| We take a look at the forthcoming Premier League games, crunch the stats and offer a few betting predictions to hopefully help earn you a few quid down at the bookies... |
Guus Hiddink becomes the man entrusted with the keys to Roman Abramovich's misfiring vanity project, which is proving a bigger money pit than a second-hand Alpha Romeo. Hiddink takes it for a first spin at Villa Park where Aston Villa have W1-D5-L5 against Big Four opposition under Martin O'Neil.
The under goals market looks appealing in this match, with 10 of Chelsea's 13 matches at top-six sides in the past six seasons finishing with fewer than three goals and the same is true for six of Villa's last 11 at home to any of the Big Four.
Arsenal can close the gap on one of their rivals for a Champions League spot with victory at home to Sunderland. .Since the start of the 2007/08 campaign the Gunners have W12-D3-L0 when hosting a bottom-half side with eight of their 12 wins to nil. Sunderland have taken just one point from their last 10 trips to any of the Big Four, failing to net on eight occasions.
Carlton Cole is missing for West Ham's trip to Bolton — the Hammers have W0-D2-L4 of their last six matches without Cole. The half-time draw looks a better option. West Ham have been level at the break in four of their last five on the road while the same is true in five of Bolton's last seven matches when hosting a top-half side.
The suffering crowd at the Riverside have seen no more than two goals in seven of the last eight games there and that's unlikely to change with the visit of Wigan, who have seen all of their last five matches settle the -1.5 goals market.
One swallow does not make a summer and one victory does not make a recovery. Portsmouth are still winless in six on the road as they travel to Stoke, whose only defeat in nine home games has been to Manchester United, while they have recorded five wins. A half-time draw followed by a Liverpool win looks the order of the day.
Manchester City have been level at the break in six of their nine on the road while Liverpool have all square in 11 of their last 14 at Anfield. Yet City have the fourth-worst away record in the league while the Reds are undefeated at home this season, with 16 wins.
The absence of Tim Cahill could affect Everton's chances of victory. The Toffees have won 53% of their matches with the Australian in their side but just 35% when he is absent. Instead, the half-time draw looks more promising: Everton have been all square at the interval in seven of nine on the road to non-Big Four sides. Three of Newcastle's last five home games against top half opponents were level at the break.
No player in the Premier League is earning his money easier than Edwin Van der Sar at the moment and it's hard to go past another Manchester United clean sheet, or a win to nil, when they host Blackburn. United's clean sheet record is well documented, while Blackburn are winless in eight on the road, having failed to score in all of their last three.
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