Barclay’s Premier League – 1st March 08

Hello everyone …

It’s another weekend of English Premier League matches which could see in the leadership for the title. With the Champions’ League return leg matches to be played in midweek, you could see some changes to the team lineups.

Fulham vs Man Utd

Man Utd are well aware that this a golden opportunity for them to go top since Arsenal have a tough game against Aston Villa. The difference between Utd and Arsenal is that, Utd’s reserves are playing very well this season compared to Arsenal’s and Arsenal’s reserves are mostly youngsters with less title challenging experience.

Expect United to rest key players for this tie against a very weak Fulham side who are not have only one game in the last 6 matches (one win coming from a 92nd min Jimmy Bullard penalty against Villa). Man Utd are brimming with confidence after successful big wins against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Prediction : Away Win, -1.5

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Villa are in a good run of form and are having a battle for the coveted 4th Champions’ League spot with Everton and Liverpool. Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew have formed a lethal combination upfront which will cause a lots of problems for Arsenal.

Arsenal have a date with AC Milan next Tuesday and we have to wait and see what kind of team Arsene Wenger will play. He will definitely give Villa the respect they are due and I hope he will field a strong team.

With lots at stake for both teams, I expect this game to end as a draw.

Other Games

• Derby County vs Sunderland – Sunderland Win, -1.5
• Middlesbrough vs Reading – Reading Win
• Birmingham vs Tottenham – Draw
• Newcastle vs Blackburn – Blackburn Win
• West Ham Utd vs Chelsea – Draw
• Manchester City vs Wigan – Wigan Win

Match to look out for ….

Bolton vs Liverpool

With Champions League trip to San Siro in mind, the whole world will be expecting to see some changes to Liverpool’s 1st team for the difficult trip to Bolton. Though they have a two goal advantage over Inter and also with Inter playing badly, you would expect Rafa Benitez to field a strong side against Bolton. But knowing Benitez and his preference to the Champions’ League, he will rest some players against Bolton.

Bolton under Gary Megson are no easy meat and they have been playing well at Reebok Stadium and have also progressed to the next round of UEFA Cup. Expect an upset at the Reebok …!!!