One more round of Premier League fixtures is scheduled to take place before a break for the FA Cup 4th round, and following this week’s replays, we are now set for repeats of the two fixtures that have caused most lasting controversy this season, with Liverpool hosting Man.United, and Chelsea visiting QPR. It will be interesting to see whether John Terry, Anton Ferdinand and Patrice Evra make the starting line-ups for the cup ties, and if they do, you can expect the most hostile atmospheres to be generated at both grounds that should make for an extremely interesting (and maybe uncomfortable) afternoon’s viewing.

In the meantime, Chelsea kick off the coming weekend’s activity with a trip to Norwich:

1)Norwich v Chelsea: Despite their impressive start to the season, Norwich have been rather hit and miss at home, and have fallen short against Spurs and Arsenal at Carrow Road. Meanwhile, Chelsea are unbeaten in their last five away League matches, and have scored at least three times in their last five meetings with Norwich, so they should be confident of extending that record on Saturday. They overcame potentially tricky opponents in Sunderland last time out, and with their hosts yet to record a clean sheet this season, I fancy them to record a narrow victory.

2)Everton v Blackburn: Two of the less predictable sides at present meet at Goodison on Saturday, and I’m veering towards an away win. Perhaps the most telling fact that has a bearing on this encounter is that Everton have already lost at home to Blackburn’s fellow strugglers QPR and Bolton, and Rovers are in the rare position of having won two of their last three League fixtures. They will miss Yakubu through suspension, but they still managed to overcome Fulham without him on the field following his sending off, so they may well be able to put distance between themselves and the bottom three here.

3)Fulham v Newcastle: Without Tiote and Ba, Newcastle put in a slightly off-colour performance against QPR last weekend, but still emerged with three points, and will be hopeful of continuing their fine run against an inconsistent Fulham side. It is worth pointing out that Fulham’s home record is identical to Newcastle’s away record so far, but having said that, draws are rare between these teams at Craven Cottage, with a positive result having been achieved in the last nine encounters, and for me, I fancy Newcastle to get the better of their opponents by a single goal on Saturday.

4)QPR v Wigan: If it’s tension and nerves you want, this is the game for you this weekend. If it’s goals you want, look elsewhere. The two lowest scoring sides in the top flight meet in what has usually been a tight, evenly-contested fixture over the years. In the seven previous meetings between these two, only twice has one side or the other scored more than a single goal. Only once in their last eleven matches have QPR scored more than one goal. Only twice in their last nine matches have Wigan scored more than one goal. 1-1.

5)Stoke v West Brom: Stoke are unbeaten in five, while West Brom’s only victory in their last five came in the Cup against Cardiff, so the home side should be favourites to take the spoils here. Previous results of this fixture lead you to exactly the same conclusion, as the Baggies have failed to win at Stoke on their last eighteen visits, and I think they will end up empty handed again on Saturday.

6)Sunderland v Swansea: Despite breaking their away duck at Villa on their last road trip, Swansea remain in the position that no side has scored fewer away goals in the Premier League so far, and this match should prove a tough test for them. The only recent form between these two is the goalless draw they played out back in August, and there is no reason to believe that there will be many more scored this time around. However, Sunderland’s recovery under Martin O’Neill is undeniable, and I fancy them to win this one to nil.

7)Wolves v Aston Villa: The other teams involved in the relegation battle will take encouragement from Villa’s record at Molineux, where they are undefeated in their last ten visits in League and Cup. That fact, allied to their six away draws so far, which no other side can match, lead me to the inevitable conclusion that a 1-1 draw may well be the outcome on Saturday.

8)Bolton v Liverpool: Bolton’s shocking home record has seen them lose eight of their ten matches so far, and the chances of them improving that record here look remote. Liverpool have kept clean sheets in three of their last four away matches, and have won on their last four trips to the Reebok, so I’m happy to side with the Reds here.

9)Man.City v Tottenham: A couple of crackers end the weekend’s entertainment, and for once Peter Crouch will not be the headline maker in this fixture. He scored the winner in the last two renewals, one for Spurs and one own goal against Spurs, but the striking options available to his former team these days should make this a fascinating encounter. Spurs have an excellent record at City, having won eight and drawn three of their last thirteen visits in League and Cup, and with City in slightly stuttering form at present, Tottenham could well gain revenge for their mauling at White Hart Lane by City back in August.

10)Arsenal v Man.U.: Speaking of sides in stuttering form, Arsenal will be glad that this match is being played at the Emirates, as only Man.City have conceded fewer home goals so far, while nobody has conceded more away than the Gunners. However, United boast the tightest away defence in the division by far, with just six conceded in ten matches, and while we will probably witness only a tiny proportion of the ten goals these sides produced at Old Trafford, I feel United may just come out on top in a tight match.

Just a treble for you this week, but wins for Colchester, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon would return £40.33 to a £10 stake at Corals.

Good luck!