Portsmouth battled back from one goal down to pick up a point against West Ham in midweek. Although this was not the three points the club desperately needs, it proves that despite the much publicised problems off the pitch, the players are still fighting as a team on the pitch. Players can be a selfish bunch at times and it would be quite easy for some to lose their desire and blame off the field problems for poor displays on the pitch. However, credit must go to Avram Grant and his team for continuing to put in the effort and fighting hard for the club’s future.

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Aston Villa put on a decent display in the 0-0 home draw with Arsenal in midweek which has extended their win-less and non-scoring Premier League run to four matches. However, in all competitions Martin O’Neill’s team are unbeaten in six games and will still be buoyed by reaching the Carling Cup final, so a lack of confidence should not be a problem. Alternatively Fulham are on a 4-match losing run in the league and it’s been 5-games since they last tasted a league win.

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Brian Laws has not had the easiest of starts to his Burnley managerial reign, beaten by Manchester United, Reading and Burnley without his team scoring a goal. Next up, the Clarets face a Chelsea side in superb form after scoring 17 goals and conceding two in their last four games in all competitions. Even the most ardent Burnley fan cannot be too optimistic of their chances of getting anything from the match.

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Bolton should travel to Anfield this weekend full of confidence after winning successive matches in league and cup for only the second time this season. Liverpool may have maintained their recent five-match unbeaten league run with a 0-0 draw at Molineux but Rafa Benitez will surely see that result as two points lost. The Reds didn’t impress on the night but they kept their fourth clean-sheet in the last five games and importantly Steven Gerrard returned to the side.

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Birmingham’s long unbeaten run finally came to an end at Stamford Bridge in midweek but now Alex McLeish’s team need to show what good sides do and bounce back, starting with the visit of Tottenham this weekend. Spurs enjoyed a relatively comfortable 2-0 home win over Fulham which should have restored some confidence ahead of this clash at St Andrews’.

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The Gunners suffered a couple of injury blows ahead of their massive clash with champions Manchester United this weekend. Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo may be out of contention which leaves Arsene Wenger facing a reshuffle of his side with recent signing Sol Campbell likely to replace the Belgian at the heart of the Arsenal defence if needed. He’ll be up against Wayne Rooney who is in the best form of his career and added to his season’s tally in the midweek Carling Cup semi-final win over local rivals City.

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Just a point separates these two sides in the Premier League and with both teams fighting relegation battles this is a 6-pointer if ever there was one. Hull have not won any of their last eight league matches but they have picked up four draws in that time. Wolves have gone four league games without a win but are seriously struggling for goals as it’s been six hours and 40 minutes since the last scored a Premier League goal. The Tigers haven’t scored themselves in their last two league games, so don’t expect a goal-fest at the KC Stadium this weekend.

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Since Sunderland’s excellent win over Arsenal at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats haven’t been able to win any of their last nine league games. Steve Bruce’s team need a win to arrest this slide but will find Stoke a tough nut to crack despite their relatively poor away record which has seen them win just once and score the least amount of away goals in the Premier League.

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Wigan entertain an Everton side this weekend which is beginning to climb steadily up the table after a 8-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. The Latics on the other hand cannot string two positive results together which means Roberto Martinez’ team remain just two points away from the relegation zone.

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The Gunners suffered a couple of injury blows ahead of their massive clash with champions Manchester United this weekend. Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo may be out of contention which leaves Arsene Wenger facing a reshuffle of his side with recent signing Sol Campbell likely to replace the Belgian at the heart of the Arsenal defence if needed. He’ll be up against Wayne Rooney who is in the best form of his career and added to his season’s tally in the midweek Carling Cup semi-final win over local rivals City.

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