Weather Permitting: Saturday Premier League preview

The extreme weather has already forced the postponement of five Premier League matches.

On saturday: The relegation scrap between Burnley and Stoke City, Portsmouth’s trip to Fulham, Hull v Chelsea and Owen Coyle must wait for his first match in charge of Bolton as their trip to sunderland is also off.
On Sunday: Tottenham's Robbie Keane must wait to return to Anfield after Rafa Benitez revealed that local police have urged the club to call off their crucial clash with at Anfield, due to the treacherous road conditions.

Wigan v Aston Villa

Roberto Martinez shocked Villa earlier in the season as he soundly beat them 2-0 on the first day of the season. Villa will not have it all their own way this time round either, although the Latics have suffered heavy defeats away from home, at the DW stadium Wigan are a tough side to beat.

Martin O’Neill will have had plenty of time to mull over their home defeat at the hands of Liverpool but Ashley Young, suspended for that game will return to the fold.
Coupled with a clean bill of health this is an excellent chance for the Villains to restart their push for fourth place.

Verdict: 1-3

Arsenal v Everton

Bolton fans were upset in midweek after they made the trip to the Emirates only for the game to be called off in the afternoon. The Toffee’s support will not wish for a repeat but cannot be looking forward to visiting a ground where they have never won a point and a team which put six past them in the first weekend of the season.

Arsene Wenger will continue with Andrei Arshavin as a makeshift centre forward while Denilson is likely to replace Angola bound Alex Song in midfield

David Moyes could hand a Debut to loan signing Landon Donovan as he desperately tries to inject some creativity into a team which has steadily gone downhill in the absence of long-term injury Mikel Arteta

Verdict 4-1

Birmingham v Man Utd

Alex McLeish had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he said that former players were not allowed to beat their illustrious mentor Alex Ferguson. But after a run of 12 unbeaten games Birmingham will not be short on confidence when Manchester United visit St. Andrews.

The defeat to Leeds has overshadowed United all week and prompted rumours that Gary Neville will retire in the summer.
The Blues will be without Lee Carsley, Stuart Parnaby and Gregory Vignal through injury. While the Red Devils Defensive injury crisis may close to an end, but with Nemanja Vidic Ruled out for another 10 day’s; Wes Brown and Jonny Evans will have a chance to redeem themselves.

With Chelsea notplaying this weekend Fergusons men have a chance to go top of the league with a win, a chance they must take if they win a fourth consecutive title.

Verdict 0-1

West Ham v Wolves

Both sides are hovering just above the relegation zone and with just a point seperating them, a win for either team will be crucial to their survival hopes.

The hammers will welcome back midfielder Mark Noble and Scott Parker from injury while Guillermo Franco is available after serving a one-match ban.

For Wolves; Christophe Berra and Kevin Doyle who both missed the FA Cup win over Tranmere due to injury will return to the squad.

Verdict: 1-1

Man City v Blackburn Rovers

Roberto Mancini has yet to concede a goal as city manager and the site of Rovers showing up on monday evening will not have him feeling that record is under threat.

The italian does however have a heafty injury list consisting of Stephen Ireland, Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joleon Lescott, Michael Johnson and Wayne Bridge, while Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor are on African Nations duty.

The stretched squad may allow Patrick Vieira to make his return to English football.

For the visitors El Hadj Diouf begins a two-match suspension and Vince Grella is not likely to be risked in such cold weather after a thigh injury.

Verdict: 3-0