3-2 Chelsea (19:45)

Very interesting encounter this one, and not to mention the battle of two Robertos. Chelsea of course are rejuvenated though if you ask me, this is false. Their four consecutive victories (away at Birmingham and then home to Stoke, Napoli and Leicester) were all easily winnable games – and I suppose you would have to be honest and say Abramovic therefore changed manager at the right time.

We could very well see Carlos Tevez return to action for City and if he does, I expect a good showing from him.

All conjecture aside, he is a fantastic footballer and what’s more, a massive egotist. Offer any such player the chance to win his side the title, there’s no doubt he’ll give it a good shot.

Given a full squad for each side, this game would be decided by a simple difference: Man City are good and Chelsea are not. But with the absence of Joleon Lescott (confirmed) and Vincent Kompany (possible), Di Matteo’s side will be able to compete.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Tottenham 1-1 Stoke City (19:45)

Returning to the scene of Fabrice Muamba’s shocking collapse will be a new and probably horrible experience for Spurs players.

Not to mention that Spurs all-but confirmed third position in the Premier League is now seriously under attack from in-form Arsenal.

Stoke are one of the worst sides Tottenham could face at the moment because Pulis’ men will do everything they possibly can to prevent a free-flowing game – denying Redknapp’s men the ability to play with the sort of tempo that will both free up creative players and create space.

I expect quite a poor game really – a blunt attack against a steely defence. Hard-earned away point for Stoke for me.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Everton 2-1 Arsenal (20:00)

This is a huge game for both sides. Victory could give Arsenal third whilst defeat would be catastrophic for Everton leading up to the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Sunderland.

Bar the occasional absolute hammering, Everton vs Arsenal is often close. A case in point being that the sides could only be separated by a wonderful Robin van Persie volley earlier this season.

Everton’s Johnny Heitinga will come up against his Dutch international teammate. Last season, that would have caused me to shudder, but Heitinga is much-improved and I look forward to seeing him up his game in this one.

A draw seems likely but I just have a sneaking suspicion about Nikica Jelavic. His all-round play against Sunderland was really impressive.

All it lacked was a goal and even then, he was not far away. For Everton to win, he has give Arsenal’s defence a hard time from second one. I expect him to, and to be the Toffees’ match-winner.

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QPR 2-2 Liverpool (20:00)

I’d love to slag Liverpool off, and believe me I do, but to follow up consecutive Premier League defeats with a thrashing of your local rivals and victory in an FA Cup quarter-final is a fantastic response. Were Liverpool to add that trophy to this season’s Carling Cup success, that would constitute an excellent year regardless of league position.

QPR are looking desperate with such an horrific run-in, but if they can catch Liverpool cold, they may have a chance.

Dalglish’s men would be excused for being a bit off the pace, with QPR’s Premier League status massively at stake, and the Reds with only the  pointlessness of Europa League football to aim for.

Djibril Cisse will start against his former side and we know what that often means in football, but QPR’s defence has been sub-standard all year and with Liverpool’s new-found attacking impetus, there will be chances for either side. QPR to nick a goal early and hold on for the point.
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By Chris Smith

Premier League predictions

After previewing the next set of Premier League fixtures, the weekend can’t come fast enough for me. There are some fantastic games in store as newly-crowned Carling Cup champions Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield with confidence in both camps.  Add to the bill Manchester United’s  inevitably fascinating match-up with Spurs, and a Tyne-Wear derby at St. James’ Park (take that Ashley!) in between, we have a couple of cracking Match of the Days on our hands.

My score last week was a respectable seven out of 20 – my best so far, which is quite misleading really , because obviously that sounds rubbish – it’s not even half. But keep in mind that 20 out of 20 would represent a flawlessly perfect ability to predict that would justify the most lavish and rampant gambling that I would only end up going over board and losing everything. 10 is my aim, and so seven is fine. Those that wish to, feel to comment or email your own predictions or thoughts to cdsmith1@hotmail.co.uk or via @cdsmith789 on Twitter, I think I might do some sort of article in the future along the lines of statistical analysis and bullshit. Remember, one point for a correct result, two for a correct score.

Last week’s score: 7

Saturday March 3, 2012

Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal 12:45
Liverpool deserved their Carling Cup success last week not only if you look at the balance of play during the game, but also if you take into account Kenny Dalglish’s selections and the players application throughout the competition. Most clubs tend to suffer some sort of hangover from a game like that, but I don’t see Liverpool as one of those sides – the semi-final victory against City was followed up with FA cup success over United, for example. After Arsenal’s thrilling comeback against Spurs, I expect atypically confident showing in parts but I anticipate Suarez will find a lot of space in behind, so 2-1 Liverpool for me.

Blackburn 2 – 1 Aston Villa 15:00

Darren Bent’s injury and Robbie Keane’s exit will hit Villa hard because otherwise they are pretty poor. Admittedly, they seem to perform better away from home, though Steve Kean must have pinpointed this game as a chance for victory after facing three of the top six in the last four. Yakubu needs to regain his excellent form from before his suspension in order for Rovers to stay up. Given the large-scale protest from Blackburn supporters planned for the build-up to this game, I was almost tempted to go for a draw considering the negative effect these protests have often had on results but Kean, despite his horrendous managerial record, has proven that he can get the players to respond.

Man City 4 – 0 Bolton 15:00

So predictable has an Etihad game become that even a novice such as myself has correctly predicted the scoreline of both of their last two home fixtures. The fact that Bolton were so comprehensively beaten by the worst Chelsea side in nearly a decade at its lowest ebb for probably longer affirmed my belief that Owen Coyle’s men will be relegated. David Silva’s excellent contribution to Spain’s 5-0 thrashing of Venezuela confirmed that he is regaining top form and with Aguero playing his best football for City, the title race is about to get fascinating. 4-0 is a bit of a risk, but sod being cautious, I’m on a roll!

QPR 0 – 1 Everton 15:00

As an Evertonian, I am delighted that Djibril Cisse is still suspended following his ridiculous debut red card. With Cisse’s Liverpool past…well you know how football works, don’t you? I expect QPR to perform a lot better than they did during last week’s derby defeat to Fulham. In truth, they couldn’t do much worse. For once, they need to keep their discipline to give themselves a chance. Everton will really miss Landon Donovan whose record of six assists in nine games speaks for itself. The only comparable player to the American at Goodison is Leon Osman and if, as expected, he returns to the team, I anticipate that Steven Pienaar’s presence will unburden him of the early-season pressure he felt as a result of the South African’s sale along withMikel Arteta.

Stoke 2- 1 Norwich City 15:00

I really enjoyed watching Norwich against Manchester United, particularly Grant Holt who has been in form for nearly three seasons now. Despite this, I think calls this week for an England cap were not only premature but stupid. Maybe he could have given us a bit more up front in that famous Hungary hammering of 1953, but in 2012? Come on. And I say that as a big Holt fan. I must confess my Stoke appreciation of the last few years has dwindled of late. I find them quite boring at the moment but I predict a good, attacking side like Norwich will get a decent performance out of them and they will just do enough.

West Brom 2- 1 Chelsea 15:00

In terms of an honest, interesting critique, Roy Hodgson is probably the best manager for post-match interviews. His calm and rational reactions give great insight into the way he manages to get the best out of his players. For instance, the way in which he politely condemned his players’ costly defensive lapses at home earns him the two sensational performances and victories they have had against Wolves and Sunderland. I think the game will be much like when Chelsea played Everton who had hit a similar if less spectacular run of form. West Brom to dominate, Odemwingie to score.

Wigan 0 – 2 Swansea 15:00

Wigan cannot defend and I expect them to get absolutely turned over any time soon. They are so bad that for me their presence in the Premier League serves only to offer hope to the most disconsolate of Blackburn and Bolton supporters. They will be picked off as soon as they play someone who can exploit space and individual errors, and though Swansea have only nine points from a possible 39 away from home, they can certainly do that. Although I have sympathies for Roberto Martinez who seems like a nice sort of fella if also a tactically naive manager, his best player this season has been the DW Stadium pitch so they are doomed, doomed, doomed as I see it. Swansea to play confidently and win.

Sunday March 4, 2012.

Newcastle 3- 2 Sunderland 12:00

Martin O’Neill’s side have lost momentum at  just the wrong time. A positive result against West Brom and the Black Cats would have lost only three games in 16; more pertinently however, they now come into an away derby having lost back-to-back games for the first time since the start of December. Newcastle aren’t exactly flying having let a two-goal lead slip against Wolves and shipped five the game before that. I expect a great game because both sides are as good as they have each been in years but Newcastle’s really watchable strikeforce tips it for me.Plenty of spirit and plenty of goals.

Fulham 2-1 Wolves 14: 05 (what the hell sort of kick-off time is that?)

Wolves deserve great credit for their fightback at Newcastle and if the second-half performance can serve as a minor reference for Terry Connor’s job application, then signs are encouraging. Fulham had a great win at QPR and I was personally pleased to see Martin Jol stick it to Mark Hughes whose walkout on the club I interpreted as a confession that he needs money to succeed as a manager. Clint Dempsey will be buoyed  by sealing a fantastic away victory for the United States over Italy and he will be a big factor. Wolves will battle  until the final whistle but Fulham are a compact, efficient side particularly at Craven Cottage, so a home win for me.

Tottenham 2 – 2 Manchester United 16:10 (What’s wrong with good old 16:00?)

Matches between the top five have yielded an average of 4.9 (call it 5) goals per game. Each one of these games has been so spectacularly gripping that all defensive analysis has been rendered not so much pointless but annoying. For a fleeting, ridiculous moment during last weekend’s North London derby, I honestly thought ‘Spurs can definitely get back to 4-4 here’ and within ten seconds, it was 5-2 and I’d seen another great goal. United were fortunate against Ajax and fortunate against Norwich and though De Gea has made some sensational saves of late, if you were going to base a title prediction on the goalkeepers alone, I doubt United would steal a solitary vote from City. On balance, the mass of talent on display means you have to go for goals especially considering both out of form defences. Defeat would be disastrous for either side so a draw could be on the cards on Sunday.

By Chris Smith

Dalglish resurrects the spirit of old to defeat local rivals

Kenny Dalglish is the latest high-profile boss to come under pressure following his team’s abysmal display at Bolton, and a fairly average start to the season prior to that.

The moronic Adrian Durham even labelled a Liverpool fan “too defensive” for suggesting it was absurd to question any manager, let alone one of Dalglish’s considerable talent, after 22 games.

I have even heard the suggestion that the Scot is ‘out of touch’.

After a week in which Dalglish has reignited the passion and spirit of the victorious past to breathe new life into Liverpool’s hopeful future, in terms of criticism of King Kenny, I think its fair to say that will be that.

Many commentators have reminded Liverpool fans not to get carried away with reaching the Carling Cup final, to keep in mind the abject league form and remember that this trophy means virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I say get carried away, sod the league form, enjoy the day and cross your fingers for a victory – and besides, it means a lot in the grand scheme of things.

Any fan of any club would give anything to be in the final of any competition so Liverpool fans have every right to be happy.

For each supporter to have in the back of their mind that no matter how bad the league form may get, there is a fantastic chance of silverware does wonders for the mood of the fans, which does wonders for the mood of the team.

Couple this with the fact that this is Dalglish’s first full season in charge, you can only read this situation positively for Liverpool.

Furthermore, following up their semi-final success by dumping the old enemy out of the FA Cup and in so doing, restricting their chance of success to a humbling chase behind  Manchester City, Liverpool fans should rightly be optimistic about the future.

What is significant about this week is the opponents Liverpool have faced.

The noise at Anfield is more often than not deafening for a big game, but it was clear that the battles against local rivals United and City, the old and new super powers of the English game, brought yet more out of the crowd.

In a potentially troublesome week for the club, Liverpool supporters have done what they do perhaps better than any other fans on big occasions: given their team all the support needed for victory.

In fact the past few days have been reminiscent of Anfield in more ways than one.

For all their former league glory, Liverpool have more often than not risen to the occasion in the cup, and their success this week is in no small part down to the man in the dug-out.

Dalglish’s public admonition of his players after the drab performance at Bolton refocused their mind to the responsibility that comes with representing a club with the history of Liverpool.

In a game of such polarised emotion, every great manager sees the potential for glory in the aftermath of defeat.

Of course, the fact that Liverpool’s other game this week was a defeat to Bolton completes the story of their season: impressive against the big boys, not good enough against everyone else.

But for me the Bolton performance was a one-off, and beyond that Liverpool’s failure in the league this season has been down to missed chances rather poor form, complacency essentially.

For the majority of the season, the signs have been there that Liverpool have been getting back to where they feel the belong – which is why I fully expect them to beat Cardiff in the final.

Obviously Cardiff are a ‘lesser side’, a league below Liverpool, but if the spirit of Anfield’s past has been resurrected as I believe it has been, the club will return to the ruthless efficiency with which it used to secure trophies.

So as far as a mid-season report for the new manager goes: not bad at all.

By Chris Smith