Sunday, 11 May 2014

COMPREHENSIVE PREVIEW :PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL DAY

SOCCERSNIPERS BRINGS YOU A DETAILED COMPREHENSIVE PREVIEW OF THE LAST GAMES OF THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE..
Sunday May 11
CHELSEA VS CARDIFF
Cardiff will be without Juan Cala after the defender was handed a three-match suspension. The Spaniard was sent off in the Bluebirds' 4-0 defeat at Sunderland last month for denying Connor Wickham a goalscoring opportunity, but this punishment related to his conduct as he left the field and made his way to the players' tunnel. With Cardiff relegated following last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to make changes as the Welsh club target a winning send-off on home soil before returning to the Championship next term.
Frank Lampard is ill and is expected to miss a potential farewell appearance for Chelsea. Lampard, Ashley Cole and captain John Terry, who has a knock, are all out of contract at the end of the season, as is striker Samuel Eto'o, who recently had a knee injury, and is doubtful after being injured in training on Thursday. Oscar (hip) missed last week's draw with Norwich, Ramires is suspended for the third of four matches and goalkeeper Petr Cech (shoulder) is out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Cardiff L W D L L; Chelsea W W L W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff) 9; Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 17
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
SNIPERS VERDICT:. CHELSEA 1: 0 CARDIFF
CRYSTAL PALACE VS FULHAM
Club-record signing Kostas Mitroglou could return to the Fulham starting line-up as the Cottagers look to salvage some pride in their final game of the season. Fulham were relegated after a 4-1 defeat at Stoke last weekend and Mitroglou, who had been out with a knee injury since March 8, came off the bench at the Britannia. Long-term absentee Damien Duff has also been suffering from a knee problem and is ruled out.
Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has a fully-fit squad to select from. Striker Cameron Jerome was unavailable for the 3-3 draw against Liverpool at Selhurst Park on Monday due to illness, but has since returned to training and is in contention to face the Cottagers. Midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi returned from a knock in Monday night's game and suffered no adverse reaction, playing 85 minutes before being replaced by Tom Ince.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Fulham W W L D L; Crystal Palace W W W L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Steve Sidwell (Fulham) 8; Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) 7
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
SNIPERS VERDICT : CRYSTAL PALACE 2:1 FULHAM
HULL VS EVERTON 
Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor is in contention to start after a six-week lay-off. The Scotland international appeared to be out for the season when he broke three ribs and damaged a kidney at the end of March but has been battling desperately to prove his fitness before the FA Cup final on May 17. Paul McShane (ankle) may also feature for the first time since February, with captain Curtis Davies due a rest alongside cup-tied duo Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, but Robbie Brady (groin) and James Chester (hamstring) are definitely out.
Steven Pienaar looks set to return to action, while Lacina Traore could also make his comeback from injury. Toffees boss Roberto Martinez is optimistic winger Pienaar, absent for 10 games because of a knee complaint, will be fit to feature but has stressed the need for caution with regard to on-loan striker Traore, who has had an even longer spell out due to a hamstring problem. It seems the match will come too soon for the recovering Darron Gibson (knee) to make his first appearance since October, while fellow midfielder Gareth Barry, having been unable to play against his parent club Manchester City last weekend, is eligible for selection again.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull W L D L L; Everton W L W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Matt Fryatt (Hull) 6; Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 15
Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
SNIPERS VERDICT : HULL 1: 3 EVERTON 
LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE 
Liverpool have midfielder Jordan Henderson available again following a three-match ban, an absence which has coincided with the team's title challenge faltering. The conclusion of the ban means that, other than long-term knee injury victim Jose Enrique, manager Brendan Rodgers has a full squad to choose from.
Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse could need four monthsto recover after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured kneecap. The Senegal international, who suffered the injury during a 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Swansea on April 19, will miss Sunday's final day trip to Liverpool as a result. Manager Alan Pardew was otherwise coy about his fitness concerns, although utility man Ryan Taylor is back in light training after a second bout of knee surgery.
Last season: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 6, Liverpool 1 Newcastle 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W W L D; Newcastle L L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 31; Loic Remy (Newcastle) 14
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
SNIPERS VERDICT : LIVERPOOL 2:0 NEWCASTLE 
MANCHESTER CITY VS WEST HAM
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is back in contention. The Argentina international has overcome the groin injury that forced him off against Everton last weekend and ruled him out of Wednesday's victory over Aston Villa. Aguero's return means manager Manuel Pellegrini has a fully-fit squad available as City seek to secure their second title in three seasons.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has a fully-fit squad to choose from. Only a West Ham victory at the Etihad Stadium will give hope to fellow challengers Liverpool, who need also to beat Newcastle at home to be crowned champions.
Last season: Man City 2 West Ham 1, West Ham 0 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City D W W W W; West Ham L L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Sergio Aguero (Man City) 28; Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 7
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
SNIPERS VERDICT : MAN CITY 3:1 WEST HAM
NORWICH VS ARSENAL 
Norwich look set to be without on-loan defender Joseph Yobo (calf) while winger Anthony Pilkington (hip) is sidelined. Midfielder David Fox (knee) is another absentee for the Canaries, who are all but relegated to the Sky Bet Championship, and so youngsters like Josh Murphy could be included.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere could feature at Norwich having recovered from a fractured foot suffered while on international duty with England. Aaron Ramsey (thigh) should also be in the squad, along with full-back Kieran Gibbs, out since the FA Cup semi-final win over Wigan with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) is still out, as are Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry (both knee).
Last season: Arsenal 3 Norwich 1, Norwich 1 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: Norwich L L L L D; Arsenal L W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Gary Hooper (Norwich) 8; Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 22
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
SNIPERS VERDICT : NORWICH VS ARSENAL

SOUTHAMPTON VS MANCHESTER UTD 
Southampton have no fresh injury concerns, with Morgan Schneiderlin (thigh) and Rickie Lambert (buttock) having played in last week's win at Swansea. Jay Rodriguez (knee), Gaston Ramirez (ankle) and Maya Yoshida (knee) remain absent, as is back-up goalkeeper Kelvin Davis (back).
Defender Phil Jones (shoulder) and striker Wayne Rooney (groin) are out for Manchester United. Goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard (illness) and defender Rafael (thigh) are doubts. Centre-back Jonny Evans (ankle) is unavailable but 18-year-old striker James Wilson should be fit despite suffering a knock on his goalscoring debut against Hull on Tuesday.
Last season: Man Utd 2 Southampton 1, Southampton 2 Man Utd 3
Last five league matches: Southampton L L D W W; Man Utd W L W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 17; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 19
Match odds: H 13-8 A 9-5 D 21-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
SNIPERS VERDICT : SOUTHAMPTON 2:2 MANCHESTER UTD
SUNDERLAND VS SWANSEA 
Midfielder Lee Cattermole is a slight doubt after he turned an ankle during Wednesday night's 2-0 victory over West Brom, which secured the club's top-flight status, and will be assessed on Saturday. Manager Gus Poyet has hinted he will make changes, with several of his players suffering the after-effects of a remarkable survival mission, but goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) and striker Steven Fletcher (ankle) remain on the sidelines and loan signing Ki Sung-yueng and full-back Andrea Dossena have left the club.
Swansea are set to be without injured pair Michu and Angel Rangel but defender Chico Flores, who has been absent through suspension and then injury in recent games, could return. The Stadium of Light clash will be Garry Monk's first game in charge since being appointed permanent Swansea manager on a three-year contract.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Swansea 0, Swansea 2 Sunderland 2
Last five league matches: Sunderland D W W W W; Swansea L L W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Adam Johnson (Sunderland) 10; Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 24
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
SNIPERS VERDICT : SUNDERLAND 2:1 SWANSEA 
TOTTENHAM VS ASTON VILLA 
Kyle Walker will not feature for Tottenham in their final game of the season. The England defender will still be hoping to go to the World Cup but a pelvic injury means he is again unavailable for Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood this weekend. Winger Andros Townsend (ankle) remains sidelined along with club-record signing Erik Lamela (back) while Jan Vertonghen (ankle) and Etienne Capoue (foot) will hope to be involved after returning to training.
Aston Villa hope striker Gabriel Agbonlahor will be fit. The striker missed the midweek 4-0 defeat at Manchester City with a knee injury but boss Paul Lambert hopes he will be recovered in time for the trip to north London. Winger Marc Albrighton (groin) is a doubt for the match while the likes of Jores Okore, Christian Benteke and Libor Kozak are still absent with long-term injuries.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 4, Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham W D W W L; Aston Villa L D L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) 13; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 11
Match odds: H 1-2 A 13-2 D 14-5
Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)
SNIPERS VERDICT: TOTTENHAM 2:1 ASTON VILLA
WEST BROM VS STOKE
Liam Ridgewell could return to West Brom's starting line-up after missing the last three games. He suffered a knee injury in the defeat at Manchester City but is back in contention after training this week. Morgan Amalfitano could figure after being rested in the midweek loss at Sunderland, but Billy Jones and Zoltan Gera (both hamstring) and Steven Reid (groin) are definitely out.
On-loan Liverpool forward Oussama Assaidi is likely to miss out. Assaidi scored in last week's 4-1 defeat of Fulham but then suffered a reaction to the knee injury that sidelined him in February. Captain Ryan Shawcross returns from suspension while striker Peter Odemwingie is set to start against the club he controversially left last year.
Last season: Stoke 0 West Brom 0, West Brom 0 Stoke 1
Last five league matches: West Brom D L W L L; Stoke L W D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Saido Berahino (West Brom) 9; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 9
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
SNIPERS VERDICT : WEST BROM 1:2 STOKE

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