EPL 3 & 4 Nov

Aston Villa v Derby

Derby have scored one goal in their last five. They are yet to score on the road, let alone win. You have to back Villa in this game, Derby are truly appalling away from home and despite Villa’s drop in form of late (drawing with Bolton and losing to Leicester) the Villains should easily be able to show off any trouble directed their way.

Blackburn v Liverpool

Blackburn are on magnificent form, beating 7th placed Portsmouth 2-1 in the Carling Cup on Wednesday Night. They have won their last seven on the trot and really their next game is their biggest challenge yet.
Liverpool are, however, injury hit. This forced Benitez to play key first team players in the Carling cup midweek when Liverpool struggled to a 2-1 victory over Cardiff. The Reds have had a far from perfect season and stand 6th in the Premiership behind Blackburn who are currently 5th.

The odds therefore on a Liverpool win are longer than usual at 2.52. The game is actually no cert although what both teams have been showing the ability to do is to score and concede. But to back the game to produce more than two goals seems to risky as both teams may well play very tight at the back in an attempt to steal the game.

Everton v Birmingham

Everton are currently on pretty good form. They are winning at home and away, with goals coming from all over the park, they have had ten different players score this season making them extremely dangerous in attack.

Birmingham unfortunately are not on such great form this season and their trip to Goodison Park will not be an easy one-they have won just once away this season. Despite beating Wigan at the weekend, a long list of defeats prior to the game and an impending takeover has unsettled manager Steve Bruce. He has however now been given the backing of prospective Chairman Carson Yeung.

Odds of 1.74 on Everton are too low and the game may well prove too unpredictable for any betting to occur.

Fulham v Reading

Fulham have not won in their last ten, drawing against teams such as Derby and Sunderland.

Reading have just come out of beating Newcastle 2-1. The problem with reading however lies in their inability to defend away from home. The only team with more conceded goals on the road is Derby, who still managed to tie the game at Craven Cottage. This is why I would back Reading with a +1/4 goal handicap at odds of 1.95 as draw’s seem all to regular an occurrence when Fulham play at home and it therefore may be too great a risk to gamble on a reading Victory at odds of 3.35.

Have a one point bet on Reading (+1/4) at 1.95.

[Fulham won 3-1]

Middlesbrough v Tottenham

Tottenham’s first game under new boss Juande Ramos brought the result but not the performance that the Spaniard wanted. So, will the ne boss be able to turn his team around prior to their game at the Riverside this weekend?

It seems far too difficult a question to answer, one can however look at Middlesbrough’s past performances. They have lost all of their last five games, including a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup.

One might claim therefore that Tottenham may be able to beat Boro despite their currently shocking form. But backing Tottenham as 2.62 favourites is an extremely risky gamble and I certainly wouldn’t put any money on it.

Newcastle v Portsmouth

This game is too close to call, both teams are on terrific form and are separated by just two points in the Premiership. Both teams have records of either winning or losing and I feel that whoever is up for it on the day will come out on top.

Newcastle are favorites at 2.18 but the odds of 3.85 aren’t worth risking on a Pompey victory.

Wigan v Chelsea

Chelsea of course are favourites with Wigan at 10.00 outsiders. Wigan have lost their last six and I therefore can’t see them putting up much fight against what is currently a strong Chelsea team.

Man Utd thrashed Wigan 4-0 and I would not be surprised if a similar result occurred on Saturday. I still would not however bet on their being over 2.5 goals scored as I can’t see Wigan scoring and therefore asking Chelsea to put three or more past them is certainly not worth odds of 1.93.

Arsenal v Man Utd

This game, as the biggest of the weekend, should be left well alone. There is no way that one could predict what is going to happen on the pitch. Both teams very much need to win the game and the young guns will be under large amounts of pressure.

United are the more experienced side but have not enjoyed the same run of beautiful form that Arsenal have had this season. If Arsenal succumb to the pressure of the big occasion then Man Utd should win, however, if Arsenal play as they did against Slavia Prague then they surely will take the points.

The same goes for the scoreline, if either team concedes early on then a high scoring game may well be on the cards. However, if both teams stick tight then one will probably find that the game will be low scoring.

It seems to me that there is not much betting on this game although it might be worth a look on betfair at half time depending on how the game is going.

West Ham v Bolton

Bolton are overrated with odds of 4.40 but so are West Ham at 2.02. It is a difficult game to call, Bolton have improved form, scraping a draw against Villa and losing by just one goal to City in the week.

Hence a handicap of +1/2 looks tempting for any punters looking for something this weekend. One should be warned however that the amazing peak of drawing 1-1 with Villa may have been influenced by Sammy Lee’s departure from the club and players such as Anelka will be all to happy to not perform until his new gaffa is appointed or he is snapped up in January.

The Hammers are on very good form and really should be looking to take three points from the game but at odds of 2.02 I wouldn’t put my money there.

Man City v Sunderland

City have had a drop in form recently, after losing 6-0 to Chelsea they managed to just beat Bolton by a goal. Still one would have to back them to beat Sunderland this weekend.

It seems that Sven will still be reeling after conceding six goals and therefore will have looked at his defence. I can see him playing for a one nil win once more as he will have been furious with his defence after their performance at Stamford Bridge. The bookies however agree, although at 1.86 reckon it’s worth a small gamble.

A one point bet on the game produce fewer than 2.5 goals at 1.86.

[Man City won 1-0]