Biggest weekend of season

This weeks' fixtures could prove pivotal

This weekend's fixture list in the Premier League is enough to make the mouth water.

Every game means something, with every team in the league still having something to aim for.

For the bottom 14 clubs, it's all about securing survival. Even Bolton in 7th, on 40 points, are not safe yet and the battle for survival is sure to go to the wire.

For the top six, it's about the title and securing Champions League places. It is the most wide open the league has ever been and now some of the key games will be looked at in greater detail.

West Ham v Manchester United (1245 Saturday)


Wayne Rooney has a great record against West Ham

 On paper, this game should be no contest. West Ham are on the brink of the relegation zone while Man Utd sit top of the tree, but football is not played on paper.

The Hammers have more than enough about them to trouble the top sides, as they proved in an early-season 1-0 win against Tottenham, a 3-1 victory over Liverpool and a 4-0 Carling Cup win against United.

They seem to be able to rise to the big occasion and this is the perfect opportunity for them to show their relegation rivals just how up for the battle they are.

Scott Parker will be the key. If he is fit, he is sure to give his all to the cause and any side with him in it will have a chance.

He is not a defensive midfielder. He influences the game all over the pitch and is the archetypal box-to-box midfielder.

He has the potential to cause United no end of problems.

From United's point of view, Wayne Rooney could be their key man. He has scored five goals in eight Premier League games against the Irons and seems to be recapturing something near his top form.

Matthew Upson in particular will need to be on his game, with the added threats of Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez complicating his job.

Carlton Cole ran a makeshift United back four ragged in the Carling Cup tie, and needs to be on his game again if West Ham are to stand a chance. Demba Ba also looks like an excellent signing and United's defence will need to be alert to his danger throughout the game.

Avram Grant's side are in decent form but Sir Alex Ferguson knows United must go on a run now to secure the title.

United have been heavily backed to win but I think West Ham may spring a surprise just as relegation rivals Wolves did against United earlier in the season.

Prediction: 2-1

Birmingham v Bolton (1500 Saturday)

Prediction: 0-0

Everton v Aston Villa (1500 Saturday)

Prediction: 2-1

Newcastle v Wolves (1500 Saturday)

Jonas Gutierrez may need to recapture his form to save Newcastle

This game is the most crucial of both these sides' seasons so far.

If Wolves win at St James' Park, it really will set the cat among the pigeons in the relegation battle and truly drag Newcastle back into the dogfight.

Wolves are a better side than their league position of 18th suggests, but the loss of Kevin Doyle could be a crucial blow in their battle.

Doyle has not been a prolific goalscorer but has been Wolves' key player: his work-rate has created chances for his team and Mick McCarthy has been talking for some time now of his value to the team.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is likely to replace him and he caused Newcastle plenty of problems in the reverse fixture last August at Molineux. He scored their only goal and if he can produce similar form for the rest of the season, he could lead Wolves away from danger.

Newcastle are completely out-of-form at the moment and just need a bit of luck in the remainder of the season to see them through.

The loss of Andy Carroll has affected them psychologically and now the suspension of Cheik Tiote will make life even more difficult. Danny Guthrie will replace him but he is nowhere near as effective and Newcastle will have to guard against being over-run in midfield.

Jose Enrique is also a doubt with a hamstring injury but it may be advisable for Alan Pardew to leave him out of this game. His decision to play a half-fit Enrique against Stoke back-fired and Pardew must ensure he is fit enough to play a key role in the rest of the season.

Matt Jarvis will cause Newcastle's left-back no end of problems so playing a half-fit Enrique would be a major gamble only likely to cause more serious injury.

The game at Molineux earlier in the season was a feisty one, and this game could be something similar.

Carroll was crucial in that game - scoring Newcastle's goal in a 1-1 draw - but now someone else must step into his shoes. Nile Ranger could make his first Premier League start and he has the potential to trouble Wolves with his all-action style.

Wolves will cause Newcastle problems but the law of averages says they will not win two away games in a row. Newcastle are due a win and should grind one out here.

Prediction: 2-1

Stoke v Chelsea (1500 Saturday)


Chelsea will need to be up for the battle to stand a chance at Stoke

Chelsea are back in the title race but must win at the Britannia Stadium to stay in the hunt.

Stoke will cause them plenty of problems and come into the game on the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Newcastle.

Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington ran the game against the Magpies but will have their work cut out here against Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic.

If Fernando Torres starts scoring, Chelsea could become an unstoppable machine. He is still struggling for fitness but does seem to be showing slight signs of improvement.

However, he does seem like a player past his best, so he will need to start performing soon to silence the doubters. Carlo Ancelotti will only wait so long for him to improve, with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka waiting in the wings.

David Luiz does look an excellent player but his cavalier style may not suit playing away from home. If he can perform well at Stoke then he can perform well anywhere, so this game could be the game to conclusively prove just how good he is.

Stoke are a very good team under Tony Pulis and could be set for a top-half finish but they will need to be top-notch to stand a chance here.

They will be well up for this but so will Chelsea, which should see them edge this one.

Prediction: 1-2

West Brom v Liverpool (1500 Saturday)


Roy Hodgson struggled at Liverpool with Kenny Dalglish looming in the background

 The build-up to this game has all been about Roy Hodgson coming up against his old club.

Hodgson took the Liverpool job on in the most difficult of circumstances, with Tom Hicks and George Gillett set to sell the club. He had no chance once the new owners came in and even less of a chance when Kenny Dalglish was waiting in the background.

Liverpool fans may not think so, but the fact is Hodgson is a top manager who just found himself at the right place at the wrong time.

He was a victim of circumstances and will now rebuild his reputation at West Brom.

They should have enough about them to stay up and Hodgson's experience of saving Fulham will stand them in good stead.

They will have their work cut out against Liverpool though, who are much improved under Dalglish.

Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll are both top-class strikers who will strike fear into any defence.

And this will be particularly true of West Brom, whose defenders have struggled this season. Suarez and Carroll could run riot unless the Baggies backline get their acts together.

Liverpool are likely to miss out on Europe but are in a good position to push on next season, while West Brom should have enough to steer clear of danger.

The Reds should win this game though with the Suarez - Carroll partnership beginning to look threatening.

Prediction: 1-3

Wigan v Tottenham (1500 Saturday)

Prediction: 1-3

Arsenal v Blackburn (1730 Saturday)

Prediction: 3-0

Fulham v Blackpool (1330 Sunday)


The sides drew an enthralling game 2-2 earlier in the season

 Blackpool have been a great addition to the Premier League this year and most neutrals must surely be hoping they stay up.

Charlie Adam is back from suspension and that will be a major boost for them, as proved in their 2-2 draw with Blackburn where Adam scored both his sides' goals.

He is such a key player for them that they will struggle without him next season, whichever division they are in. He is at the heart of everything Blackpool do well and so some of the prices quoted for him in the January transfer window were not as ludicrous as they might have seemed.

DJ Campbell is also crucial for them, but he will miss this game through suspension. Without him, Blackpool are too reliant on Adam and that could prove their downfall at Craven Cottage.

They way they play, though, they will cause any side problems although Fulham are a very astute side who will not be broken down easily.

They are the draw specialists of the Premier League, although the return of Bobby Zamora from injury should see them have more of a cutting edge up front.

Brede Hangeland is the key player for them and should keep any Blackpool strikers quiet.

Keeping Adam quiet will be the key though.

This should be an entertaining game with plenty of goals, but a draw seems the most likely result. Both should be OK and stay up, although they need points fast.

Prediction: 2-2

Manchester City v Sunderland (1600 Sunday)

Prediction: 2-0

It promises to be a bumper weekend of Premier League action which will have a large bearing on the rest of the season.

The league is so tight that it looks set to be a nail-biting end to the season for all clubs.

Squeaky-bum time starts here.