Interesting weekend ahead!

This is probably the most interesting gameweek in the Premier League thus far, so many games to look forward to it's ridiculous. I'll be at one of them (Fulham v Stoke) so expect some exquisite tactical analysis and a gripping minute-by-minute write-up to follow.

First, to round the midweek stuff up.

Hearts v Celtic 2
Barcelona v Valencia 2:1 (2:0...close!)
Hertha Berlin v Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 (Moenchengladbach did win although only in extra time)
AC Milan v Juventus X
Middlesborough v Sunderland 2 (same story as in the Hertha v Borussia game)
ADO Den Haag v AZ Alkmaar over 2,5 goals
Nacional Madeira v Sporting Lisbon X

 2/6 with some audacious bids.

Now, onto A LOT of fixtures for the weekend. Boom!

Manchester United v Liverpool (11.02, 12:45) 1 (1.91)

Huge game at Old Trafford to kick off the proceedings in the EPL. Is Evra going to shake hands with Suarez? Is Andy Caroll going to finally prove his worth the money he's beeen bought for? Is Craig Bellamy going to run rampant around the shaky United back line? Based on the recent form and the fact they have lost to Liverpool at Anfield just a few weeks ago I'll go with United to win this contest.

Blackburn v QPR (11.02, 15:00) over 2,5 goals (1.89)

Very important game at the other end of the league. Steve Kean has emphasised that whenever things looked absolutely terrible for his team they have always managed to find a way to bounce back. Last week's thumping at the Emirates presents itself as a great opportunity to live up to Kean's words...it's a vital game for QPR as well as their season took yet another blow last week, just when things finally started to turn themselves around (new manager, decent signings). Goals aplenty in this one, even despite the cold.

Bolton v Wigan (11.02, 15:00) 1 (2.1)

Bolton simply have to win. What better time than against a team that is on a eleven game-long run without a win?

Everton v Chelsea (11.02, 15:00) X (3.4)

Tricky fixture for AVB's Chelsea, although it could be argued that every single game is a tricky one for The Blues. Everton are enjoying some new-found confidence, which Leighton Baines quickly credited to the signings of Nikica Jelavić, Steven Pienaar and Darron Gibson. If their recent win over Manchester City is anything to go by they should beat Chelsea as well but following a recent visit Abramovich paid to the training ground Chelsea are bound to fight as if their lives depended on it. Who knows, Villas-Boas might have received an ultimatum from the club owner...

Fulham v Stoke (11.02, 15:00) Clint Dempsey to score at any time (2.64)

All I wanna see is goals...is that a ludicrous expectiation when one of the teams involved is Stoke?

Sunderland v Arsenal (11.02, 15:00) 1 (3.85)

It looks like people now sort of expect Sunderland to win...and they duly deliver! With Sessegnon enjoying superb form (I've been saying all along he's been really good at PSG!), aided by McClean, Colback, Gardner and others it seems like The Black Cats are on the right track to finish in the top half of the table, if not challenge for Europe! Arsenal, on the other hand – depsite the 7:1 demolition of Blackburn – should find it difficult once Robin van Persie is up against two defenders and a defensive midfielder tracking back; Sunderland's plan should also be to deny Oxlade-Chamberlain any space to roam (which he enjoyed so much v 10-men Blackburn). If these conditions are fulfiled I see no reason why Sunderland should not get all 3 points.

Swansea v Norwich (11.02, 15:00) over 1,5 goals (1.33)

This game could be billed as the clash of 2 of the Premier League's most entertaining new comers. Brendan Rodgers is doing his best to make Swansea play attractive, passing football (and with great results, it has to be said!) and Paul Lambert's direct, attacking style is a breath of fresh air in the usually boring world of newly promoted sides. Expect a few goals in this one.

Tottenham v Newcastle (11.02, 17:30) over 2,5 goals (1.73)

Harry Redknapp for England? We will probably find out about what the FA have in store for us relatively soon but for now 'Arry should focus on beating the fellow over-achievers (or am I being patronising here?), Alan Pardew's Newcastle. His appointment mid-way last season has raised a lot of eyebrows although he's done more than enough to prove he is the right man for the job. The two Cisse's upfront will not have the easiest of jobs against a very resolute Spurs' defence but they have proved they can cause problems to virtually any team in both the EPL and in Bundesliga. On the other side we've got the creatively lethal attacking force of Tottenham. This one has all the potential to become one of those 'Premier League classics' we love to come back to for years to come.

Wolverhampton v WBA (12.02, 13:30) over 1,5 goals (1.32)

Six pointer. A win would mean the world for both teams, guests could finish the weekend as high as 13^th in the table and the hosts could in theory go four points clear of the dreaded relegation zone.

Aston Villa v Manchester City (12.02, 16:00) 2 (1.72)

Villa find it hard to get results agaist top opposition (beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is a point in case about Chelsea's erroneous form) and City will have the benefit of knowing United v Liverpool score; in case the former don't win, The Citizens will have the chance to go 4 or maybe even 5 points clear, a margin that could provide them with enough confidence and momentum to run away from their biggest rivals. Also, Villa are not exactly good at defending set pieces so I think Man City – with Kompany, Lescott and Dzeko – stand a good chance to score from one.

Ipswich v Middlesborough (11.02, 15:00) over 1,5 goals (1.31)

Leeds v Brighton (11.02, 15:00) over 1,5 goals (1.31)

Reading v Coventry (11.02, 15:00) 1 (1.53)

Blackpool v Portsmouth (11.02, 17:20) 1 (1.71)

Exeter v Sheffield Wednesday (11.02, 15:00) 2 (2.12)

Sheffield United v Wycombe Wanderers (11.02, 15:00) 1 (1.45)

Yeovil v Scunthorpe (11.02, 15:00) over 2,5 goals (1.96)

Udinese v AC Milan (11.02, 17:00) Antonio di Natale to score at any time (1.70) [bwin]

Inter Milan v Novara (12.02, 14:00) Diego Milito to score at any time (1.75) [bwin]

Osasuna v Barcelona (11.02, 19:00) X either at halftime or at fulltime (2.00) [bwin]

Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao (11.02, 21:00) over 2,5 goals (2.04)

Espanyol v Zaragoza (12.02, 11:00) 1 (1.63)

Valencia v Sporting Gijon (12.02, 17:00) Roberto Soldado to score at any time (1.50)

Real Madrid v Levante (12.02, 20:30) over 3,5 goals (1.74)

Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen (11.02, 14:30) Shinji Kagawa to score at any time (3.00)

Borussia Moenchengladbach v Schalke (11.02, 17:30) 1 (2.54)

Montpellier v Ajaccio (11.02, 14:00) 1 (1.35)

Rennes v Sochaux (11.02, 20:00) 1 (1.47)

AZ Alkmaar v Exelscior Rotterdam (11.02, 17:45) 1 (1.11)

Roda Kerkrade v NEC Nijmegen (11.02, 18:45) over 2,5 goals (1.70)

PSV v De Graafschap (12.02, 13:30) 2 not to score (1.70) [bwin]

RKC Waalwijk v Heerenveen (12.02, 13:30) over 2,5 goals (2.64)

Feyenoord v Vitesse Arnhem (12.02, 15:30) John Guidetti to score at any time [no odds available]

Racing Genk v Lokeren (11.02, 17:00) over 2,5 goals (1.72)

Benfica v Nacional (11.02, 20:30) Oscar Cardozo to score at any time [no odds available]

Porto v Uniao Leiria (12.02, 20:15) 1 to score over 1,5 goals (1.28) [bwin]

Celtic v Inverness C.T. (11.02, 15:00) 1 to win both halves (1.78) 

Because as Mitchell and Webb succintly put it - football, football, football.