Weekend football preview: Squads, predictions and form guides for Villa, Birmingham City, West Brom, Wolves and Walsall
BLUES v CHELSEA (12.45)
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WHO’S HOT: Sebastian Larsson with his all-action displays.
WHO’S NOT: Those on the injured list and left frustrated on the bench.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
BLUES...................................WWWWD
CHELSEA.................................LDDWD
BLUES (from): Maik Taylor, Carr, Parnaby, Ridgewell, Vignal, Queudrue, R Johnson, Dann, Espinoza, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Carsley, D Johnson, O’Shea, Fahey, McFadden, McSheffrey, Jerome, Phillips, Benitez, Doyle. Injured: O’Connor (hip), Tainio (knee), Murphy (knee).
THE OPPOSITION: Nicolas Anelka is struggling with a groin injury and Michael Essien is out.
Referee: P Walton (Northants).
■ FORECAST: Colin Tattum.....Blues win.
ALBION v PETERBOROUGH
WHO’S HOT: Simon Cox looks a threat whenever he plays.
WHO’S NOT: Albion’s backline has struggled in recent games.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
ALBION...................................WWDLD
PETERBOROUGH......................DDDLW
ALBION (from): Kiely, Allsop, Zuiverloon, Mattock, Cech, Jara, Olsson, Meite, Samuels, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt, Teixeira, Thomas, Moore, Cox, Bednar, Wood, Thorne, Reid. Suspended: Carson. Injured: Koren (hernia), Morrison (foot), Miller (knee), Clement (knee).
THE OPPOSITION: Aaron McLean, George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith have scored 26 goals between them this season but their biggest problems have come at the back.
Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).
■ FORECAST: Chris Lepkowski...Albion win.
LIVERPOOL v WOLVES (5.30)
WHO’S HOT: Kevin Doyle – it might be freezing but he still takes his shirt off.
WHO’S NOT: Greg Halford – must possess the cleanest boots in the Premier League.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
LIVERPOOL...............................DLLWL
WOLVES..................................LWWLW
WOLVES (4-4-2, likely): Hahnemann; Stearman, Craddock, Berra, Ward; Foley, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis; Doyle, Ebanks-Blake. Subs (from): Zubar, Iwelumo, Maierhofer, Castillo, Elokobi, Mancienne, Halford, Hill, Hennessey, Surman, Jones, Friend. Injured: Murray (knee), Edwards (knee), Kightly (ankle), Keogh (ankle).
THE OPPOSITION: Rafa Benitez is surely a man under pressure. Out of the Champions League and down to eighth in the Premier League, below Blues after their latest loss at Portsmouth.
Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).
■ FORECAST: Bill Howell...Liverpool win.
BRISTOL ROVERS v WALSALL
WHO’S HOT: Troy Deeney – goals last week fully deserved for outstanding work-rate.
WHO’S NOT: Darren Byfield – lots of good work lately but needs to practice those one-on-ones.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
BRISTOL ROVERS......................LWLWL
WALSALL..................................LWLLD
WALSALL (from): Gilmartin, Ince, Weston, Smith, Hughes, Sansara, Vincent, Jones, O’Keefe, Mattis, Bradley, Taundry, Richards, Jones, Byfield, Deeney, Nicholls, Parkin, Till, Westlake.
THE OPPOSITION: Rovers have won their last four home games, scoring nine goals. A real toughie for Walsall ahead of home fixtures against Norwich and Charlton.
Referee: S Hooper (Wiltshire).
■ FORECAST: Brian Halford............draw.
SUNDAY
ARSENAL v VILLA (1.30)
WHO’S HOT: John Carew – the corner-flag-kicking super-sub scored the winner against Stoke and is in line for a start at the Emirates with Emile Heskey injured.
WHO’S NOT: The other fringe players – in fact Villa’s deputies are probably getting a bit chilly on the bench.
LAST FIVE GAMES:
ARSENAL...............................WLWDW
VILLA...................................WWWWW
VILLA (from): Friedel, Guzan, Beye, Cuellar, Collins, L Young, Dunne, Warnock, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Petrov, Delph, Downing, A Young, Gardner, Milner, Agbonlahor, Carew, Delfouneso. Injured: Heskey (groin), Davies (shoulder), Bouma (ankle/toe).
THE OPPOSITION: Arsenal are level on points with Villa and showing signs that they can mount a title challenge this season despite the blow of losing Dutch master Robin van Persie to injury.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
■ FORECAST: Mat Kendrick...........Draw.
