The pressure on Rafa Benitez is mounting as Liverpool’s title challenge has all but ended for another season. The Reds 18-year period without title success looks set to continue for another year as they currently sit 14 points behind Manchester United, albeit with a game in hand.

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The Black Cats return from a Jekyll and Hyde performance at White Hart Lane to the Stadium of Light desperately needing a home win. Roy Keane’s Sunderland were behind within 2 minutes at Tottenham and could have conceded a lot more after a dismal first half display but a much improved second half showing should have seen them grab a point. More shoddy defending though allowed Robbie Keane to score and to leave the Black Cats with an unenviable record of 8 successive away defeats. Luckily for Roy, their performances at home have been far more profitable.

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Boro have won just once in the last 6 matches but have been unfortunate not to have picked up more points in recent games. Gareth Southgate’s team have drawn the last 2 matches at home to Liverpool and away at Blackburn but could have won both after impressive displays that perhaps deserved more.

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Despite Paul Jewell bringing in 5 new signings, the rock bottom Rams continue to struggle at the foot of the Premier League. The not so fabulous 5 have started the last 2 matches at home to Wigan and away at Portsmouth, both have ended in the customary defeat. Derby have now lost their last 5 League matches and have not won a Premier League match since mid September, their only win to date. That’s 17 matches without a win for Jewell’s side, 14 of which ended in defeat.The Rams can’t even find any comfort on their home turf where they have lost their last 7 matches in a row including a defeat to Wigan in the last home game. So the points are looking pretty safe for Sven’s City slickers.

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Two of the Premier League’s home-grown manager’s clash in this relegation 6-pointer between Gary’s Megson’s Bolton and Roy Hodgson’s Fulham at the Reebok Stadium this Tuesday. The Cottagers face an uphill task to survive this season as they lie in 19th position, 5 points adrift from those outside the relegation zone. If you throw in an appalling 16-month run without an away win and it is not hard to see where most of the trouble lies. The Trotters have also struggled away from home this season and have yet to pick up all 3 points on their travels. Luckily for Gary, they are playing this match at the Reebok.

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This is the fourth time these clubs will face each other this season as they are also scheduled to meet in the FA Cup 4th round on Saturday. However, this is the Premier League and surprisingly Newcastle have a decent recent League record against Arsenal. The Magpies are unbeaten in the last 4 League encounters with the Gunners with the last 3 meetings ending in draws. However, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 5 home League matches with Newcastle (4 wins).

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23rd January

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Between Newcastle and Liverpool, the country is not short of football stories at the moment. Whatever paper you read, whatever football site you visit, the general focus is on the latest events in the Liverpool-Benitez-Hicks-Gillett showdown.

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22nd January

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21st Monday

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