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Title pressure back on Chelsea

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 25/04/2010
Football betting

Premier League title-chasers Chelsea take on Stoke City at Stamford Bridge and a win is a must at this stage of the season if they are to end Manchester United's three-season stranglehold.

Chelsea know that three more wins will bring them a third Premier League title, but some of their nervous performances in recent weeks suggest that this could be a trickier prospect than it may look on paper.

The Potters put in a tough performance in the FA Cup quarter-final earlier this year yet still lost 2-0 to the Pensioners, with goals from Frank Lampard and John Terry sinking Tony Pulis' Wembley dream.

Of course, John Terry will be suspended for this match, having received a red card in the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham last weekend, but Chelsea, who are the overwhelming sportsbook favourites to win the game, have not lost any of their last 20 league games without their captain, so his absence may not be as crucial as first thought.

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea have a strong recent record against Stoke, winning their last six league games against them.

However, two of Stoke's three away wins this season have come in the capital so they will not be over awed by the metropolitan surrounds.

Furthermore, City have not lost any of their last six Premier League away games, a run which has solidified their position in mid-table for a second successive season.

Aston Villa and Birmingham City are likely to play out a typically passionate Midlands derby clash at Villa Park in the early Sunday kick-off.

Martin O'Neill's men have been strong on the road of late, winning four in the last five, but they have struggled to claim maximum points on home soil, drawing six of their last seven Premier League games at Villa Park.

Will Chelsea live up to their massive favourites tag and canter to victory against Stoke City on Sunday? - Latest Football Betting

Burnley will be hoping to rekindle their fading hopes of avoiding relegation to the Championship with a victory over a recently improved Liverpool side at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon.

The Clarets had proved a tough nut to crack on home soil earlier this season, with victories over Manchester United and Everton and a draw with Arsenal, but their recent form in front of their home support has been woeful - picking up just one point from their last 15 available.

Despite this Brian Laws' side have only failed to find the net in one of their 17 league games at Turf Moor so far this term.

Liverpool have been as equally poor away from home of late, failing to win any of their last seven games in the Premier League.

Rafa Benitez's outfit have scored only two goals in their last six away league games, and without Fernando Torres; who is out for the remainder of the season, their attacking qualities have been seriously weakened but they are the overwhelming online betting favourites to win the contest in Lancashire.

Europa League surprise package Fulham face another gruelling trip north to Goodison Park as they take on Everton.

David Moyes' hosts will be hoping the Cottagers have their eye off the ball with this Premier League showdown sandwiched in between their Europa League semi-final clashes with Hamburg.

The Toffees are still hunting league points as they try and book their place on the continent for next season, the home team will be a strong favourite to make it nine Premier League home wins out of nine against Roy Hodgson's fatigued troops.

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