By Josh Allen

With the World Cup edging ever closer the penultimate round of European qualifiers takes place this weekend. England have already booked their place in South Africa but for the Republic of Ireland, Saturday’s match with Italy could prove crucial. A win would see second place guaranteed, while anything less may leave them facing a do or die clash with Montenegro on Wednesday.

The Republic enjoy home advantage against Italy and can also call upon the expertise of former Azzurri boss Giovanni Trappattoni. Under his guidance the Irish are unbeaten in competitive internationals and have already held Italy to a draw in their own backyard. A repeat of that result can be backed at 2.96, while the Republic of Ireland odds of winning are 3.6.

The match is likely to be a low scoring affair, with both teams favouring a defensive outlook. The under 2.5 goals market looks a little short at 1.56 but 2.0 for under 1.5 goals may be worth a punt.

In Group 6 England travel to Ukraine, hoping to make it nine wins out of nine for their own Italian boss, Fabio Capello. The Three Lions have been in fine form throughout this World Cup qualifying campaign and secured their place in the World Cup final with a thumping 5-1 victory over second placed Croatia.

Another England victory is priced at 2.68 but they will face one of their toughest challenges yet, against a Ukraine side that must win - any less and they are likely to miss out on second place to Croatia. The hosts are therefore likely to come flying out of the blocks and a half time lead for Ukraine may prove good value at 3.0.

Elsewhere Wales are in action away to Finland but can finish no higher than third in their group. Welsh boss John Toshack has called on his team to take that third spot and improve their seeding for the next tournament. However, victory in Helsinki is a tough ask and Finland are rightly the favourites at 1.93, with Wales out at 4.6.

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Sunday, 23 August 2009
Burnley 1-0 Everton
Fulham 0-2 Chelsea
West Ham 1-2 Tottenham

Saturday, 22 August 2009
Arsenal 4-1 Portsmouth
Birmingham 0-0 Stoke
Hull 1-0 Bolton
Man City 1-0 Wolverhampton
Sunderland 2-1 Blackburn
Wigan 0-5 Man Utd

The Premier League produced its first sensational upset of the season on Wednesday evening, as Premiership newcomers, Burnley, inflicted a 1-0 defeat on defending champions Manchester United.

Burnley’s historic victory was sealed in two dramatic moments, the first being Robbie Blake’s score and the second coming as Burnley’s ‘keeper, Brian Jensen, parried a penalty shot by Michael Carrick.

The match result does not bode well for Manchester United, who lost two of its star Latin players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez during the off season.

The club looked decidedly toothless on attack, and fans will be wondering what sort of result a clash against one of the stronger clubs will produce.

“We usually take our time to get going,” Sir Alex Ferguson explained after the match. “Sometimes it’s October before we get into our best form. But we shouldn’t be losing these games. It was a bad performance and we should have done more with the chances and the possession we had.”

“You have to give credit to Burnley. It’s a great night for them. You can’t deny them their victory. They worked their socks off and the fans were fantastic.”

Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Birmingham 1-0 Portsmouth
Burnley 1-0 Man Utd
Hull 1-5 Tottenham
Liverpool 4-0 Stoke

Tuesday, 18 August
Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea
Wigan 0-1 Wolverhampton

Stoke are looking to capitalize on their winning start to the 2009/2010 Premier League season by signing new players to the club before the transfer window closes later this month.

The club got its new season off to the best possible start on the weekend, beating Premiership new boys, Burnley, 2-0 in front of a home crowd.

The club is reportedly targeting 5 additional players as its Premier League season gets into gear. Amongst these is Sunderland midfielder, Dean Whitehead.

“We are desperately hanging on to four or five deals, but we will do it the right way,” manager Tony Pulis told The Sentinel.

Pulis was quick to add that the club is not looking to follow in the trail of big-spending Manchester City, a club that has forked out tens of millions of pounds for star acquisitions during the transfer window.

“We haven’t got billionaire oil barons running things here, so we have to be respectful to Peter Coates and his family and do the right deals. We have seen what’s happened to other clubs when they get into serious, serious trouble.”

“I don’t think Peter or his family want to see this club in trouble. So we have to be right in what we bring in. In every quarter we are looking to improve - and that’s no disrespect to our players.”

Tottenham Hotspur produced the first major upset of the new Premier League season on Sunday, consigning visiting Liverpool to an opening day loss at White Hart Lane.

Liverpool’s dreams of ending a 20 year long wait for a Premier League title were dealt a heavy blow as two Tottenham defenders, Sebastien Bassong and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, scored for their club to hand Liverpool a 2-1 defeat.

Rafael Benitez dealt with the shock loss by taking the tried and trusted route of blaming the referees for the outcome of the match.

“With this referee I knew (victory) wasn’t possible,” Benitez said. “Everybody could see it was a clear penalty when Benoit Assou-Ekotto fouled Andriy Voronin and then again when the same player handballed.”

Once Benitez had calmed down he admitted that there had been problems with Liverpool’s service to its strikers. Liverpool’s only goal of the match came off a penalty, with the attack showing little sign of creativity or flair.

“We did not play well in the first half,” Benitez said. “Clearly, we have to improve if we want to win these types of games. We have to improve in the middle, keeping the ball. The understanding has to be better.”

Tuesday, 18 August 2009
19:45 Sunderland v Chelsea
19:45 Wigan v Wolverhampton

Wednesday, 19 August 2009
19:45 Birmingham v Portsmouth,
19:45 Burnley v Man Utd
19:45 Hull v Tottenham
20:00 Liverpool v Stoke
19:45 Man City OFF Everton

Saturday, 22 August 2009
15:00 Arsenal v Portsmouth
15:00 Birmingham v Stoke
15:00 Hull v Bolton
15:00 Man City v Wolverhampton
15:00 Sunderland v Blackburn
15:00 Wigan v Man Utd

Sunday, 23 August 2009
15:00 Burnley v Everton
16:00 Fulham v Chelsea
13:30 West Ham v Tottenham

Monday, 24 August 2009
20:00 Liverpool v Aston Villa

Saturday, 29 August 2009
15:00 Blackburn v West Ham,
15:00 Bolton v Liverpool
12:45 Chelsea v Burnley
17:15 Man Utd v Arsenal
15:00 Stoke v Sunderland,
15:00 Tottenham v Birmingham,
15:00 Wolverhampton v Hull

Sunday, 16 August 2009
Man Utd 1-0 Birmingham
Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

Saturday, 15 August 2009
Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan
Blackburn 0-2 Man City
Bolton 0-1 Sunderland
Chelsea 2-1 Hull
Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham
Stoke 2-0 Burnley
Wolverhampton 0-2 West Ham

Arensal’s preparations for their key Premiership opening fixture against Everton at Goodison park on Saturday were dealt a blow on Thursday as young Arsenal striker, Theo Walcott, was ruled out of the clash by an injury.

Also absent from proceedings will be first choice defender, Johan Djourou, who will be out of the side for a month after injuring his knee. Less serious is the injury to second choice goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabiański, who will miss 8 weeks of the Premiership as he recovers from surgery.

To compound the woes of Arsenal manager, Arsense Wenger, Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri will also be out of contention for the season opener, while an injured groin will sideline Abou Diaby.

The injuries to key players will put Arsenal’s decision to avoid spending during the transfer window under the spotlight. While other Premiership clubs forked out millions of pounds for new players, Arsenal has chosen to back its so called ‘young gunners’.

“Football is not all about money,” Wenger told the Telegraph. “It’s about quality of work, quality of developing the team. In England if you don’t win a game or you don’t play as well as people would like, they say ‘buy players’.”

“The solution is not always to buy players. I believe we have a policy where we have to be very strong. We have managed to stay at the top, build a new stadium, make profit, pay our debt back and I believe that doesn’t get the credit it deserves.”

Premier League veteran winger, Boudewijn Zenden, has suggested that his self-imposed exile from the Premiership is about to end.

The Dutch winger has been plying his trade in France, playing for Marseilles, but is keen to return to the Premier League, where he previously played for Chelsea, Liverpool and Middlesbrough. Zenden is a steal for Premiership clubs as he will arrive on a free transfer.

“It is true that I am talks with a few Premier League clubs and I hope to finalise a move before the 15th of August for the start of the Premier League,” Zenden told Sky Sports.

“Hull, Blackburn and Portsmouth have expressed an interest and I am talks with those clubs, but I have not decided anything yet. I am in Holland at the minute, but once a deal is agreed with a club I am ready to get on the first flight to England.”

“The Premier League is the best around, with the best players and I really enjoy the atmospheres inside the stadiums,” Zenden concluded. “I obviously had six years there and I feel I am suited to playing there and I have the experience of having played there before.”