Reading conceded 6 goals at White Hart Lane to end the year so who would they not fancy starting off the new year facing, yes, you guessed it the team who scored 7 past them in September, Portsmouth. The two teams played out the highest scoring match in Premier League history when Pompey won 7-4 at Fratton Park and strange though it seems, Harry Redknapp’s side have not scored at home since. However, they will fancy their chances at the home of the Royals where they have not lost for 26 years. The year was 1982, the Human League were topping the chart with ‘Don’t you want me’ and the Tudor battleship the Mary Rose was raised from the sea, down in Portsmouth.

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Sven Goran Eriksson takes his City side to St James’ Park looking to end their poor away run of 8 matches without a win. The former England manager has seen his reputation soar as he’s revitalised the Eastlands club who sit fifth in the Premier League. The same cannot be said of Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce who was tipped to replace the Swede as England manager. Despite sitting comfortably in mid-table, Big Sam is feeling pressure from all directions as Newcastle lurch from one supposed crisis to another. Another home defeat would put incredible pressure on his over burdened shoulders and could make 2008 an annus horribilis for the former Bolton manager.

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Gareth Southgate’s Boro ended the year on a high with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth and a 4-point gap between them and the relegation zone. They have now won more games away from home than at the Riverside this season. On New Years Day they entertain an Everton side who have enjoyed a superb start to the season but have found their route into the top 4 blocked by the Premier League’s footballing goliath’s in the shape of United and Arsenal over the festive period.

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Sir Alex Ferguson goes head to head with another of his former players on New Years Day when he takes on his former Aberdeen star Alex McLeish’s Birmingham side. The year ended poorly for United with defeat at West Ham just when the title race seemed to be turning in their favour after a 5-match December winning run.

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Wigan’s good form under new manager Steve Bruce ended with defeat against away day specialists Villa and this fixture offers little hope for the Latics. The Reds have a 100% record against Wigan in all competitions. However, they have only met 7 times before. The Premier League head to head reading makes gloomy reading for the away side. Liverpool have won all 5 Premier League confrontations, scoring 11 goals in the process and have conceded a nice round figure of 0 goals. Yes, that’s correct in 5 matches the Latics have yet to celebrate a single goal against the side from Anfield. Wigan’s 2 League trips to Liverpool have ended in 3-0 and 2-0 defeats so expect more of the same in the New Year.

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The South-West London rivals meet at Craven Cottage on New Years Day with Roy Hodgson taking charge of Fulham for the first time. After a surprising battling performance at Birmingham the Cottagers will start 2008 in good spirits after all it was their first point on the road since October. Avram Grant is facing a hard New Year with a mounting injury list and the departure of several key members of the squad for the African Cup of Nations.

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The Rock bottom Rams ended the year with yet another defeat but at least they are finally starting to score goals, well it’s a start isn’t it. The Premier League’s whipping boys look destined for the drop already 8 points adrift at the bottom of the League and with only 1 win all season which was back in mid-September, just the 3 and a half months ago. The first half of the season has been one to forget for Derby, they are the worst scorers in the division and have the worst defence so the old adage that the table doesn’t lie rings true in this case.

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Both sides ended the year on a high with wins, Rovers European ambitions were reignited and Sunderland’s dreams of survival boosted as they climbed out of the drop zone. Blackburn are looking for their first back-to-back wins since October but will be aware they have won just 1 of their last 5 games at Ewood Park. Mark Hughes’ side have failed to score in 4 of their last 5 home matches so the Black Cats will fancy their chances of an upset. Roy Keane will know that the Rovers defence has been less than watertight after keeping just 1 clean-sheet in their last 15 League games so don’t be surprised if Kenwyne Jones gets on the score-sheet.

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These sides played in one of the games of the season back in October when they shared 8 goals at White Hart Lane. Neither side seems to have learnt from that day as Villa’s recent 4-4 draw at Chelsea and Spurs 6-4 home win over Reading showed. Tottenham seemed to have sorted out their defensive problems after clean-sheets at Portsmouth (League) and Man City (Carling Cup) but after conceding 7 goals in 3 matches, Ramos knows he still has a lot of work to do. Expect some new recruits to arrive at the Lane in the January sales as Juande goes hunting for bargains.

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Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Upton Park back in September ended a run of 4 matches without a win against the Hammers, which surprisingly included 3 defeats. In fact, the Eastenders are the only side to have beaten Arsenal at the Emirates in 29 League games. They are also the last side to beat the Gunners at Highbury as they’ve won their last 2 away matches against Wenger’s young guns. Can they make it 3rd time lucky?

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