Bolton v QPR
Key Battle: Two teams struggling and a likely midfield battle this one. Joey Barton will be up against Fabrice Muamba, and the winner will be key.
Player to Watch: Bolton have struggled for so much of the season but Zat Knight will be vital as they look to keep out QPR’s forwards
Talking Point: QPR will need to get points on the board ahead of their battles with some of the league’s bigger names in the weeks to come
Prediction: 2-0
Aston Villa v Fulham
Key Battle: Villa will look to stem the supply line to Pavel Pobrebnyak, so Chris Hurd needs to stifle Danny Murphy in midfield.
Player to Watch: Pobrebnyak has scored five from five shots since signing for Fulham and his lethal touch will be a worry for Villa
Talking Point: One of struggling Villa’s more winnable matches on paper, but without a strike force what can they hope for?
Prediction: 0-1
Chelsea v Stoke
Key Battle: Roberto di Matteo’s first Premier League game in charge and he will hope Juan Mata keeps performing the way he has been up against Dean Whitehead.
Player to Watch: Frank Lampard could be recalled and if he is, it will be interesting to see his performance in his first game post-Villas Boas
Talking Point: Chelsea are looking to get their season back on track, but Stoke make life easy for no-one.
Prediction: 1-0
Sunderland v Liverpool
Key Battle: Sunderland are shorn of key players after the tempestuous derby with Newcastle last week, and will look to James McLean for inspiration, but he must get the better of Glen Johnson.
Player to Watch: Luis Suarez is the livewire who Liverpool look to for creativity and goals – how will he do here?
Talking Point: Liverpool lost last weekend to Arsenal but Sunderland are without key man Stephane Sessegnon
Prediction: 0-2
Wolves v Blackburn
Key Battle: This will be a huge game for Wolves, struggling against the drop. Yakubu will be the danger man and they will hope Roger Johnson can help stifle him
Player to Watch: Can Junior Hoilett provide the inspiration for the visitors in their battle against the drop?
Talking Point: These two faced each other on the last day of last season both in relegation danger. This season it isn’t quite so serious, but they are the favourites for the drop
Prediction: 0-2
Everton v Tottenham
Key Battle: Tottenham will hope that Gareth Bale is back at his best up against Seamus Coleman on the Everton right.
Player to Watch: Emmanuel Adebayor is the key focus of this Spurs team and will hope to get back on track against Everton
Talking Point: Everton get better in the second half of seasons and are going into this game in better form
Prediction: 0-0
Man Utd v West Brom
Key Battle: West Brom will be hoping that Yussuf Mulumbu can help them break up enough United attacks in midfield, perhaps initiated by Paul Scholes, to keep in the game.
Player to Watch: Ashley Young was brilliant against Tottenham last weekend and Alex Ferguson will hope that he can continue that good form.
Talking Point: West Brom were the only side to stop United winning at home last season – can they repeat that this year?
Prediction: 3-1
Swansea v Man City
Key Battle: It will be the battle of brawn against brains in midfield when Yaya Toure clashes with Leon Britton, the Swansea man with the superb passing
Player to Watch: Nathan Dyer has been dangerous on the wings all season and City’s advancing full backs could leave space for him to exploit.
Talking Point: Swansea have a superb home record and the ability to keep the ball for long periods from anyone.
Prediction: 0-0
Norwich v Wigan
Key Battle: Norwich will be up against bottom of the table Wigan, hoping Grant Holt has the edge on Gary Caldwell.
Player to Watch: Anthony Pilkington has been at the heart of much of Norwich’s best play this season – can that continue?
Talking Point: Wigan desperately need to put points on the board, and fast
Prediction: 3-1
Arsenal v Newcastle
Key Battle: Tomas Rosicky has been brilliant of late and will go up against Cheick Tiote in midfield on Monday.
Player to Watch: Gervinho returned to the Arsenal team against Milan and will hope to show good form against Newcastle as he looks to get back to his best
Talking point: What effect will a spectacular exit from the Champions League have for Arsenal?
Prediction: 2-1
Liverpool v Everton
Key Battle: Liverpool head into this one in need of points and will look to the creative talents of Charlie Adam to carve open a stubborn Everton defence, but first he must get space from Marouane Fellaini.
Player to Watch: Everton have been looking to Steven Pienaar for creative inspiration of late and he will be key for them if they are to come away from Anfield with anything.
Talking point: Liverpool’s home form has been poor – will this change against their fierce rivals?
Prediction: 1-1
