With a few FA Cup fixtures taking place this weekend we have a reduced number of Premier League games to preview for the weekend. The match of the weekend is no doubt between Chelsea and Tottenham in what should be an enthralling London derby. Chelsea have been flying at home this season whilst Spurs have the best away record in the league even though are not coming off the best of results the past few weeks with a loss to Norwich and scratchy win over Cardiff. A win for Chelsea gives them a very handy 9 point lead over Manchester City (even though they have 3 games in hand) whilst a win for Tottenham gives them a boost to their top 4 chances. Either way it should be a great contest to end the Premier League fixtures for the weekend.
Best looking bet
Chelsea versus Tottenham – Both teams to score at $1.94
Norwich versus Stoke – Under 2.5 goals at $1.62
Odds from Betfair as at 8/3/2014
West Brom ($4.9) versus Manchester United ($1.88), Draw ($3.7)
West Brom take on Manchester United at home in the first fixture of the weekend in what looks an intriguing matchup. Both sides have struggled this season with West Brom unable to replicate their form last season whilst Manchester United’s fall from grace has been well documented. West Brom sit in a precarious position in 17th place and are one of 6 or 7 sides that could be relegated by the end of the season. A small positive is that whilst they haven’t won a game in their last 7 they’ve only lost 3 times and are also undefeated at home in their last 6 games. Manchester United haven’t been in the best of form after they captured their first win since 28th Jan with a 2-0 win over Palace in their last game. It puts this game really in the balance even more so due to the baggies big win at Old Trafford earlier in the season and given they are more comfortable playing at home than away they are certainly in with a shot here. I think this will be a pretty tight game and although there is a bit pointing towards a West Brom fight, Manchester United’s combination of a decent away record (only 4 losses from 14) and desperation for points to keep in touch with Tottenham and Everton should see them get a tight win.
Predicted result: Manchester United 2-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $2.1
Best Bet Confidence: 75%
Cardiff ($) versus Fulham ($), Draw ($)
A win for both sides is needed here and nothing less should either create a pretty open affair or a tight low scoring game where both sides don’t want to give away the advantage to the other. Fulham are resting at the bottom of a table so they need wins and nothing less with Cardiff a point above them in the same boat if they wish to stay up for another season in the top flight. Fulham are coming off a tough derby with Chelsea losing 3-1 but they’ll be pinning their hopes here on their stronger performances away from home in their last 2 notching draws at West Brom and Manchester United. Cardiff’s best performances have been at home this season where they have captured 16 of their 22 points with their home crowd certainly giving them an extra man on the pitch. Cardiff put in a good performance at Tottenham last week and whilst they didn’t get the points they can take some positives from the game regardless. There’s pressure on both sides here no doubt but I can’t help but feel there is more pressure on Cardiff with this being a home game that their supporters will more than likely be expecting them to win as they won the reverse fixture earlier in the season. I think that can play into the hands of Fulham here where they can get a tight win here.
Predicted result: Fulham 2-1
Best Bet: Double Chance Fulham at $1.66
Best Bet Confidence: 80%
Crystal Palace (3.85) versus Southampton ($2.22), Draw ($3.35)
Southampton travel to Crystal Palace this weekend in what should be a pretty good game. Palace have some depth in attack now with Murray and Chamakh up front along with Ince and Bolasie coming in from wide positions. Palace are certainly a side that have shown enough to show they belong in the top flight. Southampton are coming off 2 losses heading into this one so they’ll be hoping to put in a stronger performance but they may find it tough against a Palace side that has won 3 and drawn 1 from their last 5 at home conceding only 4 times. The more I look at it the more I feel this game is evenly matched. Palace have been tough to beat at home whilst Southampton have hit a little bit of poor form in their past 2 games that evens the balance. Should be a tight game and we might not see more than 2.5 goals but a draw is the likely outcome.
Predicted result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.7
Best Bet Confidence: 70%
Norwich ($2.28) versus Stoke ($3.7), Draw ($3.3)
Norwich take on Stoke this weekend in perhaps the least exhilarating fixtures of the weekend. Stoke are coming off a great win at home over Arsenal last time out and will be hoping to capitalise on Norwich’s thumping they received at the hands of Aston Villa when they went down 4-1. Stoke’s problem though is that their away form doesn’t guarantee a good performance here with only the 6 points from a possible 42 so far and they’ve only scored 3 goals in their last 8 away. On the flipside Norwich have been decent at home though they would’ve liked to have converted a few of their 5 draws at home into wins. With that said though Norwich have kept 4 clean sheets in their last 4 home games and coming up against a side that doesn’t score a lot will give them a big chance here. Should be a tight game but Norwich have the upper hand with the home crowd and a solid defence in Bassong and Yobo.
Predicted result: Norwich 1-0
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.62
Best Bet Confidence: 85%
Chelsea ($1.6) versus Tottenham ($7), Draw ($4.1)
This is no doubt the matchup of the weekend with London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham to cap off the 5 fixtures for the weekend. Chelsea will be hoping to extend their unbeaten home record whilst Tottenham will be hoping to go against the odds for a first win at Chelsea in 24 years. Both sides will be desperate for a win with the odds certainly in the favour of the home side here with their home record and no major injury concerns as yet. Spurs have some injury concerns with Danny Rose set to miss again whilst Eriksen could miss if he doesn’t return to fitness after a back injury. A positive for Tottenham is that they’ve managed 3 draws in their last 5 visits to Stamford Bridge though it’s perhaps there that the positives stop given that their last win over Chelsea came in 2009/10 at White Hart Lane. I think what we will see though besides a likely Chelsea win is that both teams should score. 8 of the last 10 meetings between these two in all competitions has seen both sides score and given this is a derby it should be a relatively open game to see some goals from both sides.
Predicted result: Chelsea 2-1
Best Bet: Both teams to score at $1.94
Best Bet Confidence: 80%
Please Note:
All of the above are the opinions of the author and are not recommendations or advice. The author may not be taking every bet listed above. Bet at your own risk.
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