Monday Morning Premier League Analysis - 10/03/08

Blackburn 1 Fulham 1

Tugay replaced Emerton in midfield with Dunn only good enough for the bench. McCarthy and Tugay were replaced before the hour mark by Derbyshire and Roberts as Mark Hughes tried to end Blackburn’s barren spell in front of goal. Apart from the Bolton game (4-1) they have scored just four in six. Stick with Santa though as their next three fixtures (West Ham, Wigan and Reading) offer potential.

It’s all about Jimmy Bullard for Fulham. Two goals and a KC in six starts is a great return from injury and they have Newcastle, Derby, Sunderland and Reading coming up. Keller was preferred in goal to Niemi and Johnson got the nod up front instead of McBride.

Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0

Babel and Kuyt were rested for Benayoun and Pennant. Skrtel seems to have jumped ahead of big Sami in the pecking order. Arbeloa and Riise were the full backs. Rafa has said twice now that with only two competitions to go for rotation will be reduced. Torres has scored seven in the last four Premier League games.

N’Zogbia came in for Barton who couldn’t play due to his bail conditions. Carr, Emre and Viduka are all still sidelined. Milner sustained a foot injury and was subbed before half time. Tricky times for the Toon with crucial games against Birmingham, Fulham and Reading coming up.

Reading 2 Manchester City 0

Reading were unchanged and their second win in a row lifted them to 13th in the table. Kitson again had to settle for a place on the bench but he did come on to score a late goal. It’s Liverpool away next followed by three winnable home games out of four. Doyle and Hunt should have a few points left in them this season.

Petrov was serving the last game of his suspension and they haven’t managed a single goal without him. Richards and Onuoha were both injured and Dunne limped off. Garrido started with Corluka moving to right back. Hamann started ahead of Ireland. Just one win in eight now and with mounting defensive injuries they look fragile.

Sunderland 0 Everton 1

Stokes and Leadbitter came in for Chopra and Reid. No goals in nine for Jones and only two in seven for Sunderland. A run of three straight clean sheets was brought to an end here.

4 4 2 for Moyes with Arteta coming in for Carsley (suspended) and Johnson starting with Yakubu. It’s just two goals conceded in nine Premier League games now as they look set to push Liverpool all the way for fourth place. Jagielka, Lescott, Cahill, Pienaar and Yakubu are all becoming increasingly popular picks.

Tottenham 4 West Ham 0

Jenas missed out with a twisted ankle and was replaced by Huddlestone. Dawson came in for King and Hutton played after being ineligible for the UEFA Cup. It was Keane and Berbatov up front with Bent coming on to grab a late goal. They place twice next week so Hutton and Berbatov should be on a few shopping lists.

The Hammers were without Upson so Spector came in to partner Ferdinand. Curbishley went 4-4-2 with Zamora and Ashton in attack. Cole was benched as was Solano. Parker made an early return from injury in the midfield with Noble dropping to the bench. Woeful form - three 4-0’s on the bounce! Boa Morte will serve a one match suspension for his two yellow’s.

Wigan 0 Arsenal 0

Wigan were unchaged with Kilbane and Taylor having to settle for places on the bench. Great defensively with four clean sheets in five but lousy up front with just three goals in five. Heskey is having an X Ray on a foot injury today - Sibierski is his likely replacement.

Bendtner started with Gilberto coming in for Diaby. Van Persie and Toure came on as Arsenal chased the three points. Third straight draw for the Gunners who have Middlesbrough at home next but then must play Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd in the space of four weeks - talk about make or break.

There are three fixtures on Wednesday night - Aston Villa v Middlesbrough, Chelsea v Derby and Portsmouth v Birmingham.

Bolton, Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham all play twice next week.

Cheers,

Tom

Tags (click to view more!): Mark Hughes, Jimmy Bullard, Torres, Liverpool, Moyes, Berbatov, Chelsea, Man Utd, Tottenham