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Weekend soccer – by Chris.

The Premiership

Arsenal   -  Tottenham         1.53   -   7.80
Arsenal will come well rested for this match as their incredible youth team players were on duty in midweek, plus Diaby and G Silva, playing a Carling Cup quarter final. Tottenham used their normal squad away to Man City (2-0 win).  The league table is lying, Tottenham were definitely the better football side and this was plain to see. Arsenal will come with Fabregas, Van Persie, Hleb and the rest, but Eboue is out injured.

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane is back from his suspension, D Bent should also be available again but J Jenas is a major doubt. Not forgetting that  Zokora is suspended for this derby game. M Dawson could be back in defence, but no G Bale. The odds are pathetic but I expect the Gunners to win this match (1.53).

Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1

Aston Villa   -   Manchester City         2.10   -   4.00
Villa lost their last two home fixtures against Arsenal and Portsmouth and I do expect O'Neill's men to be extremely motivated tomorrow. Surely they must not lose their third successive home win, they are too good for that. Villa’s overall form is reasonable and they were not exactly lucky losing to Arsenal and Pompey. Midfielder S Petrov could be back for Villa and defenders G Cahill and C Davies will also be available.

City looked harmless in midweek at home to a ten man Tottenham. They could have gone  on  for ages without scoring and their passing game was nowhere to be seen. It could be that City are going out of form. S Ireland is once more suspended. M Johnson risks missing the match with Giovanni his likely replacement. Home win (2.10).

Aston Villa 1 Man City 1

Bolton   -   Birmingham     2.00   -   4.40
I was very impressed with Bolton’s attacking qualities last week, with Diouf, Anelka, Davies and Nolan all looking dangerous. Unfortunately their defence cannot really be trusted. My conclusion is that Bolton will score some goals tomorrow, one more than Birmingham. Perhaps a 3-2 home win.

Bolton will be able to pick from an unchanged squad while Birningham welcome back the previously suspended Nafti. Jaidi and Djorou are back in contention but L Ridgewell is out suspended. Home win (2.00).

Bolton 3 Birmingham 0

Fulham   -   Wigan        2.15   -   3.75
What an awful football game last week between Fulham and Newcastle (0-1). Newcastle were no better than their hosts but then again you tend to expect more from the home teams. Enthusiasm for example. Fulham are basically a poor side and they are in free fall with only 2 league wins so far (2-7-8). This mornings news that Lawrie Sanchez was been sacked should come as no surprise. Their present squad looks like the WBA squad, no worse, no better. Tomorrow D Kamara will be available again, J Bullard is close to a come back, but probably not in this match.

Wigan scored five goals against Blackburn and that is hard to grasp. M Bent scoring three of them is even harder to understand! For the second time this week I will tell you that it is time to re-evaluate Blackburn. I thought that E Heskey was a certain non starter for Wigan tomorrow, but according to the lastest bulletins his situation has improved and he is touch and go for this match together with J Koumas and Sibierski.

There is much at stake in this match and not having Sanchez in the dressing room might be a negative for the Fulham players, but on the other hand, the players might just rise to the occasion. If so, three points are there for the taking (2.15).

Fulham 1 Wigan 0

Liverpool   -  Portsmouth        1.57   -   8.00
Both teams are on 30 points and maybe Liverpool are poor value favourites for this game. Not only maybe, but most certainly. Pompey have played some incredible football away from home lately, winning their last 6 away matches, 1-0, 2-0, 2-0, 4-1, 2-0 and 3-1. Portsmouth were a big disappointment last week when losing their home game with Tottenham 0-1, but their relatively poor effort will probably mean that they will be more focused tomorrow. Coach Redknapp has a few worries. Pamarot is out of tomorrow's game and S Davis is an injury doubt.

Nobody has to tell me how difficult it is to defeat Liverpool at Anfield, we all know that, but it is all about the odds, is it not? Can 1.57 on the home win be a decent price if the opponents have won their last 6 away games? I do not think so! P Crouch is out, suspended but X Alonso will be in contention again.

Liverpool by the way, have lost their last three competitive matches in England (vs Reading, M United and Chelsea). Once again the pressure is on. No bet!

Liverpool 4 Porstmouth 1

Middlesbrough   -   West Ham         2.30   -   3.39
Two league wins on the spin for Middlesbrough and they are now four points above the relegation zone. Tuncay Sanli looks like he will be  more of a saviour for the club than J Aladiere. Tomorrow they will be without the suspended Rochemback but hope to include J Arca again. Unfortunately both the midfielders S Downing and O'Neill risk missing the match. Coach Southgate is hoping that at least Downing will recover in time.

Injury ridden West Ham will miss striker C Cole who is out suspended. Freddie L is sidelined again this time it is migraine. You just cannot beat his injury record. D Ashton is their only fit striker, OK, Camara as well but Bellamy is still injured. West Ham have been more efficient away from home this season. Why I do not knowwhy but they have picked up better results in their away fixtures so far (4-1-3).

I guess that coach Curbishley will play a defensive game tomorrow making it difficult for the Boro strikers. They are quite good at that as we have seen in recent away games at A Villa (0-1),  Portsmouth (0-0),  Derby,(5-0)  Chelsea (0-1) and Blackburn (1-0). X for me! (3.25)

Middlesbrough 1 West Ham 2

Reading   -   Sunderland           1.93   -   4.30
Lousy away results by Sunderland (0-2-7). It is difficult to ignore these results. To try makes you look stupid. Sunderland come to this game with the same group of players as last week and apart from K Jones there is no reason to fear any Sunderland players. Their work ethic is admirable but that is all it is at the moment.

Decent form from Reading recently and they are well motivated favourites in this match. If  Man City would not have scored in the 94th minute winner they would have been unbeaten in their last four games. They will be without the injured midfielder Gunnarsson with Cisse deputising. Home win I guess (1.93).

Reading 2 Sunderland 1

Blackburn   -   Chelsea        4.33  -   1.95
This 1.95 on the away win sounds like a steal. No Terry, no Drogba, but the rest of the Chelsea stars are all fit including Ballack and Carvalho. Even Shevchenko is slowly beginning to pick up his scoring habit. Latest news report that Shevchenko has problems with his ankle and his condition will be assessed later on.

The Blackburn defence is shaky to say the least and even their great keeper Friedel is beginning to be affected by their overall sloppy displays. B Emerton will be back but one of their recently shaky defenders, Samba, is suspended this weekend. "We will freshen things up" says the Blackburn manager. His footballers have played three games in eight days, but I wonder what options Hughes has? No hope for Blackburn until I see signs of improvement and I will back the away win. (1.95).

Blackburn 0 Chelsea 1

Manchester Utd    -   Everton           1.42   -   9.77
Everton are playing their best football of the year, maybe their best football for a long time and surely you need a better price than 1.42 on the home win. Saying that, I am fully aware of the power of United and I have no intention of being the one who says that United will fail to win this match. United are likely winners, but the price is a let down (1.42) that is my stand point.

Man Utd 2 Everton 1

Newcastle   -   Derby        1.40   -   11.67
It is not out of the question that M Owen will be back to play in the Newcastle shirt. The intention was always to get him ready for this date, but it is not certain just yet. We will see, but I have no high hopes ahead of this match. Not regarding Owen but I am thinking of the entertainment value of the football on display. S Taylor will be back for Newcastle but from the latest reports, we are unlikely to see M Owen this time.

Derby will play an obstructive game and Newcastle lack the necessary imagination. Sounds like 1-0 or 0-0! A Griffin is an injury concern for Derby, S Pearson and Earnshaw as well, but they will probably be available after all. Betting wise, I have no use for this match.

Newcastle 2 Derby 2

Serie A

Genoa   -   Parma          2.10   -   4.20
A lucky point for Genoa away to Empoli last week. Danilo is once again out injured, also Bega but both Di Vaio and Juric are expected to be fit to play. Bovo will be suspended for this match. Genoa are no winning machine, with 3 wins in sixteen Serie A games.

Parma miss a couple of players including Morfeo and Castellini, but that is nothing new. Expect their line up to be unchanged. Parma just cannot do the business on away grounds. They are 0-2-5 and have only scored three away goals so far. Their home form is great, but that is another issue. 1X, I guess!

Genoa 1 Parma 0

Roma   -   Sampdoria         1.40   -   10.00
For the first time this season I watched a really poor Roma display. They managed to draw 0-0 with Torino last week, but they were second best for the whole game. They sent a pretty strong squad to Torino in midweek for a Coppa Italia game and this time they lost the match (1-3). I get the feeling that the Christmas break cannot come too soon for Roma. Mexes and probably Pizarro are out for this match. Totti is back in training and he will most likely take to field at some point.

Sampdoria will be without the suspended Cassano, the injured Montella, Delvecchio and Sala, with Sammarco another injury doubt. Franceschini is ready to replace Sammarco. Be careful! This 1.40 on the home win is maybe not as safe as it looks.

Roma 2 Sampdoria 0

Fiorentina   -   Cagliari        1.35   -   11.00
Poor Cagliari. Their newly appointed coach Sonetti has left the sinking ship and the club is without a manager at the moment. The President has not accepted his resignation and I guess that we have to wait and see. The Latest news is that Sonetti will lead Cagliari tomorrow and that he will use Aquafresca and Matri in the front line. New formation again, I guess.

Fiorentina picked up a useful result at Sampdoria last week (2-2). To score a couple of goals again was important for the Tuscany club and could be that they are over their rather lean period. Their keeper S Frey is out injured but on the whole they have a fit squad.

Cagliari have not much to offer, that much I saw for myself last week when a below par Inter side won 2-0 in Sardinia. Home win (1.35).

Fiorentina 5 Cagliari 1

Inter  -   Milan       2.25  -   3.65
This will most likely be something to shout about. Ibrahimovic will be back for the league leaders but I am bit worried about their present midfield. They have so many midfielders on the sidelines and it looks like Chivu, Cesar, Cambiasso and Zanetti will form the Inter midfield. Surely Seedorf, Gattuso, Pirlo will enjoy facing this rather limited Inter midfield. That is my opinion, but on the other hand I also think that the Inter have the superior fire power. Milan cannot match Ibrahimovic and J Cruz. Betting wise I will back the away win (3.65). It is a 50/50 game and with the odds @ 3.65 the away bet is a must.

Inter 2 Milan 1

Juventus   -   Siena        1.29   -  15.00
Iaquinta could not play for Juventus last week but that was not so bad with Del Piero excelling instead. Iaquinta is fit again and he joins the Juve squad for this match. Camoranesi is still out.

Siena will send the group of players out for this match that drew with Napoli last week. Home win, but the odds are crap (1.29).

Juventus 2 Siena 0

Livorno   -   Atalanta     2.30  -  3.60
The home side was without a game last week and they will probably be hungry for some competitive football again. Unfortunately they risk being without their injured keeper Amelia. Tristan and Tavano up front, I guess.

Once again Atalanta have to do without their best footballer Doni, with S Inzaghi and Carozzieri also sidelined. Langella will play, maybe joining Floccari and Ferreira Pinto in the front line. Muslimovic is recalled to the Atalanta squad. Without Doni, Atalanta were no match for Palermo last week and I will oppose them again. Home win (2.30).

Livorno 1 Atalanta 1

Napoli   -   Torino     2.05   -   4.55
Savini and Lavezzi return for the home side and with the talented South American back Napoli will be able to field a full strength squad for this match. Torino will miss the suspended duo of Comotto and Lanna. I thought that Torino looked like an improved side last week when they dominated Roma (0-0). They followed up that result by defeating a reasonably strong Roma side in the cup in midweek (3-1) and maybe finally Torino will live up to expectations. Recoba played from the start and scored two of their goals. Could be Recoba will be on the bench again on Sunday as Di Michele and Bjelanovic looked quite strong together last week. I will take a chance with the away win (4.55).

Napoli 1 Torino 1

Palermo   -   Lazio        1.95   -   4.75
Palermo are definitely on the way up. Easy win away to Atalanta and I foresee their third win on the spin on Sunday (1.95). All their offensive aces will be available including the returning Simplicio.

Lazio have to do without one of their strikers, Pandev, who sits out a suspension.  Meghni, Mutarelli and Mauri also look like missing this match. The first two for sure but there are still some hopes that Muri will be OK. Behrami and Zauri remain on the injury list. Home win (1.95).

Palermo 2 Lazio 2

Reggina   -   Catania     2.25  -   4.00
Once again Reggina are missing a handful of players. Cascione, Hallfredsson, Tognozzi, Joelson and Garcia are out of the picture. Cozza will most certainly play from the start, first time in ages.

Catania will have to do without two of their strikers, Spinesi and Mascara. Mascara scored both the Catania goals last week against Udinese. Not ideal of course, but Martinez and Colucci will at least be available. Catania are weakened offensively and they are rather defensive away from home (0-5-3). I am a little tempted to back a desperate Reggina side but I will refrain from that. 1X, in my opinion.

Reggina 3 Cagliari 1

Udinese   -  Empoli       1.60   -   8.00
Almost a fully fit home side, only missing Pinzi and probably also Asamoah. One of Pepe or Floro Flores will join Quagliarella and Di Natale up front.

Empoli will be without the suspended Pozzi and Marchisio, with Saudati and Giacomazzi coming in instead. Pozzi, we have to remember, scored four goals the other week. Likely home win but I do not feel comfortable with  Udinese as mega favourites (1.60).

Udinese 2 Empoli 2

La Liga

Barcelona   -   Real Madrid  2.10   -   3.90
Sensational news from the Barcelona camp. Ronaldinho, Deco and a fit again Henry will start on the bench in El Classico. With Messi out injured I was 100% convinced that Ronaldinho would play from the start, but coach Rijkaard has opted for young Giovanni instead, joining Iniesta and Eto'o up front. And Gudjohnson instead of Deco? YaYa Toure and Xavi will play together with Gudjohnson in the middle of the park. The Barca defence looks flawless with the three aces, Puyol, Milito and Abidal plus R Marquez.

Defensively I definitely prefer Barcelona and I also think that the home side has more offensive options although most of them seem to start on the bench this time.

Real have three terrific weapons, Sneijder, Robinho and Van Nistelrooy. It looks like Baptista will once again be preferred to Guti. Home win with Barcelona and their substitutes deciding the match in the second half (2.10).

Barcelona 0 Real Madrid 1

Real Zaragoza   -   Valencia        2.30   -   3.50
With all the trouble going on at Valencia I guess that I have to oppose the club again (2.30).  The Barcelona win vs. Valencia was probably one of the safest bets of the season with Barca killing the game after some twenty five minutes. Since then coach Koemann is beginning to shape the team according to his opinion. Painful process for some of the old Valencia stars as all of a sudden Albelda, Canizares and Angulo are not wanted any more. More will follow, probably M Fernandes, Zigic and a couple of others.

In midweek Valencia defeated R Union in a cup game with Zigic saving the club in the second half. He came on in the second half and scored the two Valencia goals (2-1 win). Maybe he will get another chance as both the Valencia strikers Morientes and D Villa are out injured this weekend.

Zaragoza are certainly not having the best of times either and their coach cannot feel safe. Their squad looks as strong as ever but some kind of discipline seems to be missing. At home they have had some decent results, (4-3-1) but in all honesty, they cannot be trusted. Maybe they will more alert this weekend, when they face a big club like Valencia. They will be without the suspended Gabi. I find the odds on the home win good enough (2.30).

Real Zaragoza 2 Valencia 2

Osasuna (2.20) have a good home record against Mallorca. No loss in the last ten seasons. Just recently they won a cup game vs. Mallorca, 2-0. Likely home win (2.20).

Osasuna 3 Mallorca 1

French League

Lorient   -   Metz         1.70   -   7.00
I will back the home win (1.70). The odds are not great but it looks like Metz have more or less given up. Lorient are unbeaten in their last seven league games and they will field the same group of players tomorrow as last week at Le Mans. They were lucky obtaining a 0-0 draw.

The general opinion in the Metz camp last week ahead of their bottom clash with Sochaux was that they had to win the match or their survival campaign would be over. They lost the match and they are nine points behind Sochaux and thirteen points from safety. Metz will have their defender M Diop back for this match but they will be without both their strikers on duty last week, Gestade and Aguirre. Home win (1.70).

Lorient 2 Metz 0

Marseille   -   Le Mans        1.83   -   5.10
Last week Marseille were without both their central defenders Givet and Rodriguez (absent again). Faty and Zubar deputised away to Bordeaux (2-2) but their partnership will be broken up for this match. Faty is new on the injury list and Zubar will be joined by young N'Diaye in the central defence. Captain Cana is out suspended and no doubt that Marseille are severely weakened defensively.

For Le Mans Sessegnon returns from his four match suspension but there is no guarantee that he will have his job back immediately. Yebda has done great. Le Tallec could not play last week and he is a once again a doubt. Keeper Pele is not yet fit. I am prepared to put some money on the away win (5.10).

Marseille 1 Le Mans 0

Nancy   -   Lyon          3.65   -   2.20
A win for Nancy tomorrow and they are only one point behind Lyon in the table. Nancy are 7-2-0 at home. With Curbelo back and Kim available their squad is intact ahead of the match. Lyon will be without their three Brazilians Fred, Fabio Santos and Juninho. Surely Nancy will be relieved that the leading dead ball specialist in the world, Juninho, will not be involved in this game.

My original idea was to back Lyon. For once they have not played any big game in midweek and they come to this match fully prepared, much like the home side. Big sides like Lyon thrive on these kind of fixtures.

The absence of Juninho worries me and that means a smaller stake then! Away win (2.20). Surely the derby between Lens (3-4-2)  and Lille (2-4-3) will end in a draw (3.00).

Nancy 1 Lyons 1

The Championship

Q P R    -   Colchester       2.10   -   3.40
R Vine and A Bolder will be added to the QPR squad. The eleven that started against Wolves (0-0) last week are all available again. Colchester welcome back K Duguid and K Lisbie. QPR are on the up, while Colchester are beginning to look like certain relegation candidates. QPR will have plenty of funds in the future with big Formula 1 capitalists like Bernie Eccelstone and Flavio Briatore taking a interest in the club. No such "problems" for Colchester (2.10).

QPR 2 Colchester 1

Charlton   -   Hull        1.80   -   5.00
Just noticed that Charlton will be without several important offensive players tomorrow. A Reid, L Varney and D Ambrose will not be available and a fourth midfielder Zheng is a major doubt. The big man Iwelumo limped off last week but it looks like he will be fit to play after all. Defenders D Mills and L Sam return from suspensions.

Hull will be without veteran striker Windass but have both N Barmby and Okocha ready for some action again. D Delaney is back from his suspension.

Charlton are not a force at the Valley this season (5-2-4) and with all their many absentees, I will opt for the away win. Hull are the typical outsider team - they blow hot and cold. Away win (5.00).

Charlton 1 Hull 1

Chris.