Saturday’s Premiership Football

Birmingham v Arsenal – Live on Sky Sports 1, k/o 12:45pm

After last weekend’s 4-0 drubbing to Man Utd in the FA Cup, Arsenal will be determined to get over that defeat straight away, and they will have their chance at St. Andrews on Saturday. The Gunners were dreadful in their FA Cup fifth round tie at Old Trafford. All of the Arsenal team were awful, with dependable players such as Fabregas and Gallas looking totally off their game. The last time Birmingham faced Arsenal, they came away from the Emirates Stadium with a very respectable point. On that occasion, some great saves from Maik Taylor combined with resolute defending from Liam Ridgewell and Co ensured Birmingham held on for a 1-1 draw. Given the Blues need points desperately to starve off the threat of relegation, a repeat of that result would be welcome. Considering Arsenal’s league form this season, bookies have priced them as favourites for this match, with Better offering 8/15 on a win, while Birmingham have been priced at 6/1 (VC Bet) to upset the rulebook and get all 3 points.

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Newcastle v Man Utd – Live on Setanta Sports 1, k/o 5:15pm

After the 6-0 humiliation at the hands of United in December, Newcastle have much to prove in front of their fans. Results since Keegan took over have been disappointing, with the second-half surrender to Villa, resulting in a 4-1 defeat, only the latest in a catalogue of poor performances. Newcastle will have had two weeks to prepare for when Man Utd, and old sparring partner Sir Alex Ferguson, turn up at St James' Park. The Red Devils will, no doubt, be expected to hand out a routine thumping and the likelihood is they will, especially after trouncing Arsenal 4-0 in the FA Cup. If Newcastle can somehow engineer a win it could just rescue their season. A glance at the Magpies squad would suggest they have several players – Damien Duff, Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins – capable of troubling Ferguson’s side. Unfortunately, Newcastle’s defence is shambolic to say the least and with United’s attacking threat, it looks like it will be too much for the Magpies to take. With Man Utd in lethal form, the bookies have priced them as firm favourites at 4/9 (VC Bet), meanwhile Newcastle have been given long odds of 11/2 by Better to get the first win of King Kev’s reign.

Newcastle to Win 6/1 VC Bet
Draw 3/1 Centrebet
Man Utd to Win 1/2 Better

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Sunday’s Premiership Football

Reading v Aston Villa – Live on Sky Sports 1, k/o 12:30pm

The big Premiership game on Sunday sees last season’s wonder Reading take on this year’s form team Aston Villa at the Madjeski Stadium. Reading have been fighting against the ‘second season syndrome’ all campaign and unfortunately it looks like they might end up on the losing side. There’s something unfamiliar about Reading sitting in the bottom three, such has been the speed they’ve found their way there. But then that’s what happens when you lose seven straight league games. Boss Steve Coppell will have spent much time soul searching over this shocking run, but he’ll know that now is not the time to go over what’s happened. It’s time to start collecting points. Unfortunately for the Royals, Aston Villa are also on a run, but theirs is of a different kind. Martin O’Neill’s team have lost just once in ten league matches and are earning rave reviews for playing exciting, expansive football. Villa are in with a real chance of finishing in the top four and will see this game against struggling Reading as a great opportunity to seal another victory. Bearing this in mind, bookmakers have placed Villa as favourites, pricing them at 7/5 (Centrebet) to get the away win, while Better have priced Reading at 7/4 to reinstall some pride at the Madjeski Stadium.

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Sunday’s Carling Cup Final

Chelsea v Tottenham– Live on Sky Sports 1, k/o 4:00pm

Sunday sees the first big final in the domestic football calendar, it’s the Carling Cup Final between Chelsea and Tottenham at Wembley. Given that Spurs have only beaten Chelsea twice in the last 18 years, it’s not surprising that the north London club go into their first cup final appearance since 2002 as underdogs. However, over the last few weeks Tottenham have improved markedly. January signings Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Hutton have helped make the defence less porous, while academy product Jamie O’Hara has stepped up from the reserves and impressed with a string of good performances in midfield. Ramos has masterminded impressive results against two of the big four recently – his side gave Arsenal a 5-1 mauling in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, while they were unlucky not to take three points from their league game with Man Utd at the beginning of the month. But Chelsea rarely lose – in fact they’re unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions. In their league meeting in January, Avram Grant’s side beat Spurs 2-0, and with Frank Lampard and John Terry now back to full fitness, it would take an outstanding performance to prevent the Blues from lifting the trophy for the second time in as many seasons. Chelsea have been priced as favourites at 21/20 (Centrebet), meanwhile Tottenham have been priced at 12/5 by VC Bet to win the Carling Cup.

Monday's Premiership Football

Man City v Everton – Live on Setanta Sports 1, k/o 8:00pm

The big match on Monday night sees a battle between the Champions League hopefuls when Man City take on Everton at the City of Manchester Stadium. If Sven-Goran Eriksson's side win at home they’ll draw level with the Toffees on 47 points and, potentially, with Aston Villa and Liverpool, if both win at the weekend. Which means the race for fourth place is almost as exciting as the battle for the title. Everton go into this match on the cusp of a six match unbeaten run in the Premiership. Sven will hope his side’s two-week lay off won’t have put them in a holiday mood, because an Everton team hardened by two UEFA Cup matches will be quick to punish them. With Man City at home, bookies have priced them as favourites for this match, with VC Bet offering 7/5 on a win, while Everton have been priced at 1/1 (Better) take all 3 points.

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