Barclays Premier League Preview

This weekends EPL action starts off with a thriller between two equally matched clubs, as Everton take on the Blackburn Rovers at Ewood park, in a game that will have massive repercussions for either club come the end of season when qualifying for Europe is the minimum expected for both.

This will be a crunch match for Blackburn, effectively a "6 point" match for the Rovers as if they leave their home ground without any points, their dreams of playing in Europe next season will be almost impossible to achieve, already five points off the pack of clubs vying for UEFA qualification. They have little injury concerns, with only defender Ryan Nelson in any doubt for the vital clash In attack they will rely on the lanky Roque Santa Cruz, who In his English Premier League debut season has broken the expectations of many, contributing eleven goals while he will be partnered up-front by the lightening fast Matt Derbyshire who has impressed since making the leap from the substitutes bench to first team football. They will be hoping to break Everton's dominance over the last three seasons, as the Rovers have not beaten the Toffee's in their last six attempts.

Everton will see this as an opportunity to seize a sizeable grasp on fourth place but Blackburn will provide them with opposition willing to fight to the end. On paper the Toffee's would appear to be crippled with a host of stars injured and away at the Cup of Nations, but their depth has shone through with flying colors as Everton has rarely missed a beat in their absence. Leo Osman and Tim Cahill will be given late tests to prove their fitness, while Steven Pienaar is not back from International duty to take his place in the side. Andy Johnson has performed admirably up front in Yakubu's absence at the African Cup of Nations, providing a workhorse all over the pitch and wearing many centre halves out with his aggressive running.

Both teams have players of immense talent and skill and both teams are in a rich vein of form. I think this match will suffer the same affliction as the last two that Blackburn have participated in and fade out into a draw. This option is a juicy one for punters, with the draw available at PartyBets for an astounding $3.20

The other clear value of the round involves high-flying Aston Villa taking on the relegation bound Fulham at Craven Cottage, a match that will not be noted for its beauty or finesse but one that will be played with the utmost of spirit.

Aston Villa are playing some of the most effective football in the premier league, as they have not been beaten in over eight weeks and look to try and consolidate a European spot against a flailing Fulham side. They will have to do so without their star winger Ashley Young, who is suspended for the first time this season, while former Tottenham wild child Wayne Routledge could take his place in the side. Villa will take heart from the fact that Fulham has failed in its last nine attempts to beat them in the premier league. They have a multitude of options in attack, with Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew and Martin Laursen combining for the mainstay of Villa's Premier League attack.

Fulham start this match running out of time to escape from relegation, but even if they succeed in winning this match then they will be stuck in the bottom two of the Premier League. They have recruited extensively to try and avoid the drop, but of their new signings only Erik Nevland has any chance to debut for the Cottagers. Eddie Lewis will struggle with jet lag; Paul Stalteri has a dead leg and Jari Litmanen is lacking match practice. The Cottagers are in dire form, without a victory in their last fourteen appearances and will be desperate for a last gasp win to try and secure safety for the rest of the season. They will be relying heavily on the expertise of Clint Dempsey in attack combined with the youthful exuberance of David Healy to steal a result, with the duo combining for the majority of Fulhams goals.

Fulham will fight desperately, but Aston Villa are on a completely different level of skill to the Cottagers and it will show. An Aston Villa victory is paying $2.25 at PartyBets

• 
• 
• Email to a friend
• Print