Premier League preview

Sky Sports 1 & HD1 brings you live action from four intriguing clashes

By James Dall   Last updated: 28th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Premier League preview

Ancelotti: Has seen his side stutter

Click below for individual match previews and statistics
Monday
Tottenham v West Ham
Blackburn v Sunderland
Chelsea v Fulham
Everton v Burnley
Stoke v Birmingham
Wolves v Man City
Tuesday
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Bolton v Hull
Wednesday
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Man Utd v Wigan

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League leaders Chelsea host London rivals Fulham, Aston Villa tackle Liverpool while bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth welcome Arsenal to Fratton Park as the 2009/10 season reaches its halfway mark.

Carlo Ancelotti's Blues came up against an in-form Birmingham City outfit on Saturday and were unable to find a breakthrough, mainly due to Joe Hart, in the Midlands. The draw left Chelsea with just one league win to their name in their last six matches. They have at least been boosted with the news that Didier Drogba and co. will be available for the Fulham encounter before heading off to Angola. Having beaten Manchester United and then drawn with Tottenham, Fulham are aiming to extend their six-match unbeaten run. Like the St Andrews clash, this fixture at Stamford Bridge can be expected to be a tight affair, with Chelsea and Fulham's defences mean to date.

There are six top-flight games scheduled to take place on Monday, also including Tottenham Hotspur's meeting with West Ham United - a game that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1. Spurs are flying high in the table and would love nothing more than to finish 2009 in the top four. Harry Redknapp's men have responded well since their home loss to Stoke and their recent point accrued at Fulham can be considered a decent achievement. West Ham's survival hopes were given a major shot in the arm at the weekend after they defeated fellow strugglers Portsmouth. That result lifted them out of the relegation places, although they will be wary of being brought back down to earth in this London derby at White Hart Lane.

Eighth-placed Birmingham City are now a remarkable 10 Premier League games without defeat. Stoke City will look to end that run when they host the Blues at the Britannia Stadium. The Potters have struggled of late, with no wins in their previous five matches. Such is their reliance on their home form, just one of Stoke's five triumphs this campaign have come away from the Potteries. Birmingham, however, have performed well on their travels in recent times and a fifth game without defeat away from St Andrews would set a new club record in the Premier League.

Despite Everton being without a league victory since 8th September, David Moyes will likely feel his side are on the brink of turning a corner. The Toffees have drawn four on the spin, but their last stalemate at Sunderland should have arguably ended with a success. Burnley are their opponents, a side that also enjoyed a strong second 45 minutes at the weekend as they battled back for a 1-1 draw versus Bolton. Burnley's poor away record this term has been well-documented, with just one point accrued on their travels. A point at Goodison Park would be seen as a positive result for the Clarets, who are three points above the drop zone, but it would mean their search for a first top-flight win since October goes on.

Out-of-form pair Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland meet one another at Ewood Pak at 3pm on Monday. Despite the latter's bright start to the campaign, now just two points separate the two clubs. After winning five of their opening nine games of the season, the Black Cats have since managed just one three-point haul in 10 attempts. Blackburn have also taken their foot off the gas after stringing five wins together by the middle of November. Since then, Rovers have struggled for goals and triumphs. Sam Allardyce will unquestionably be a concerned manager but he could see the meeting with Steve Bruce's lacking-in-confidence men as a chance to get back on track.

On Monday evening, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1, Wolverhampton Wanderers lock horns with Roberto Mancini's Manchester City. Mick McCarthy cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines at Anfield on Saturday after his side had matched Liverpool only to be undone by being reduced to 10 men. McCarthy will now turn to the Molineux faithful to help inspire his side to a stirring display against the money men. Mancini began his City tenure with a victory, which was efficient rather than rampant. An indication of the Mancini effect would be a triumph at Wolves, as City have won none of their last seven Premier League away matches. The encounter will also mark the last game before Mancini is allowed to play with the money afforded to him by the owners.

On Tuesday, Sky Sports 1 & HD1 brings you live action of Aston Villa's massive clash against Liverpool. The Reds were far from convincing performers in their recent win against Wolves so it seems there is still much work to do for Rafa Benitez, who will be eyeing back-to-back league victories for the first time since September. Villa were brought back down to earth at Emirates Stadium, with their top-four aspirations taking a blow. However, with Arsenal still eyeing the title, one can argue the meeting with Liverpool is more a crunch test, with the visitors at Villa Park hungry to make up ground on the Midlanders.

Also on Tuesday evening, lowly pair Bolton Wanderers and Hull City go head-to-head. Both sides lie in the relegation zone and would loathe to start in the bottom three when 2010 begins. The Trotters have shown signs of improvement of late, having achieved five points from their last three outings. However, the statistic of them being the only top-flight side not to have recorded a clean sheet this season continues to plague them. Coupled with Bolton's failure to achieve a shut-out, it is 14 games since Hull kept a clean sheet in a Premier League away match. Phil Brown should take much heart from his side's loss against the Red Devils, and will aim to build on that performance in this relegation six-pointer.

Portsmouth face Arsenal at Fratton Park on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1. Just as Pompey seemed to be turning a corner with a fine win over Liverpool, their woes returned at the weekend: in a must-win game, Portsmouth were the losing side against fellow strugglers West Ham. Bouncing back versus Arsenal is a big ask for Avram Grant's charges but such is the plight of the South Coast club that from now on every match is classified as do or die. Arsenal should be flying off the back of their huge victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. The title is becoming more and more a possibility for the Gunners and a success over Pompey would do much to reaffirm Arsenal's credentials.

The Premier League champions Manchester United play play out the last top-flight game of 2009 as they welcome Wigan Athletic to Old Trafford. Wigan carried their inconsistent form into a 90-minute display at the weekend as they were below par against Blackburn in the first half before being much improved in the second. United were typically, well, United against Hull as they picked up three points without really playing all too well. Sir Alex Ferguson would doubtless settle for the same again versus the Latics, although the home support will expect more.