Liverpool vs West Ham

Liverpool continued with their highly unreliable performances, coming from exclusion in League Cup game away to Chelsea. After a 1:1 draw at home in the first game, they had a decent chance to progress further and get a positive result, which they generally did after second ninety minutes, but failed to respond in extra-time suffering a narrow 1:0 defeat due the only goal scored from Ivanovic in 94th minute.

Prior to that game, they had a goalless draw at home against Bolton last weekend, with the team having quite poor and uncreative performance against a level lower ranked side. This means that the team is without a goal scored in last two matches, but at least, coming from two straight victories in Premier League. They do have many draws, but are also on undefeated run in Premier League for six matches. They have also climbed up to eight position, being just four points away from sixth placed Arsenal and in case of a victory here, they could go really close to Champions League tickets this time. Mamadou Sakho limped off with a back injury against Chelsea, but should be fit for this match. Important Steven Gerrard is set to start at bench here, as he played all 120 minutes against the Blues. Central defender Kolo Toure (13/0) is still at African Cup of Nations, while injured remain quite unimportant full back Jon Flanagan (no performance yet in the season) and goalkeeper Bradley Jones (3/0).



West Ham, on the other side, comes from a narrow 1:0 victory on the road against Bristol City in FA Cup last Sunday, thanks to goal from Sakho in 81st minute. Even though it was a late minutes goal, the visiting side deserved their victory being much more concrete side during the game, while the pressure they made in last quarter was good enough for the final victory.

Prior to that game, West Ham took an easy 3:0 victory at home against Hull City two weeks before, ending a run of four matches with no victory in Premier League. Even so, they keep very high seventh position, being only three points away from Arsenal on sixth position and only four points away from Champions League placed Manchester United. Visitors have defenders James Collins, James Tomkins, Carl Jenkinson and Joey O’Brien all set as doubtful here, but most of them should get the fitness right on time for the match. Central midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate (19/1) is at African Cup of Nations.

Liverpool have seen over 2.5 goals in 9 of their last 10 matches against West Ham.
Liverpool are undefeated in their last 13 home matches against West Ham.
Liverpool has to be set as favorite here, but with the way they play and have probelms scoring, they should be nowhere close to such a strong favorites. West Ham looks quite confident at the moment and it won’t be much of the surprise in case the team walks away with all three points today.

Bet: West Ham +1 Asian handicap @ 1.83

Stade Rennes vs AS Saint-Etienn

Stade Rennes vs. AS Saint-Etienne / Ligue 1 – From this weekly program of the French Ligue 1 we have this time singled out one late afternoon match of the 21st round, which brings us the ninth Rennes and third St. Etienne, which currently has a 10 point lead. Otherwise, their last two duels, which were played in St. Etienne, ended without goals, while last year at this stadium the hosts celebrated with 3-1. Begins: 18.01.2015 – 17:00 CET

Stade Rennes
This is why the hosts are now hoping that they can come to a positive result against their great rivals, despite the fact that they are at this point in a much worse shape than them. The footballers of Rennes suffered three defeats and one draw in the championship, and his draw took place away at Evian in the last round, so they are very quickly spoiled all the good things they have done in October and November last year.

However, they are still holding the ninth position in the standings, with only four points behind the fifth Monaco, which means that they have not lost hope that they can get hold of Europe, while in the French Cup they recently passed in the fourth round after they celebrated over Dunkirk. On the other hand, in the League Cup after the victory over Creteil they were defeated five days ago in Bastia, with the provision that they finished the match with nine players, because defender Lenjani who just arrived and midfielder Konradsen were excluded. That is why they will now miss this league game with St. Etienne, as well as injured strikers Grosicki and Ntep, while defender M’Bengue who is currently at the African Cup of Nations.

Probable lineups Stade Rennes: Costil – Danze, Mexer, Armand, Diagne – Pajot, Fernandes, Doucoure – Bruls, Toivonen, Henrique

AS Saint-Etienne
As for St. Etienne, they were five days ago eliminated from the French League Cup after a home defeat by the reigning champion PSG, while they earlier successfully finished their performance in the National Cup, by celebrating over Nancy. But what is at the moment much more important for them is that they are not defeated in the championship since mid-October last year and so this match at Rennes comes to them after a stunning series of five wins and one draws.

It is therefore not surprising that they are at the moment on a high third position in Ligue 1, with only two points behind Marseille and another three in relation to the leading Lyon, which in fact means that the appetites of their fans are now maximally increased. However, coach Galtier is constantly trying to calm down the euphoria, because he is well aware that they will at some point experience the end of this positive series, especially since they lately have many problems with absences. So, defender Clerc and midfielders Corgnet and Cohade will have to miss this Sunday’s match due to injuries, while defender Pogba, midfielder Gradel and striker Diomande are at the African Cup of Nations.

Probable lineups AS Saint-Etienne: Ruffier – Theophile-Catherine, Sall, Perrin, Tabanou – Lemoine, Clement – Hamouma, Mollo, Monnet-Paquet – Erding

Stade Rennes vs. AS Saint-Etienne PICK
Even though St. Etienne is now in a much better shape than Rennes, these latest absences could leave a mark on their game, so in this small French derby it is perhaps the most realistic to expect a small number of goals.

Pick: under 2.5 goals

Newcastle vs Southampto

Newcastle vs. Southampton / Premier League – And for the very end of this Saturday’s program within the 22nd round of the English Premiership we have a duel between the 10th Newcastle and the third Southampton, which currently has 12 points more. In addition, the popular “Saints” have in the last two home matches against the “Magpies” celebrated with a convincing victory of 4-0, which only continued the tradition the hosts rarely lose points in their mutual clashes. Begins: 17.01.2015 – 18:30 CET

Newcastle
Specifically, Newcastle can also boasts that they at home have a number of six wins and two draws against Southampton, which certainly gives them a reason for optimism before this Saturday’s duel. But on the other hand, their current form does not go in their favour, because in the last two league rounds, they played only 3-3 at home against Burnley and were defeated away by Chelsea with 2-0, while in the meantime they were also eliminated from the FA Cup after the away defeat by Leicester.

It is because of these few poorer performances that we are all surprised why they have not brought any verified coaching new name to St. James Park after the departure of Pardew, but they gave the opportunity to his recent associate Carver. However, if they now lose points against Southampton, then we doubt that they will continue to delay bringing the new coach, because already at this point they probably lost all chances to reach some of the positions that lead to Europe. We should also add that defenders Ryan and Steven Taylor and midfielders de Jong and Obertan are not able to perform in this match due to injuries, while midfielder Tiote and striker Papis Cisse are both at the African Cup of Nations.

Probable lineups Newcastle: Krul – Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett – Anita, Colback – Cabella, Sissoko, Ameobi – Perez

Southampton
As for Southampton, they unlike the “Magpies” are welcoming this match of the 22nd round in an excellent mood, because they in the meantime restored their form with the start of the season, and thus recorded four wins and one draw in the last five League rounds, while three days ago in the FA Cup they also qualified in the fourth round, after celebrating as guests with 1-0 in a repeated match against Ipswich. Otherwise, they also defeated the great Manchester United with the same result last weekend at Old Trafford and took over the third position in the Premiership, along with the fact that they now have two points more.

Let us also add that coach Koeman in the FA Cup fielded a combined team, with the proviso that he primarily rested his key players in the attack, so they will now be much more prepared for this extremely important championship duel. As for the absences, this time due to injuries they cannot count on defender Alderweireld, midfielder Cork and strikers Rodriguez and disadvantages, while defender Yoshida is at the Asian Cup.

Probable lineups Southampton: Forster – Clyne, Gardos, Fonte, Bertrand – Wanyama, Schneiderlin – Ward-Prowse, Davis, Tadic – Pelle

Newcastle vs. Southampton PICK
Given that Southampton made this great series came largely thanks to their excellent performances in defence, we believe will be set up in a similar way in this away match against the always unpredictable Newcastle and therefore we expect a very hard and not very efficient match.

Pick: under 2.5 goals

Stake: 5/10

Odds: 1.80

Espanyol vs Celta Vigo

Espanyol vs. Celta Vigo / La Liga – The teams are positioned in the middle of the table and don’t play well lately, although both had won in the Cup. The difference is that victory in the Cup had brought the quarter finals for Espanyol, while Celta won but the victory was not enough to pass further. Espanyol lost the last two league matches, while Celta’s series without victories is even longer, although it drew in the last round. Celta has one point more but it hasn’t won Espanyol away for a long time, who had won the last five matches against Celta in front of its fans. Begins: 17.01.2015 – 22:00 CET

Espanyol
The things are not going well in the championship but they are compensating that with the Cup as Espanyol qualified last week for the quarterfinals eliminating no less than Valencia after the defeat in the first leg. They had made a pretty good result at the Mestalla as they lost by 2-1, but in spite of that they needed a good game in the second leg, which only a few expected after two straight defeats in the championship, one of which one was suffered at home by Eibar.

Even the team was almost completely changed compared to the one that mostly plays league matches but they were a bit lucky when the opponent was left with one less player on the pitch. They have taken the initiative, attacked and then coach Gonzalez sent in F. Caicedo, which proved to be a crucial moment as this player scored two goals and brought them to the quarterfinals. Now, despite the success, a different team will play and most of the heroes of the Cup will move on the bench, while the good news is that midfielder S. Sevilla is definitely ready.

Probable lineups Espanyol: Casilla – Arbilla, Colotto, Moreno, Fuentes – V. Sanchez, Canas – Montanes, S. Sevilla, Sergio Garcia – F. Caicedo

Celta Vigo
Something is finally moving toward the better when it comes to Celta, but the fans are still waiting that this team get back into the rhythm that they had at the start of the season, when they were really brilliant and when they lose very rarely. They are currently in a long series without a victory in the championship but the positive is that had at least scored a goal in the last round after a long time, and that happened against Valencia at home, which was enough for a draw 1-1. So, the series of defeats was interrupted as well as the series without a scored goal, while during the week they even managed to win in the Cup over Athletic Bilbao but it was in fact a consolation victory, because they in fact didn’t have a chance as they lost the first match at home by 4-2.

That is why 2-0 in Bilbao was not enough but at least it raised their self-confidence. What is bad are the problems with assembling the team as they will be quite weakened against Espanyol, especially on side positions, because Jonny Castro is suspended as well as Planas, while Hugo Mallo is injured. Apart from them there will be no forward Charles, also because of yellow cards, while Larrivey is too under suspension. That is why coach Berizzo will have to improvise and change players at certain positions.

Probable lineups Celta Vigo: S. Alvarez – Radoja, Cabral, Fontas, S. Gomez – B. Fernandez, A. Lopez – Krohn-Dehli, Orellana, Nolito – Santi Mina

Espanyol – Celta Vigo PICK
According to the standings and what they showed so far the match could be quite uncertain, but Espanyol is in a better shape and is full of self-confidence after the Cup. However, Celta has bigger problems with incapacitated players so the guests can hardly win.

Pick: Asian handicap 0 Espanyol

Stake: 6/10

Odds: 1.95