Heres a look ahead to game week 31 as we head into the home straight. Join me over the break..<!--more-->

Everton v WBA

Everton, who would most likely be fighting for a Champions League place every year if they could start a season the way that they finish it, are off the back of an excellent week. Winning 2-0 at Swansea and then 2-0 at Sunderland (FA Cup) - that’s no mean feat. Two clean sheets for Baines (and a goal) &amp; co as well as two goals for new(ish) signing Jelavic has Everton into the FA Cup semis and up to 9th just 2pts behind semi-final opponents Liverpool.

West Brom were comprehensively beaten at home 1-3 last week against a rampant Newcastle. Last time they played Everton at home they didn’t have a shot on target all game.

Villa v Chelsea

Villa were soundly beaten last week at The Emirates and face another difficult game against a rejuvenated Chelsea. During the midweek UCL win at Benfica, Di Matteo followed on from AVB and Fabio Capello this season by dropping Lampard to the bench. He was joined there by Essien, Drogba, Sturridge and Bosingwa.

It would be a surprise to see Kalou and Ferriera start for a second consecutive match though. Villa can take confidence from the fact that they took all 3pts from Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.

* Sadly Stiliyan Petrov will be missing as he was this wk diagnosed with acute leukaemia

QPR v Arsenal

Cisse stupidly got himself sent off for a second time since joining in January when they went down to Sunderland. He’s now suspended for four and will be lucky if Hughes trusts him enough to let him redeem himself for the last four of the season.

Arsenal continue to motor along nicely and are now on a seven game winning streak which has seen daylight open up between them and Spurs. They’re keeping clean-sheets as well as scoring freely and must be hot favourites for the win despite QPR’s desperation for points.

Newcastle v Liverpool

Andy Carroll heads back home to Tyneside, although obviously there’s no guarantee that he’ll get game time. He’s scored five goals from 35 league games. Newcastle’s new No. 9 Cisse has taken six games to score as many.

It’s not just down to Carroll though, Liverpool’s league results have been wretched in 2012, to the extent that only Wolves have a worse record. Adam could miss weeks, although Johnson and Agger could return.

Coloccini tore his hamstring in their 3-1 win at The Hawthorns last week where Ba, Cisse and Ben Arfa were sensational. Liverpool have an excellent recent record in these games, Newcastle will expect to change that this weekend.

Man City v Sunderland

Aguero is out again, Dzeko has been poor, Balotelli looks disinterested so Tevez is a real chance of coming back into the starting line-up. City are struggling at the moment and a starting appearance from last year’s talisman could lift the team, which is what’s required.

Silva who appeared to be a shoe-in for Player of the Year after 10-12 games has been poor for a while now. His confession a month ago that he’s been battling a long-standing chronic ankle injury would explain this loss of form. Kompany should return.

Sunderland have a few ex-Man United players that might be keen to put a spanner in the works. While Cattermole (if he makes it) I’m sure will be keen for a first opportunity to check how chronic Silva’s ankle actually is. McLean and Sessegnon have been involved in 13 of Sunderland’s 17 league goals this year.

Wigan v Stoke

Shaun Maloney with a penalty and Gary Caldwell got the goals that gave Wigan three precious points at Anfield last week. Maloney – whose arse is as wide as he is tall (I’m not a jug-eared, budgie-smuggling politician or media hungry ex-feminist so I can say these things) – has become slightly relevant in recent weeks and has put in a couple of performances of note.

Martinez as Wigan manager is unbeaten against Stoke and will be desperate to finally get another home win on the board. Rodallega will most likely miss with injury.

Stoke fresh after their draw with Man City are sitting only 4pts from 7th placed Liverpool and will be looking for their first away win in six attempts. Peter Crouch  should probably retire now so that he can be remembered for THAT goal last week.

Wolves v Bolton

This is a six pointer if ever there was one, even though if Wolves win they still have a huge fight on their hands to stay up. Bolton, Stoke (a), Arsenal, Sunderland (a), Man City, Swansea (a) are their next six fixtures. After 1pt from Terry Connor’s five games in charge I don’t fancy their chances.

Bolton had a second consecutive win last week which was the first time this season and are showing some form at the right time. Darren Pratley will be missing.

Blackburn v Man United

Blackburn although losing last week have a little bit of daylight from the relegation spots. They face a tough game here although they won’t have forgotten their epic win at OT earlier in the season.

United won’t have either and they’ll be looking to make amends as they push on relentlessly looking for a 20th title.

Phil Jones is fit again but is far from guaranteed game time. Rio should make it while Nani will still be missing.

United have won 14 and drawn 1 of their last 16 away league matches. Rooney will be hopeful of adding to his 21 league goals this season.

Spurs v Swansea

Caulker is ineligible to play against his parent club but the Swans have Dyer available again. Not that he’s guaranteed to reclaim his spot from Routledge.

Lennon is fit again after his hamstring injury. Vorm will do well to add to his 12 clean sheets for the season. Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was linked to the vacant (well, it will be if Redknapp takes the England job) Spurs job during the week.

Fulham v Norwich

Both teams are sitting comfortably in mid-table which may or may not see the shackles come off. Not that Norwich have had the shackles on for most of the season, they’ve been good to watch this year. They’ll miss Holt though who got sent off last week after scoring two goals.

Fulham haven’t scored in three and will be looking for Pogrebnyak to help change that. Andy Johnson could still be missing. Pilkington faces a late fitness test for Norwich.