Pools tips for weekend of February 8-9

Ten draws: Liverpool v Arsenal, Tottenham v Everton, Charlton v Birmingham, Bradford City v Crewe, Carlisle v Gillingham, Notts County v Coventry, Exeter v Portsmouth, Wycombe v Accrington, Braintree v Nuneaton, Forest Green v Barnet.

Best draws: Liverpool v Arsenal, Bradford City v Crewe, Exeter v Portsmouth, Wycombe v Accrington, Forest Green v Barnet.

Best weekend away bets: Wigan, Leeds, Rotherham, Wolves, Southend, Chesterfield.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Manchester United, Southampton, Sunderland, Blackpool, Burnley, Leicester, Oldham, Walsall, Queen of the South.


Pick of the draws: Liverpool have dropped only four points at home this season but leaders Arsenal are unbeaten since their 6-3 defeat at Manchester City in December and making a genuine Premier League title challenge. They have won on their last two visits to Anfield and although victory may be beyond them this time, I believe they will come away with a point. Thirteen draws have hindered rather than helped Bradford City in League One. Their slide down the table has been gradual and I can see them sharing the spoils with Crewe, who are making a spirited attempt to avoid relegation. Too many draws has also been Portsmouth's undoing in League Two and I don't think their luck will change at Exeter. Off-colour Wycombe are in a relegation dogfight and I doubt whether they will find Accrington obliging opponents. Barnet may struggle to reach the Skrill Premier play-offs following the departure of their player-manager Edgar Davids and I'll be surprised if they gain more than a point from their trip to Forest Green.

Away days: Wigan snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Charlton last Saturday and believe they can make the Championship play-offs. They will fancy their chances at Huddersfield, who crashed 5-1 at Leeds last weekend. Talking of Leeds, they look good for maximum points at bottom-of-the-table Yeovil as long as they can forget their off-field worries. Rotherham's away record in League One is formidable and they should be too strong for mid-table Colchester. Wolves have moved into the automatic promotion placings and will expect to defeat bottom club Stevenage. Phil Brown's Southend are challenging for automatic promotion in League Two and are a confident bet overcome Mansfield, who have only won twice at home. In-form leaders Chesterfield are capable of winning their match against fellow high-fliers Scunthorpe.

Homes sweet homes: Manager Gus Poyet is working wonders at Sunderland, who have climbed away from the Premier League relegation zone. They face Hull, who are just above them but have a terrible away record. I expect Sunderland to have moved above Hull by Saturday night. Blackpool's slide in the Championship has been alarming - no wins in their past 12 games. But all bad runs have to end sometime. Blackpool gave a much improved display in their 2-0 defeat at Blackburn last Saturday  and I've a hunch they will upset promotion-seeking Nottingham Forest. Queen of the South are steadily climbing the Scottish Championship and may surprise leaders Falkirk. This is well worth a punt.

Pools info: Derby v QPR (match No 17 on the coupon) is now being played on Monday and will therefore be adjudicated by the pools panel.