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Premier League Preview - 8-10 March |
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Written by Lee Price
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Sunday, 07 March 2010 20:21 |
as previewed by Jake Svensson
  Monday night’s game will see Wigan take on Liverpool on a re-laid pitch at the DW Stadium. The surface has cut up badly in recent weeks and hampered both teams during last Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Tottenham.
Wigan will be hoping that the new surface will see an upturn in fortunes at home. They have failed to win any of their previous six home games and are in real danger of being relegated, lingering only one point above Hull City in the relegation zone.
Their last home win came over three months ago against Sunderland and Roberto Martinez must realise that this form will have to improve rapidly. Goals have been a particular problem for Martinez’s side after failing to score in any of their last three games.
Only Hull, Portsmouth and Wolves have scored fewer goals in the whole season. Hugo Rodellega has failed to score in his last nine games, a man who Wigan relied so much upon earlier in the season. He will surely be vital to the Latics’ survival if he can chip in with a few more goals to add to his tally of seven.
Liverpool went away 2-1 winners in the reverse fixture at Anfield last December. Benitez’s side are a totally different proposition away from home though.
Their away record is abysmal for Liverpool’s standards with only one win in their previous seven away games in the league, a record that will have to put straight if they are to beat Man City and Tottenham to that final top-four spot.
Daniel Agger faces a battle to regain full fitness for Liverpool's clash with Wigan after leaving Anfield on crutches on Sunday. Rafa Benitez has had continued injury problems in defence this season. Martin Skrtel was only last week ruled out for two months with a broken metatarsal which leaves Benitez with only two fit centre-backs in Jamie Carragher and Sotiris Kyriakos.
Glen Johnson has been out injured since tearing a medial ligament in his knee during the 1-0 win at Villa Park on 29 December but is set to return to training next week. Fabio Aurelio on the other hand, is out with a damaged right thigh muscle, which means he will miss the next three weeks.
The return of key players such as Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun is a huge boost for Liverpool and Benitez will be hoping that both come through unscathed during international week. If Torres in particular is fit to start you would expect them to triumph by a narrow margin and keep the pressure on their top-four rivals until the very last day.
Verdict: Liverpool to maintain recent form and prolong Martinez's misery
Rest of the games:
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Portsmouth v Birmingham. Verdict: Home side's Pomp earns them a point, after a performance with plenty of Hart.
Sunderland v Bolton. Verdict: Sunderland hell-Bent on snaring illusive victory, but made to settle for a point by improving Trotters
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Burnley v Stoke. Verdict: Pulis' climbers leave Burnley with a mountain to climb in their bid for Premiership survival.
For the full previews, please visit www.football-previews.co.uk. |
