Manchester United vs Blackburn

The day's late kick-off sees League leaders Man Utd take on Blackburn. Sam Allardyce's mind games have started early, the big boss claiming the Champions are not unstoppable. Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar is now just 89 minuites away from setting the European record for consecutive clean sheets.
Manchester United are without John O'Shea for the clash, though Wayne Rooney and Rafael are in line for starts. Evergreen Ryan Giggs is back in contention for a start.
Blackburn miss Christopher Samba through suspension and Danny Simpson is ineligible against his parent club.
If Blackburn are to halt United's charge, they will have to be the first of 14 teams to breech their ever-changing defence. It may be said that United's only weaknesses lie in the occasional lack of pace in the midfield - though this is often taken care of by back-tracking Tevez/Rooney. The inexperience of Rafael may provide an avenue of attack for Rovers, although the young Brazilian has taken well to life at Old Trafford. I'd advise Sam Allardyce to set his side out to be difficult to break down and then look for a goal on the break. Cristiano Ronaldo has been unconvincing for me on the left - leaving his attacking threat slightly tamed. This has resulted in unconventional right-sided play from Ji-Sung Park, or whoever else is told to play there. The longer United's defensive run goes on for, the more pressure and importance their is on it's breaking. It is therefore important for United to score early to lessen the importance of any defensive breach.
Sir Alex Ferguson may opt to rest one or two regulars with an eye on an upcoming grudge-match with Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan. We may therefore see Vidic earn a well deserved break in exchange for Johnny Evans getting match practice (Evans will play against Inter Milan due to Vidic's European suspension).
A win would put United 8 points clear (Liverpool play Sunday vs Man City) and I feel the Red Devils are on too great a run to be halted at home to Blackburn. I do however think United's defensive record is in more danger than ever.

Prediction
Manchester United 3 : 1 Blackburn

Saturday 21st February : Previews

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

The day's early kick-off sees the Premier League's "best of the rest" fight it out for 3rd place. A win for Aston Villa would see them 3rd, tied with Liverpool - at least for a day (Liverpool meeting Man City on Sunday), or a 9 goal win would see Aston Villa climb to 2nd place (never know). Chelsea know that a loss could see them fall 13 points off the title race and, perhaps more importantly, could allow Arsenal to reduce their deficit from 4th place to just 2 points.
Aston Villa (who could go 5 points behind leaders Manchester United with a win) look to extend their unbeaten home record to 10 games - the type of feat Chelsea were once very familiar with. The Villains have taken 16 points from their last 6 League games - second to just Manchester United (18) in the form tables. During this time Villa have been slightly subdued in front of goal (scoring just 7), but magnificent at the back leaking only 2 goals. Milner and Heskey face fitness tests but life seems to be good at Villa Park. A record of no losses in 13 games is testament to that.
We're all familiar with the chaos at Stamford Bridge this season and are all quietly intrigued to see how on-field performances are effected. Guus Hiddink's boys have picked up 8 points in their last 6 Premier League games and (despite Guus' insistence) are more or less out of the title hunt. Champions League qualification must be the priority now with this 6 pointer being a huge part of securing that. Hiddink may just have an eye on this seasons Champions League - Juventus coming up. The Blues' side hasn't really clicked all too well of late and the addition of Ricardo Quaresma may further confuse matters. It is well known that Quaresma was unhappy at Inter and wanted out. The reason he chose Chelsea was simple - Luis Felipe Scolari. Guus Hiddink - a very methodical, selective manager - would have no qualms (normally) in leaving out a player he felt didn't fit the system he wanted to employ. Things may be very much different now that he is not once but twice directly under the payroll of Roman Abramovich who, in light of his recent reported $9bn losses, cannot miss out on another potential gold-mine player (Qauresma in the "Rnaldo market"). Hiddink therefore must pick his side according to (or at least in conjunction with) what the Russian billionaire would like to see on the turf at the Bridge - once again bringing up an interesting debate (for another day) about football as a business, not a sport. Just how "in charge" of Chelsea is Guus Hiddink. Is he just a show-manager until the season's end?
Chelsea have won their last 7 League games against Midland opposition (their last lost vs Villa in 2007) although records are clearly there to be broken. Whilst Chelsea's attack seemed impressive in the early running of this season, the Blues have scored just 6 in their last 6 Premier League games and conceded a shocking 8. Chelsea really are in a downwards spiral and this fixture may just come at the wrong time for them. The Londoners are without Ashley Cole, Alex and Ricardo Carvalho so will have an even shakier defence than usual. With Bosingwa bombing down the wing, Wayne Bridge bombing down the M6 and Branislav Ivanovic severely lacking match experience, it seems this match will contain goals.
It's not often that these two sides have met and Aston Villa have been favourites, but for me they are. The 9/4 price given by bookies is ridiculous, as is Chelsea's 5/4. Even if these prices were reversed, I'd say Villa were underestimated. This game is coming at the wrong time for Chelsea and the right time for Villa. In a game where a draw is no use to either side, Villa's confidence in their attacking prowess should shine through with their rock solid back line stubbing out the threat of Chelsea's off-form forwards.

Prediction
Aston Villa 2 : 1 Chelsea

Brazil vs Italy

Brazil are being tipped as favourites for what the press have dubbed "the World Derby". The World Champions 2002 will square off with the World Champions 2006. Should Italy avoid defeat tonight at the Emirates Stadium they will set a new world record of 32 international games unbeaten - a statistic meticulous mastermind Marcello Lippi will be all to aware of. Dunga and Brazil will look to play their usual free-flowing samba football to light up a murky London sky - hoping to add to the 16 goals they've scored in their last 6 games. Italy have scored just 9 in their last 6 games but can rely on their ever-ready defense to bail them out of sticky encounters.
Kaka and Luis Fabiano will miss out through injury whilst Amauri has been blocked from participating by Juventus (boo). Pato and Ronaldinho will likely be handed starts whilst Gilberto Silva could have a North London reunion.
For the Champions, Daniele De Rossi may have to sit this game out whilst Gilardino may be told to lead the line on his own (long...ball....yawn).
Potentially, this could be a sensational game exhibiting some of the most exciting players in world football. More realistically, Lippi and his boys will be playing for a (metaphorical) point - hoping tomorrows headlines are instead taken up by news of Italy's heroic 32nd consecutive avoidance of defeat.

Needless to say, this game needs an early goal. Both sides have a very contrasting style which normally means it's up to the star players to impose their team's will on the opponents. I just think Brazil will have too much for the Italians who may rely to heavily on their midfield line holding back the offensive Brazilians.

Prediction : Brazil 1:0

West Ham vs Manchester United

Manchester United bid for their 13th successive Premier League clean sheet today at Upton Park whilst West Ham aim to make it 7 League games without defeat. This is set to be a close clash.
Manchester United have only won 1 of their last 9 games in London though Sir Alex Ferguson claims "it does not concern" him. Why should it? The Red Devils have looked rock-solid at the back despite having to constantly chop and change the back 4. Such antics are no longer required as all the first choice defenders bar Gary Neville (or Rafael da Silva if your ambitious)are available. Even so, the troublesome right-back role cam be filled by the returning Wes Brown. United's strike force is bolstered by the returning Wayne Rooney - bad news for the ever impressive work-horse Carlos Tevez who looks set to lose his place in the starting line-up to his English equivalent. United's midfield will contain Cristiano Ronaldo (joint 2nd top scorer in the League with 11 goals despite not hitting top gear) and Michael Carrick who is having the season of his life. Carrick may get the chance to impress Fabio Cappello who make drop in on both this game and the North London derby - the venues less than 30 minutes apart. The final two midfield spots for the Champions will be filled by a combination of Park, Giggs, Scholes and Fletcher.
A win for West Ham really heats things up in terms of European prospects as the Hammers could go 7th. Gianfranco will send his boys out with the same no-fear attitude he took as a player saying; "everyone has weaknesses and it's up to us to exploit that. We are very confident right now. We play at home and we want to win the game." If they are going to win the game, it will be without Dyer, Gabbidon and Ashton - though England's goal-machine Carlton Cole will start.
Of late, it has seemed as if one goal is all Manchester United need to win is one goal. With this potent attack, I wouldn't back against them getting it. Manchester United are like a shark with the scent of blood when it comes to regaining the top spot in the Premier League so I cannot back against them winning today.

Tottenham vs Arsenal

The North London derby is always packed with goals and excitement. This instance should be no different. A win would put the Gunners 3 points behind 4th place Chelsea, whilst a loss would leave them 6 points off that elusive Champions League spot. This appears to be an area to watch as either one of Arsenal, Chelsea or Villa will miss the top 4 come the end of the season. A win for Spurs could see them go 13th and 4 points above the dreaded drop zone. Arsenal are without Abou Diaby but welcome new boy Andrei Arshavin to the squad. Tottenham miss suspendee David Bentley and the injured Alan Hutton - though new/old boy Robbie Keane is back to lead his new/old side.
Arsenal may give Andrei Arshavin a run out but certainly will not start the Russian. He severely lacks match fitness and cannot risk injury. There may be a warm feeling in the heart of every football fan as Eduardo looks set to return. He probably wont get a kick in this game, but looks like being included in the squad. We all wish him the best and it will be great to see the Croat taking his applause - even from the ol' North London rivals if he is named in the squad.
Nobody can forget the recent 4-4 draw between these two sides in their last League meeting (during Spurs' mini-revival in Redknapp's honeymoon period) and neutrals will be hoping for similar fireworks today. Villa and Chelsea fans alike will be hoping for Spurs to pull of an upset, whilst all teams involved in the relegation scrap will be praying for a comprehensive Arsenal victory.
It will be interesting to see if Tottenham play anything like the, erm..., old Tottenham after re-signing the likes of Chimbonda, Defoe and Keane. Perhaps Redknapp wants to inject some of the Carling Cup winning spirit back into the underachievers.
Home advantage/fairytale potential leads me to believe there may just be an upset in the air here.