Last time out we enjoyed a good start to the weekend with Manchester City winning on the handicap but lost both bets on Sunday – our first losing weekend of the season. Hopefully you took our 2.18 tip on Twitter to back England to score 4 or more versus Moldova on Friday to reclaim your money and then some.
The international break can sometimes throw a spanner in the works of some Premier League teams. We’ve taken that into account and we’re confident of the tips we have for you this weekend.
Here are this week’s Premiership Tips:
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
Manchester United have failed to score in their last two games – a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea followed up by a 1-0 loss at league leaders Liverpool.
I believe Manchester United will hit back all guns blazing this weekend to get their season started as they head into the weekend 5 points behind the league leaders. Wayne Rooney may be busted, but Danny Welbeck will be fresh from the international break where he was suspended for England’s draw on Tuesday. Robin van Persie is back from some goalscoring form with the Netherlands, whilst Nani, Antonio Valencia, Wilfried Zaha and Ashley Young all offer attacking threats down the wings. Will David Moyes give Shinji Kagawa a chance this weekend?
Daniel Sturridge and Wilfried Bony are the only players to have beaten this Manchester United defence this season. They finished last season strongly too. David de Gea is proving difficult to beat these days.
Crystal Palace like to play the counter attack game and had success against Sunderland who have looked poor under Paolo Di Canio. They had been beaten by Tottenham and Stoke City prior to their victory at Selhurst Park.
Old Trafford will be an intimidating place for these Crystal Palace players who amongst them have limited Premier League experience. Whether the day will get to them is hard to predict but I expect the superior quality of the Manchester United players will come out on top. And having scored 4 goals versus Swansea City already this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if they matched that number versus a team that came up from the Championship last season.
Best bet: Manchester United to win -1.5 goals 13/20 Bet365
Outsider: Correct Score Any Unquoted (either team to score 4 goals or more) 3.65 with betfair
Sunderland vs Arsenal
Arsenal have won all 4 of their matches since losing at home to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season. Fulham were comfortably beat, Fenerbahce were then thrashed over two legs in the Champions League playoff and last time out the Gunners beat their North London rivals Tottenham.
Sunderland have been one of the worse teams in the Premier League through 3 games – only West Brom are keeping Paolo Di Canio’s side off the bottom of the table.
Olivier Giroud is scoring goals this season, Theo Walcott is a pacey threat down the right wing, Lukas Podolski is a threat on the other side, Aaron Ramsey is in form, Jack Wilshere is healthy, Santi Cazorla scored 12 goals last season and Arsenal have just recruited Mesut Oezil. Sunderland’s defence conceded 3 goals at Crystal Palace last weekend and John O’Shea will be suspended for this one.
Arsenal’s defence kept clean sheets in both of their matches versus Fenerbahce, shut Tottenham out and the only goal they conceded versus Fulham was a close range consolation from Darren Bent. The Arsenal defence ended last season very well. Sunderland’s attack that has not tested goalkeepers very often in their opening three matches will have a problem breaking Arsenal down on Saturday.
Paolo Di Canio publicly criticised his team post-game after their defeat to Crystal Palace. I’m not a fan of his antics and I’ll be surprised if he lasts until the end of the season. And if he does I can see him taking Sunderland to the Championship.
It’s at the Stadium of Light and after an international break but I still expect Arsenal to win this one comfortably. If they underperform it may only be a 1-0 win for the London side but I refuse to believe Sunderland will get anything from this match.
Best bet: Arsenal to win 8/11 Stan James
Consider: Arsenal to win to nil 19/10 Ladbrokes
Tottenham vs Norwich City
After back-to-back victories to start the season Tottenham were brought back down to earth with a 1-0 defeat at North London rivals Arsenal before the international break.
Andre Villas-Boas still ahs to get the number of new midfielders he’s signed over the summer in unison. There’s a wealth of talent at the manager’s disposal – Christian Eriksen has been a match winner for Ajax on numerous occasions, Paulinho likes to push forward to score goals, Nacer Chadli likes to cut in and shoot from distance. Lewis Holtby was signed in January, Gylfi Sigurdsson is another playmaker. And all of them have striker Roberto Soldado to supply which they haven’t been doing very well at all to start his career in London.
Norwich City have their own international stars as well this season – Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Swedish forward Johan Elmander, Dutch international Leroy Fer, England under-21 Nathan Redmond and Swedish full back Martin Olsson have all been recruited.
Many have tipped Norwich City for relegation this season and they were amongst the bookmakers’ favourites pre-season. 4 points from 3 games is nothing special and their solo victory so far came from a long range Nathan Redmond effort against Artur Boruc that arguably should have been kept out. They conceded 2 goals to Everton and were beat by 10-man Hull City. I think in the long run they will be fine but it’s not been the most impressive of starts.
Tottenham at home, looking to bounce back from defeat to their rivals, I see them taking all 3 points on Saturday. I’m hoping to wait a few minutes in-play to get odds of halves.
Best bet: Tottenham to win 1.46 Betfair
Southampton vs West Ham
No team’s games have seen fewer goals than the 3 West Ham supporters have seen in their opening three games this season. And Southampton fans have only seen one more.
Southampton have not made a flying start to this season, but I have full faith in their survival compared to the odd pre-season tip I read elsewhere speculating they are relegation contenders.
The defensive partnership of Dejan Lovren and Jose Fonte looks pretty solid to start the season and Calum Chambers has been keeping Nathanial Clyne on the bench, although last season’s right-back did start the season carrying an injury. Luke Shaw is attack-minded from left-back.
There are a number of defensive-minded players in the Southapton midfield too to protect their back four. Going forward, James Ward-Prowse looks like a good set piece player and is technically gifted, quickly becoming the playmaker in the team. Adam Lallana also creates chances and has his fair share of shots at goal.
Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan have scored West Ham’s two goals this season as they have problems up front with Andy Carroll injured. His replacement Modibo Maiga has produced just 1 shot on target in his 270 minutes. Ricardo Vaz Te has made just one stoppage time appearance so far this season.
Kevin Nolan looks like West Ham’s biggest attacking threat once again this season. If Southampton can keep him quiet then we can expect a low-scoring game.
I am favouring a low-scoring game between these two. West Ham games are averaging 1 goal a game and with Sam Allardyce in charge they like to keep their defence tight. Southampton games are averaging 1.33 goals per game and seem more defensive this season, with their attack yet to fire on all cylinders.
Best bet: Under 2.5 goals 4/5 Skybet
Outsider: Correct Score: 0-0 10/1 Skybet