Fotboll / Klas Winberg / 05 februari 2010 /

Andy Gray bommade rejält på sin bokning av Man U förra helgen, men i övrigt var det lyckosamt och nettoresultatet var klart plus. Här kan ni avgöra vilka av Andy's tips som är värda att ta rygg på den här helgen

I may have called the Arsenal v Manchester Utd match wrong but it was a very profitable week for the column nonetheless. My old team Everton did the business for us once again and their 0-1 win got us paid out to the tune of 8.4, whilst Liam Ridgewell's last-gasp equaliser for Birmingham at St Andrews against Spurs meant our 1-1 prediction in that one was also a winner at 7. All of which means we were £54 in profit for the week on our Premier League correct score predictions.

The column was also up in our predictions for the televised matches with the selection of Manchester City to be leading at half-time and winning at full-time against Portsmouth coming in at 1.8 and our back of the draw in Sunderland v Stoke also a winner at 3.45. That left us with a profit of £2.50 for the week across the live TV matches.

The Premier League seems to be my most profitable competition so I'm glad we've got another full set of matches this weekend before returning to the enigma that is the FA Cup next week. And what a set of matches they are with the Merseyside derby kicking off proceedings on Saturday lunchtime and Chelsea hosting Arsenal on Sunday, a match that could be vital in terms of deciding whether the title ends up this season.

Liverpool v Everton

What a game this promises to be. For all of Liverpool's recent problems with injuries, criticism of Benitez and crashing out of the FA Cup, their home form in the Premier League is actually pretty good, having won their last four. Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester City have so far shown to be genuine contenders for a top four finish so Liverpool can't afford too many more slip-ups or else they won't even be making the Champions League group stages next season, let alone the knock-out stage. But they're not hosting any old club this weekend.

Everton are a side on the up. They're unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches with their opponents in that run including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. And they've won their last three. Tim Cahill is back amongst the goals, Marouane Fellaini is finally justifying the tag of being Everton's record signing and Louis Saha is showing the world what he's capable of. When he stays fit Saha brings plenty of goals to any side and some eye-catching performances could yet bring a call-up to France's World Cup squad. But let's not go overboard here: any draw away to a Big Four side is a great result and if you asked David Moyes if he'd take a point from this one he'd bite your hand off... and come back for seconds!

Liverpool are at home but Everton are arguably in the better form and carrying the more momentum so a share of the spoils is my prediction here.

Recommended Bet: Back the draw at 3.65

Spurs v Aston Villa

It's been an eventful week at White Hart Lane with Robbie Keane and Alan Hutton going out on loan in search of more first team football and Eidur Gudjohnsen making his return to the league where he made his name with Chelsea. That was followed by a good midweek win in the FA Cup where Leeds held their own for much of the match but in the end just couldn't quite handle hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe.

Saturday's match against Aston Villa should give us some serious clues as to which of these two will be pushing the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool for that priceless fourth place. I've liked the way Villa have gone about their business this season and they're actually a more attacking side than people give them credit for. They may not play possession-based attacking football the way the likes of Arsenal, but they send plenty of men forward when they catch teams on the break. In Stylian Petrov and James Milner they have plenty of guile whilst Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young are right up there with the quickest players in this league. This is a tough match to call and I wouldn't want to have to pick the winner but it has all the signs of being an open game so I'm siding with goals here.

Recommended Bet: Back over 2.5 goals at 2.08

Bolton v Fulham - Fulham's away form is dire and they can be bullied out of the game by a good home team. 2-0 at 10.5
Burnley v West Ham - If West Ham can take a point from their away fixtures and do the business at home they'll stay up and that may just be how this one ends up. 1-1 at 7.2
Hull v Man City - City weren't convincing at home to Portsmouth last weekend but Hull's draw against Chelsea will have taken a lot out of them and could make all the difference. 1-2 at 9.0
Liverpool v Everton - A cracking contest on the cards in front of truly passionate fans. 2-2 at 20.
Tottenham v Villa - An open game between two entertaining sides should end with Spurs taking the points. 3-2 at 34.
Man Utd v Portsmouth -As if things weren't bad enough for Pompey they now have to travel to Old Trafford and face an in-form side inspired by Wayne Rooney. That spells trouble. 3-0 at 7.2
Stoke v Blackburn - Two similar sides in terms of strength from set-pieces and aggression should provide a decent contest but home advantage should edge it Stoke's way. 1-0 at 8.4.
Sunderland v Wigan - Wigan are the Jekyll and Hyde of this league, you never know what you're going to get, but Sunderland need wins and may get a priceless one here. 2-1 at 10.0
Birmingham v Wolves - If this match goes to form, Birmingham should nick it by the solitary goal. 1-0 at 7.4
Chelsea v Arsenal - Home advantage and extra power should see Chelsea return to winning ways and bury Arsenal's title hopes for good. 2-1 at 9.2

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Chelsea v Arsenal

With no real injury problems and all the players back from the African Cup Of Nations, Carlo Ancelotti's biggest problem right now is deciding who to leave out and that's a pretty nice problem to have. But it's not all rosy in the Chelsea garden right now and aside from the John Terry situation, there was also the small matter of a midweek draw at Hull which Chelsea will see as two points dropped. That was a huge shot in the arm to Hull's chances of staying up but also to the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal themselves who were beginning to wonder when Chelsea were going to slip up.

The problem Arsenal have when facing a side like Chelsea is that there's always a danger they can be muscled out of the game, just like they sometimes are when they play sides like Stoke and Bolton. And let's make no mistake about it: with the likes of John Terry, Didier Drogba and Jon Obi Mikel in the side Chelsea are a big old unit and can stifle the creative talents of Cesc Fabregas and Andriy Arshavin.

The neutrals would love to see an Arsenal win here which would thrust the Gunners right back into the title race and make it the most open contest in years. But I can't see that happening and the smart money is on Chelsea to get back to winning ways on their own turf.

Recommended Bet: Back Chelsea to win at 1.87.

Birmingham v Wolves

This isn't a fixture that will appeal to every football fan in the country as these aren't exactly two of the most glamorous and exciting teams to watch, but try telling fans of these two this match doesn't matter!

Wolves may have crashed out to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup but they got two good draws just prior to that, away to Hull and at home to Liverpool. I've spoken before about their inability to score goals which is their Achilles heel and Sunday afternoon they're up against a side who are the Arsenal of the "noughties" in being the league's greatest exponents of the 1-0 win. Alex McCleish clearly has a gameplan that involves playing virtually the same XI every week but it seems to work for them and their league position of eighth doesn't lie.

Ok, I'd be surprised if this match turns out to be a cracker but that's not to say we can't make a few quid if that turns out to be the case.

Recommended Bet: Back under 1.5 goals at 3.0

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