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Goodison return for Rooney

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 20/02/2010
Football betting

The pick of Saturday's Premier League games sees Wayne Rooney return to Everton when Manchester United visit Goodison Park.

England ace Rooney is in red-hot form at the moment, having scored twice in the midweek 3-2 Champions League win at AC Milan to add to a record of 14 goals in his last 13 Premier League games since failing to score against none other than Everton at Old Trafford in November.

After hitting his brace in midweek, Rooney revealed that hard work in training has been the main reason behind his biggest-ever goal haul in a season.

He said: "I've been working a lot on getting into the box a lot more, especially inside the six-yard box. That's helping me to score goals, which gives me more confidence."

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While Sir Alex Ferguson's side have been in inspired form recently, David Moyes and his Everton team have also been impressing.

Indeed, the Toffees have lost just one of their last 11 league games to rise up the table. However, as Everton have lost 13 times at home to United in the Premier League era, more than any team against any opponent in the competition's history, Moyes and co will be approaching this high-profile fixture with caution.

Elsewhere, current league leaders Chelsea travel to Molineux to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers and will be confident of success, despite Carlo Ancelotti's side having won just once in their last six league games away from Stamford Bridge.

In November, the Blues swept Wolves aside 4-0 in the capital, racing into a three-goal lead within the opening 22 minutes of the game.

Arsenal will hope to maintain their outside chance of taking the Premier League honours when they face an out-of-sorts Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.

Indeed, since beating none other than Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in November, Steve Bruce's charges have failed to win a league game, a run of 12 matches.

That victory against the Gunners came courtesy of a Darren Bent strike and, despite his side's loss of form, the former Spurs hit-man has continued to provide a potent goal threat, netting five times in his last seven league games.

Upton Park plays host to a potentially classic six-pointer when West Ham United face Hull City, with the two sides currently just one point above the drop-zone and in desperate need of victory.

Finally, rock-bottom Portsmouth play host to Stoke City, with the south coast club's fortunes both on and off the field continuing to look bleak.

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