Dave1962

Manchester United have parted company with their manager and were unable to find a win in the two games that Darren Fletcher took charge in the dugout. Today, Michael Carrick takes charge of his first game. With the form that Manchester City are currently in, every chance Manchester United will still be looking for their first win since they parted company with Amorim. Manchester City have taken ten points from their last four away Premiership games. They will want to keep up the pressure on Arsenal, who play later in the day. With United eleven points behind City in the table, take the visitors to get the win.

In their respective two games at this year's Masters, Judd Trump has dropped four frames, while Higgins has dropped seven. Trump is ranked four places higher than Higgins and has beaten him the last seven times they have met.

In the La Liga table, Real Madrid are one place off the top spot, whilst Levante are one place off the bottom spot. Real Madrid may have parted company with their manager but still look good enough to get the better of Levante. The last time they welcomed Levante they scored six goals. Maybe not as many goals today, but there is every chance the result will be the same.

Three horses come into this race having won their opening two races of the new season. The one I am siding with is the Nicky Henderson-trained Old Park Star, who forged up the Cheltenham Hill in his last race to win by twelve lengths. He is currently the second favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

With cheek pieces fitted for the first time, Dalston Lad hacked up in his last race at Sedgefield like an odds-on shot should. Today he takes a step up in trip and retains the cheek pieces. He appears to have every chance of being another winner for the Skelton yard.

Came From Nowhere has raced three times this season and improved each time. He started with a third, then a second, and last time out he won at Hereford just before Christmas. He appeared to win with something up his sleeve that day, so hopefully he will win again despite the seven-pound rise.

These teams have both won their last two league games, and in the table Grimsby currently trail Barnet by one point. The last time Grimsby welcomed Barnet they were playing in the National League. On that day Grimsby got all three points, and I'm backing them to do so again today.

Burnley have only taken one point from their last five away Premiership games. Liverpool have won two and drawn two of their last four home games. A win today will keep Liverpool in a top-four spot and Burnley in the relegation zone.

In League Two, Cheltenham have won two of their last three away games. One of those wins was against Swindon, who are second in the table. If they play to that level again, they could get the win and move above Oldham in the table.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Akimos takes a slight step up in distance compared to his previous races. He rounded off last season with a win at Epsom Las but is yet to win this season, having finished second and fifth in his two races. He was disappointing in his last race, finishing fifth, but if he can be ridden closer to the front he could improve on that run. With no issues concerning the ground, hopefully Akimos will equip himself well.

Having won the Tingle Creek at Sandown it is difficult to look beyond the Willie Mullins trained, Il Etait Temps. In that race he beat Jonbon by nine lengths and even with Harry Cobden taking over from Nicky de Boinville, its difficult to see placings being reversed.