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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will be looking for a reaction from his players this weekend after an extremely disappointing display at the DW Stadium earlier in the week. That 1-0 defeat was the Reds first ever loss to Wigan but it was the manner of the defeat which would have disappointed Rafa. Liverpool had no real excuses for such a poor show as they had all of their star names fit and available but the passion and quality was not there. Next up is a Portsmouth team destined for the drop and there is no room for error in the chase for Champions League qualification.
-->Sunderland ended their 14-match winless league run in midweek with a resounding 4-0 home victory against Bolton and how they needed it. A terrible sequence of results has seen the Black Cats slip from challenging for a European spot to facing the serious threat of a relegation battle. That win has given Steve Bruce a bit of breathing space but now they’ve finally won a match, I expect another good performance against Man City with that monkey finally off their backs.
-->Birmingham and Everton clash at St Andrews this weekend in what should be a cracking game. In some ways Alex McLeish has followed the David Moyes blueprint for Premier League success by building a hard-working, efficient, hard to beat Blues side in Everton’s image. Like the Toffees over the past few seasons, Alex has built his team on a firm defensive base and that ethic has paid off handsomely during the 2009/10 campaign.
-->Both Wigan and Bolton have given themselves some breathing space following recent victories but a win this weekend for either side would go some way to ensuring Premier League survival. The Latics will be full of confidence following an impressive first win against Liverpool in the club’s history. That victory ended Wigan’s 7-match league run without a win and should lift spirits ahead of yet another massive clash this weekend.
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Manchester United host Fulham this weekend aiming for revenge against the club that inflicted their biggest defeat of the campaign. Roy Hodgson’s team humbled the champions 3-0 at Craven Cottage back in December but after a trip to Turin in midweek, Fulham’s relatively squad is likely to be stretched to the limit at Old Trafford.
Chelsea have been knocked off top spot in recent weeks as Manchester United have replaced them while Arsenal’s excellent run of form sees them level on points with Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Therefore, this weekend’s clash with West Ham is a must win in terms of boosting confidence ahead of a run of potentially tricky fixtures. Alternatively, the Hammers need to bounce back from a home defeat to Bolton which leaves Gianfranco Zola’s team just 3 points clear of the relegation zone.
Tottenham remain in pole position for a 4th placed finish but with games running out, this is yet another must win for Harry Redknapp’s injury-hit team. Spurs have arguably one of the biggest and best squads in the Premier League and Harry is having to make full use of that fact with the likes of Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King all missing. Despite a number of important first teamers out, I still expect Tottenham to get the better of a Blackburn team this weekend that continues to suffer from a bad case of travel sickness.
Hull may have produced one of the shocks of last season when they defeated Arsenal at the Emirates but it is worth noting that the Gunners have won all three meetings in all competitions since. Arsene Wenger’s team arrive at the KC Stadium full of confidence after a 4-match winning streak that has seen them move into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and right back into the Premier League title race.
I’m afraid this could be the last throw of the dice for Burnley when they take on Stoke at Turf Moor. Ok, there may be little difference in terms of points between the clubs at the bottom of the table but unlike their fellow relegation candidates, the Clarets are not showing any signs that they can go on a run of form picking up points towards survival.
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