Everton vs West Ham Head to Head Stats - Preview

As Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke get back to the serious business (with owners' backing) of avoiding relegation, let's have a look at some key Everton stats at home and the head-to-head information.

Everton Key Stats:  

• played last 3 matches with less then 3 goals.
• won last 6 matches at home.
• average number of goals 2.9 per match, scored 1.6 and 1.3 conceded.
• played 11 home matches with at least one goal scored in a row. 

West Ham Key Stats:

• lost last 6 matches.
• lost last 3 matches at home.
• lost last 4 away matches.
• average number of goals 2.8 per match, scored 1.2 and 1.6 conceded.
• played 6 matches with at least one goal conceded in a row.
• played 5 away matches with at least one goal conceded in a row. 

Want to know who has scored the most headed goals since the 2005/06 season? It's an Everton player...care to guess?

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Liverpool v. Arsenal Preview: Reliving The 1989 Championship Decider

Blackburn Rovers Vs. Liverpool: Yet More Reminiscence of The Past

Liverpool travels to Blackburn on Saturday 5th December hoping to register their third consecutive win in all competitions. A Blackburn Rovers who must be full of confidence, having came through a nervy penalty shootout to beat Chelsea and advance to the semifinals of the Carling Cup.

Though not a crucial match, a win for Liverpool will help the Reds consolidate their fifth position in the Premiership league table. A slip up will allow Aston Villa to jump above Liverpool into fifth spot. So already, Liverpool is in a fight for the final Champions League spot and hence this put greater importance to the Ewood Park visit.

Liverpool have a good away record at Blackburn, the home team winning only once in the last nine matches. More importantly, there is a chance that Fernando Torres will be able to line up alongside Steven Gerrard. As though the motivation of the final Champions League spot is not enough, this Blackburn match will be Gerrard's 500th match and the Liverpool captain surely intend on celebrating with three points.

Just to underline how important Torres is to Liverpool this season, he has scored one matchwinning goal, two equalising goal and one hattrick en route to ten goals of an injury-troubled season. With Torres in the team along with Gerrard, Liverpool's win percentage goes up to 79%. Without either one, Liverpool win in only 56% of the matches.

One thing's for sure, I still think about the wonder volley goal 'Nando scored last season. Didn't it get voted as the goal of the season? Here it is again for our reminiscing pleasure.

David Ngog has looked better and better this season. That goal against Manchester United seemed to have given him a massive boost in confidence. Liverpool may have finally gotten the best out of the 20-year striker. I have full confidence that Rafa knows how to get a win when it matters. Blackburn is shorn of their best player, David Dunn, meaning that their attack and creativity will lack thrust. The Reds must dictate the flow of the game and withstand a ten to fifteen physical onslaught/gamesmanship. Three points will be massive!

West Ham United's Home Record Against Manchester United Is A Confidence Booster

After the euphoria of a crazy 5-3 win over Burnley, an injury crisis jolts West Ham back to reality. Carlton Cole is confirmed out of action until the new year. Valon Behrami and Alessandro Diamanti are sidelined with injuries, knee and hip respectively. Matty Upson cannot seem to shake off his hamstring problem.

Still with confidence coursing through Hammer veins, playing Manchester United at Upton Park may not seem such a bad idea. Even with the injuries to these would-be first teamers, Zola and team should be quietly optimistic. After all, the Hammers have a great record at home against the current Champions.

Since the 2000/2001 season, West Ham have been involved in tight matches against the Red Devils, winning two in a row (between 2006 to 2008) before narrowly losing 1-0 last season. Over the years, West Ham at Upton Park have been incredibly difficult to play against for Manchester United. The Hammers definitely raise their game a notch when it is United coming to East End.

Hopefully, that will be the case on Saturday. The influential Scott Parker should take the captain's armband and will no doubt lead by example. Upfront, Guille Franco has fully displayed his repertoire of skills and footballing awareness. Three goals and one assist represent a fair return for the Mexican, earning the appreciation of the terrace fans.

Undeniably, Manchester United is a tough hurdle. They have won 12 Premier League away matches this year, the most wins from any visiting team so far. While West Ham have scored well from set pieces (eight headed goals), United have conceded the least goals from set pieces.

Nevertheless with Carlton Cole out, Zola must be banking on the speed, movement and guile of Franco and Hines to unlock the United defence. Let's face it, we need to score more goals than Manchester United if we hope to gain three points. Our unsettled defence will not be able to stop the threesome of Rooney, Valencia and Giggs running at them at full tilt. The West Ham midfield will need to stop the supply so a defensive shield of Noble and Parker should provide enough "muscle" to do that.

The Flat Back Four's favoured West Ham lineup (4-4-2):
--------------------------------- Green

Spector --------------- Da Costa ------ Gabbidon ------------ Ilunga

---------------- Parker--------------------------- Noble

Faubert -------------- ----------- ---- ------------------- Collison

------------------------ Hines ------ Franco

Can we hope for a repeat of the 2-1 thriller on 29th December 2007? Late goals from Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson sealed a dramatic win for the Hammers, at a time when we looked down and out.

Winning and denting the title hopes of Manchester United once again would really have the fans believing again that this is a quality team capable of beating any team on their day. It will put us in good nick for the subsequent matches against Birmingham and Bolton.

Come on you Irons!

Hull City vs. West Ham United: A Crucial Six-Pointer But Diamanti Is Injured!

West Ham United travels to Hull City this Saturday and will be looking to put the miserable Everton match behind them. We have to start winning and stay in control of our Premiership destiny. We need to set off on a winning run. At the moment, West Ham cannot put together a win streak that our play at times deserves.

Jimmy Bullard is a livewire in midfield and therefore our West Ham players may not have much time on the ball. Nevertheless the pass and move, one touch football that Zola has the team playing should cause problems to Hull. Geovani, easily Hull's best player this season, is back from suspension and will pull the strings with Bullard in midfield.

Carlton Cole will be back to lead the line for West Ham. He has still not ended up on the winning side whenever he scored. I hope that he will break that trend in this match. Unfortunately, Alessandro Diamanti hurt his hip in training and will be out of this match. Diamanti have been the difference (as a substitute) in the games that he has played in. West Ham will surely miss his energy and enthusiasm.

Zola should set up his West Ham side with the formation which worked well against Sunderland and Arsenal. Hence the below is my favoured West Ham lineup.

The Flat Back Four's favoured West Ham lineup (4-4-2):
--------------------------------- Green

Faubert --------------- Da Costa ------ Upson ------------ Spector

---------------------------- Parker

----------------------------------------------- Noble

Behrami -------------- ----------- ---- ------------------- Collison

------------------------ Cole ------ Franco

So, let's get the much needed three points, jump over Hull City in the league position and we could be in very good shape against a travel-shy Burnley team. A really crucial six-pointer, all happening within the next two weekends. It's going to be two very significant weekends for West Ham United.

Can West Ham put together two consecutive wins? Come on You Irons!

Liverpool At Its Best - Backs Against Wall, Watch Out Manchester City

Great news, all Liverpool fans! Injury treatment in Serbia has reaped handsome rewards and the injured are now fighting fit!

Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun, Fabio Aurelio, Steven Gerrard, David Ngog and Glen Johnson are all declared fit and ready to take on draw specialists, Manchester City. Liverpool is most dangerous when they are wounded - hurt by public criticisms and poor performances. One win in nine matches, out of which six were defeats have hurt the Red's title ambitions. Premier League leaders, Chelsea are now 11 points ahead of Liverpool, which can be overhauled considering that Chelsea will lose players due to January's African Nations Cup.

Manchester City are not to be underestimated but they have yet to show consistency this season. Nothing new about this, considering that this City team is virtually a new one bought with ₤118million. City's lack of fluidity and defensive frailties are the main reasons that they are not higher up the table, since they have only lost once this season. Hmmm...isn't that a carbon copy of Liverpool last season??

This is a match where everyone seemed to be writing off Liverpool. At Anfield, Liverpool has scored 15 goals and only let in six thus far. However, apart from Torres (who is about 2-3 weeks away from full fitness), one wonders where the goals could come from. David Ngog, in recent weeks, have stepped up with great performances and Rafa may turn to him again.

Head To Head At Anfield

Date	Competition	Home team	Score/Time	Away team
22-02-2009	Premier League	Liverpool	1 - 1	Manchester City
04-05-2008	Premier League	Liverpool	1 - 0	Manchester City
25-11-2006	Premier League	Liverpool	1 - 0	Manchester City
26-02-2006	Premier League	Liverpool	1 - 0	Manchester City
21-08-2004	Premier League	Liverpool	2 - 1	Manchester City

Liverpool have an unbeaten home record against Manchester City though the matches have been tight affairs. The Kop will be a factor in this match for sure. Furthermore, Liverpool under Benitez, are at their best when treated as underdogs. If the Reds can keep Adebayor quiet (he has a tendency to raise his game for the big one) then Liverpool will win this contest.

This is THE match of the weekend. There will be goals in this one for sure, though personally I am more excited by the prospect of seeing Aquilani actually making his Premiership home debut at some point in the match on Saturday.

Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Who Will Win The First Big 4 Clash?

Old Trafford will witness the first Big 4 clash of the 2009/2010 Barclays Premier League season. The second plum fixure of this weekend pits Manchester United against Arsenal. Already the press is building up the historical rivalry between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

This is a testament of the great start that Arsenal have made this season. Ten goals scored against Everton and Portsmouth have made them one of the in-form team in the league. United, notoriously slow starters, may find this match has come a little bit too early for them.

Cesc Fabregas is already ruled out of this game and his absence will be missed. Nevertheless, the attacking trio of Eduardo, Robin Van Persie and Arshavin are a threat to any team. Vidic and co will have to work hard to contain the clever movement and pace of the Arsenal attack.

United's midfield have only a slight edge over the Gunners trio of Diaby, Song and Denilson. Arsenal look lightweight in midfield and that must be addressed during the transfer window. Manchester United have experience and tenacity in their midfield. Much will depend on the Denilson vs. Carrick matchup.

Former Ajax captain Thomas Vermaelen has been a fantastic influence in the Arsenal defence, making light of Kolo Toure's departure to the Manchester City. Together with Gallas, this confrontation with Rooney and Berbatov will be his hardest test so far. A good display against the United duo will prove that Arsene Wenger is the undisputed leader in talent spotting.

I expect an entertaining match between two footballing sides. United looked to have more power about them but Arsenal have the technical ability to score against any team. Hence, the expectation is that the first Big 4 match will end in a score draw.

Blackburn Rovers vs. West Ham United: Expect A Physical Battle

West Ham travel to Ewood Park this Saturday to face Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn are pointless after the first three matches and will be tough to play against at home. The Hammers received a boost this morning when Zola managed to capture the signing of talented Alessandro Diamanti.

Hopefully, Diamanti will have a part to play in the match tomorrow afternoon. West Ham should be in for a highly physical afternoon as Sam Allardyce's side will try to address the gap in passing ability by roughing up the West Ham players.

Again, Scott Parker will be an important presence, acting as a minder for the younger West Ham midfielders. His experience and robust nature should be able to curb the physical Blackburn side, thereby allowing Mark Noble, Junior Stanislas and Jack Collison (or Kieron Dyer) to get into the game.

The Rovers defence will be understrengthed as Ryan Nelsen is possibly nursing an injury. The departed Steven Warnock has left a gap on the left side of defence. Mercenary Pascal Chimbonda is not as dependable as Warnock has been for Blackburn. Carlton Cole will look to add to his first goal of the season last weekend here at Ewood. It will be another physical test for Luis Jiminez, I hope he can cope and perform to the best of his capabilities.

It should be an afternoon where West Ham can put the nightmare of four horrific incidents behind them with a victory.