SATURDAY EPL MATCHES

CHARLTON VS SHEFFIELD UNITED, The Valley

Who is the best of the worsts? Two of relegation candidates meets this Saturday. Whichever team that wins will likely bury the other to the championship division next year. A crucial match this is for both teams.

Charlton's home form 7-4-6 18:16.
4 out of that 7 wins have come from their last 8 matches at home (4 wins 2 draws and 2 losts 12:7)

27.12 H: Fulham 2:2 (2:1) D
30.12 H: Aston Villa 2:1 (0:1) W
13.01 H: Middlesbroug 1:3 (1:1) L
03.02 H: Chelsea 0:1 (0:1) L
24.02 H: West Ham 4:0 (3:0) W
18.03 H: Newcastle 2:0 (0:0) W
31.03 H: Wigan 1:0 (0:0) W
09.04 H: Reading 0:0 (0:0) D

Last Tuesday lost 2-1 away to Everton was very dissapointing as they had managed to hold Everton to a goalless draw until 80 minutes to lose a goal by a deflected ball by the keeper. Darren Bent had equalized minutes later and they trailed again by a last minute goal to Everton.

Sheffield United has the worst away record in the premiership other than Charlton, Watford and Westham: 3-1-13 7:30.

Their last away games reads 8-0-0 4:21

23.12 A: Portsmouth 1:3 (1:0) L
01.01 A: Middlesbroug 1:3 (1:1) L
20.01 A: Reading 1:3 (0:1) L
03.02 A: Blackburn 1:2 (1:1) L
24.02 A: Liverpool 0:4 (0:2) L
17.03 A: Chelsea 0:3 (0:2) L
31.03 A: Bolton 0:1 (0:0) L
17.04 A: Man. Utd. 0:2 (0:1) L

It's true they had faced a lot of strong oppositions on their last 8 way games (Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea, Blackburn)

I expect a gruelling fight from both sides to win this important game, but Charlton has the slight advantage of playing of their fans where they normally perform well. If Charlton win this game, result would elevate them 1 notch off the relegation and stop Sheffield from gaining a 5 points cushion.

Here are the squads for both teams:
Charlton (from): Carson, Young, Diawara, El Karkouri, Bougherra, Thatcher, Hreidarsson, Thomas, Song, Holland, Zheng, Ambrose, M Bent, D Bent, Hasselbaink, Rommedahl, Randolph, Lisbie.
Sheffield United (from): Kenny, Bromby, Morgan, Jagielka, Shelton, Stead, Webber, A Quinn, Kozluk, Kilgallon, Montgomery, Tonge, Gillespie, Armstrong, Leigertwood, Lucketti, Fathi, Geary, Nade, S Quinn, Kazim-Richards, Bennett.

2-1 win for the home team is my pick.

TOTTENHAM VS ARSENAL, White hart lane - London

Another London derby. Back in season 2004/2005, the two had produced 9 goals in a very memorable match that ended 4-5 for Arsenal. Will this game be a high scoring match? or will it end up in draws as often do?
Here is the interesting trivia. The 2 teams have met at White Heart Lane 7 times since 2000 in all competitions and the last time Hotspur did win goes a long way back to 1999, where they beat Arsenal 2-1. The last 7 meetings ends in 6 draws (4 x 1:1, 2 x 2:2 and of course 4:5 in 2005).

There are no fresh injuries on both teams except for Robbie Keane who sustained a knee injury and doubtful to play for this match.
The squads are as follow:

Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Ifil, Rocha, King, Dawson, Huddlestone, Zokora, Jenas, Tainio, Murphy, Malbranque, Lennon, Ghaly, C Lee, Taarabt, Berbatov, Mido, Defoe.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Diaby, Adebayor, Almunia, Ljungberg, Baptista, Senderos, Aliadiere, Denilson, Djourou.

Ledley King will returned after being sidelined for the Wigan Game that ended in a thrilling 3:3.
Here are the last 6 games in the premiership for Hotspur:

30.12 H: Liverpool 0:1 (0:1) L
14.01 H: Newcastle 2:3 (1:1) L
04.02 H: Man. Utd. 0:4 (0:1) L
25.02 H: Bolton 4:1 (3:1) W
17.03 H: Watford 3:1 (1:0) W
01.04 H: Reading 1:0 (1:0) W

Arsenal's last 6 away games:
30.12 A: Sheffield U. 0:1 (0:1) L
13.01 A: Blackburn 2:0 (1:0) W
03.02 A: Middlesbroug 1:1 (0:0) D
14.03 A: Aston Villa 1:0 (1:0) W
18.03 A: Everton 0:1 (0:0) L
31.03 A: Liverpool 1:4 (0:2) L
09.04 A: Newcastle 0:0 (0:0) D

Although Arsenal had picked up their form on their last 2 games played at Emirates Stadium, their away record is not that good 7-3-7 18:17

It's going to be an entertaining game as both Hotspur can score and concede at the same time. I think this is a draw game, so 1:1 or 2:2 is my pick.

LIVERPOOL VS WIGAN, Anfield

Liverpool welcomes back Xabi Alonso and Craig Bellamy having been absent for 2 weeks nursuring their injuries. This is a morale boost for the team with the Champions league match coming in the mid-week against Chelsea.
They are impressive in anfield with 13-3-1, scoring a massive 35 and conceding 5.

Wigan put out the fine performance at home against Hotspur in mid week ending 3:3, but they are just not quite the same team when playing away.

LIVERPOOL LAST 6 AT HOME
20.01 H: Chelsea 2:0 (2:0) W
03.02 H: Everton 0:0 (0:0) D
24.02 H: Sheffield U. 4:0 (2:0) W
03.03 H: Man. Utd. 0:1 (0:0) L
31.03 H: Arsenal 4:1 (2:0) W
18.04 H: Middlesbroug 2:0 (0:0) W

WIGAN LAST 6 AWAY (OVERALL 4-4-9 17:26)

30.01 A: Reading 2:3 (1:1) L
11.02 A: Arsenal 1:2 (1:0) L
21.02 A: Watford 1:1 (1:1) D
03.03 A: Man. City 1:0 (1:0) W
31.03 A: Charlton 0:1 (0:0) L
09.04 A: Aston Villa 1:1 (1:0) D

Wigan will fight hard to obtain at least a point here to escape the relegation, but they will miss lee mc cullough, chris kirkland, david insworth, and fitz hall.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Mascherano, Zenden, Bellamy, Crouch, Fowler, Kuyt, Dudek, Gonzalez.

Wigan (from): Filan, Granqvist, Jackson, De Zeeuw, Camara, Kilbane, Heskey, McCulloch, Johansson, Landzaat, Aghahowa, Scharner, Skoko, Taylor, Folan, Cywka, Cotterill, Baines, Boyce, Unsworth, Pollitt.

I would back Liverpool to continue their good form in Anfield and go for a 3-0 win.