Friday 25 November 2011

Saturday's EPL Match Previews and EPL News:


Tomorrow's EPL Previews:

Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers: LIVE from 12:45pm
This is the first match this weekend and is the early kick-off at The Britannia.
Both teams have not been on the best run of form lately with Stoke being fatigued after playing in Europe every week and Blackburn's manager Steve Kean being underfire and fans wanting him to resign.
Stoke striker Peter Crouch is an injury doubt as he has a groin complaint and along with midfield pair Matthew Etherington and Rory Delap (both back problems), will undergo a late fitness test.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has said that goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen will keep his place in Stoke's starting XI tomorrow.
Blackburn defenders Chris Samba and Martin Olsson are both likely to miss the match with hamstring injuries.
Defender Ryan Nelsen is back in training but not match-fit while defender David Dunn is suspended.
Midfielder Jason Lowe is back from his ban, defender Michel Salgado will expect to feature after recovering from a knock while goalkeeper Paul Robinson is expected to start for the away side despite recieving a gashed head last week against Wigan.

14th placed Stoke will hope to beat 19th placed Blackburn so that they improve their form and boost their confidence. Blackburn will want to win but it may be hard for them with Stoke's strong defence especially as their was no Europa League fixtures during midweek.


Bolton Wanderers vs Everton: LIVE from 15:00pm
This match will come from the Reebok Stadium as 18th place Bolton host 12th place Everton.
Midfielder Jack Rodwell missed last week's match against Wolves with a rib injury sustained on duty with the England senior side.
Defenders Phil Neville (hamstring) and Sylvain Distin (groin) were also not available a week ago and will be assessed before the game.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has an injury free squad to choice from tomorrow and will want to get out of the bottom three and the relegation zone but it will be tough for them against Everton's strong midfield who like to pass down the wings to Baines and Drenthe.


Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: LIVE from 15:00pm
This interesting match comes from Stamford Bridge as two out of form teams go head-to-head.
5th place Chelsea face 17th place Wolves who are at both ends of the spectrum (Epl league contender to win) and relegation battle).
Ashley Cole has been passed fit for Chelsea to play tomorrow as he has shaken off an inflamed ankle during midweek. Long-term knee injury victim Michael Essien is Chelsea's only absentee.

Midfielders Jamie O'Hara and Stephen Hunt will both serve a one-match ban for having five bookings this season while right-back Richard Stearman is ruled out with a broken wrist.
Defender Ronald Zubar is ready to make his first appearance for nine months after injury.

Even though Chelsea are not playing very well, they will be very surprised to lose against underform Wolves -especially at home. Juan Mata and Didier Drogba will probably look to cause havoc to Wolves' defence.

Manchester United vs Newcastle United: LIVE from 15:00pm







Saturday's featured game comes from Old Trafford as 2nd place Manchester United face 4th placed Newcastle. There is only 4 points between these two teams and have both only lost once this season.
Striker Wayne Rooney and Defender Nemanja Vidic return to Manchester United's XI. Rooney returns from a hip injury sustained last week at Swansea whilst Vidic was ruled out through suspension. Anderson (knee), Michael Owen (thigh) and Tom Cleverley (ankle) are all out for United due to injury.

Gabriel Obertan will return to the Newcastle squad for the trip to his former club.
The striker will return from a toe infection and is expected to start, as is fellow midfielder Danny Guthrie, who should make the game despite missing training this week because of a hip injury.
However, midfielder Cheik Tiote (knee) and striker Leon Best (groin) remain doubts, while Sylvain Marveaux is sidelined for up to four months after undergoing groin surgery.

United will want to keep the pressure on City and move 2 points from the EPL leaders, especially as they have a tough game at home against Liverpool on Sunday.

Norwich City vs QPR: LIVE from 15:00pm
Russell Martin will continue in central defence for Norwich but the club's injury problems at the back look to be easing.
Central defenders Zak Whitbread and Daniel Ayala came through reserve matches and could be in contention to come off the substitutes' bench in this weekend's Barclays Premier League match against QPR.
Ritchie de Laet is also training again after recovering from a back injury. Striker James Vaughan is still sidelined with a long-term knee injury, as is centre-back Elliott Ward.

QPR captain Joey Barton is suspended for the trip to Carrow Road.
Heidar Helguson is a doubt after playing only a limited part in training because of his eye injury, but Fitz Hall, Jay Bothroyd, Jason Puncheon and Adel Taarabt are back.
Matt Connolly (ankle), Kieron Dyer (foot), DJ Campbell (foot) and Brian Murphy (calf) are definitely out.

1 comment:

  1. unupdated version of blog.
    updated version of blog posting later today... :)

    ReplyDelete