Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 13.

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to make my predictions for the weekend's Premier League games. I had a pretty good midweek with two perfect scores, five correct outcomes, and only three wrong outcomes. It moved me up to second in my predictions league behind runaway leader Stephen Bradley. With the season now almost a third over he has opened up a healthy lead, but I haven't given up hope of catching him yet. Here's a look at how the league table stands after 12 rounds of games.

	1 (1)			_Bradley08	570	+75	0
	2 (10)			aranmichael	415	+105	0
	2 (2)			oakhamgooner	415	-20	0
	4 (5)			essexgooner1965	405	+60	0
	5 (3)			COSGOONER	400	0	0
	6 (4)			Imjola	395	+5	0
	6 (7)			billygooner_29	395	+60	15
	8 (8)			senarmy	390	+60	0
	9 (5)			preetgreet	380	+35	0
	10 (11)			SoFire	340	+35	0

Aston Villa v Man Utd 
Aston Villa are still very hard to fathom this season, and I'm not quite sure that they will have the same impact that they have had in the last couple of seasons. I thought they were a little lucky to get their 3-2 victory over Blackpool's second string on Wednesday night, and they will need to be a lot better to get a result in this game.

"Manure" are still unbeaten in the league this season, but they have drawn five of their six away games so far. Their defence no longer looks as solid as it used to be, and their star player is still out injured. The majority of "Manure" fans I know think this is the weakest team they have had in a long time, and can't quite believe that they are in second place in the league. I think we will see a score draw as "Manure" continue their unbeaten and unconvincing run.

Prediction: 1-1

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Man City v Birmingham
Man City played "Manure" on Wednesday night, and they had a great chance to turn them over. However, Roberto Mancini showed his conservative side yet again, and he was quite happy to settle for a draw. It left City in the top four and no matter how this game ends up they will still be there before next week's games. I think that they need to be more adventurous, and if they are they will score a few goals.

Birmingham have become the comeback kings of the Premier League, as they seem to go two goals down in most games before they start playing. It didn't quite work for them on Tuesday night, when Stoke RFC managed to get a late winner against them. Like so many other teams this season, they have drawn too many games for their own good. I think City will get the win they need, and heap further trouble on Birmingham who are only one point above the relegation zone.

Prediction: 2-1

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Newcastle v Fulham
Newcastle had the chance to show exactly how good they are on Wednesday night against Blackburn. After winning away to Arsenal they would have expected to beat a struggling Blackburn team, but their home form let them down yet again. Joey Barton will miss out after being caught punching a Blackburn player, and they will need the goals of Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan to get a result.

Fulham have had a very poor away record for a few years now, and it doesn't look like changing. Along with Bolton and Sunderland they have drawn the most league games this season, and their four away draws look like a good pointer to the result here. Fulham need to start scoring some goals very soon, or they will find themselves in a lot of trouble. I think this game will finish in a score draw.

Prediction: 1-1

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Tottenham v Blackburn
The Spuds are finding it hard to play in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Their 4-2 defeat away to Bolton last weekend was very poor, and they followed that by failing to beat Sunderland at home on Wednesday night, despite being by far the better team. If they don't win this game the locals will start to get even more restless, and that's not a pretty site.

Blackburn have struggled away from home in the last few seasons, but they had a very good win away to Newcastle on Wednesday night. The ball may not spend a lot of time on the ground when Blackburn play, but they will feel they can get something from a leaky Spuds defence who have now conceded more goals than they have scored. If it wasn't for Rafael Van Der Vaart their season would be a whole lot worse. I think The Spuds will get back on track in this game, but it won't be easy.

Prediction: 2-1

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West Ham v Blackpool
West Ham have had the lead in their last two games, but they have failed to hold on to it. They're still firmly rooted to the foot of the table, and Avram Grant will be feeling very nervous if they don't get their second win of the season very soon. They look poor at the back, but at least they have started scoring goals again.

Blackpool continue to defy everybody, and they try to play good football no matter who their opponents are. They will see this as a chance to get their fourth away win of the season, and there's bound to be plenty of goals in the game. It will be interesting to see the reaction from the football authorities to Blackpool making so many changes to their team on Wednesday night, and in turn Ian Holloway's reaction to that. I have a funny feeling that West Ham just might shade this game by the odd goal.

Prediction: 3-2

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Wigan v West Brom
Wigan played very well at home to Liverpool on Wednesday night and fully deserved their draw. They have now slipped back into the relegation zone, and they need to start winning games again. One win in seven home games is simply not good enough to stay in the Premier League, but in Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega they have two players who can make a difference.



Prediction: 1-1

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Wolves v Bolton
Wolves played very well against Arsenal on Wednesday night but came away with nothing yet again. They need to start turning their good performances into points, as they are only one point off the bottom of the table. Their biggest problem is a lack of goals, but Mick McCarthy persists with Kevin Doyle despite the fact that he hasn't scored in the league yet this season. 

Bolton are sixth in the table, but they will feel very disappointed that they didn't beat Everton away from home on Wednesday night. Everton equalised with the last kick of the game, and Bolton will want to make up for that in this game. They have some good players, and a good team ethic which makes them very hard to beat. I think this game will end in another score draw.

Prediction: 2-2

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Stoke v Liverpool 
Stoke RFC managed to climb out of the bottom three on Tuesday night with a 3-2 win over Birmingham. Their home form is still very good this season, and they will put things up to Liverpool in a very physical fashion as always. There will be an aerial assault on the Liverpool goal, and I don't know if they are good enough to withstand it.

Liverpool looked to be on the comeback trail with some recent good results, but they were poor away to Wigan on Wednesday night. I still think that they are very average when Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are taken out of the equation, or have a bad day. I have a funny feeling that Stoke RFC will turn Liverpool over in this game.

Prediction: 2-1

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Everton v Arsenal
Everton had a poor start to their league campaign, but they have improved in recent weeks. Their biggest problems are a lack of goals, and too many draws. If they can get ahead in this game it could prove to be vital for them, but their opponents have the best away record in the Premier League so far this season.

Arsenal have suddenly managed to stop leaking goals, and only Chelsea and Man City have conceded less in the league so far this season. They managed a hard fought win away to Wolves on Wednesday night, and with a lot of their injured players available again Arsene Wenger is spoiled for choice with his attacking options. As an Arsenal fan I of course think they will win, but it won't be easy.

Prediction: 1-2

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Chelsea v Sunderland
Chelsea could only manage a 1-0 home win against Fulham on Wednesday night, and they also lost Michael Essien to a red card. He has been very good for them so far this season, and he will be missed in this game. If Didier Drogba can regain his form after his bout of illness, and Florent Malouda can start scoring again Chelsea will win this game easily, but otherwise they will struggle again.

Sunderland have recovered very well from their 5-1 defeat to Newcastle, and have taken four points in two games since then. If memory serves me correctly they were thumped in this fixture last season, and I'm sure they will be looking to put that right. In Asamoah Gyan they have a striker who could become the first opponent to score a league goal in Chelsea's ground in a very long time. I can't see past Chelsea continuing their great home record in this game.

Prediction: 2-0
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That's it for this week's predictions, and as always feel free to tell me where I have gone wrong, or right as you see it. I'll be back with more predictions next week of course. As I'm away this weekend I'm not sure if there will be any blog tomorrow, but I will have my usual preview of Arsenal's game on Sunday.

See You Then.