Predicted wins for Newcastle and Man City in live Premier League games

Thursday, 12th January 2012

There are just three live games in the Barclays Premier League this weekend and we have to wait for Sunday lunchtime for the first with Newcastle v QPR. The pair played out a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road earlier in the season where Rangers were much the better side, but much has changed since then, with the London club on a poor run of form and Newcastle still challenging for a place in Europe at the top half of the table.

If Alan Pardew's side play as well as they did against Manchester United in their last league game, then the 4/5 about their chances on Sunday looks very big. That 3-0 win at St James's Park was probably as good a performance as they've put in this season, but they host QPR without the services of Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote. This will be a test for Newcastle losing arguably their two most influencial players to the African Cup of Nations and their absence could very well muddy the waters.

Newcastle do have Shola Ameobi up front who was impressive against United and Leon Best is also a good player. I don't think you can bank on them to regularly find the net like Ba has this season though, so it will be interesting to see how they get on. Tiote is a fierce competitor in midfield and his level of energy will be difficult to replace. Had the pair been playing then Newcastle probably would have been a 4/7 shot this weekend, but we only have to look at Manchester City's recent form to see what kind of effect losing two vital players can have.

I don't think that there'll be a case of 'New Manager Syndrome' for QPR on Sunday, as many of the players know that they are likely to be shipped out sooner or later. Owner Tony Fernandes has reportedly given Mark Hughes around £30m to spend in the January transfer market and if that's true we can expect plenty of comings and goings.

Rangers are on a wretched run of form at the moment, eight games without a win in the Premier League and an injury list that is growing by the game. They go into this weekend just one place above the relegation zone and are best priced 4/1 to get a vital three points at St James's Park on Sunday. The momentum is with Newcastle and I think backing them at 2/1 to win to nil is the way to go with Skybet.

Also on Sunday is Swansea v Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium. I went to Arsenal on Monday night and although the game didn't live up to much I do feel privileged to have witnessed the superb goal by Thierry Henry. It was probably the only moment of quality in the whole match and masked a very average performance by the home side against a well organised Leeds United.

The Henry goal will have given the club a lift, but he's a mile away from being the player he was before joining the New York Red Bulls two years ago. He's visibly heavier for starters, a few years older and whether he's up to the physicality of the Premier League is questionable. Henry does know how to play the Robin Van Persie role however and can handle playing as a loan striker in a 4-3-3 formation, the way Wenger loves to set his team up. There's not many players who can fulfill that role successfully, including the missing Marouane Chamakh who is jetting off to the African Nations Cup.

This will be a good football game between two sides who like to get the ball on the deck. It's difficult to back against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium, who have lost just the once this term and that was against the champions Manchester United. Brendan Rodgers' side were also a touch unlucky not to take all three points in their recent match with Spurs. Add to that a very accomplished performance at The Emirates in the reverse fixture, where a defensive error cost them the points, I'm going to tip a 1-1 draw at odds of 13/2 with Ladbrokes.

Monday night's live match is Wigan v Man City and you can feel the pressure cranking up on the visitors. It's this kind of game where Roberto Mancini can earn his corn and I've been saying for a long time now that I'm not convinved when in a situation where he has to manage. Good players can only take you so far and now that City have suffered a few injuries and suspensions (as well as the Toure brothers leaving for Africa) he has to use his tactical and motivational skills to get the best out of his remaining squad.

City have had a lot of big games recently without much rest and the players looked tired and leggy in their 1-0 Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday. This game is interesting as they could well be joined at the top of the Premier League by Man Utd and Tottenham by the time Monday comes and the pressure is beginning to mount.

It's a must win game and to be honest I think they have enough quality to beat a Wigan side who will let them play. Roberto Martinez's side can lift themselves for these types of games as the draws against Liverpool and Chelsea prove, but I still think City will get all three points so I'll go for a 2-1 correct score in their favour at odds of 8/1 with Blue Square.

I'm going down the divisions for my treble this weekend and fancy an in form Leyton Orient to beat Chesterfield at odds of even money. Add to that Accrington to beat Barnet and Cheltenham to beat Aldershot from League Two and you have a very tasty looking 11/2 treble with Victor Chandler.

Steve Claridge's Weekend Premier League Tips

Tip #1: Newcastle v QPR (15th Jan 2012) Newcastle to win to nil @ odds of 2/1 with Sky Bet.

Tip #2: Swansea v Arsenal (15th Jan 2012) 1-1 Correct score @ odds of 13/2 with Ladbrokes.

Tip #3: Wigan v Man City (16th Jan 2012) City to win 2-1 @ odds of 8/1 with Blue Square.

Steve's Weekly Treble: Leyton Orient to beat Chesterfield (Evs); Accrington Stanley to beat Barnet (4/5); Cheltenham to beat Aldershot (4/5). A treble pays just under 11/2 with Victorchandler.co.uk. 

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