Prediction Panel table: Spurs shake off Wigan defeat to close gap at top

Football . . .it’s a funny old game. I was expecting some big scores from our pundits this week as there were four seemingly nailed on home wins. However, while Chelsea beat Stoke City, Liverpool disposed of West Brom and Manchester United gave West Ham a hiding, Champions League new boys Tottenham ...

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Aston Villa v Everton: Will the real Villa please stand up?

What is going on at the Villa? Since losing James Milner to Manchester City, Villa have been thrashed by Newcastle United 6-0 and dumped out of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna for the second year running. It’s all a far cry to the joyous scenes on the opening day following their comfortable openin...

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Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion: Baggies face Reds backlash

Liverpool go into Sunday’s game with West Bromwich Albion still searching their first league win under new manager Roy Hodgson. However, history suggests this should be an easy day at the office for the Anfield giants. The visitors haven’t won on the red half of Merseyside for 43 years and haven’t ...

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Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City: Game has draw all over it

There are some games this weekend that seem like total home bankers – Chelsea v Stoke, Spurs v Wigan and Manchester United v West Ham – this game though, according to our Panel, seems like a stick on draw. Neither Bolton nor Birmingham have tasted defeat this season and they currently sit fifth and...

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Sunderland v Manchester City: City hope to build on Liverpool win

Were Manchester City that good or were Liverpool that bad? That has been one of the burning issue this week in the game following City’s 3-0 win over the Reds and City’s visit to the Stadium of Light may go some way to answering it. The Black Cats home form is nothing to be sniffed at yet City seem...

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Manchester United v West Ham United: Can the Irons avoid a hammering?

If Sir Alex Ferguson learned one thing about his side last weekend it was not to let Nani take a penalty when the game remains in the balance. The Portuguese winger denied the Red Devils victory at the Cottage and those two dropped points could be the difference between winners and losers come May. ...

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Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United: Former Black Cat aims to burst the Mags’ bubble

Newcastle United sensationally joined the Premier League’s 6-0 club last weekend with a vintage display against Aston Villa. Striker Andy Carroll grabbed a hat-trick as the Mags welcomed top flight football back to St James’ Park in style. However, former Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy will be hop...

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Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic: Martinez faces another spanking

It must be a great time to be a Spurs fan. Harry Redknapp’s are in the Champions League proper, are playing some fantastic football and this weekend they welcome the whipping boys of Wigan to the Lane. To say Roberto Martinez has had a poor start to the season is an understatement. Thrashed on the ...

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Chelsea v Stoke City: Will the Potters join the 6-0 club?

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has a real sense of humour. Before the season kicked off he told the Press that Chelsea were not ready for the new campaign. If that’s the case then they may as well let the Blues keep the Premier League title. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have played two, picked up maximum p...

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Blackpool v Fulham: Tangerines have eyes set on victory

Did Blackpool lose to Arsenal last weekend? I can’t remember. And you what, you can bet your life that none of the Blackpool players can either as manager Ian Holloway looks to grab his second Premier League win of the season. The Gunners took the 10-men Tangerines apart at the Emirates but Ollie w...

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Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: Gunners are ready for the fight

Sam Allardyce has never made life easy for Arsenal and this weekend will be no different as the Rovers aim to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Birmingham. However, they will be taking on an Arsenal side full of confidence after their 6-0 drubbing of newly promoted Blackpool. Blackburn have a fo...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Three

Some people think they know everything about football, well let’s see if they do. Here I have 10 questions which will separate the Spurs from the Young Boys. If you think you are clued up on the beautiful game then prove it. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: Who was the last player to be transferre...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Three – The Answers

Well, how did you get on? We’d love to hear from you. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: David Bentley is the last player to have moved between the two sides. 2. Blackpool v Fulham: You could have said: Barry Hayles, Geoff Horsfield, Steve Finnan or Kit Symons. 3. Chelsea v Stoke City: Florent ...

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Prediction Panel Table: Wolves topple the Toffees

Wolverhampton Wanderers attracted a bit of criticism for their performance at Goodison Park on Saturday but their representative in our Prediction Panel, and current champion, has toppled the Toffees following another brilliant week. Chris Cox, the only pundit last week to predict that Chelsea woul...

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Wigan Athletic: Can Martinez turn it around?

Nineties pop act D:Ream famously sang that Things Can Only Get Better. Unfortunately it looks as though things are going to get a whole lot worse for Wigan Athletic before they show any signs of getting better. Humbled by newly promoted Blackpool on the opening day, then hit for six by the champion...

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Manchester City v Liverpool: City require Hart’s heroics

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina literally handed Arsenal a share of the points last weekend but he will be determined to keep City out when Hodgson’s Reds visit Eastlands this Monday. The Anfield giants looked like getting the season off to a winning start before Reina’s blunder and the battling d...

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Fulham v Manchester United: Cottagers seek hat-trick over the Red Devils

Manchester United have failed to win at the Cottage in their past two visits although something tells me Paul Scholes and Sir Alex Ferguson won’t let that become three in a row this weekend. The Red Devils have really started the season on fire. They made Chelsea look ordinary in the Community Shie...

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Newcastle United v Aston Villa: Mags seek revenge on the Villains

Aston Villa effectively consigned Newcastle United to the Championship the last time they met and Chris Hughton’s men will be looking to make up for that heartache this Sunday. Newcastle United managed to bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking but a Paul Scholes-inspired Manchest...

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Wigan Athletic v Chelsea: How many will the Blues score this weekend?

Wigan were thumped emphatically by the Premier League new boys Blackpool on the opening day so what on earth are the free-scoring champions Chelsea going to do to Roberto Martinez’s men this weekend? On paper the Latics should be annihilated. The Blues put eight past Wigan on the final day of last ...

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West Ham United V Bolton Wanderers: Grant expects a reaction from the hapless Hammers

The Hammers were soundly beaten on the opening day by Aston Villa and the arrival of Bolton Wanderers will do nothing to boost confidence. The Wanderers are definitely one of West Ham’s bogey teams. The Boleyn Ground boys have failed to beat Owen Coyle’s men in their past seven meetings and their 3...

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West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland: Baggies look to bounce back from mauling

The Baggies were widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge with nothing last weekend, but not many people thought they would lose so heavily. That 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea means Albion’s home games have become even more important in their quest for survival. They put Sunderland to the s...

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Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs fancied to beat the Potters

Not too many teams have left the Britannia Stadium with maximum points over the past two years but Spurs are one of them and Harry Redknapp will be looking to leave the Potteries with all three points again this weekend. Spurs will count themselves fortunate to still be in contention for a place in...

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Everton v Wolves: Toffees backed to get first points on the board

Wolves got their new campaign off to a flying start with a 2-1 win over their Midlands rivals Stoke City but they will need to be on top of their game if they are to leave Goodison Park with a share of the spoils this weekend. Everton slipped to their third opening day defeat in a row at Blackburn ...

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Arsenal v Blackpool: Gunners ready to shoot down Ollie’s Army

Who’d have thought that Blackpool would be going into this game not only above Arsenal in the table but only being kept off the top spot by the champions Chelsea? Everything Ian Holloway’s men touched last weekend went in as they blitzed the hapless Wigan Athletic and they will be hoping Lady Luck i...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Two

It’s that time of the week again. Here is the latest batch of questions intended to leave you rooted to the spot like West Ham’s Robert Green! Last week’s questions were intentionally hard. This week we’ve lowered the mark a little but it’s still more taxing than your average GMTV phone-in. All the...

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Squarefootball's Premier League Quiz: Week Two - The Answers

Here are the answers to the second instalment of our quiz. 1. Arsenal v Blackpool: Alan Ball is the World Cup winner with links to both Arsenal and Blackpool. 2. Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers: Barry Ferguson is the former Rover who scored against Birmingham in 2003. 3. Everton v Wolves: ...

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Arsenal: Schwarzer or Given? You decide!

Everybody recognises that Arsenal desperately require a proven goalkeeper in place before the transfer window closes in order to realistically challenge for honours this season. Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer is reportedly the top choice for Arsene Wenger and the Frenchman is close to sealing the Austral...

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Prediction Panel Standings: Toffees top the table

Everton may have lost their opening game against Blackburn Rovers but Toffees fan Chris Goodwin has given the blue half of Merseyside something to cheer by topping the Premier League Prediction Panel table. Mr Goodwin correctly predicted five correct results from the first weekend of top flight ac...

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Manchester United v Newcastle United: Can the Mags make a point at Old Trafford?

Chris Hughton has won a number of plaudits for the way he guided Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first time of asking but he will win the freedom of the city if he can lead the Mags to their first win at Old Trafford since 1972. Kevin Keegan began the 2008-09 campaign as manager with an...

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Liverpool v Arsenal: Gunners aim to spoil Hodgson’s big day

The last time Arsenal started the season on Merseyside they hit Everton for six. Can Arsene Wenger’s men do to Liverpool what they did to the Toffees 12 months ago? New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will certainly be hoping not. There is a distinct feel-good factor at Anfield following the arrival of ...

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Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion: Baggies hope to avoid the Blues

The champions Chelsea are set to start the new campaign by hosting former fans’ favourite Roberto Di Matteo’s West Bromwich Albion and the majority are expecting the Blues to carry on where they left off against Wigan. Chelsea won the title at the Bridge with a convincing 8-0 thrashing of Roberto ...

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Wigan Athletic v Blackpool: Seasiders seek sensational start

Eighteen years ago Blackpool took on Wigan in their first ever league clash in what was then Division Four. This weekend the two clubs meet in the top flight for the first time. Both clubs have gone on unbelievable journeys in recent years but who will start the new campaign with a win? Ian Hollow...

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Blackburn Rovers v Everton: Toffees seek winning start

Everton were one of only three teams to have triumphed at Ewood Park last season and David Moyes will be itching to get off to a better start than this time 12 months ago. Last season the Toffees were torn apart on the opening day of the season by a rampaging Arsenal side at Goodison Park and they ...

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Sunderland v Birmingham City: No Hart but Bramble gives Blues hope

Birmingham were one of the major surprises in the Premier League last season. Tipped by many to go down, Alex McLeish’s men finished the campaign in the top half thanks to an amazing 15 league and cup game unbeaten run. That stretch started with victory over the Black Cats at St Andrews in October a...

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Bolton Wanderers v Fulham: Can Hughes start with an away win?

This could turn out to be one of the opening weekend’s best games. Bolton manager Owen Coyle loves his teams to pass the ball about and attack and I can’t see new Fulham boss Mark Hughes making too many radical changes to the format that served the Cottagers so well last season. Fulham have won hal...

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Wolverhampton Wanderers v Stoke City: Molineux holds no fear for the Potters

Wolves started last season with an opening day defeat at the hands of West Ham United but Mick McCarthy will be looking to avoid a similar result this time round when rivals Stoke City come calling. However Molineux will hold no fears for the Potters. Tony Pulis’s men have lost just one of their pa...

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Aston Villa V West Ham United: Grant aims to be Villa’s main villain

Martin O’Neill’s resignation from Villa Park has overshadowed this match but both teams will be aware how crucial it is to get three points under their belts early on. West Ham United started last season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over newly promoted Wolves at Molineux. Unfortunately Ginafranco...

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Tottenham Hotspur V Manchester City: Explosive opener expected at the Lane

What a game this is to kick off the new Premier League season. Roberto Mancini’s billionaires head to White Hart Lane still smarting from their late defeat at the hands of Spurs at Eastlands in May. That result condemned City to another season in the Europa League while Harry Redknapp completed his ...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Challenge: Week one

The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend and so does a new feature on squarefootball. Each Friday I’ll be testing your knowledge of the top flight clubs by posing you 10 questions relating to that weekend’s fixtures. There are no prizes on offer, only personal glory – we’re not made of m...

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Premier League Challenge answers: Week one

Here are the answers to the questions in our Premier League Challenge week one. 1. Tottenham v Manchester City: Joey Barton and David Sommeil were the goalscorers in City’s last league win at White Hart Lane. 2. Aston Villa v West Ham United: Marlon Harewood was the last player to have scored a ...

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Aston Villa: Who will replace O’Neill at Villa Park?

Martin O’Neill stunned the football world on Monday afternoon (August 9) by quitting his post at Aston Villa. The decision came just five days before the start of the new season andalthough there have been countless rumours over the past few months regarding O’Neill’s future at Villa Park hardly any...

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Blackburn Rovers: Was Robinson right to quit England?

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce couldn’t understand why Fabio Capello overlooked Paul Robinson for the World Cup in South Africa. The former Tottenham, Leeds United and England shot-stopper was in top form for the Ewood Park side and his past mistakes were a distance memory as he reproduced the ...

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Who will be the Premier League’s top goalscorer?

Goals win games so it’s no wonder Chelsea won the league last season with Didier Drogba in sparkling form. The Ivory Coast forward found the back of the net an astonishing 29 times in 32 league appearances just edging out Manchester United’s star man Wayne Rooney with 26. So will the England marksma...

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Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers?

If everything I predicted 12 months ago came true I would be a very rich and happy man right now. Unfortunately Arsenal let me down in the league, West Ham failed me in the FA Cup and letting my heart rule my head in the SPL by putting £10 on my beloved Aberdeen to win the SPL really was a waste of ...

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Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers Part 2

Well you’ve heard what our Panel members have had to say for themselves, now it’s time for the “experts” to have their say. We’ll start off with writer Hugh Larkin. He loves the underdog but he thinks Chelsea are just far too strong for anyone to cope with and thinks Arsenal and Spurs are going to...

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Manchester City: What is their best starting XI?

Modern day football is definitely a squad game and Manchester City have assembled one of the biggest and most talented squads in the Premier League as they chase domestic and European silverware. There is competition for places all over the pitch and nobody, not even Carlos Tevez, can be guaranteed ...

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West Brom: Baggies braced for tough start

West Brom fans could be forgiven for thinking that the Premier League fixture computer is a Wolves fan for the Baggies couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to the new season if they tried. Roberto Di Matteo’s men travel to the champions Chelsea on the opening day followed by trips to Liverpool an...

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Can Newcastle finish above Sunderland?

The fierce Tyne-Wear derby is back on the agenda this season and the fans in the north east just can’t wait for October 31 to arrive. That will be the day Newcastle host Sunderland for the first time in more than a year and while both sets of fans would sell their grannies to ensure victory just who...

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Fantasy football 2010/11 reminder

Do you think you can spend £100 million better than Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini? Do you think you could assemble a better squad than Spurs boss Harry Redknapp? Do you think you can guide your side to glory like Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti? If so then we want to hear from you. We at Squarefootba...

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Fulham: Can Sparky fill Hodgson’s boots?

There are some real tough jobs in this world – being the hair stylist to those annoying X Factor brats Jedward is one of them – but replacing Roy Hodgson in the dugout at Fulham is undoubtedly right up there. The former Switzerland international coach took Fulham from the brink of relegation to a ...

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