Friday, November 20, 2009

Match previews - Sat 21st Nov

A look ahead to Saturday's fixtures in the Barclays Premier League.

There are some intriguing fixtures in prospect as the Barclays Premier League returns to action following the international break
Chelsea will be aiming to stretch their lead at the top of the table as they host Wolverhampton Wanderers but rivals Arsenal and Manchester United will be ready to pounce on any slip-up.

In the first match of the day, Liverpool take on Manchester City in a mouth-watering encounter at Anfield.
Chelsea v Wolves
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has seen his Blues side make a flying start to the season. They have not even conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge since the opening day of the season.
In the 14 hours and 32 minutes since Hull City netted against them, the Blues have hit 26 goals without reply in all competitions.
Chelsea scored five times both home and away against Wolves when the sides last met in the league in 2003/04 and will be bidding for the 1,000th home league win in their history. Wolves' last three league goals have all come from centre-back Jody Craddock.

Man Utd v Everton
Manchester United will be keen to keep up the pressure on Chelsea as they protect their 11-match unbeaten home record against Everton.
The Merseysiders have won only one of their last 28 league meetings with the Red Devils who have scored 69 Premier League goals against Everton, more than against any other opponent.
Everton's win over West Ham United ended a run of seven matches without a victory in all competitions.

Liverpool v Man City
After winning seven of their first nine fixtures, Liverpool have won just one of their last nine.
However the Merseysiders are undefeated in their last eight Premier League meetings with Manchester City who have drawn their last five matches.
The Reds will be aiming to equal a club Premier League record of scoring in 18 successive home matches.

Sunderland v Arsenal
The Gunners are unbeaten in seven, taking 19 points from a possible 21 and are aiming to maintain their scoring streak after hitting 36 goals in 11 Barclays Premier League matches this season.
That is the highest tally by any top-flight side at this stage of the season since Spurs got 40 in their first 11 fixtures in 1963/64.
Sunderland are without a win in four matches in all competitions and have not beaten Arsenal in their last 11 league meetings, although both of last season's encounters ended level.

Burnley v Aston Villa
Burnley have won five of their six home matches since securing promotion and they will aim to extend that impressive record against a Villa side who have not won in their last four on the road and have a wretched record at Turf Moor.
Villa have not won in their last 22 league and cup visits to Burnley, a run which dates back to 1936.
Martin O'Neill's men have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven matches but have lost only one of their last six.

Hull City v West Ham United
Gianfranco Zola's side have won only once in the league since the opening day of the season and have not kept a clean sheet since August.
The Tigers have won just four times in 2009 but snatched a last-gasp victory at home to Stoke City before the international break.
The teams are separated by just one point and defeat would leave the losers in the relegation zone.

Birmingham v Fulham
Fulham are fifth in the current form table after stringing together a five-match unbeaten run to win the Barclays Manager of the Month award for Roy Hodgson.
Blues are also proving hard to beat and will be aiming to stretch their undefeated run to four matches following their impressive 2-2 at Liverpool.
Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey is out to equal Steed Malbranque's club record of scoring in four successive league matches.


Barclays Premier League fixtures
Click on a fixture below to view the match preview
Liverpool v Manchester City (Referee: Phil Dowd)
Birmingham City v Fulham (Chris Foy)
Burnley v Aston Villa (Howard Webb)
Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Lee Mason)
Hull City v West Ham United (Mark Clattenburg)
Sunderland v Arsenal (Alan Wiley)
Manchester United v Everton (Steve Bennett)

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