Live on Sky Sports 1: Sat 17.30: A narrow Chelsea win and an 11/1 draw double (bet365) are two of our five Premier League picks this week.
The season is only a dozen games old yet Chelsea are already priced at just 1/6 by William Hill to clinch the Premier League title. Six points clear of the chasing pack, the Blues look set to tighten their grip on top spot this weekend, as they travel to Sunderland and bookies agree, Stan James installing Jose Mourinho’s champions-elect as 4/9 favourites to rack up an eleventh victory of the campaign on Wearside.
Of course, the fact that the Black Cats have shared the spoils in seven of their twelve matches might lead to the odd speculative stalemate flutter at odds of 7/2 with bet365 but only the two Manchester teams have taken points from Chelsea so far and both were slightly fortunate so it’s hard to oppose the visitors.
Nevertheless, three of the Blues’ last four successes have been by a one-goal margin so it could potentially be a tight affair and BetVictor offer 5/2 about them shading it by one once more.
More accurately, Ladbrokes price the leaders at 15/2 to finish on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline in a fixture that’s a generous 11/10 (Winner.com) to see both teams find the net and having struck before the interval in all but one of their wins so far, Mourinho’s men look the part at an identical 11/10, this time courtesy of Skybet, to lead at the end of each half. Diego Costa meanwhile, again heads the first scorer betting at odds of 3/1 (Paddy Power).
Southampton and Man City are the pair in pursuit of Chelsea and they lock horns at the St Mary’s Stadium. The champions are Stan James’s 5/4 favourites but at no stage this season have they looked remotely convincing and on that basis Saints look overpriced at 5/2 via William Hill.
At the very least, when you consider their home record, Ronald Koeman’s troops are worth an interest ‘Draw No Bet’ at 6/4 with Skybet and bet365 give them a goal start in the handicaps at 3/4.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United look set to continue their decent, recent run, Stan James installing them as 1/3 jollies to overcome Hull and BetVictor rate the Red Devils at a generous 10/3 to seal victory following an even first period.
High-flying West Ham and Newcastle’s collide at Upton Park with the pair quoted by Stan James at 5/2 to cancel each other out and it could also be inconclusive (5/2, BetVictor) at White Hart Lane, where Tottenham entertain Everton. It’s almost 11/1, in a double, at bet365 for both of those matches to finish all square.
Elsewhere, Paddy Power post 4/6 against out-of-sorts Liverpool getting back on track at home to Stoke, BetVictor consider Swansea to be odds-on at 4/5 to see off Crystal Palace and the same firm rate QPR at 11/8 to card a crucial triumph against fellow strugglers Leicester. At Turf Moor meanwhile, bet365 price Burnley and Aston Villa to be inseparable and it’s 8/1 (William Hill) to be goalless in that one.
Recommended Bets:
Chelsea to beat Sunderland by one – 5/2 (BetVictor)
Southampton to beat Man City ‘Draw No Bet’ – 6/4 (Skybet)
Draw double in games at West Ham & Spurs – 11/1 (bet365)
Treble on Liverpool, Swansea and QPR – 6/1 (Stan James)
Burnley v Aston Villa to be goalless – 8/1 (William Hill)
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