English Premiership Gameweek 16: 12 December, 13 December 2009

Stoke City vs. Wigan Athletic
A lot of fuss has been made over the locker room bust up between James Beattie and Stoke manager Tony Pulis last weekend. Funny thing about incidents like this: if the aftermath is handled well – as it has been in this case – the team and star striker actually emerge stronger. Only a brave man will bet against Stoke this weekend. Beattie might not be fit, but you can be damn sure they’ll assess his fitness as late as possible. Wigan have been shocking away from home. Three points for Stoke at the Potteries!
Prediction: 2-0
Saturday 12 December 2009

Kickoff: 14:45 / TV: 14:00 – 16:45 (SuperSport 3 Live HD)

Birmingham City vs. West Ham United
At home, Birmingham are a tough team to beat. They give very, very little away at St Andrews. Most pundits reckon that they should dispatch of West Ham with a single goal. But, I feel that West Ham may just have enough to equalise. Surely manager Gianfranco Zola will have targeted this encounter to at least net his side a point. My gut says draw, but Birmingham should win.
Prediction: 1-1
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 17:00 / TV: 23:00 – 01:00 (SuperSport 7)

Bolton Wanderers vs. Manchester City
Man City will be soaring after last weekend’s win against Chelsea. But if there’s one thing City have demonstrated this season, its their inability to put away games against lesser sides. They also don’t travel particularly well. That said, Mark Hughes’s side will have too much for Bolton – even at the Reebok. The predictions all show Manchester City winning to nil. I think it won’t happen quite that way. But they will take the three points though.
Prediction: 1-3
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 17:00 / TV: 16:55 – 19:00 (SuperSport 5 Live)

Burnley vs. Fulham
Another tough game against a promoted side who have made their home ground a fortress. Burnley are tough to play against at Turf Moor. Fulham travel poorly. Put the two together and you can only see one outcome. No – not a Burnley win – just a draw. These teams will match each other throughout the 90 minutes.
Prediction: 2-2
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 17:00 / TV: 03:00 – 05:00 (SuperSport 3)

Chelsea vs. Everton
It’s not quite a full-blown “crisis”, but commentators are questioning Chelsea’s form over the past three games. They scrapped against Blackburn in the League Cup, eventually succumbing to penalties. The loss against Man City was somewhat significant. And they couldn’t hold on for a win against Apoel Nicosia in Champions League action. There are some injuries in the squad, but a tremendous amount of depth. Everton are dealing with more serious injury woes. At home, I cannot see Everton scoring against Chelsea. Three points. And to nil.
Prediction: 3-0
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 17:00 / TV: 16:45 – 19:00 (SuperSport 3 Live)

Hull City vs. Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn travel exceptionally poorly – almost as bad as Sunderland. Hull at home are decent, and even without Jimmy Bullard will be a handful. Phil Brown will want three points, and he’ll get three points.
Prediction: 1-0
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 17:00 / TV: 16:55 – 19:00 (SuperSport 7 Live)

Sunderland vs. Portsmouth
Sunderland all the way! The Black Cats are a different proposition altogether up in the north-east. Portsmouth are dealing with their own dramas, including more rumours of the club going into administration. Back Steve Bruce’s men.
Prediction: 2-1
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 17:00 / TV: 01:00 – 03:00 (SuperSport 3)

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Spurs need to build on their points tally to avoid missing out on a potential top four spot later on in the season. They tend to swing from the sublime to the ridiculous. Either playing brilliantly, or shockingly. Wolves are good at home, but there are questions about their defence. Tottenham all the way…
Prediction: 4-1
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 17:00 / TV: 19:00 – 20:55 (SuperSport 7)

Manchester United vs. Aston Villa
A big game for United, considering their growing list of injuries. The question, simply: are Aston Villa as good a team as Wolfsburg? Yes. But even Wolfsburg couldn’t win against a makeshift Man Utd side. There are strong feelings either way, but the smart money says: draw.
Prediction: 2-2
Saturday 12 December 2009
Kickoff: 19:30 / TV: 19:00 – 21:30 (SuperSport 3 Live HD)

Liverpool vs. Arsenal
The big game of the weekend. Liverpool are slowly edging back towards a full strength squad. Arsenal, by contrast, are dealing with a good few injuries. The problem with Liverpool, as pointed out by the BBC’s Mark Lawrenson, is that we’ve “got to the point now with Benitez where nobody knows what team he is going to field for any given match or what his plan is for the rest of the season”. Arsenal need to win against the stronger clubs – something they’ve failed to do so far. Arsene Wenger knows this and knows that Liverpool are vulnerable. This is going to be one of the classic encounters. Form suggests Liverpool will win at home. But so far this season, form hasn’t been reliable at all. As a Chelsea fan, I want Liverpool to win, if only to negate the Arsenal threat somewhat. My heart though says Arsenal should take the three points. A draw, however, wouldn’t be the worst result for both teams.
Liverpool vs. Arsenal prediction: 2-3 (but you can really take your pick on this one!)
Sunday 13 December 2009
Kickoff: 18:00 / TV: 17:00 – 19:55 (SuperSport 3 Live HD)

*All times Central African Time.