With just ten or so games to go this season, most of what promised to make this a year that would break the mould in the Premiership has fallen by the wayside, and we now look set for more of the same. Liverpool had looked ready to provide a new title challenger. They have failed. Aston Villa seemed almost certain to oust one or even two of the regular top four. Their recent stuttering form and a return of Arsenal's injury-hit players will almost certainly see them fail. Only the relegation struggle still retains a certain level of intrigue as two places are still up for grabs, and one or two of the self-proclaimed bigger clubs remain very much in trouble.
This weekend's fixtures include tough assignments for several of the sides still in serious danger of the drop, but we start with a lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford that has completely lost the significance it had for the neutral just a few weeks ago:
1) Man.United v Liverpool: As we have discussed before, the difference between the title challenges of these two has proved to be the strength in depth of the two squads, and it has been an encouraging sign for United's future that youngsters like the superbly talented Danny Welbeck have taken their occasional chances in the first team to prove that the Ferguson era will bear fruit for the club long after he has swapped the dugout for his sofa at home. Liverpool have lost their last four visits to Old Trafford, and even if they somehow managed to win this one, it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference to the destination of the title.
2) Arsenal v Blackburn: Sunday's FA Cup win over Burnley was valuable for Arsenal not only to add another match and (fantastic) goal to Eduardo's recovery programme, but also for the return of Theo Walcott to the Gunners' attacking threat. They also have an excellent recent record at home to Blackburn in their favour with not only five consecutive wins, but also an impressive fourteen goals in the last four matches. I'm writing this before Rovers' midweek match at Fulham, so they may already have dragged themsleves out of the bottom three, but a valiant defeat here may well dump them back into serious trouble.
3) Bolton v Fulham: 0-0.
Next.
4) Everton v Stoke: Everton coped exceptionally well during the period when they found themselves without a recognised striker, but the return to fitness and form of Louis Saha is an added bonus for the remaining matches that may still bring a trophy and European qualification to Goodison Park. Stoke's impressive comeback at Villa Park in their last away match earned them a valuable point, but the fact they had to recover from 2-0 down in that match underlines that their slack defensive performances away from home have not improved at all, and a return of just four points from fourteen away games is the sole reason that they remain in serious trouble. I don't think the outcome of this fixture will help them at all.
5) Hull v Newcastle: Prior to Hull's last match at Fulham, it really was incredibly diffcult to imagine them achieving another win this season, so the three points they gained that night will certainly prove vital, not only in edging the Tigers closer to survival, but also significantly boosting their confidence heading into another crucial fixture. Meanwhile, reality must surely have sunk in by now for all Newcastle fans as just one win in their last twelve games in League and Cup has left them floundering, and with several tough fixtures coming up, you have to wonder whether the players have the battling spirit required to keep at least three other clubs at bay. A 0-0 draw was fought out at the KC between these two in the FA Cup in January, and with a nervy battle ahead this weekend, a repeat of that result may well be on the cards in front of a capacity crowd.
6) Middlesbrough v Portsmouth: Another desperate battle beckons at the Riverside. Last season's 2-0 win over Pompey was Boro's first in this fixture since 1994, but with Paul Hart seeming to have steadied the ship at Portsmouth somewhat, they may struggle to repeat that result on Saturday. Boro's victory over a shaky Liverpool side a couple of weeks ago brought a temporary reprieve, but their 4-0 defeat at Tottenham last time out confirmed the gravity of their position, even if the scoreline didn't truly reflect the balance of play. A win here would take Boro above Pompey. I don't think they'll get it.
7) Sunderland v Wigan: Ricky Sbragia was tearing his hair out on the sidelines last Saturday as his team's lack of concentration allowed Spurs to nick a late equaliser, but a point a game will be enough to see Sunderland safe, and I think they'll get at least that here. Wigan have followed their storming mid-season run up the table with an eight game winless streak, and their lack of goals is something Steve Bruce will have to address in the summer. In fact both sides are amongst the five lowest scorers in the division, and it may just take one goal to win this. Try backing no goalscorer at 8/1 with totesport or a 1-0 home win at 7/1 with Stan James.
8) Chelsea v Man.City: Not a great choice of venue for one of the division's poorest travellers to try and get their second victory on the road. City haven't won at Stamford Bridge since 1993 and haven't even scored on their last six visits. Last season's 6-0 drubbing is unlikely to be repeated on Sunday, but Chelsea will be desperate to keep Guus Hiddink's 100% record intact (please note this is being written before their midweek visit to Juventus), and a narrow victory will certainly keep spirits high as Chelsea aim for an unlikely late tilt at the title.
9) Aston Villa v Tottenham: Villa's fans have known for some time that their challenge for Champions League qualification was fading as their performances were deteriorating well before their results did. The tame surrender of a two goal lead against Stoke was followed by an even tamer performance at Man.City, and they may struggle to regain the winning thread here. Tottenham's four match unbeaten run in the League is in no small part due to Robbie Keane's return, and he may be able to inspire his teammates to gain another valuable point on Sunday.
10) West Ham v West Brom: Monday night's match is the West derby, and it will probably follow the pattern of most of West Brom's matches this season. They will play some pretty football, make and miss a few chances, and lose.
This weekend sees the most difficult set of fixtures so far this season in England and Scotland to try and spot viable betting opportunities, but it's against the law not to try, so how about putting the last tenner you have after Cheltenham on a treble involving Arsenal, Everton and West Ham, which, if successful, would return £36.11 with skybet.
Good luck!