Have a day off and stuck under a few feet of snow that seemingly won’t be cleared out until the middle of next week? Just need a place to chat during the matches while pretending to work? As yesterday, join me again this afternoon for a live blog of today’s 6 EPL matches. We should get a debut for Liverpool’s new Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez. We’ll be live at 2:30 PM eastern time for a bit of buildup. See you then!

2:40pm ET – Birmingham City vs Manchester City – ESPN2
2:55pm ET – Liverpool vs Stoke – FSC
2:55pm ET – Bolton vs Wolves – FS+ & FOXsoccer.tv
2:55pm ET – Blackburn vs Tottenham – ESPN3.com
2:55pm ET – Fulham vs Newcastle – ESPN3.com
2:55pm ET – Blackpool vs West Ham – ESPN3.com

Let’s gear up for tomorrows FA Cup matches with a video. Take a look at the highlights from last years final.

Here’s the links:

• Aston Villa shaken up [Caught Offside]
• Buy Beckham’s 2008 Porsche [Ebay]
• Manchester City played for the draw [A Different League]
• Obi Mikel out until February [Sky]
• Dzeko interview [M.C.F.C.]
• Soccer Songs [53 Songs]
• Anelka isn’t so bad [Sports Illustrated]
• Wanker of the year contest [Arsenal Review USA]

Feel free to follow me on Twitter and let me know if you’d like to suggest an article, video or photo for inclusion on the Premier League Links Of The Day.

Here’s our feature video of the day: Chris Hughton being fired from Newcastle has stirred up some controversy. Will former Ajax manager Martin Jol be the replacement?

Here’s the links:

• Tevez Interview [Man. City]
• Manchester City wacky Christmas party [Metro UK]
• Hughton sacked [Four Four Two]
• Favorite Freddie Ljungberg [The Equaliser]
• EPL fantasy advice [Roto Experts]
• Ronaldinho to Liverpool? [Give Me Football]
• Vote for UEFA team of the year [UEFA]
• West Ham’s Spector focused [Sky Sports]
• United Christmas giveaway [Manchester United]
• Martin Jol to lead Newcastle [Footie]

Feel free to follow me on Twitter and let me know if you’d like to suggest an article, video or photo for inclusion on the Premier League Links Of The Day.

Our second installment of ‘Premier League Links Of The Day’ is here! Today’s video features Dimitar Berbatov and his thoughts on his recent five goal performance.

Here’s the links:

• EPL’s 10 dirties players [Bleacher Report]
• Adrian Durham’s team of the week [Talk Sport]
• Carroll has the X-factor [Mirror Football]
• Clint Dempsey backs Mark Hughes [F & H Chronicle]
• Aaron Lennon’s unbelievable week [Tottenham FC ]
• Liverpool players adjusting to Hodgson [Liverpool FC ]
• Ashley Young makes a blooper reel [Goal]
• Bolton vs. Blackpool match highlights [101 Great Goals]

Feel free to follow me on Twitter and let me know if you’d like to suggest an article, video or photo for inclusion on the Premier League Links Of The Day.

For a number of months there has been a debate on this site about how good the English team really is.  Most have claimed that this version of the Three Lions represented a golden generation of players finally coming to the pinnacle of their skills and ready to challenge for the most valued trophy on earth.  Others took a decidedly dimmer view.  For those, the real England was the team that failed to qualify for Euro ’08, failed to impress in friendlies against quality opposition, and shuffled managers as if a different cook could turn chicken droppings into Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Two games into Engalnd’s World Cup campaign, that debate looks largely settled.  England may still qualify out of the group stages, but even if they beat Slovenia on Wednesday, few hold out much hope of them progressing much further.

So what is it that makes some of these players so effective on their Premiership team and so stolid on the English National team?

Most critically, on their club team, they are surrounded by better players.  All these great English players rarely partner with other English players on their club teams.  Instead, they are usually paired with an outstanding player who would sooner eat their shin guard than a plate of fish and chips.  Frank Lampard plays with the outstanding Michael Essien of Ghana.  The same goes for John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho and for Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov (and before him, Cristiano Ronaldo). 

This impact can clearly be seen in the case of Steven Gerrard.  In England, it is settled law that Gerrard is one of the most ferocious, driven midfielders in the game.  However, that law became settled when he was paired with Xavi Alonso, a tremendously hard working and efficient box-to-box dynamo.  When Alonso went to Real Madrid last year and was not replaced with anything of similar quality, all of the sudden Gerrard looked very ordinary.  The empty space that Gerrard used to barrel into now was closed down.  Gerrard struggled to make an impact all year and, despite his armband, is struggling in a very similar fashion in Africa.

Gerrard without Alonso, Lampard without Essien, and Rooney without anyone is what you are getting in this World Cup.

And yet, on their club teams, these English players are treated as Gods by the media.  The English media creates its own reality.  In the Fleet Street press, Oasis is the next Beatles, Sienna Miller is the next Katherine Hepburn and David Beckham is the next George Best.  Pumping up their celebrities to impossible acclaim (and then deflating them to figures of scorn) is the business model that sells newspapers.  In that light, it is not at all surprising that a decent player like Rooney, Gerrard or Terry is presented as the undisputed star of their team, handed all the armbands, and allowed to lift all the trophies.  From this side of the Atlantic, it is a little easier to be more objective and see how virtually all of the top teams in England are carried by the imported players, but for the English fans, it takes a mightily objective person to be so calculating.

So, what now for England?  The players left the field yesterday in Capetown to a chorus of jeers.  After a long English season, they are now in a tired place where they cannot to read a newspaper, do an interview or watch a sports show without seeing their own ridicule.  Psychologically, the temptation to bid this messy affair a warm goodbye and spend the next three weeks on a beach waiting for the new season to being must be very enticing.  Whether the players have the stomach to pick themselves up, beat Slovenia and continue forward against this emotional and physical onslaught will be a revealing test.  They may have the bottle to fashion that type of victory on Wednesday.

But what they no longer have is the myth of greatness.  This “greatest team in a generation,” is not anything close.    Instead , they are nothing more than a mid-level European team, and it will take a monumental reversal to indicate otherwise.

Good news everyone. In the build-up to the World Cup, we’ve decided to move the EPL Talk Network forums from Ning to www.epltalk.grou.ps.

Don’t worry if you were already a member of our previous network, you have already been migrated to our new destination, avatars and all! Due to changes in the Ning network that previously hosted our network, the EPL Talk Network Forums will now be taking advantage of all the great features Grou.ps offers. With options such as polls and wiki’s, the Intelligent Soccer Forum will allow even more discussion and collaboration to be expressed.

If you haven’t yet joined the discussion, head to the new EPL Talk Network Forums and voice your opinion on whatever is on your football mind. It’s the perfect place to raise topics, interact with fellow readers and more. Enjoy!

What, exactly, is a Liverpool fan to do?

A win over Chelsea at Anfield Sunday would probably mean another title for Manchester United – which would send United past Liverpool’s 18 first division titles.

A quick look at the table a few paragraphs below suggests that the Reds are still very much alive in the race for fourth place, so you’d imagine they’ll be trying to win.

Even if it helps Manchester United claim the title.

As I write this, Liverpool and Fulham are playing in home Europa League matches, so fatigue and/or future considerations might also play a role in Rafa Benitez’s team sheet for the match.

Chelsea Salomon Kalou knows that the table leaders will have to play well to escape Merseyside with a positive result.

“We have to go there and take control of the game,” Kalou told The Independent. “I feel at Tottenham, we let them play. We let them get comfortable with the ball and we have to go to Liverpool and play differently. We need to keep the ball and play our own game and not wait for Liverpool to take the initiative.

“Anfield will be a difficult journey, but we will be very motivated and know that if we win there, everything can be in our hands at home against Wigan.”

Will Liverpool come out and play? Can Chelsea win anyway?

Time will tell.

Here’s that table:

Here’s a look at the TV schedule

And here’s a look at the rest of the matches:

Birmingham vs. Burnley

With Manchester City loanee Joe Hart still in the side, Birmingham hopes to wrap up its home schedule with a win against Championship-bound Burnley on Saturday.

Without much else to play for, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is looking forward to a good time.

“We are going into our last home game of the season and should reflect on a magnificent Premier League adventure,” McLeish told the Birmingham Mail. “We look forward to the fans – without anybody being disrespectful to Burnley on the day – enjoying themselves and looking back on what we have done.

“We have earned a right to thank them this weekend and we hope we get a resounding reception too. They have given us power and energy this season.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Manchester City vs. Aston Villa

City has been in the news this week for its goalkeeper woes, but it faces a crucial match at home against Aston Villa this weekend.

It seems that Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Barry are injury doubts for City, who are still fighting with Liverpool, Villa and Spurs for fourth place.

Martin Fulop, the emergency loanee from Sunderland, may start in goal for City.

Villa’s Stilian Petrov likes where his team lies, quietly in the hunt for that final Champions League spot.

“We’re still in the mix and it’s up to us now,” he told The Guardian. ”I think the other teams are worried as well because they were probably looking behind thinking we weren’t in it.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Portsmouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Pompey welcomes in Wolves as it treads water until its FA Cup final with Chelsea next month.

For Wolves, a second straight season in the top flight is now assured. Music to the ears of the manager, Mick McCarthy.

“It is kind of sinking in now that we are going to be there next season, there is a warm glow of satisfaction that is for sure,” he told Sky Sports. “But that will all change as we go to Pompey and we want to finish 14th.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Stoke City vs. Everton

Aside from a chance to finish in the top half of the table for the Potters, it’s Everton that’s facing a must-win at the Britannia.

The Toffees are five points back of their Merseyside neighbors, so only a win will do.

“It’s massive for us – we’re fighting for Europe and with another place up for grabs, I think it’s pivotal that we win,” Everton’s tim Cahill told the Liverpool Daily Post. ”If we lose then we’re out the race for Europe. At this stage in my career, I think it’s really important that I keep playing in Europe at every opportunity and we have to start at Stoke.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Bolton Wanderers

Spurs are still in the drivers’ seat for the fourth and final Champions League place as they welcome the Trotters to White Hart Lane.

Tottenham’s home form has been good of late, and Spurs’ manager Harry Redknapp credits the fans for the team’s rise.

“The fans really made the difference against Arsenal and Chelsea and we need that again,” he told the team’s Web site. “The atmosphere in those two games was something special and the players can only be inspired by that.”

Bolton manager Owen Coyle, on the other hand, isn’t ready to rest on his achievement of keeping his team in the top flight.

“Somebody mentioned about champagne, but for me, coming in as manager with us in the bottom three, it was a good achievement that we stayed up but I don’t want people to be happy just to be in the league,” Coyle told the team’s Web site.

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Fulham vs. West Ham United

Not much happening here, as both teams are fairly locked in to place in the league table.

Even after keeping the Irons up, it seems that manager Gianfranco Zola might still be on his way out.

So maybe there’s something going on…

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Sunderland vs. Manchester United

By the time Manchester United walks out on to the field at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, it will know its table position in relation to Chelsea – and whether or not it can move into first.

Red Devil midfielder Darren Fletcher knows the challenge that faces his club, telling the team Web site, ”we are relying on a favour from another team, which is not the best position to be in, but we are coming into form. We had that week where things didn’t go well, against Blackburn and Bayern, and there was a real low in the squad.

“But we had to pick ourselves up. There was a conscious effort around the place not to feel sorry for ourselves. We couldn’t afford. We needed to put some pressure on Chelsea, which is what we have done.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Wigan Athletic vs. Hull City

Much like the West Ham/Fulham fixture, this is a case of a safe team playing a doomed one.

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan plans to have a chat with manager Roberto Martinez about the plans for next season in the top division.

“I will be sitting down with Roberto Martinez very soon to discuss budgets,” said Whelan in the Daily Mail.

“Some players will be staying, some will be going. But one thing we won’t do is go the way of Portsmouth and Hull, and just throw money around. We won’t be stupid about it.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Blackburn Rovers vs. Arsenal

With nothing much left to play for, the team sheets in this one could be interesting.

Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger would like Russian international Andrey Arshavin to stop talking about playing for Barcelona.

“Yes, I am very disappointed because he shows a completely different attitude,” Wenger told The Guardian. “He wants to extend his contract with us and stay with us, so the noise coming out of Russia is very difficult to explain.

“He looks to be very happy here, so you should ask him where it comes from. We do not, of course, accept that. When you are at Arsenal, you are at Arsenal. When you are somewhere else, you are somewhere else. I believe that your pride makes first that you defend your club.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Tottenham is pushing hard for a Champions League spot, but on Saturday, a title-hunting Manchester United squad is poised to push back.

That’s the key matchup this weekend, but there is plenty of other intrigue up and down the table as well.

Can Hull City or Burnley gain some ground on West Ham? How will the Manchester City/Arsenal match play out at the Emirates?

We could be in for a fun weekend.

Here’s a glance at the table:

And here’s where to find the matches on TV.

Manchester United and Spurs have the 7:45 a.m. ESPN game this week, and the stakes could hardly be higher for either side.

The title holders could move into first place for at least a day with a win Saturday, as current leaders Chelsea don’t face Stoke City until Sunday.

United midfielder Darren Fletcher told The Sun, ”Chelsea are the team leading the league and all the pressure is on them. We are just taking care of ourselves. They were in a situation where they might have felt they could have pulled away and be in a real strong position but they are not.”

Of course, Spurs are eying fourth place and a spot in next year’s Champions League.

Spurs’ midfielder Tom Huddlestone told the team’s Web site, ”the games don’t get any easier and now it’s Man United away. They did us a favor last weekend by beating City but it’s going to be a hard place to go to and our record up there isn’t great. We’ve just got to go into it with the confidence we’ve shown over the last two games and hopefully we can get something out of it.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Bolton Wanderers vs. Portsmouth

Portsmouth will have to try avoid looking ahead to the FA Cup final and not dwell on the fact that it can’t play Europa League football next season as it visits Bolton.

A win would guarantee the Trotters a place in the Premier League next season, and Bolton manager Owen Coyle isn’t taking Pompey lightly.

“In adversity, Portsmouth have shown strength and none more so than reaching the FA Cup final,” he told Click Lancashire. “They knocked out a Tottenham Hotspur side that has subsequently gone on to beat Arsenal and Chelsea, so that tells you how dangerous they are.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Hull City vs. Sunderland

The Tigers are running out of chances to stay in the top flight, pushing Saturday’s game with Sunderland into must-win territory.

Hull are three points back of West Ham with three matches to play, and with a 21-goal deficit in goal difference, it might as well be four.

“Of course I still believe,” Hull manager Iain Dowie told the team’s Web site. “I believe we must put three points on the board on Saturday. That’s what I must believe and that is what we must deliver.”

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has his sights set a bit higher – 10th place.

“I never gave up hope that we could reach 10th place as I knew we could string some results together,” Bruce told the team’s Web site. “It’s still a long shot, but it’s all to play for and if we win this weekend then who knows?”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

West Ham vs. Wigan Athletic

West Ham will be fighting to keep hold of 17th place while Wigan will try to pick up a win, and enough points to assure a spot in the top flight for next season.

“It’s clear now that another three points would guarantee us another season in the Premier League which would be a huge achievement,” Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told the team’s Web site. “Now more than ever we have to remain focused and prepare in the right way for what will be a very demanding game this weekend.”

U.S. international Jonathan Spector also knows the importance of this fixture for his West Ham side.

“It’s must-win and that’s certainly what we’ll be looking to do from the first minute to the very end. All our minds will be focused on is winning the game,” he told the Daily Mail. “No matter how they did, I think we’d be looking for a way to turn things round for our benefit. It’s about how we approach the game that matters.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Blackburn Rovers

Wolves need just three points to reach the current magic number of 37, but getting them against a stingy Blackburn side will be a stiff challenge.

They are one of the teams that could break into the top 10. They have also got capable footballers like all of Sam’s teams, like all of Mick McCarthy’s teams,” Wolves’ manager Mick McCarthy said. “They will work hard and compete and put their foot and if they don’t, they probably won’t be in the team – just like my team.”

Speaking of Sam Allardyce, he’s hoping to inch closer to the top 10.

“Away results have been our difficulty this year, performances overall have been good, particularly the back half of the season,” he told the team’s Web site. “So lets hope we find this type of finishing quality at Wolves because they’ve had a few good results recently, but they’ve had a struggle at home.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Arsenal vs. Manchester City

Their title hopes all-but dashed, Arsenal must settle for spoiling Manchester City’s plans for Champions League football in 2010-2011 when they meet in London this weekend.

City captain Kolo Touré is hoping for a less controversial display from his teammate, former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor this time around.

Adebayor drew the FA’s ire after racing across the pitch to celebrate a goal in front of the Arsenal supporters and a three-match ban for a clash with Robin van Persie.

“The game against them last September was really difficult for him but he needs to show more intelligence because we all know that what he did was not the best reaction – and as a friend I’ve told him that,” he told The Guardian. “I’ve told him he must be calm and not do anything (provocative). Ade is a professional player and must just focus on the game and give everything to help the team win.”

Arsenal will have to do without Andrey Arshavin, who is still suffering from calf and groin strains.

“Alas, the latest data says I should fully recover within a week, so on Saturday I won’t be able to enter the pitch,” he told the Daily Mail.

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Aston Villa vs. Birmingham

The 116th edition of the Birmingham Derby is set for this weekend at Villa Park.

Aston Villa has 50 wins to Birmingham’s 37 in the all-time series and they’ll be looking to continue it good Premier League form and make it six wins in a row against their Second City neighbors.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill is still holding out hop for a strong finish, telling the Telegraph, ”We’re in the mix. We’re going for everything and guaranteed nothing. We’re not even guaranteed to finish eighth in the league at this minute. We’ve gone above Liverpool with three games to go and that’s pretty exceptional. But where I’ve been pleased with the team is they’ve responded fantastically to the defeat at Stamford Bridge.

“We’ve come back and taken 10 out of the last 12 points. I think the team has shown a great deal of character all season and I think that was epitomised.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Burnley vs. Liverpool

It’s looking pretty bleak for Burnley’s chances to avoid the drop, but a famous win at Anfield would go a long way towards bolstering the Clarets’ hopes.

Midfielder Jack Cork, on loan from Chelsea, told Click Lancashire, “I am enjoying the challenge of playing in the Premier League and fighting in a relegation battle and it would be a massive achievement if we could stay in the league.

“I am just hoping to stay in the team, play really well and show everyone that we can stay in the Premier League. I haven’t got a goal for Burnley and hopefully if I can get a goal and help towards us staying up that would be really good.”

Liverpool, on the other hand, is now sitting in seventh – a Europa League spot – now that Portsmouth has been ruled out of next year’s competition.

The Reds had to travel to Spain and back (the old fashioned way), so a little weariness wouldn’t be totally unexpected.

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Everton vs. Fulham

Everton will welcome the Cottagers into Goodison Park Sunday for what will be Fulham’s 58th match this season in all competitions.

Fulham made a 17-hour trip to Hamburg for Thursday’s Europa League match, but was expected to catch a flight home.

“It was 17 hours from leaving our training ground at Motspur Park to arriving in Hamburg. But three hours of that was standing in a queue thanks to a traffic accident on the Autobahn,” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson told the Telegraph. “I’m very pleased with the way the players have accepted the fact it wasn’t easy to get here, something that was beyond everyone’s control and the way they’ve adapted to the situation.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Chelsea vs. Stoke City

The Blues know that three more wins will give them the title, but step one of that task will have to happen without captain John Terry, who will be serving a ban for being sent off against Spurs last week.

Deco knows the task at hand, telling the team’s Web site, ”It is a war, and we need to be prepared but, if you said on the first day of the Premier League in August we would be one point clear with three games to go, two at home and one game away, we would all say okay, I’ll sign!

“This is okay, it could be better if we won or Man U lost, okay, but it didn’t happen, and our moment is this – we have three games, two at home and one away – we need to play well and be together.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor 

Jermain Defoe puts Tottenham ahead

With only three weeks to go until the final Saturday of competition the key races in the Premier League are heating up. Two key derbys, one in Manchester and the other in London, threw the races for first and fourth place back into uncertainty as Burnley and Hull City seem unwilling to stay in the league for next season. The Manchester United, Manchester City match-up was already covered but read on for a recap of the rest of the action in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur 2, Chelsea 1

When Tottenham fell to lowly Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-finals last Sunday the season looked all but over for Harry Redknap’s side. Spurs faced Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in their next three matches and were already behind Manchester City in the race for fourth. But Spurs easily dispatched Arsenal in midweek and were able to dominate a Chelsea side who’s inconsistency has been an issue all season.

John Terry was unable to get away with a handball in the penalty area in the 15th minute. Jermaine Defoe sent Peter Cech the wrong way to give Tottenham the early lead. Chelsea were unable to mount sustained offensive pressure or mantain posession and the Blues defense broke again in the 44th minute as Garreth Bale embarrassed Paulo Ferreira to rifle a shot to the lower-lefthand corner.

Didier Drogba pulled a groin muscle as he stood in the center circle waiting to kick off the second half. The injury came seconds after Carlos Ancelloti had used his final two substitutions. The Ivorian striker had to stay on despite playing in obvious pain. John Terry was sent off in the 67th minute for his second yellow card in three minutes and there was no feasible way back into the match for Chelsea. Even Frank Lampard’s 18th goal of the season in the second minute of added time served as nothing more than a consolation.

Tottenham have pulled off their second massive upset in as many games and will look to make it three for three next week at Old Trafford. Chelsea need to find their defensive form and some consistency up top if they are to hold off Manchester United.

Birmingham 0, Hull City 0

This match-up featured a Birmingham club with nothing to play for and a Hull City side with everything at stake. The Tigers, sitting four points from safety and fresh off a 4-1 embarrassment at the hands of Burnley, desperately needed a result in order to preserve any hope of Premier League play next season. A 0-0 draw is not the worst outcome for Ian Dowie’s men but victories need to start coming soon. Chances for either side were few and far between with Jimmy Bullard’s shot directly at Joe Hart the best of the bunch.

Dowie said it was a “display to be proud of” given Birmingham’s stellar home record this season but with games running out and a final-day fixture against Liverpool looming one has to wonder if the clock has run out on Hull City.

Sunderland 2, Burnley 1

Sunderland officially secured safety from relegation with a comfortable victory over a Burnley side who are anything but safe. Fraizer Campbell kicked off the scoring for Sunderland following a brilliant cross from Alan Hutton. Campbell then played provider with a headed cross to Darren Bent for his 24th goal of the season. Steve Thompson brought a goal back in the 82nd minute but Burnley was unable to equalize thus bringing their away record to 1-1-16 for the season. The news doesn’t get better for Brian Laws’ men as their remaining fixtures are Liverpool, away to Birmingham and Tottenham.

Stoke City 1, Bolton Wanderers 2

Bolton edged closer to safety with a surprising victory over Stoke City. Stoke took the early lead with a Dave Kitson goal in the 13th minute but it was Matthew Taylor who played savior for Bolton with a cracking free-kick in the 85th minute before scoring the late winner two minutes from time. Stoke nearly equalized in the dying minutes but Stoke Captain Abdoulaye Faye sent his close range shot over the bar to hand Bolton a vital three points. The Wanderers now sit in 14th place and seven points clear of danger.

Fulham 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Fulham seem to be focused soley on the Europa League at this point and could only manage a scoreless draw against Wolves at Craven Cottage. Bobby Zamora’s second-half shot came off the post in one of the only full-fleged chances of the afternoon. Wolves sit six points clear of Hull City and three points clear of West Ham United. Mick McCarthy’s side has a relativley easy run of remaining fixtures with Blackburn, Portsmouth and Sunderland left on their docket. Fulham’s Europa League tie against Hamburg looks very much in doubt because of the European airspace lock down.

Blackburn Rovers 2, Everton 3

Tim Cahill continued his glorious return to form with a late winner against Blackburn. The victory keeps The Toffees’ slim Europa League hopes alive as they sit only a point behind Aston Villa and two behind Liverpool. Mikel Arteta opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the fourth minute but the contest came alive when Steven Nzonzi equalized with a 30-yard shot past Tim Howard. Substitute Ayegbeni Yakubu put Everton back in front following Leighton Baines long throw. Blackburn edged even thanks to Jason Roberts’ strike. But it was Cahill’s goal in the 90th minute that secured a valuable three points for Everton.

The latest installation of the Manchester Derby will be played at Eastlands this weekend, and as usual, the stakes are high.

This will be the 155th meeting in all competitions, and United has the edge with 63 wins to City’s 42. There have also been 49 draws, a result that won’t be good enough for the Red Devils in their chase for a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

United is four points back of Chelsea with just four game to play, so picking up all 12 points left on offer – while hoping for quite a bit of help – is the only play they’ve got left.

A draw won’t really suit Roberto Mancini’s squad either, as they hold a slim one-point lead over Tottenham for the all-important fourth and final Champions League slot.

There are no shortages of story lines, with Mancini hoping to avoid having to watch the match from the stands to Wayne Rooney’s possible involvement and all sorts of other drama.

It’s all yours in beautiful HD on the four-letter on Saturday.

Here’s a look at the TV schedule

Here’s a look at the table:

The Derby is always hard to figure, but make sure you give it a try…

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

There are other games this weekend, some vital to one end of the table or the other, some not so much…

Birmingham vs. Hull City

Dropping those three points at home to Burnley may have Hull City playing in the Championship next season, but there are still 15 points to be had for the Tigers, and they’ll be pushing hard for some at Birmingham on Saturday.

Birmingham will try to bounce back from last week’s thumping at the hands of Manchester City, and midfielder Lee Bowyer thinks they will.

“You have to learn from a result like we had, especially the boys at the back, the two centre-halves,” Bowyer told the Birmingham Mail. “That’s the first time they’ve tasted something like that this season. ‘They should come back bigger and stronger and put in a better performance, as should all the lads. No-one likes to lose, especially by that amount of goals.

“We will be at home, it will be a different game this weekend.”

Hull manager Iain Dowie has different ideas, telling the Hull Daily Mail, “In dark times you look around the dressing room to see who has got the strength of character.

“You learn a lot about people in adversity and I’m looking for a reaction now. We’ve got to train at intensity, work hard and be brave to get on the ball. You’ve got to be able to grind results out and (on Saturday) we just didn’t do that.”

Predict the winner with the EPL Talk Predictor

Blackburn Rovers vs. Everton

Everton has an outside shot at reaching a Europa League place, but this one figures to be mostly for pride at Ewood Park.

The Toffees are coming off a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday, a result that suited Everton manager David Moyes just fine.

“I’m not disappointed about how we played tonight, not at all,” Moyes said. “The last three games being draws make me feel that we’re playing well but maybe if we could have got one win out of them it would have made a big difference. I think it was an end-to-end game, there were lots of opportunities. I thought we played really well and got into good positions and didn’t always make a chance from it.”

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Fulham vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Fulham has an eye on its April 22 date with Hamburg in the Europa League semifinals, so it will be interesting to see what sort of squad Roy Hodgson puts out for this one.

Wolves’ defender Ronald Zubar isn’t buying the hype, telling Eurosport, “Fulham are playing us at home, where they’re very strong and as they’re playing well, they will be on the front foot. I think to have the confidence they need against Hamburg it’s best if they go there with a win, so they will be fully committed to beating Wolves.”

Hodgson was cleared this week of West Ham’s weak team complaint, but there may be more on that subject come Monday.

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Stoke City vs. Bolton Wanderers

The Potters are as mid-table as you can be, sitting 10th, as they host Bolton this weekend.

With 32 points, the Trotters look to be safe, but technically speaking, they’re still in the relegation discussion.

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Sunderland vs. Burnley

After picking up a surprisingly easy three points at Hull, the Clarets will try to repeat that feat at the Stadium of Light against the Black Cats.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce isn’t overlooking Burnley, telling Sky Sports, “On paper, we have got the bottom teams, but they can be very difficult. They are fighting for their lives. We have played very well against the so-called bigger teams, so it will be an interesting run-in and I hope we can finish strongly.

“My aim is can we catch Fulham, can we catch Stoke, can we catch Blackburn?”

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Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea

After a thrilling win in the North London Derby, Tottenham welcomes front-running Chelsea into White Hart Lane in a huge game for both sides.

As you can see from the table, this one mirrors the Manchester Derby in terms of its importance to the races for first and fourth.

“I said to the players if we could beat Arsenal we could still get fourth place,” Spurs’ manager Harry Redknapp told ESPN. “It’s still going to be hard but we’re right in there and this will give us a big lift now for Chelsea on Saturday. It will be another difficult game against a strong team but on the back of this we will go into it with a bit of confidence. We are in great form with six wins in the last seven in the league. The crowd will be with us again as they were tonight so it’s a game to look forward to.”

Chelsea captain John Terry is trying to keep his troops motivated, telling the Telegraph, “You compete and you compete, always at 100 percent, and then, when the opportunity arises, you have to seize it.

“When you seize it, you can make history. We’ve never won the league and cup double. In my lifetime only Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal have. We weren’t at our best. Nerves, with us not winning the Premier League for three years, took their toll late on but we managed to hold on.”

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Wigan Athletic vs. Arsenal

With their title hopes all-but-dashed, Arsenal faces a trip to Wigan on Sunday.

While it may not rise to the Gunners’ level of disappointment after losing a derby match, the Latics can’t be thrilled with the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth on Wednesday.

“It was a very tricky game,” Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told the Daily Mail. “The amount of changes that Portsmouth had to make didn’t help at all. They are used to adversity this season and you saw the reaction of the players. It was the game of their lives and if you don’t get the first goal we knew it was going to be very hard.”

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Portsmouth vs. Aston Villa

I keep wanting to write off Pompey, and they keep picking up points in places I think they shouldn’t. Still, since they’re welcoming a frustrated Aston Villa to Fratton Park on Sunday, anything can happen.

Considering the turmoil that Portsmouth has endured this season, manager Avram Grant is holding things together remarkably well.

“The Premier League need not say anything about Portsmouth,” he told the team’s Web site. “They need to give us an award because we are playing as we play with a lot of injuries – it is not ideal for us.”

There is still an outside chance that Villa could climb back into the race for fourth.

“Now I would say we have to win the whole lot from here,” Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill said. “It is not impossible but it will be tough. We will just give it all that we can.”

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Liverpool vs. West Ham

Even with the Europa League semifinal approaching, Liverpool needs every league point it can get to keep its flickering top-four hopes alive.

West Ham, four points clear of the drop zone, will be trying to put even more distance between itself and chasers Hull City and Burnley.

Reds’ boss Rafa Benitez told the Mirror, “we have to keep going until the end and if we win our games then we will have a chance. We will be ready to play against West Ham and it’s important to win so we will have more confidence to play against Atletico. Hopefully we can keep that momentum going.

“All the players know how important it is to progress in the Europa League and to try to be in the top four. We will try to do our best.”

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