Match previews - Weds 2nd Feb

A look ahead to Wednesday's fixtures in the Barclays Premier League.

Six matches take place on a busy evening in the Barclays Premier League.
Title challengers Manchester City face a tricky test at Birmingham City while Tottenham Hotspur go to Blackburn Rovers.
Liverpool host Stoke City and Newcastle United make the long trip to Fulham. At the foot of the table, West Ham United go to Blackpool while Wolverhampton Wanderers visit Bolton Wanderers.

Birmingham v Man City

Having lost last time out at Aston Villa, Manchester City return to the Second City aiming to get their title challenge back on track.
Birmingham secured a 0-0 draw when the sides met at Eastlands in November and last season's corresponding fixture also finished goalless.
Alex McLeish's men have drawn three of their last four Barclays Premier League matches at St Andrew's while the 1-0 defeat at Villa Park was City's first reverse in seven away fixtures.

Blackburn v Spurs

Blackburn have alternated defeats with victories in their last six matches but are now chasing a third successive home win.
Spurs have lost just one of their last 12 Barclays Premier League outings and have already beaten Rovers this season, winning 4-2 at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham have won the last three meetings between the sides. Last season they came away from Ewood Park with a 2-0 success thanks to a double from Peter Crouch.

Blackpool v West Ham

The Hammers have picked up just one point from a possible nine in the Barclays Premier League.
Blackpool have lost five of their last six matches but came close to beating Manchester United last time out when they led 2-0 with 18 minutes to go before going down 3-2.
The sides drew 0-0 at Upton Park and the Seasiders will be chasing their first league win over West Ham since March 1966.

Bolton v Wolves

Wolves have lost three of their last four while Bolton have taken just one point from a possible 15.
Owen Coyle's side led 3-0 at Molineux in November but had to cling on for a 3-2 win as Mick McCarthy's men staged a stirring recovery.
The Trotters have lost just one of their last seven at the Reebok while Wolves have tasted defeat in nine of their last 10 on the road.

Fulham v Newcastle

Fulham have taken seven points from a possible nine and are chasing a hat-trick of home wins.
The Magpies aim to extend their four-match unbeaten run.
The sides drew 0-0 when they met at Craven Cottage in November.

Liverpool v Stoke

Stoke are due a victory having alternated defeats and wins in their last seven matches.
The Potters are bidding to avoid a third successive defeat on the road but did beat the Merseysiders 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium in November with goals by Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones.
Liverpool won last season's corresponding fixture 4-0 with goals by Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Glen Johnson and David Ngog.

Barclays Premier League fixtures

Birmingham City v Manchester City (Referee: (Kevin Friend)
Blackburn Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur (Andre Marriner)
Blackpool v West Ham United (Stuart Attwell)
Bolton Wanderers v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Peter Walton)
Fulham v Newcastle United (Michael Jones)
Liverpool v Stoke City (Anthony Taylor)