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Five CL Final Questions For Chelsea...
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With Chelsea missing key players through suspension and possibly injury in the Champions League final, Matt Stanger asks five questions they need to consider...
The Champions League Final Friday Quiz - The Questions
Since there's an English team in the Champions League final, we thought it would be most appropriate to give you a quiz on those that have come before them...
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Bolton v Liverpool
The Trotters have picked up maximum points in their last two Premier League games but this doesn't disguise the fact that facially-challenged boss Gary Megson seems to be living on borrowed time at the Reebok. The ginger gaffer was a big favourite with the layers to become the first Premier League boss to lose his job a few weeks ago but wins over Manchester City and Hull seem to have given him a bit of breathing space. I expect Liverpool to put the pressure firmly back on by winning this one though and doing so with something to spare.
I wouldn't take much heed of their midweek spanking at the hands of Spurs as I can't see Andrea Dossenda or David Ngog getting anywhere near the starting line=up in this one. The Reds have won their last three against Bolton by a couple of goals at least and I reckon the 7/4 about them triumphing by more than one in the early kick-off on Saturday looks well worth a punt.
Betting: Liverpool (-1) to beat Bolton at 7/4 (Stan James).
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Arsenal's kids were the talk of football in midweek after putting in another sublime Carling Cup shift against Wigan. Despite having only about 35 pubes between them, Jay Simpson and co were way too good for the Latics at the JJB and one wonders whether Monsieur Wenger will keep the faith with his young charges here? If he does, Mexican starlet Carlos Vela surely looks a spot of value at 6s to score first. The former Salamanca star might still get asked for ID when he goes to his local off licence for a bottle of Lambrini but he has shown he is old enough and good enough to do it for the Gunners, who might well be looking for him to shine in the continued absence of Emanuel Adebayor, Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott.
Betting: Vela to score first at 6/1 (Coral).
Blackburn v Sunderland
Betting: 'No Goalscorer' Blackburn v Sunderland at 9/1 (Skybet).
Fulham v Tottenham
Harry Houdini might have just mistimed his run for 2008 Sports Personality of the Year and the US Presidency by a couple of days, but everything he is touching of late is turning to gold. The boss-eyed former West Ham boss has breathed new life into an ailing Spurs side, who look well worth a punt to take the spoils at Craven Cottage against a misfiring Fulham.
Betting: Tottenham to win to nil against Fulham at 16/5 (Paddy Power).
Manchester United v Stoke
It's a bit early to be talking about the 'C' word at Old Trafford (that's crisis of course, not Joe Kinnear's expletive of choice) but after losing at Arsenal and just about shambling past QPR in the Carling Cup it's clear that all is not well with the Red Devils. Conspiracy theorists are blaming the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov for upsetting the apple cart but their problems look a trifle more complex to me. Certainly only a loon would contemplate steaming in at 1/6 here. Stoke proved against Arsenal they are no respecter of reputation and while I fancy United to gain three points it might get ugly down Salford way so I wouldn't put punters off having a few shekels backing the 1-0 home win at inflated prices.
Betting: Manchester United to beat Stoke 1-0 at 8/1 (Sportingbet).
Newcastle v Wigan
The last three games between these two have ended 1-0 to the home side but I have a feeling there might be goals in this one. Wigan were embarrassed by Arsenal's junior side in the week and will have a point to prove, while you have to go all the way back to August for the last time Newcastle failed to score. It's even money on there being three or more goals at St James' and to my mind this is akin to finding it in the street.
Betting: Total goals three or more Newcastle v Wigan at evens (Stan James).
West Ham v Portsmouth
As Danny Dyer would no doubt confirm another 'pwoppa nawty twicky geezer' this one. Pompey are off and running under Tony Adams after their last-gasp win at Sunderland on Saturday while on the same afternoon the Hammers were serving up some real dog-sh*te at home to Everton. In truth this one is probably best avoided from a punting perspective but if you are determined to have a dabble then little Jimmy Defoe looks a fair price to open the scoring.
Betting: Defoe to score first at 11/2 (Skybet).
West Brom v Chelsea
In a word? Chelsea. They might have lost to Burnley but the big guns will be back for the visit to The Hawthorns. At a top price of 4/11 only the big hitters need apply but there is more than one way to fleece a bookie and I'm convinced Nicolas Anelka is a bet at evens to continue his fine scoring run. 'Le Sulk' has bagged six goals in his last four games (despite looking not the slightest bit interested for the most part) and with big Phil Scolari clearly preferring him to Didier Drogba these days (and with the Baggies having shipped 14 goals in their last five games) the Frenchie could have a field day in this one.
Betting: Anelka to score anytime at evens (Skybet).
Degsy Bilton
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