Manchester United vs Aston Villa

29/3- Manchester United are sitting comfortable on the top with a 5 point lead over their nearest rivals Chelsea and this week they would be highly confident when they take Aston Villa at home, especially after thrashed Liverpool, 3-0, last week. Aston Villa on the other hand are placed on the 6^th spot on the points table and have been going through a torrid time in the last few weeks of the competition. The last time both these sides faced each other was earlier this season and while playing the match away from home Man U managed to win with a convincing 1-4 margin. Man U also have a supreme head to head record while playing against Aston Villa and they have managed 22 victories in the 29 matches played between both the sides in the last 15 years and Aston Villa have only managed a single victory as the other 6 matches have been draws . Manchester United would also have a home advantage as they would have the home crowd cheering them to extend their lead at the top.

Aston Villa come into come into this match with its players low on confidence as they have been defeated in the last two matches. The last defeat was against Sunderland while playing at home and that was a huge setback for the side. Also the performance in the last 10 matches has not been that impressive as they have only managed 3 victories with 3 losses and 4 draws.

Man U on the other hand have won their last 6 matches and of the last 10 matches they have registered 7 wins with just one loss and a couple of draws. Christiano Ronaldo has been impeccable this season and with 25 goals to his name there is little an opposition can do to stop him.

Prediction: 2-0, Man U win

Manchester United vs Liverpool

23/3- Manchester United get prepared this weekend to play one of the toughest matches of this season, the clash between Manchester United and Liverpool should be a blockbuster that would keep both the supporters on the edge of their seats. Manchester United would be playing at home and that would be an advantage but if we look at the form of both the teams in recent matches be it in EPL or the Champions League action both have performed exceedingly well consistently. While Man U are placed on the top of the charts, Liverpool currently occupy the fourth spot. In the last 10 matches played Liverpool have had 8 wins a single loss and a single draw while Man U have 7 wins, 2 draws and a single loss. Hence on current form both teams can said to be on par, the last time both these teams faced off was earlier this season when Man U had defeated Liverpool 0-1, in an away tie. Also the overall head to head record for the past 15 years falls in favour of the team from Old Trafford as they have won 16 of the 29 matches while Liverpool have managed to win 7 matches only. Manchester United will be highly confident about their chances as they come into the match after a 2-0 win against Bolton last week in a home tie, they are also 3 points clear of Arsenal already and a win here would be really helpful as the Gunners would be facing a tough opponent in Chelsea as well. Christiano Ronaldo has scored a record number of goals for the side this season and the fans would like to see him net a goal this weekend as well. Liverpool on the other hand would want to take revenge of the loss earlier this season at home and if they can do that, things at the top of the table become very interesting. Prediction: 0-1, Liverpool win

Derby County vs Manchester United

15/3- Derby County have probably put up one of the worst performance in an entire season of the English Premier League history and this week they get ready to play hosts to one of the best, if not the best team of the premiership. Manchester United are just a couple of points behind the league leaders and have also played a match less and this opportunity will be highly cherished as they take on the weakest team in the premiership. While the visitors are in prime form and are fresh from their victorious stints in the Champions League and the English Premier League, the home team has not been able to win a single match in their last 10 attempts. The last time both these teams played each other was earlier this season and Manchester United while playing at home had registered 4-1 victory. The overall head to head record also favours the team from Old Trafford as they have won 7 of the 13 matches played between the sides and Derby on the other hand have won only twice.

Manchester United played their last premiership match against Fulham a couple of weeks ago and they managed to register a 0-3 victory while playing away from home. They also beat Lyon in a home match last week and the team is looking to take the lead away from the Gunners and is looking good in doing so. Christiano Ronaldo and Tevez have been in prime form and with good support from Rooney they have caused problems to all opponents. They would be going all out for a victory with a big margin as it could come down to the goal difference at the end of the season. Any points dropped here would annoy the team and the fans.

Derby County can only hope that they can put up a good show this time.

Prediction: 0-4, Manchester United win

Fulham vs Manchester United

1/3- Manchester United have given Arsenal a three point advantage and would like to make up for it as soon as possible, in an attempt to conquer the top spot again they travel to take on the 19^th placed Fulham this week. Fulham get into this match after two consecutive losses and would like to improve on the second last position they are currently in but they seem to be slipping out of contention and with 3 points between them and the 18^th placed Reading they are already in trouble and if the gap increases it would be difficult for them to recover. Fulham had lost the last time they played against Manchester United in an away tie earlier this season but would be hoping to get a better result playing at home. Manchester United however would be looking at nothing but a full three points from this tie and anything less would mean a huge set back to their dreams of conquering the title.

Fulham get into this match after losing their home game against West Ham United last week and would be hoping for at least a point from this tie as that might help them close in on teams out of the relegation zone. The two players who can possibly deliver against a quality side like Man U are Dempsey and Davies, both of whom have been in the pick of action for the club this season but Fulham would have to look out to their defence as Man U have the most menacing attack and can outscore any side on a given day.

Manchester United would be hoping to register another away win and with Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney there seems to be nothing that could possibly stop them. After  a convincing 1-5 away victory at Newcastle last week Sir Alex Fergusson’s side would want to repeat the performance this week as well.

Prediction: 1-2, Man U win

Newcastle vs Manchester United

23/2- Manchester United are a team on a mission and they received a huge setback when they were beaten 1-2 by city rivals, Manchester City last week. A draw and a loss in the last two matches has given away a five point advantage to the league leaders Arsenal and Man U would be in no mood to compromise as they travel to take on the 13^th placed Newcastle United. Newcastle have been in no good form either and enter this match after a loss and a draw in the last two matches as well but their performance in the last 10 matches is n where near to Man U’s. The last time both teams met was at Old Trafford where the home team, Man U blanked out the visitors 6-0 and they will be looking to do the same this time as well. A look at the overall record between the two sides would suggest that Man U have always been better off against Newcastle and of the 29 matches between the sides in the last 15 years they have managed to win on 17 times while there have been 9 draws, which leaves Newcastle with just 3 wins.

Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney will be desperate to put their side on the score sheet as early as possible and more than that they would like to have a convincing victory in order to bring back the lost confidence. The players would also keep a close on the match involving Arsenal earlier as it would be a fight to finish between both the sides this time.

Newcastle on the other hand would hope to find some form at home and though more focus would be on the way they defend but Martins or Viduka could be the players who could make the difference and get the side some crucial points.

Prediction: 1-1, draw

Manchester United vs Manchester City

10/2- One of the best matches of the week on a Super Sunday as the Old Trafford hosts the Manchester Derby. Manchester United have just lost the league leadership to Arsenal last week after they were not able to convert the away tie against Tottenham into a victory and now would be eager to score the full points as they get prepared to host their city rivals Manchester City. Manchester United are placed second and now are a couple of points behind the league leaders Arsenal while they are 4 points clear off the 3^rd spot team, Chelsea. Manchester City have all of a sudden got into a rough patch and in their last 4 matches they have lost 2 while the other two have been draws. The last match they played was last week against league leaders Arsenal and ended up losing 1-3 at home. However one thing that would rise the hopes of the visiting side is that earlier this season City had defeated Man U 1-0, while playing at home.

Manchester city are slowly losing out in the race for a spot in the European competitions for the next year and this would have to be rectified at the soonest so that they are not completely out of the reckoning. Manchester City would be hoping for some goals coming from Blumer and Bianchi so that they can give some competition to their superior city rivals.

Man U on the other hand would be desperate to take the lead back from the Gunners and a victory at home would mean that they lead the Gunners by a point but Arsenal would have a game in hand to be played later this week.  Christiano Ronaldo and Tevez are in ominous form and the fans would be hoping to see a victory here against their city rivals and a jump back to the top of the table.

Prediction: 2-1, Man U win

Reading vs Manchester United

19/1- The fight at the top of the league table is getting intense, especially with Arsenal and Man U levelling it out on the points and now the comparatively weaker oppositions are having to pay for it by means of big margin defeats. Reading is the next team that might just have to experience the Man U fury when they would be hosting them, last time the Manchester team took on the field at Old Trafford, they ended up drubbing out Newcastle 6-0. They have gained the top spot and now would like to build on it and get away from the potential threat coming from Arsenal. Reading however are a side that has been composed of two extremes while seeing their performance this season. At home they have been doing a fair amount of justice to their talent but away they have been struggling badly. This showed last week as they went down to Aston Villa, 3-1, in an away encounter. Placed 13^th on the table they are just a couple of points above the relegation zone and would try and maintain a safe distance.

Manchester United would have the fire power of the Portuguese wonder Christiano Ronaldo and Tevez, they have been performing exceptionally well and have been major contributors to the club’s success this season. The team has hardly conceded anything to their opposition and has been playing as a strong unit and with a master strategist in Sir Alex Ferguson there is very little which can stop them.  The absence of key players like Scholes and Rooney has not affected them at all but their return would make them an almost unbeatable team.

Reading are comparatively new to this territory and would have to pull up their socks if they want to provide any resistance to the team visiting them. A point from this match would be a huge bonus for the team, though unlikely.

Prediction: 0-3, Man U win

Manchester United vs Birmingham City

1/1- It has been a few funny weeks for Manchester United, just a week ago they gained the top spot in the championship by overtaking Arsenal by a point and the very next match when they were expected to come up with flying colors they managed to give up the lead back to the Gunners. Sir Alex Fergusson will be hoping for the team to be charged up after the 2-1 loss to West Han in their last week’s away tie. While Birmingham City would just be trying to repeat the effort that got them a home draw against Fulham, in fact a point against Manchester United in Manchester would be a bonus itself. And if we go by the records it is clear that Man U would not lose this home tie because out of the last 9 meetings between the clubs Man U have won 7 times while the other two have been draws.

Currently Manchester have many problems to tackle, not only they have been dragged back to the second spot and now are behind the leaders by 2 points but their injury list also seems to be expanding. While Carrick and Rooney are doubtful starters, Van Der Sar will surely be missing the match and in such a situation Saha might be asked to start along side Ronaldo and Tevez. Man U have not lost a game at home this season and this would be no different but not getting 3 points from here would be disappointing for them.

Birmingham City on the other hand have not been in the greatest of forms and have been struggling in the bottom half of the table. They are currently 3 points and 3 places above the relegation zone and would be looking at consolidating their position above the relegation zone and a point would be something they would try for.

Prediction: 3-1, Man U win

West Ham United vs Manchester United

29/12- The first match after gaining the top spot on the table should be quite interesting as Manchester United travel to West Ham in an attempt to maintain their recently gained top spot in the premiership. Manchester United are in red hot form and they are on a winning streak as well hence it will be very difficult to stop them at this point of time. They have the last three games the have played and the last match they played, they completed a drubbing of Sunderland in an away tie when the beat them 4-0. West Ham on the other hand have been performing decently well as well though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Reading in the last match they played at home, they have been consistently winning points and moving ahead.

 

Manchester United have been the best team in the competition be it at home or away and that is proven by the top spot they have occupied in the league table. Though there are a few key players missing, Sir Alex Fergusson’s team can ride smoothly on the back of the form exhibited by Christiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha and Rooney. All these are ably complemented by Tevez in the front and form a deadly combination. Their defense also looks much better and have just given away 9 goals in the 19 matches played, they have the momentum going with them and the tam would be expecting another 3 points from this trip.

 

West Ham United would be anxious about the tie as they know the threat their goal would get from the Man U strikers. As well as they would be playing without Bellamy at the front and Bowyer in the midfield and this could prove to be a huge setback as one would always want their best team get on to the field against a side like Man U. The home crowd would be hoping that their team can put up a spirited performance and at least nail out a point from the tie.

 

Prediction: 1-2, Man U win

Sunderland vs Manchester United

26/12- This would be a contest between two teams with similar injury worries but different fortunes and different forms and hence different end of the premiership points table. Sunderland would have hoped for a better present from Santa as they have to play an inform Man U team at home just a day after Christmas. While Sunderland are in the relegation zone with the 18^th position on the table, Man U stand just a point behind league leaders Arsenal in an impressive second place. Sunderland go into this match after losing 2-1 in and away tie against Reading on Saturday while Man U tamed Everton at home with a 2-1 victory. Manchester United have in fact their last 5 premiership games and are looking really strong with a well balanced side. Though their away form this season has not been as impressive as the other top teams a trip to Sunderland does not appear to be too testing for Sir Alex Fergusson’s side.

 

The home side have just managed 18 goals which is equal to the tally of the top 2 scorers for Man U. Sunderland would also be missing Miller who would be serving a 3 match ban after his actions in the match against Reading on Saturday and this would dampen their already weak midfield. They would be looking at a good home support and some extra work from Chopra and Jones, who have been the top scorers for the team this season.

 

Manchester United on the other end would be hoping for a big victory and with the form of Christiano Ronaldo and Tevez it is highly possible that the team would achieve its target. Though missing on some key players the team would be looking at three points with a steady performance as they need just one slip up from Arsenal and they would be at the top.

 

Prediction: 0-3, Man U win

 

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