Previews

Blues have chance to pull clear

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 30/01/2010
Football betting

Chelsea have a chance to move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table when they travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley on Saturday evening.

With Arsenal and Manchester United going head-to-head on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti's Blues, the current online favourites to win the title, will hope to pile on the pressure by making no mistake a day earlier.

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The Clarets are now inside the relegation zone and on current form have little chance of clambering their way out of it.

They have failed to grab a victory in their last 11 league fixtures which have brought five draws and six losses, but their home form has so far kept them out of real danger.

Just a single loss at Turf Moor has scuppered their fine record - a 3-1 setback to Wigan Athletic - but with the big hitters of Chelsea in town, their loss record could be doubled.

Chelsea's title charge gathered further momentum in midweek when they smashed Birmingham City 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues made light work of Alex McLeish's men, who were the league's real form team before their trip to the capital on the back of a 12-game unbeaten run.

Birmingham's next assignment is the visit of Tottenham Hotspur, with Harry Redknapp's men keen to maintain their push for a top-four finish.

They are currently three points ahead of Liverpool and could be boosted by the addition of Eidur Gudjohnsen to their squad before their trip to St Andrew's.

Liverpool are at home to Bolton Wanderers and Rafa Benitez's men need to get back to winning ways after a disappointing goalless draw with Wolves in midweek.

However, their cause is not being helped by injuries to key players with Glen Johnson (knee), Fernando Torres (knee), Yossi Benayoun (rib) and captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring) all set miss out.

Aston Villa will be waiting to pounce if Spurs and Liverpool slip up, but a trip to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham is not the easiest of tasks for Martin O'Neill's men.

Villa are four points adrift of Spurs, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League place, although they do have a game in hand over their London rivals.

Everton's recent revival will be tested at the DW Stadium, with Wigan Athletic desperate for points to try and inch themselves clear of relegation danger.

Six-pointers are also the order of the day at the KC Stadium and Upton Park, with Hull City hosting Wolves and West Ham facing Blackburn Rovers in potentially crucial encounters.

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