Live on Skysports: Sat 12.45 & 17.30; Sun 13.30 & 16.00: A look ahead to the weekend’s Premier League including Man City v Arsenal.
Manchester City lie just two points off the Premiership pace with home wins against Chelsea and Liverpool to their name already this season and they can stay in the title hunt this week by bagging maximum points as they entertain third-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners have looked far from invincible of late in the league having drawn at Sunderland, before suffering back-to-back losses against Chelsea and West Brom and battling back from a goal down to record an unconvincing victory over Birmingham. Subsequently, bookies have seemingly got it right by making Arsene Wenger’s side outsiders, Paddy Power pricing them at 2/1, although the good news for punters is that the odds don’t lean enough towards City, who have been overpriced by William Hill at a generous 7/5.
Nevertheless, Roberto Mancini’s men have found the going tough in their last couple, narrow victories over Newcastle and Blackpool respectively, and there is no doubt that the Gunners have the quality to make life difficult for them. A triumph for the hosts by a solitary goal stands out then at 3/1 with bet365 and for the more ambitious Betdaq offer 17/2 for City to shade it 2-1.
Meanwhile, time and again this term, Carlos Tevez has popped up with a crucial goal for the home side and the Argentine striker’s brace at Bloomfield Road on Sunday took his tally to seven in seven. Coral’s 6/4 for the former Manchester United man to add to that total could allow punters to cash-in on that rich vein of form.
Leaders Chelsea were frustrated at Aston Villa on Saturday but back on home soil, Carlo Ancelotti’s troops can return to winning ways as they host Wolves. The Blues are a prohibitive 1/7 (Totesport) to land the points at Stamford Bridge and so punters will have to look elsewhere for ways to pocket a profit from the clash. One route could be Partybets’ 4/5 for the champions to prevail and also preserve their perfect defensive record at home by keeping a clean sheet while the return of Didier Drogba could also prove lucrative; Stan James rating the striker at 4/9 to find the net.
At the Britannia Stadium, Manchester United are odds-on at 8/11 with 888Sport to overcome Stoke but on current form, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who have drawn all four matches on the road, don’t look reliable enough to warrant an interest. Similarly, the lunchtime clash at White Hart Lane looks tough-to-call as Tottenham and Everton lock horns. The latter, buoyed by their Merseyside derby success, would have looked a touch high at 3/1 (Paddy Power) as they head to north London but a litany of injuries, particularly in midfield, could be a hindrance and the draw might be the best bet at 23/10 with .
Beleaguered Liverpool meanwhile, are 4/6 courtesy of Ladbrokes to lift the Anfield gloom with a victory over Blackburn in the Reds’ first home match with the new owners in place and a win could also be on the cards for West Ham (7/5, bet365), who entertain Newcastle.
Elsewhere, Betfred’s 9/4 for the draw catches the eye as West Brom meet Fulham, Sunderland and Aston Villa are 23/10 with Totesport to share the spoils, Coral price Wigan and Bolton at 9/4 to do likewise but at St Andrews, Paddy Power’s 10/3 for Blackpool to edge out off-colour Birmingham looks huge and the buzzing Seasiders are cracking value at 2/1 in Betfred’s ‘Draw no Bet’ market.
Recommended Bets:
Man City to beat Arsenal – 7/5 (William Hill)
West Ham to beat Newcastle – 7/5 (bet365)
Blackpool to beat Birmingham ‘Draw no Bet’ – 2/1 (Betfred)
Compare all Premier League odds and bet at the best price.
