EPL Predictions - Week 15

Arsenal (away vs. Bolton)
Starting XI: (4-5-1) Lehmann - Clichy, Toure, Eboue, Senderos - Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Ljungberg, Gilberto Silva - Adebayor
Subs: Almunia, Djourou, Song, Hoyte, Aliadiere, Walcott, Baptista
Injured: Lauren, Diaby, Gallas, Henry, Rosicky.
Suspended: Van Persie (1 of 1)

Team News: Wenger will be unable to call upon the skills of either Henry or Van Persie this weekend, as the Frenchman is struggling with a neck injury and the Dutchman is suspended for picking up five yellows. Thus, Adebayor will lead the attack on his own. Wenger has stated that Henry’s injury is a “short-term” one so he should “return to lead the line against Fulham on Wednesday”. Walcott made an excellent impression against Hamburg in midweek and is in contention for a start but with Arsenal not claiming a victory in the last four years at the Reebok, Wenger maybe inclined to continue with Flamini in midfield, with the Frenchman having started the last four games in a row. Gallas is still sidelined so Senderos should continue to deputise in his place, while Rosicky is still making good progress.
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Aston Villa (home vs. Middlesbrough)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Sorensen – Bouma, Mellberg, Hughes, Ridgewell - Barry, McCann, Petrov, Agbonlahor - Sutton, Angel.
Subs: Taylor, Gardner, Djemba-Djemba, Cahill, Whittingham, Samuel, Agathe, Baros, Osbourne, S. Davis.
Injured: Delaney, Moore, Laursen.
Suspended: None

Team News: O’Neill is sweating on the fitness of Sutton after the striker hurt his calf in training. Baros is on standby to step in after an impressive display in the reserves against Tottenham this week. Hughes has returned from injury unscathed and he is set to resume at right-back with Mellberg returning to centre-back. Midfielder McCann returns from a one-match suspension.
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Blackburn

No fixture this weekend.

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Bolton (home vs. Arsenal)
Starting XI: (4-3-3) Jaaskelainen - Hunt, Ben Haim, Meite, Q. Fortune – Campo, Nolan, Speed - Davies, Diouf, Anelka
Subs: Walker, Tal, Fojut, Pedersen, O'Brien, Abdoulaye Faye, Sissons, Smith, Wolfe, Vaz Te, Stelios.
Injured: Gardner.
Suspended: None.

Team News: Nolan returns to the squad after missing last weeks game due to the birth of his first child, Idan Tal will most likely be dropped as a consequence. Quinton Fortune is also a contender to be recalled to the side after missing most of the season through injury. The South African started the season as Bolton’s first choice left-back and should continue now that he is fit again.
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Charlton (home vs. Everton)
Starting XI: (4-5-1) Carson - Young, Diawara, Hreidarsson, D. Traore - Holland, A. Reid, Rommedahl, A Faye, Thomas - D. Bent
Subs: Myhre, Sam, Ashton, Pouso, Hughes, Fortune, El Karkouri, Kishishev, Gibbs, Walker, Sorondo, Ambrose, M Bent.
Injured: Lisbie, Hasselbaink
Suspended: None

Team News: Charlton are still without striker Hasselbaink, but there is some good news ahead of the visit of Everton, as Traore is available after coming through 90 minutes of a midweek reserve game. Traore will step in at left-back with Hreidarsson returning to his preferred centre-back position for the first time in a while. Diawara is still touch and go with an injury so El Kakouri is on standby to fill in. In midfield Faye returns to bolster the side after sitting out last weeks game against Reading due to a suspension. Rommedahl is also a doubt.
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Chelsea (away vs. Man Utd)
Starting XI: (4-1-3-2) Cudicini - Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, A. Cole – Makelele – Lampard, Essien, Ballack - Shevchenko, Drogba.
Subs: Hilario, Hedman, Diarra, Bridge, Ferreira, Robben, Mancienne, Boulahrouz, Mikel, Wright-Phillips, Kalou, J. Cole
Injured: Cech
Suspended: None

Team News: Chelsea are boosted by the news that first-choice centre-back Carvalho will be available for this weekend’s big clash after recovering from an injury. Ballack and Drogba, who picked up knocks in the midweek Champions League game, are also expected to play through the pain barrier. The key to this fixture lies in the full-back positions. In the past few weeks both teams have relied, more often than not, on the performances of their full-back's.
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Everton (away vs. Charlton)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Howard – Stubbs, Lescott, Yobo, Valente - P. Neville, Carsley, Arteta, Osman, - Beattie, Johnson.
Subs: Turner, Anichebe, Weir, Vaughan, ,van der Meyde, Vidarsson, Hughes, Wright, McFadden, Davies.
Injured: Pistone, Naysmith, Hibbert, Boyle, Cahill
Suspended: None

Team News: The Everton team should remain unchanged after their 1-0 victory over Bolton last week.
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Fulham (home vs. Reading)
Starting XI: (4-5-1) Niemi - Queudrue, Knight, Pearce, Rosenior – Radzinski, C. Jensen, M. Brown, Diop, Boa Morte - McBride
Subs: Crossley, N. Jensen, Volz, Zakuani, Timlin, Runstrom, Bocanegra, John, Milsom, Routledge, Helguson, Christanval, Pembridge.
Injured: Bullard, Elliott, Elrich.
Suspended: None

Team News: Michael Brown is set to return to the side after being on the sidelines with an injury for the past few weeks. Coleman believes that Brown will love the fast paced game that could be played out against Reading. The Fulham manager will continue to play McBride as the front man, even though John managed to find the back of the net last week. Radzinski should return to the squad after being rested, while Diop is a slight doubt after a reoccurring injury problem.
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Liverpool (home vs. Man City)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Reina - Finnan, AGGER, Carragher, Riise - Gerrard, Garcia, Zenden, Pennant – Kuyt, Crouch Correction Agger to replace Hyypia (10:41am)
Subs: Dudek, Warnock, Hyypia, Aurelio, Paletta, Fowler, Bellamy, Guthrie, Nabil, Peltier, Hamill.
Injured: Kewell, Sissoko, Gonzalez, Alonso
Suspended: None

Team News: Benitez has a selection nightmare ahead of the visit of Man City, as Alonso and Gonzalez are ruled out, while Pennant is also struggling to be fit. Garcia should get one of the free spots with Zenden starting in midfield. If Pennant doesn’t make it there could be a starting spot for one of the Liverpool youngsters or Bellamy, who has the pace to play on the wing.
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Man City (away vs. Liverpool)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Weaver - Richards, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher - Vassell, Reyna, Barton, Trabelsi, - Corradi, Samaras
Subs: Hart, Ireland, Jordan, Onuoha, Mills, Johnson, Hamann, Miller, Dickov.
Injured: Isaksson, Sun Jihai, Dabo, Beasley, Sinclair.
Suspended: None

Team News: Pearce should retain the same side that thrashed Fulham last week with Barton coming face to face with life long friend and nemesis Gerrard. Barton has always wilted in the presence of Gerrard in the past and the City player will have to shrug off his demons in order to progress his career at Liverpool today. Barton could flop or this could the match which instigates an England call-up.
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Man Utd (home vs. Chelsea)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Van der Sar - R. Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, G. Neville - Giggs, Carrick, Ronaldo, Scholes - Saha, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, W. Brown, Heinze, Richardson, Silvestre, Fletcher, Smith, O’Shea.
Injured: Park, Solskjaer.
Suspended: None

Team News: Fergie has a virtually full-strength squad to choose from ahead of Sunday’s clash with Chelsea. Ferdinand picked up a foot injury during the European Cup defeat to Celtic but has been passed fit. Evra could be recalled in place of the rusty Heinze, who looked short of match practice against Celtic in midweek.
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Middlesbrough (away vs. Aston Villa)
Starting XI: (4-5-1) Schwarzer – Davies, Taylor, Pogatetz, Woodgate – Morrison, Rochemback, Arca, Boateng, Cattermole – Yakubu.
Subs: Turnbull, Bates, Xavier, Mendieta, Huth, Johnson, Downing, Maccarone, Graham, J. Euell.
Injured: Ehiogu, Riggott, Parlour, Viduka, Christie, Craddock, Parnaby, McMahon.
Suspended: None

Team News: Downing has been rated as a 50-50 chance ahead of the trip to Aston Villa. The England winger is still recovering from a groin injury that kept him out of last weekend’s game with Liverpool. Julio Arca should continue to deputise in his absence.
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Newcastle (home vs. Portsmouth)
Starting XI: (4-4-1-1) Given – Taylor, Ramage, Bramble, Carr – N’Zogbia, Parker, Solano, Emre – Dyer - Martins
Subs: Srnicek, Carroll, Huntington, O’Brien, Milner, Luque, Sibierski, Butt, Rossi.
Injured: Owen, Krul, Moore, Ameobi, Harper, Bernard, Duff, Babayaro.
Suspended: Emre

Team News: Dyer and Martins should return to the Newcastle side after being rested during the 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Thursday. Carr could return from injury for this game but he is still a doubt and Solano is poised to carry on at right-back if needed.
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Porstmouth (away vs. Newcastle)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) James – Pamarot, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, - Krancjar, Mendes, Davis, O’Neill – LuaLua, Kanu
Subs: Ashdown, Jordan, Douala, Thompson, Fernandes, Hughes, O’Brien, Koroman, Benjani
Injured: Johnson, Taylor, Cole.
Suspended: None

Team News: Stefanovic is in serious need of an operation but with Taylor sidelined the Pompey captain will have painkilling injections to play against Newcastle. O’Neill has recovered from a dead leg but Cole and Johnson are absent this week.
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Reading (away vs. Fulham)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Hahnemann – Murty, Sonko, Ingmarrson, Shorey – Little, Harper, Sidwell, Hunt – Doyle, Seol
Subs: Stack, De la Cruz, Sodje, Oster, Gunnarsson, Lita, Osano, Cox.
Injured: Brown, Kitson, Mate, Convey, Halls.
Suspended: None

Team News: Reading remain unchanged from last week.
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Sheffield Utd (away vs.West Ham)
Starting XI: (4-5-1) Kenny - Geary, Davis, Jagielka, Kozluk – Gillespie, Law, Leigertwood, A. Quinn, Kazim-Richards - Hulse.
Subs: Bennett, Bromby, Lucketti, Bromby, Morgan, Montgomery, Unsworth, S. Quinn, Akinbiyi, Short, Wright, Shipperley, Webber, Nade, Ifill.
Injured: Armstrong, Tonge, Kabba, Sommeil, Li Tie.
Suspended: None

Team News: Sheffield will be looking for a rare victory at West Ham this weekend and will field a similar side to one that took Man Utd to the wire last week. Bromby has returned from injury and is in contention for a start at right-back.
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Tottenham (home vs. Wigan)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Robinson – Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto – Tainio, Zokora, Malbranque, Lennon – Berbatov, Keane.
Subs: Cerny, Davids, Murphy, Lee, Jenas, Huddlestone, Ziegler, Barnard, Mido, Barnard, Defoe, Davenport, Gardner.
Injured: Stalteri
Suspended: Ghaly (1 of 3)

Team News: Spurs welcomed back Lennon and Chimbonda for the midweek game against Leverkusen and both should start against Wigan. The merry-go-round of strikers could continue again this weekend but if Jol has any sense he will start with Keane and Berbatov. Jenas could participate after coming back from injury but Malbranque could remain in the squad after an impressive midweek UEFA Cup performance.
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Watford

No Fixture this weekend.
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West Ham (home vs. Sheffield United)
Starting XI: (4-5-1) Green – Spector, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky – Tevez, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Mullins, Bowyer – Zamora.
Subs: Kiraly, Mears, Cole, Dailly, McCartney, Paintsil, Sheringham, Mascherano, Reid, Harewood, Benayoun.
Injured: Ashton, Collins, Caroll (On the booze cruise…), Walker.
Suspended: Newton.

Team News: Pardew should name an unchanged side for visit of Sheffield United.
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Wigan (away vs. Tottenham)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Kirkland – Jackson, De Zeeuw, Wright, Boyce – Kilbane, Landzaat, Scharner, Teale – McCulloch, Camara
Subs: Filan, Jackson, Webster, Johansson, Todorov, Coterill, Hall, Skoko, Heskey
Injured: Taylor, Baines, Valencia, McMillan.
Suspended: None

Team News: Baines is still missing so Wright should continue at left-back. Heskey is back in training but lacking match-fitness so McCulloch could start alongside Camara again.

Note: Those denoted in red indicates doubts