Picks by Andy Gray (Sky Sports, Betfair):
Tottenham v Blackburn
If this match was being played at Ewood Park, you'd think that home support and a heavy pitch would provide a decent leveller between a solid Premier League side who should beat the drop and a very good footballing side who may yet clinch the last Champions League spot. But it's not. It's at White Hart Lane and anything but a home win would be seen as a major upset. And let's face it, if Spurs can't win matches like these in front of their own fans then they're probably not good enough to be playing Champions League football.
There are three things that are going Spurs' way at the moment. The first is that they're carrying momentum. The second is that now that Roman Pavlyuchenko has started to find some form, Harry Redknapp has three good, in-form strikers to choose from and each of them offers the team something a little different. And with the matches coming thick and fast at this stage of the season, that's a huge asset.
The third is the form of Luka Modric. If you look at him, your first reaction would be that he's not strong enough to play centre-mid in a league as physical as this one but appearances can be deceiving. The Croat is stronger than he appears, has a great first touch and is blessed with good balance. It's a combination that has allowed him to boss games recently, especially when Spurs are at home. He scored a cracker of a goal a couple of weeks ago against Everton and, in the sort of form he's in at the moment, he could be the one breaking the deadlock on Saturday.
Recommended Bet: Back Luka Modric to be first goalscorer at 10.00
Hull v Arsenal
I said a couple of weeks ago that if Arsenal could go to the Britannia and win that match, they'd fancy their chances of actually going on to win the league. Their 3-1 win came at a huge cost with the long-term injury sustained to Aaron Ramsey but win they did and they will now fancy their chances of taking all three points from all their remaining league matches. Starting with this one.
Arsene Wenger rarely smiles during matches but Tuesday night's display against FC Porto was so impressive that he did just that, more than once. Sure, Porto weren't at their best and defended poorly but Arsenal deserve huge credit for putting them under pressure from the start. And for a change, they actually converted most of their chances.
The Frenchman isn't so naïve as to think that Hull are going to hand him three points on a plate and it's unlikely to be as plain sailing as the Porto match was. My instinct is that Hull will score at some stage and I wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal, like at Stoke, will have to come from behind to win it. But win it they will.
Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score at 1.90
Andy's Saturday correct score predictions:
Tottenham v Blackburn
This will be a convincing win for Spurs to stay in contention for Champions League football next year.
Correct score: 3-0 at 13.00
Birmingham v Everton
The Blues recovered well from their FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth by beating them in the league but then again Everton were hardly slouches when thrashing Hull 5-1: shared points.
Correct score: 1-1 at 7.20
Bolton v Wigan
The Trotters will have taken huge confidence from their win at Upton Park and they need to strike while the iron is hot if they are to escape the drop. They're good value to do just that.
Correct score: 2-1 at 10.00
Burnley v Wolves
This is a real six-pointer in the fight to avoid the drop, which is likely to finish with neither side particularly happy and neither side particularly upset.
Correct score: 1-1 at 7.00
Chelsea v West Ham
That Man City abomination aside, Chelsea have been awesome at home this season. There's no reason to think that Saturday will be any different.
Correct score: 2-0 at 6.60
Stoke v Aston Villa
Taking all three points at the Britannia Stadium is easier said than done and it's a select group who have done that this season. I don't fancy Villa to be joining them.
Correct score: 2-2 at 19.00
Hull City v Arsenal
Arsenal may return to north London battered and bruised once more but it will all be worth it if they win.
Correct score: 1-3 at 12.50
Tottenham v Blackburn
If this match was being played at Ewood Park, you'd think that home support and a heavy pitch would provide a decent leveller between a solid Premier League side who should beat the drop and a very good footballing side who may yet clinch the last Champions League spot. But it's not. It's at White Hart Lane and anything but a home win would be seen as a major upset. And let's face it, if Spurs can't win matches like these in front of their own fans then they're probably not good enough to be playing Champions League football.
There are three things that are going Spurs' way at the moment. The first is that they're carrying momentum. The second is that now that Roman Pavlyuchenko has started to find some form, Harry Redknapp has three good, in-form strikers to choose from and each of them offers the team something a little different. And with the matches coming thick and fast at this stage of the season, that's a huge asset.
The third is the form of Luka Modric. If you look at him, your first reaction would be that he's not strong enough to play centre-mid in a league as physical as this one but appearances can be deceiving. The Croat is stronger than he appears, has a great first touch and is blessed with good balance. It's a combination that has allowed him to boss games recently, especially when Spurs are at home. He scored a cracker of a goal a couple of weeks ago against Everton and, in the sort of form he's in at the moment, he could be the one breaking the deadlock on Saturday.
Recommended Bet: Back Luka Modric to be first goalscorer at 10.00
Hull v Arsenal
I said a couple of weeks ago that if Arsenal could go to the Britannia and win that match, they'd fancy their chances of actually going on to win the league. Their 3-1 win came at a huge cost with the long-term injury sustained to Aaron Ramsey but win they did and they will now fancy their chances of taking all three points from all their remaining league matches. Starting with this one.
Arsene Wenger rarely smiles during matches but Tuesday night's display against FC Porto was so impressive that he did just that, more than once. Sure, Porto weren't at their best and defended poorly but Arsenal deserve huge credit for putting them under pressure from the start. And for a change, they actually converted most of their chances.
The Frenchman isn't so naïve as to think that Hull are going to hand him three points on a plate and it's unlikely to be as plain sailing as the Porto match was. My instinct is that Hull will score at some stage and I wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal, like at Stoke, will have to come from behind to win it. But win it they will.
Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score at 1.90
Andy's Saturday correct score predictions:
Tottenham v Blackburn
This will be a convincing win for Spurs to stay in contention for Champions League football next year.
Correct score: 3-0 at 13.00
Birmingham v Everton
The Blues recovered well from their FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth by beating them in the league but then again Everton were hardly slouches when thrashing Hull 5-1: shared points.
Correct score: 1-1 at 7.20
Bolton v Wigan
The Trotters will have taken huge confidence from their win at Upton Park and they need to strike while the iron is hot if they are to escape the drop. They're good value to do just that.
Correct score: 2-1 at 10.00
Burnley v Wolves
This is a real six-pointer in the fight to avoid the drop, which is likely to finish with neither side particularly happy and neither side particularly upset.
Correct score: 1-1 at 7.00
Chelsea v West Ham
That Man City abomination aside, Chelsea have been awesome at home this season. There's no reason to think that Saturday will be any different.
Correct score: 2-0 at 6.60
Stoke v Aston Villa
Taking all three points at the Britannia Stadium is easier said than done and it's a select group who have done that this season. I don't fancy Villa to be joining them.
Correct score: 2-2 at 19.00
Hull City v Arsenal
Arsenal may return to north London battered and bruised once more but it will all be worth it if they win.
Correct score: 1-3 at 12.50
