Welcome to the preview of English Premier League for week 10. It’s certainly come around pretty quick but there’s still a long way to go and things can change pretty quickly in this league. Southampton have certainly impressed as they currently sit in 2nd but they are yet to really beat any of the big sides so it’ll be interesting to see how they cope heading into the Christmas fixtures which can always spring a few surprises. But before all that can transpire we have to get through this weekend first.
**Odds from Sportsbet as at 1st November
Newcastle ($3.6) versus Liverpool ($2.05), Draw ($3.5)
A great way to kick off the weekend with Newcastle hosting Liverpool first up. Newcastle have been in some impressive form in recent weeks and have now managed to string together 4 wins in all competitions after their wins over Leicester and Tottenham in the league whilst they also managed wins over QPR and Manchester City in the league cup. Whilst their opponents have managed to gather points in recent weeks, they’ve struggled a little with plenty of luck in their win over QPR and an underwhelming draw against a weakened Hull last weekend. Their defensive frailties have also continued from last season but also look a lot worse having so far conceded 12 goals in 9 games compared to 8 at the same point last season. Newcastle will be riding high on their win over Manchester City and Tottenham which both came away and I think at home they’ll be tough to beat. Liverpool have thus far been far from a sure thing this season with a lack of goals from Balotelli and the obvious settling in time needed for their new faces such as Lallana. Should be a tight game here in what is a difficult game to pick a winner either way.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Exactly 2 or 3 goals at $2.06 (80%)
Next Best: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.62
Arsenal ($1.25) versus Burnley ($12), Draw ($6)
The Gunners take on the winless Burnley this week and will be looking for their 4th win. Their struggles with injury have been well documented but they sit in 5th despite their injury concerns and have a good opportunity to build from here. Burnley on the other hand have struggled to adapt to the top flight this year claiming just the 4 draws and look to have a tough task to survive the drop at this early stage of the season. I think they face mission impossible this week even though Arsenal have struggled at times this season. Burnley don’t seem to have the required quality to get the wins required to survive and playing at Arsenal is no easy feat at the best of times so for me there is only one winner this weekend here.
Predicted score: Arsenal 3-0
Best Bet: Burnley to score no goals at $1.91 (85%)
Next Best: Flamini to be booked at $3.4
Chelsea ($1.18) versus QPR ($17), Draw ($7)
The machine that is Chelsea hit a bit of a bump last week with a draw with United but are well placed to return to winning ways against QPR. Despite grabbing a good win over Villa earlier in the week, QPR face a tough ask to get much out of this game. Chelsea have been on fire for most of the season and don’t look like slowing down just yet especially with Costa likely to return to action after injury. QPR have struggled against the offensively strong sides and have thus far conceded 18 goals in their 9 games. There’s certainly signs of improvement in QPR but I think this weekend their progress will stutter with Chelsea to get back on the winner’s list.
Predicted score: Chelsea 3-0
Best Bet: Chelsea to win to Nil at $1.78 (90%)
Next Best: 78Chelsea Half-Time/Full-Time at $1.53
Everton ($1.75) versus Swansea City ($4.8), Draw ($3.7)
Everton host Swansea this weekend with both sides finding some form last weekend. Swansea registered their 4th win of the season to push back up the table into 6th whilst Everton put together two wins beating Aston Villa and Burnley in what was their 2nd and 3rd wins of the season. It has been a tough season for Everton in that they haven’t looked the same side as seasons gone by but two good wins will instil some confidence in the side moving forward. I think it’ll be enough against Swansea this week as well, but only just. Swansea have a pretty potent attack with Bony leading the line knocking in 4 goals in his last 3 games. Bony in combination with Sigurdsson is something that will definitely trouble Everton this weekend so I’d be surprised if Swansea didn’t at least score this weekend. Similarly with Everton it would be surprising if they didn’t score at home this weekend having already scored 10 in their 4 home games so far. Everton have had a really tough start to the season having already played Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool so I think this weekend is where they’ll continue their winning ways as the fixture becomes a little friendlier.
Predicted score: Everton 2-1
Best Bet: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.67 (90%)
Next Best: Exactly 2 or 3 goals at $2.04
Hull ($3.8) versus Southampton ($2.05), Draw ($3.4)
This looks like it’ll be a really good game on paper and I can’t see why it won’t be when these two face off this weekend. Southampton’s form has been well documented winning 9 of their last 10 in all competitions and they’ll be in no mood to drop that form here. There does come a time though where the danger of getting ahead of themselves can leave them undone especially when they come up against the top sides in the league of which they’ve played Liverpool & Tottenham and lost both. There is no denying though that they are in good form given the league is tough every week. Hull will be a tough test for them this week and it’ll be interesting to see what they can get out of the game. Hull have been pretty good this season having lost just the two games but importantly they’ve managed to snatch points off Arsenal and Liverpool the last two weeks. I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see Hull taking the points here and at the very least a point. For all their injury concerns with the likes of McGregor, Dawson, Snodgrass, and Jelavic out, they’ve still managed to put in good performances. They’ll be hard to beat at home.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Double Chance Hull at $1.79 (70%)
Next Best: Under 2.5 goals at $1.78
Leicester ($2.25) versus West Brom ($3.2), Draw ($3.4)
Leicester take on the Baggies this week with both sides in need of a win with West Brom failing to win in their last 3 and Leicester searching for their 3rd win of the season. West Brom have had some pretty tough away trips this season so far against Southampton, Swansea, Tottenham, and Liverpool and whilst they’ve managed 4 points from those games, they’ve only scored twice which is in contrast to their home form where they have averaged 2 goals a game at home. Perhaps in their favour then is that Leicester have failed to keep a clean sheet at home. With the likes of Berahino in good goal scoring form having scored 5 times in his last 4 games, Leicester could be in for another tough afternoon at the back. Leicester have however been difficult to beat at home with the 3 draws and the 1 win so I don’t think we can easily pick a standout winner here. Leicester will be tough to beat at home this weekend.
Predicted score: Draw 2-2
Best Bet: Both teams to score at $1.67 (80%)
Next Best: Total goals even at $1.82
Stoke ($2.5) versus West Ham ($2.87), Draw ($3.3)
After 9 games I certainly wouldn’t have picked West Ham to be one of the form teams of the league and to be sitting in 4th position with 5 wins and going for 4 in a row this weekend when they take on Stoke. They had a massive win over Manchester City at home last weekend so there is no doubt that confidence is high heading into this one. They come up against a pretty tight defence though in Stoke who’ve only let through 3 goals in 4 home games and I think they’ll be able to keep that record pretty tight if West Ham’s leading scorer Sakho is a doubt through injury. He’s scored 5 goals in the premier league and has been somewhat of a surprise packet. I have a feeling though that Stoke can get something from this one. It’s hard to ignore West Ham’s form but sometimes strange things happen in football and I think Stoke will get a win here. They won both of their meetings last season and I think they can make it 3 in a row over West Ham in a tight one.
Predicted score: Stoke 1-0
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.74 (70%)
Next Best: Stoke to win either Half at $1.73
Manchester City ($1.91) versus Manchester United ($4), Draw ($3.6)
The biggest game of the weekend with Manchester City hosting Manchester United in what is one of the biggest derby’s going around. Interestingly Manchester City have lost their last 2 games losing to West Ham last weekend and to Newcastle during the week in the League Cup. In a big blow for City, David Silva is expected to miss this one having come off early against Newcastle. Luckily they still have quality replacements in the likes of Nasri to step up. Manchester United are starting to get things in place taking 8 points from their past 4 games with a last minute equaliser last week at home against Chelsea a big boost for the side. It will be interesting though to see how their defence handles City’s attack, in particular Aguero who I think will be a menace here. One thing I’m certain of in this one is that there will be goals. United don’t yet have the defence to keep quality opposition quiet whilst City have only managed the 2 clean sheets so far this season. when you also consider that there has been 16 goals in the last 4 games between these two, we should be in for a cracker.
Predicted score: Manchester City 3-2
Best Bet: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.53 (90%)
Next Best: Manchester City to win and Both teams to Score at $3.18
Aston Villa ($3.7) versus Tottenham ($2.05), Draw ($3.4)
Villa host Tottenham in their fixture this weekend with both sides equally in need of a win to get their seasons back on track. Villa have lost their last 5 games in stark contrast to winning 3 of their first 4 to start the season. It’s easy though to miss the fact they have played Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton, and QPR in their last 6 which is an incredibly tough run for any side in the league. With Tottenham this weekend it doesn’t get much easier with Spurs looking to bounce back from that poor second half display against Newcastle last weekend. It’s clear that Tottenham still have a lot of work to do and that their mentality in games isn’t their strong suit. If they can get off to a strong start this weekend though like they did against Newcastle last weekend and somehow keep focused then they should have enough to continue their dominance over Villa. Tottenham have smashed Villa in their last 5 meetings in all competitions with Villa failing to register a goal whilst Spurs piled on 15. I’m not sure if we’ll have a similar score line such as a 3-0 or 4-0, but Tottenham should have just enough to get the 3 points albeit a little unconvincingly.
Predicted score: Tottenham 2-1
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.93 (75%)
Next Best: Exactly 2 or 3 goals at $2
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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