Andy's Saturday tips - Chelsea to fight on

Chelsea are up to second in the Premier League and Holy Saturday will present an opportunity to see just how close the champions can push Manchester United. Here's how Andy Gray sees the top-flight action unfolding...

Manchester United v Everton

As a former Everton player, there have been a few depressing weeks this season when David Moyes' team were going through a rotten run of results. But Everton didn't become a bad team overnight and neither did Moyes become a bad manager all of a sudden.

I've spoken before about how Tim Cahill seemed to have lost a bit of his usual spark after the Asia Cup and how Louis Saha's constant injuries badly affected the team's balance. But situations like that are when managers really earn their corn and the Everton boss mixed things up a little and started getting the results.

Phil Neville was pushed up into midfield from right-back and his wealth of experience has shown in recent matches and made a big difference. Jermaine Beckford has found some form after a somewhat difficult first season in the Premier League and Leon Osman has two in three matches - any manager in the world will tell you how important it is that your midfielders chip in with goals.

Despite Everton's upturn in fortunes, the stats show us that Old Trafford isn't a happy hunting ground for the Merseysiders. People will have theories as to whether that's down to Everton's system or just a lack of self belief.

Whatever it is, it would be a huge upset if they went there and won and I think a point and another match in which they avoid defeat (to extend their good run) would be their target ahead of this game.

Manchester United will be extremely disappointed about their defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup because it was against their bitter rivals and because it means dreams of a treble are now over. Most of all though they'll be disappointed because they simply didn't play well when they most needed to.

They actually performed a lot better against Newcastle and were probably quite unlucky not to get more than a point from the match. Sir Alex may actually rotate his team again for this fixture with that game against Schalke coming up, but whoever makes up the rest of the team I expect Wayne Rooney to be in the starting line-up.

A defeat at a neutral ground and a draw away from home is one thing, but at Old Trafford, Manchester United continue to lay down the law. All things considered, I don't expect them to win that comfortably, but I do expect them to pick up another three points.

Recommended Bets:
Back Manchester United to win at [1.5]
Back Manchester United to win 3-1 at [14.0]
Back both teams to score at [2.0]

Chelsea v West Ham

Chelsea are the form team in this division. Since that defeat at home to Liverpool, they're unbeaten in their last eight and had it not been for that bizarre mid-season slump, they would have been very much in this title race.

The question everyone is asking right now is how do you solve a problem like Fernando Torres? Carlo Ancelotti has tried him up front with one of Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka, on a couple of occasions with both, and on another time with neither. But none of these have really worked and not only has Torres not scored yet but he hasn't really played that well.

Strikers have spells like this where they try everything and anything and the ball just doesn't go in. And, when it eventually does, it's ruled out for offside! The same happened to me and sometimes it just takes one goal to get you going.

Torres is too good a player for this barren spell to continue and both his manager and fans need to show one quality: patience. Keep on believing in him, playing him and encouraging him and he'll come good.

There were signs West Ham were improving a few weeks ago but the good performances started to dry up and so did the results. They've got a real battle on their hands to stay in this division now and Stamford Bridge isn't the place to go when you're battling for your life.

It's hard to make a case for them getting anything from this match so I won't. Sometimes the obvious is staring at you in the face and in this case it's a Chelsea clean sheet in a regulation win.

Recommended Bets:
Back Chelsea to win at [1.27]
Back Chelsea to win 2-0 at [7.0]
Back Florent Malouda to score at [3.8]

Andy's predictions for Saturday's 3pm kick-offs...

Aston Villa v Stoke
That FA Cup win will have given Stoke plenty of confidence but Villa are improving steadily and with Darren Bent scoring goals they should be too good in front of their own fans.
Recommended Bets: Back Aston Villa to win at [1.87]; 3-1 at [19.0]

Blackpool v Newcastle
Expect a rarest of clean sheets and a much-needed win for the Seasiders.
Recommended Bets: Back Blackpool to win at [3.05]; 2-0 at [22.0]

Liverpool v Birmingham
I've seen massive improvements in Liverpool's defending and I think they'll build on that good point at Arsenal by getting a narrow win here.
Recommended Bets: Back Liverpool to win at [1.5]; 1-0 at [8.0]

Sunderland v Wigan
This could end up being a really entertaining game between two sides desperate for a win to ease their relegation fears and I think Sunderland can nick it.
Recommended Bets: Back Sunderland to win at [2.18]; 3-2 at [40.0]

Tottenham v West Brom
Spurs have been really good at home under Harry Redknapp in matches like this and I expect that trend to continue.
Recommended Bets: Back Tottenham to win at [1.65]; 1-0 at [9.0]

Wolves v Fulham
That defeat at home to Everton was a bit of an anomaly for me and I think they can make amends for it against a side that are pretty inconsistent away from home.
Recommended Bets: Back Wolves to win at [2.66]; 3-1 at [30.0]

Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.

Published: 21 Apr 2011

• Facebook
• Digg
• Stumbleupon
• Reddit