BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKEND PREVIEW!!

Birmingham City vs Everton

It’s been a difficult week for Birmingham City after managing director Karren Brady and co-owner David Sullivan were questioned by police on charges of alleged corruption. City fans will hope that the turmoil taking place behind the scenes doesn’t affect the team’s performance on Saturday, as Birmingham will have to be at their best to challenge the fourth-placed Toffees. Hopes will be buoyed by the return to fitness of midfielder Oliver Kapo from a hamstring injury and key defender Liam Ridgewell from a two-game suspension. Striker James McFadden is doubtful as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

Everton have some big injury worries coming into the match, with Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar and Tony Hibbert all major doubts for Saturday’s game. Manager David Moyes is still confident that his remaining players can get all three points, commenting “They have been terrific for us all season, so I see no reason why that will change now.” A win for Everton would see them equal on points with Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who face Blackburn at Anfield on Sunday.

Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham United

These are desperate times for Bolton, sitting third from bottom; they need to make the most of their remaining games to stand any chance of avoiding the drop. The task on Saturday will not be made any easier with the absence of keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and midfielder Ricardo Gardener. Defender Nicky Hunt is also unlikely to feature as he is still struggling after dislocating his shoulder is the game against Arsenal. Kevin Nolan is available again after a two-match ban, but has been troubled by a back injury as of late.

West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley has recently said that his side has not lived up to expectations this season. Curbishley will be looking to put things right on Saturday against a struggling Bolton side and the return of defender Matthew Upson from injury should help the side’s chances. Striker Bobby Zamora returned for the defeat at Portsmouth last week and should be returning to match fitness. Midfielder Mark Noble did not feature in the Portsmouth match due to a hamstring injury and is doubtful again this weekend.

Derby County vs Aston Villa

Derby County’s dismal season has seen them pick up only 11 points so far and adding to that total does not look likely this weekend, with some key injury concerns before the upcoming match against Aston Villa on Saturday. Midfielders Mile Sterjovski and Robbie Savage are both highly unlikely to feature, while defender Dean Leacock and striker Tito Villa are likely out with a hamstring and groin problem respectively.

Aston Villa will be hoping to grab all three points this weekend and remain ahead of Blackburn in the race for the final European slot. The team has few new injury worries, although the ruptured Achilles tendon sustained by defender Curtis Davies during the team’s draw with Arsenal will see him ruled out for seven months. Midfielder Craig Gardener is doubtful after straining a thigh while on England Under-21 duty.

Tottenham vs Middlesbrough

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has recently said he is loving life at White Hart Lane and he’ll hope to turn that contentment into goals this weekend as he marks his 250th appearance for the club in the Saturday clash with Middlesbrough. However, some key injuries may make life difficult for Spurs. Goalkeeper Paul Robinson is on the sidelines with an ankle injury, along with England Under-21 international Jamie O’Hara who has a bruised foot. Ledley King, Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are all unavailable for the rest of the season due to injuries.

Middlesbrough need to find points from their last five games in order to guarantee safety from the drop. There are quite a few injury woes for Boro though. Striker Mido is possibly out for the season after a hernia operation, Robert Huth may miss out due to an injured foot while defenders Matthew Bates and Seb Hines are both out for the rest of the season. Keeper Brad Jones will also likely miss out after dislocating a finger in March.

Reading vs Fulham

Reading sit only six points clear of the relegation zone, and need three points on the weekend to ensure they maintain that gap. Reading may have some issues in the centre of the park come Saturday though, as midfielders Brynjar Gunnarsson, Jimmy Kebe, Glen Little and Oliver Bozanic are all out, Bozanic for the rest of the season with glandular fever.

Fulham’s chances of survival are looking less and less likely with each poor result and if they want to stand any chance of avoiding the drop they need to grab points against relegation rivals like Reading. The Cottagers are largely injury-free, but they will nevertheless face a tough task improving this season’s dire away form this weekend.

Sunderland vs Manchester City

Last week’s 3-1 victory away at Craven Cottage lifted the Black Cats ten points clear of the relegation zone and looking more or less safe from the drop. Manager Roy Keane will be hoping his side can increase that cushion further with a victory over visiting Manchester City this weekend. Midfielder Dwight Yorke missed the trip to Fulham last week with a damaged knee, but should be fit again this week. Dickson Etuhu also missed last weeks match with a knee injury and may be unavailable again this weekend.

There has been much talk over the past week about the possibility of Brazilian Ronaldinho joining the club, but Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is focused on the upcoming clash with Sunderland and the ongoing battle with Aston Villa and Blackburn for the final European berth. He will have to do so without defender Nedum Onuoha who dislocated his shoulder in the match against Chelsea and is out for the rest of the season. Fellow defender Micah Richards is also doubtful as he is still recovering from knee surgery.

Portsmouth vs Newcastle

Portsmouth’s progression to the FA Cup final may still be the talk of the town, but manager Harry Redknapp still has to focus on the last five Premier League matches, especially as he has said he wants to take Pompey to fifth place in the league. The return from injury of striker David Nugent against West Ham means he is gaining match fitness and available for this weekend. Jermain Defoe is also available again after missing last week’s match due to his grandmother’s funeral. Milan Baros and John Utaka both missed out last week due to injury and will both be potentially absent again.

Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United have been on a good run of form recently with three straight wins and they’ll need to keep it up to avoid a record-low point’s return of less then 43 points this season. Defender Claudio Cacapa is potentially out for the rest of the season after suffering a groin strain. Emre will also likely miss out after sustaining a calf injury in a match for the reserves. United will be buoyed by the return to fitness of midfielder Charles N’Zogbia from a knee injury and defender Stephen Carr from a hamstring problem; although it is doubtful either will be in the starting line-up come Saturday.

Liverpool vs Blackburn

After a thrilling victory mid-week over Arsenal that saw the Reds advance to the Champions League semi-finals, Liverpool will be looking to keep ahead of Merseyside rivals Everton in the race for fourth place and the final Champion’s League spot for next season. Manager Rafael Benitez will have to make do without midfielder Javier Mascherano, due to his three match suspension and will also be unable to play Jermaine Pennant, who missed the mid-week clash with Arsenal, as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Long-term absentees Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell are also unavailable due to injury.

Blackburn also has Europe on their minds, as they are locked in a tight battle with Aston Villa over the seventh and final European spot. Manager Mark Hughes will hope to stage an upset at Anfield on Sunday, despite Blackburn’s average recent form. Defenders Brett Emerton and Christopher Samba both returned to Blackburn’s squad last time out against Tottenham, and will be returning to full match fitness for the crucial match.

Manchester United vs Arsenal

Manchester United joined fellow English sides Liverpool and Chelsea by making it to the Champions League semi-finals with a 1-0 home victory over Roma, making it a record 11 home wins in a row in the competition for the Red Devils. United are focused on winning the league title as well though and a victory this week over Arsenal would greatly help their chances, as well as effectively end Arsenal’s. Man United will feel confident following the return to action of veteran defenders Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre after long periods of absence due to injury. The return of Neville and Silvestre should help ease fears over United’s back line, even though Nemanja Vidic will still be absent on Sunday.

Arsenal have seen their season’s hopes all but fade recently, and with the mid-week Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool, winning the Premiership is now their only chance for silverware this season. That already looks to be an exceptionally difficult task, but a loss at Old Trafford this weekend would make it all but impossible. Manager Arsene Wenger has suffered two major injury blows with Mathieu Flamini and Barcary Sagna both ruled out for this crucial fixture. Wenger will find some consolation in the availability of Robin van Persie though, who has overcome a thigh complaint.