Manchester United vs. Fulham: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Darren Plant

Manchester United host Fulham on Sunday hoping to keep pace with their rivals in the race for a top-four position in the Premier League table.

With Tottenham Hotspur facing Everton in the other league fixture on Sunday, David Moyes's outfit can cut the gap with three points against Fulham.

Defender Nemanja Vidic is available after suspension, while Phil Jones could feature after recovering from concussion.

Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen needs a positive result at Old Trafford to ensure that his team don't lose touch with the rest of the pack at the bottom of the standings.

Meulensteen, who has previously been a part of the backroom staff at United, has won just four of his 15 matches in charge at Craven Cottage, and a 10th defeat could see him come under pressure from the club's owner.

Johnny Heitinga and Kostas Mitroglou, who joined Fulham just before the closure of the January transfer window, are likely to feature in the starting lineup.

Recent form

Manchester United: LWLWWL

Fulham: WLDLLL

Possible starting lineups

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Evra, Smalling, Vidic; Carrick, Januzaj, Mata, Cleverley; Van Persie, Rooney

Fulham: Stekelenburg; Riether, Richardson, Hangeland, Heitinga; Kvist, Parker, Sidwell, Holtby, Duff; Mitroglou

Sports Mole says: 4-1

Source:- http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/preview/preview-man-united-vs-fulham_135926.html

Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Thomas Cooper

Tottenham Hotspur's 0-0 draw with Everton in early November came before the thrashings the team would suffer over the next couple of months.

Including that game, the only loss Tottenham had suffered against a top-four rival to that point was to Arsenal back in September. A tie with Chelsea could have gone either way, and the Goodison Park stalemate was there for Spurs' taking in a first half they dominated.

If the North London club's hopes of genuinely competing with their fellow Champions League chasers were very much alive then, they have subsequently diminished amid the harsh realities of a Premier League winter.

Everton this weekend presents Spurs with a chance to reaffirm their candidacy to be in the highest echelon of the division. A win would not only help keep them well within reach of Liverpool in fourth, it would serve to strengthen confidence further undermined by the recent hammering at the hands of Manchester City.

Last weekend's 1-1 draw with Hull City reiterated the need to do well against teams throughout the division, a task sixth-place Spurs have largely handled well. It is these battles with the best, however, that are definitively looking like deciding their destiny come the end of 2013-14.

The Toffees have fared slightly better in this regard. Roberto Martinez's team beat Chelsea 1-0 and, like Spurs, also beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. Their nine draws (the most of any club in the top 10) have shown they too are some way off the table-topping standards currently being set by Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Looking back on the previous meeting between Sunday's opponents at the Spurs' official website, Christian Eriksen said:

Last time we started really well and I think in the first half we should have been in front.

Then they got into the game but we still had our chances, especially in the first half when we played really good. So I think there are possibilities this time to make our chances count.

Plenty has gone on since then, of course, but Spurs should take from that match a belief they are capable of beating Everton. Tim Sherwood is certainly stressing as much, telling the club's official Twitter page:

Source:- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1950623-premier-league-how-tottenham-hotspur-will-line-up-against-everton

Norwich City vs. Manchester City: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Joe Fish

Norwich City will have to be wary of a Manchester City response when they welcome the Premier League favourites to Carrow Road on Saturday.

The Citizens were undone by a Jose Mourinho tactical masterclass earlier this week, as Chelsea inflicted on them a first home defeat of the season, and ended their 20-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Norwich know first hand, though, how dangerous Manuel Pellegrini's men can be, having been on the end of a 7-0 thumping at Eastlands in November, and it may be a case of Chelsea having angered the beast.

However, City are without several key names, with none of Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho or Samir Nasri expected to feature again this month. Javi Garcia could be back in contention to start in East Anglia, but, if not, centre-back Martin Demichelis is likely to continue to deputise in a holding midfield role.

Stevan Jovetic, a £22m arrival from Fiorentina in the summer, has made substitute appearances in City's last four matches, but Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko will probably be paired together up front again.

Canaries boss Chris Hughton persisted with two strikers in the loss to Cardiff City last weekend, although it was Johan Elmander and not record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel who partnered Gary Hooper.

Hooper may go it alone against City, though, if Hughton chooses to reinforce his midfield with an extra body. Dutch international Leroy Fer could be restored in the centre of the park, while Nathan Redmond's pace on the counter attack is an option that may be considered ahead of Jonas Gutierrez.

City are currently two points adrift of league leaders Arsenal at the top of the table, while Norwich are the same distance away from the relegation zone and currently occupy 15th position.

Recent form

Norwich: LDWLLD

Man City: LWWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Norwich: Ruddy; Martin, Bassong, Bennett, Olsson; Redmond, Tettey, Fer, Johnson, Snodgrass; Hooper

Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Navas, Toure, Garcia, Silva; Negredo, Dzeko

Sports Mole says: 1-3

Source:- http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/norwich-city/preview/preview-norwich-vs-man-city_135702.html

Crystal Palace v West Brom: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Chris Lepkowski

Albion's James Morrison fends off Man City's Fernandinho
James Morrison should be fit to play at Palace after missing last Sunday’s draw with Liverpool with a tight calf, more as a precaution than anything else.

Albion have a poor record against Tony Pulis’ sides but they have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks.

For all the horrors of their defending at Villa Park, Albion attacked well.

The same for last Sunday’s televised game against the Reds at The Hawthorns.

Ben Foster will continue in goal for the visitors.

Claudio Yacob and Youssouf Mulumbu can expect to keep their places, with Morrison set to feature somewhere at Selhurst Park – probably at the expense of either Saido Berahino or Matej Vydra.

And Thievy Boufima could make his debut for the club. Mel plans to name him on the bench.

Craig Dawson will replace Jonas Olsson.

The head always said Dawson but you got the feeling Diego Lugano would get the nod to replace the Swede, whose hamstring injury is expected to keep him out for another week at least.

Lugano played reasonably well when he came on for Olsson in last weekend’s game with Liverpool but Crystal Palace’s strengths call for different qualities – hence why Dawson gets the nod.

Source:- http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/crystal-palace-v-west-brom-6682306

Sunderland v Hull City: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Ashley Houghton

Sunderland will look to extend their Barclays Premier League winning run to three when they welcome Hull City to the Stadium of Light.
The Tigers, managed by former Black Cats boss Steve Bruce, have never won at the Stadium of Light and tend to struggle against the Wearsiders, with Sunderland winning six of the last seven meetings between the two sides.
2014 has been kind to the Black Cats, with Gus Poyet’s side picking up more points than any other Barclays Premier League side outside the top four (10).
In contrast, Bruce’s Hull have struggled to build on their excellent start to the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League campaign with the Humberside outfit the only top-flight side yet to win in the calendar year having scored just once in their opening five league games in 2014.
Sunderland head coach Poyet, who scored the only hat-trick of his career in English football against the Tigers in a 6-1 FA Cup victory with Chelsea at Boothferry Park back in 1999, has mirrored the start of former manager Martin O’Neill in his opening 23 games in charge with 12 wins, five draws and six defeats under his tenure.
Only four players remain from the last time the two clubs met on Wearside in 2009 with Lee Cattermole, Phil Bardsley and Paul McShane continuing with their respective clubs whilst then Hull striker Jozy Altidore is currently in his first season on Wearside.
Liam Bridcutt, who made his Black Cats debut in last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle United, could make his first appearance at the Stadium of Light whilst Ignacio Scocco could make his Sunderland debut.
Keiren Westwood remains Gus Poyet’s only long-term absentee whilst Hull will be without James Chester, though Joe Dudgeon and Sone Aluko are close to a return from their respective injuries.
Saturday’s match will be the 36th meeting between the two sides in all competitions with the Black Cats succeeding on 19 occasions compared to the Tigers’ 11 wins whilst there have also been five draws.
Sunderland could potentially move into the top half with a win, should other results go in their favour, with 13th-placed Hull also looking to move into the top ten with three points.
Tickets are still available for the clash, starting at £25 for adults, £19 for over-65s and just £10 for under-16s.
As well as buying at the ticket office, supporters can also get their hands on tickets 24 hours a day either via the online box office or by calling 0871 911 1973.
Fans can also print their match tickets at home at no additional cost.
WIN A VIP MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE
Anyone purchasing a match ticket for the Hull game will be entered in to a draw to win VIP hospitality for 10 people at the next Barclays Premier League game at the Stadium of Light.

Source:- http://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2014/february/preview-sunderland-v-hull

Southampton vs. Stoke City: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Joe Fish

When Southampton and Stoke City met earlier in the season, Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic scored from his own area within 13 seconds of the kickoff.

After one of the most bizarre starts to a game in Premier League history, the Saints came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in a very blustery Staffordshire.

Only two clubs have tasted top-flight victories at the Britannia Stadium this season, but Southampton are beginning to rediscover the form that took the division by storm at the start of the campaign.

A convincing 3-0 win at Fulham last weekend marked a sixth game without defeat for Mauricio Pochettino's side, a run during which they have found the net 15 times through eight different goalscorers.

However, Stoke will also be full of confidence following their Charlie Adam-inspired 2-1 success over Manchester United last Saturday, a result which ended a four-match losing run in all competitions.

Marko Arnautovic and Jonathan Walters are expected to shake off injuries to maintain their places in the Stoke starting XI, but Oussama Assaidi is on standby should either of them fail to recover from knocks.

Steven N'Zonzi is back from suspension and may replace Glenn Whelan in the centre of midfield.

Robert Huth, Andy Wilkinson and Matthew Etherington will definitely miss out, though, while January signings Stephen Ireland and John Guidetti will both likely have to make do with places on the bench.

Southampton's Victor Wanyama eased his way back to fitness with 45 minutes against Fulham and he again could start at St Mary's Stadium despite Jack Cork impressing in his two-month absence.

Another Saint in form is Adam Lallana, who has scored four goals in his last five games. Pochettino does not have the option of playing Gaston Ramirez alongside his skipper in midfield, with the Uruguayan, and centre-back Dejan Lovren, both sidelined with ankle ligament problems.

Nathaniel Clyne may be restored at right-back if Calum Chambers fails a fitness test on his thigh strain.

Recent form

Southampton: WDWDWW

Stoke: WLLLLW

Possible starting lineups

Southampton: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Davis; Rodriguez, Lallana, Lambert

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Wilson, Shawcross, Pieters; Arnautovic, Adam, N'Zonzi, Walters; Odemwingie, Crouch

Sports Mole says: 2-0

Source:- http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/southampton/preview/preview-southampton-vs-stoke_135676.html

Chelsea vs Newcastle United: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Kevin Stott

Who: Chelsea FC vs. Newcastle United FC
What: English Premier League Week 25
Where: Stamford Bridge, West London, England
When: Saturday February 8, 2014
Weather: The Weather Channel forecast Stamford Bridge
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT
TV: NBC Sports Live Extra, USA Network, Mun2 (U.S.)
Worldwide Live Streams and TV Channels: LiveSoccerTV.com
Radio: SiriusXM FC, talkSPORT Radio
Referee: Howard Webb

3-Way Odds: Chelsea -450, Newcastle United +1200, Draw +540
Total: Over 2½ -145, Under 2½ +120
Decimal Odds: Chelsea 1.22, Newcastle United 13.00, Draw 6.30
Decimal Total: Over 2½ 1.59, Under 2½ 2.20
Fractional Odds: Chelsea 2/9, Newcastle United 12/1, Draw 53/10
Fractional Total: Over 2½ 20/29, Under 2½ 6/5
Alternate Odds: Chelsea -1 -285, Newcastle United +1 +225
Over 3½ +180, Under 3½ -220
First Half: Chelsea -155, Newcastle United +850, Draw +165
Odds to Win Premier League: Chelsea 7/4
Source: Bovada (Kahnawake, Canada)

3-Way Odds: Chelsea -450, Newcastle United +1300, Draw +400
Total: Over 3 +120, Under 3 -140
Source: LVH SuperBook (Las Vegas, Nevada USA)


After beating Manchester City on Monday at the Etihad Stadium, Chelsea expectations suddenly intensified for this season no matter how coy wily Blues manager Jose Mourinho tries to dismiss the present situation with cryptic talk of "horses and milk," as quoted by BBC Sport's Phil McNulty.

And it wasn’t necessarily just the reality of being the first team to beat the Sky Blues on their own soil or become the first to hold them scoreless at the Etihad this season but more so the realization that the team may have shored up a real need in defensive midfield with the acquisition of Nemanja Matic—as was born out with his superb play against the almost-always-brilliant Yaya Toure.

Toss in a friendly reminder that a defender (Branislav Ivanovic) can always be the hero and come up with the game-winning goal and, quite simply, that Chelsea was finally playing and clicking both offensively and defensively as a team, and you can see why Blues fans are now about as giddy as Toronto mayor Rob Ford at Hershey's Chocolate World during “Chocolate-Covered February.”

Oh, the imagery. There will be thud.

But enough giddiness for Pablo Picasso to possibly start another Blue Period in Heaven? Not so fast, mi hermano. Why Punxsutawney Phil just went back in his hole and it’s not even Valentine’s Day yet, so I’d suggest you quickly slow your little roll there and concentrate on the Blues winning the matches their supposed to win before uttering the phrases “English Premier League champions” or “UEFA Champions League final."

And no silverware is won with three-and-a-half-feet of bleeding snow on the ground anyway. Anywhere. Please don’t overdose on bliss now, Dappy. Santa Claus just arrived home at the North Pole, for God’s sake. We have work to do here. Buckle up.

On Saturday, Chelsea will be playing in one of those matches it will be expected to win from this point on—because of the City win—by management, Mourinho, fans and the players themselves when it welcomes a limping Newcastle United to West London for some tea and a possible swift kick or five in the old shins. Sport.

In their last game on Saturday, Alan Pardew and the eighth-place Magpies were embarrassed by rivals Sunderland as the Black Cats snatched a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park in the Tyne-Wear derby, marking the first time since 1923 that Sunderland has defeated Newcastle three straight times. Woe is thee.

Source:- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1951688-chelsea-vs-newcastle-united-english-premier-league-odds-preview-and-prediction