Some unexpected results in the last round of Premier League fixtures have once again tightened up all of the major battlegrounds, and following a short break for the FA Cup fifth round, we have many more intriguing League fixtures to look forward to this coming weekend. Just six points separate the three title contenders, the battle for the fourth Champions League place sees four closely matched teams swapping places with every passing round of fixtures, and, at the time of writing prior to the midweek matches at Stoke and Wigan, there are no more than four points between thirteenth placed Sunderland and Bolton in nineteenth position. As if there wasn’t a fine enough balance in each of these tussles, we also have to take into account the possible deletion of Portsmouth’s results from the records if they fail to survive the season, which would obviously be of most benefit to Wolves, Wigan, Burnley and Liverpool, each of whom have suffered the ignominy of defeat to the League’s bottom side. 

The weekend’s fixtures start at 12:45 on Saturday at Goodison Park:

1) Everton v Man.U.: Everton’s deserved victory over Chelsea in their last League match means that they have now suffered just one defeat in their last eleven matches, and it was all the more impressive considering that they had to come from behind and were also missing the suspended Steven Pienaar and the injured Marouane Fellaini. The victory was achieved in no small measure by getting at the obviously rattled John Terry, but I’m not entirely convinced that the same cracks will appear so readily in United’s defence on Saturday. Despite the very early sending off for Nani at Villa Park in United’s last League outing, the Reds dominated subsequent proceedings and surely would have prevailed if they had kept eleven men on the field. Indeed, the only one of the last fourteen of United’s League visits to Goodison that has ended in a home win came in 2005, when both Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were dismissed in an ill-tempered match. I don’t expect this encounter to be any less competitive, but neither do I expect a home win.

2) Arsenal v Sunderland: Much has been made of Arsenal’s poor results against Chelsea and Man.U. this season, but the fact is they remain in touch at the top and don’t have to play them or Liverpool again this season. It therefore remains vital for the Gunners to take the points from matches such as this, and I think they will do just that. Prior to last season’s frustrating 0-0 draw at the Emirates, Sunderland had conceded 18 goals on their previous six visits to Arsenal, and on current form, you can expect a significant addition to that total on Saturday. Sunderland have failed to win any of their last twelve League matches (since beating Arsenal in November), and they will also be without the suspended Lee Cattermole and David Meyler. More concerning for the fans, though, is the rumoured falling out between Steve Bruce and a number of his players, which seems to have had repercussions for their performances in recent weeks. Arsenal by 2 or 3.

3) West Ham v Hull: Considering that their next three away matches are against Man.U., Chelsea and Arsenal, fixtures like this one are now pivotal for the Hammers as they look to build on their success against Birmingham last time out. As Hull still haven’t managed an away win, and have scored just seven times on the road all season, a home win certainly looks a likely outcome, particularly as the Hammers now have a number of options up front. At least Hull will have George Boateng available after the red card he received for what looked like an accidental collision at Blackburn was rescinded, but that may still be insufficient for them to avoid losing further ground on their hosts.

4) Wolves v Chelsea: If only Wolves could play Spurs every week, the table would look far more favourable for them, but unfortunately, I think that they will now be hosting Chelsea at the worst possible time, following the Blues’ damaging defeat at Everton. There was a distinct lack of imagination and variety in Tottenham’s attempts to break Wolves down at Molineux last time out, and considering that they had previously experienced the same difficulties in the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane, that is entirely inexcusable, but I feel that Chelsea have too many creative options to make the same mistake, and they should be able to record a victory, even if they fail to achieve anything as emphatic as the 5-0 scoreline they managed on their last visit. Incidentally, I hope John Terry returns for this one just so that we won’t have to put up with any more of the completely unstaged (!), stomach-churning “reconciliation” pictorials from Dubai, which are probably designed to enable him to retain his “Dad of the Year” title, awarded by some downmarket comic. How gullible so many people are.

5) Portsmouth v Stoke: There will be a certain level of confidence amongst Portsmouth’s underperforming players following their last gasp equaliser against Sunderland, and a 4-1 win in their utterly compelling cup tie at Southampton, but it must be pointed out that they were second best for much of the match at St.Mary’s, and outstanding goalkeeping from David James, together with a couple of late breakaway goals while their hosts took more and more risks ended up giving the scoreline an unwarranted heavy bias in their favour. It is competitive and hard-working players like Jamie O’Hara who Pompey need to rely on at the moment, but for every O’Hara, there are unfortunately three or four Utakas or Wilsons in the side who simply aren’t up to the job. At least they face a side on Saturday who don’t like visiting Fratton Park (or anywhere else for that matter), and it is worth noting that Stoke haven’t won at Portsmouth since 1994. Having said that, though, City have gained three consecutive draws away from home and are harder to beat this season, even if wins remain as elusive as ever, so it may be that a fourth away draw in a row is the outcome.

6) Aston Villa v Burnley: Even when Derby set an all-time low points record for the top flight, they managed to draw three of their away fixtures, so surely Burnley must be able to manage more than the solitary away point they have achieved so far? Despite the experience gained from their thirteen road trips this season, it is seeming less and less likely though, and their meek submission last time out at Fulham doesn’t bode well for this match. Villa meanwhile haven’t lost a match in any competition this year, and can be fancied to extend that record with a comfortable win as they prepare for next week’s Carling Cup final. 

7) Fulham v Birmingham: I don’t suppose it’s a coincidence that a rare defeat for Birmingham last time out coincided with them having to change their starting line-up for the first time since early November, but no team can realistically expect to be unaffected by injuries or suspensions for such a long period, and in any case, City got straight back on the road of positive results with a win at Derby in the FA Cup. Goalscoring may be a problem for them on Sunday though, as Fulham have conceded just eight goals at home all season, and that includes matches against all of the top four. In fact, only Villa have scored against Fulham at Craven Cottage in the last nine League and Cup fixtures there, so I think this match may be tough going for Birmingham. The Cottagers can climb above Birmingham with a victory, and personally, I think that is what will happen.

8) Man.City v Liverpool: We are starting to hear murmurs of discontent from City fans who expected far more flair from their side than they have witnessed since Roberto Mancini took hold of the reins. Indeed, if it wasn’t for the hilarious intervention of Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross in their FA Cup tie last weekend, they could easily have been knocked out of contention for the only trophy realistically in their grasp. With Tevez attending to personal matters in Argentina, and Craig Bellamy attending to facial injuries surprisingly inflicted by a Man.U. fan in a nightclub recently, it is worth checking whether these two vital players will be able to make a return to the side for this match, as they will surely be needed against a resurgent Liverpool who boast a decent recent record at Man.City. City have won just one of the last ten visits from the Reds in League and Cup, and I think they will struggle to end that record on Sunday. Prior to last season’s 2-3 thriller, the previous four renewals of this fixture had produced a total of just two goals, and, considering that Liverpool’s last four matches have featured only four goals, I would imagine that a bet on under three goals at 4/5 with bet365 may prove profitable.          

9) Wigan v Tottenham: I am writing this prior to Bolton’s midweek visit to the DW, but Wigan really need to start paying attention to gaining three points rather than one from their fixtures as their grasp on their Premier League place is starting to look very uncertain. Their visitors on Sunday are also struggling to convince on their travels though, as only League One side Leeds have been defeated by Spurs in their last six away trips in all competitions, and Tottenham succumbed to a last minute goal from Maynor Figueroa on their last trip to this stadium a year ago. You will of course remember Wigan’s defence falling apart in the second half of the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane earlier this season, but that sort of form seems a distant memory for Tottenham’s strike force at present and, on current form, this may turn into an unsatisfactory match, which could well end in a low-scoring draw.

10) Blackburn v Bolton: Despite a number of pitiful performances away from home this season, Rovers remain one of the strongest home sides, with just two defeats to date from thirteen matches. This has recently proved a tough fixture for them, though, and Blackburn have recorded just one victory in the last nine renewals in the League. Bolton, however, haven’t registered an away victory since September (unless they managed to put paid to Wigan on Wednesday), so this may be an ideal opportunity for Rovers to take advantage, and I fancy a narrow home win.

Trawling through the fixtures, I am unconvinced by all but three of the matches from a betting perspective so, the odds may be very short, but a win is always welcome whatever the price, so I would recommend a £10 treble on Arsenal, Dunfermline and Aston Villa, that would return £26.89 with skybet.com if all of them win their matches.

Good luck!