After a successful weekend and a perfect 4/4 with our Champions League tips we’re hopeful you made at least as much as us over the past week to book that summer cruise (pre or post-World Cup of course), pay off a huge chunk or the mortgage or whatever else you want to spend your substantial winnings on. Really, I expect you to have made a minimum four-figure fee from our 7/8 correct tips.
There was European action midweek. I can see Manchester United and Swansea City being the biggest losers from that coming into this weekend’s fixtures, but there were comfortable wins for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. All of those have been taken into account.
Here are this week’s Premiership Tips:
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Liverpool returned to winning ways on Sunday with what I thought was a comfortable victory at Sunderland. I never traded on my tip to back Liverpool even if it was 2-1 late on. Simply because for all the long range shots Sunderland were having, they were not threatening Simon Mignolet.
Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez combined well for all 3 of Liverpool’s goals. The returning Uruguayan scored twice following his 10 match ban that had kept him out since April. Daniel Sturridge is the league’s top scorer heading into the weekend with 5 goals.
Victor Moses is another attacking threat in the Liverpool side whilst Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson will look to create chances from midfield.
Liverpool have gone three games without keeping a clean sheet after starting the season with thee in a row. Simon Mignolet has looked a bit dodgy during that spell since an impressive start.
This is a great chance for Liverpool to get back to keeping clean sheets – Crystal Palace have failed to score in 4 of their 6 Premier League matches this season, including their last three. The only points Ian Holloway’s side have picked up came in a 3-1 win over 10-man Sunderland. That’s the team bottom of the league.
Every weekend so far this season a BBC commentator has mentioned that Dwight Gayle was playing not-so-long ago like we didn’t already know. Perhaps it’s because they have nothing else to say about him. The striker has pace but with a lack of supply, his only Premier League goal so far has come from the penalty spot. Marouane Chamakh has looked more threatening for the Eagles.
Mile Jedinak is head and shoulders above the rest of his team in terms of performance this season. The Australian has broke up a number of attacks already. But the Australian cannot stop Suarez, Sturridge, Moses and Gerrard on his own and his team mates haven’t helped him greatly this season.
I’m expecting a comfortable Liverpool win and I think they will do it with a clean sheet as well.
Best bet: Liverpool to win to nil 5/6
Value bet: Liverpool to win -1.5 goals 4/7
Norwich vs Chelsea
Chelsea won comfortably on Tuesday night in Bucharest and will have had plenty of time to recover from the long journey with this game being played on Sunday.
Only Aston Villa (twice) have beat Norwich City at Carrow Road in their last 12 Premier League matches. Six of those were results and Tottenham and Everton are the only two teams in the current top five who have played at Norwich in that span.
Norwich City are lacking any firepower so far this season; just 2 goals in their last 5 games – those in 1-0 victories over Southampton and Stoke City. The first goal came from a hopeful effort by Nathan Redmond that I believe Artur Boruc should have kept out. The latter from Jonny Howson which I too believe Asmir Begovic should have kept out.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel hasn’t scored since the opening day of the season against Everton.
A draw at Tottenham last week was a good result for Chelsea and I think they will pick up 3 points in this one before the international break to keep them near the top.
Fernando Torres is suspended so expect Samuel Eto’o to start. The Cameroonian is still yet to score for Chelsea and showed some poor finishing midweek when he replaced an injured Torres. I am still expecting him to come good though. I think he will start ahead of Demba Ba as the former Newcastle striker hasn’t had much time this season and there was talk of Jose Mourinho trying to ship him out during the transfer window.
Oscar has been Chelsea’s star in midfield this season but I wouldn’t be surprised if Juan Mata gets some action in this match. Eden Hazard not been as productive as many were expecting heading into the season.
Chelsea’s defence has been dependable and with Norwich not scoring too many I am expecting another clean sheet for Petr Cech.
Best bet: Chelsea to win 8/13
Value bet: Chelsea to win to nil 31/20
Tottenham vs West Ham
Tottenham Hotspur are looking to maintain their chase on leaders Arsenal after dropping 2 points to their arch-rivals with a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea last weekend.
Andre Villas-Boas fielded a number of reserve players in Thursday’s 2-0 win in Russia in the Europa League. There will be a number of starters in this match fresh from not taking part and that’s key to making sure they secure the victory over West Ham.
Roberto Soldado is still without a goal away from the penalty spot in the Premier League. Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored half of Tottenham’s goals in the league. Christian Eriksen is a playmaker. Andros Townsend is a pacey winger getting some hyper of late. Paulinho is a threat from centre midfield. There’s a wealth of talent opposing West Ham’s defence.
West Ham were unlucky in the penalty they conceded last weekend and not to be awarded one themselves in a 1-0 loss at Hull. The Hammers have picked up just 2 points in five games since beating Cardiff on the opening day, with their only goals in that spell coming against Everton.
Despite playing away in Europe on Thursday I still expect Tottenham to come out on top in this one.
Best bet: Tottenham to win -1 4/6
West Brom vs Arsenal
Arsenal’s impressive start to the season continued with a 2-0 victory over Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger’s side have won 16 of their last 20 Premier League games – that is championship form.
Mesut Oezil has lifted the confidence around the Emirates Stadium and has made an instant impact since he joined. Fellow midfielder Aaron Ramsey is in some goalscoring form too.
Olivier Giroud has 4 Premier League goals to his name and with the support he’s getting from his midfield there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be pushing for the Golden Boot at the end of the season if he stays healthy.
West Brom were surprise winners at Old Trafford taking advantage of some terrible defending from the defending champions.
Arsenal’s defence is playing well. They’ll be looking to deal with Stephane Sessegnon and Morgan Amalfitano in particular with both players performing well since their late arrivals.
West Brom are on back-to-back wins. Prior to that they were looking bad towards the bottom of the league. Yes, they’ve beat Manchester United but they were really bad that day. Arsenal will be a tough test for Steve Clarke’s side and I think they will fall short.
Best bet: Arsenal to win 4/5