Arsenal have won 7 of 10 at home in the Premier League this season but have faced a succession of teams from the bottom half of the league, which may also explain why their much criticised defence has managed to concede only 6 at the Emirates. Liverpool in 7th are the highest placed side to have visited the Emirates and ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. United have conceded only 6 in 10 on their Premier League travels but 3 came in their last away game at Newcastle and, prior to last week's clean sheet against a poor Bolton side, they had conceded 8 in 3 in all competitions. United have also had a fairly easy run on their travels in the Premier League, with the Newcastle drubbing the only occasion they have faced a side from the top 6 away. Arsenal have only failed to score once at home, United only once away. It's 4/6 that both teams score.
Only 3 of Arsenal's 10 home games have seen over 2.5 goals, it's 4 of 10 for United's away fixtures. The bookies are hovering around the evens mark either way for under/over 2.5 goals with over the slight favourite at around 4/5.
Both sides have shown vulnerability of late and it's tough to make a strong case for either side to win. Arsenal have won 3 of the last 5 Premier League games between the sides at the Emirates and are 15/8 to win this one. United are 13/8 with the draw a tempting 12/5. A correct score of 1-1 also looks a real possibility and is 6/1.
Arsenal are heavily reliant on Robin Van Persie's goals and United need Wayne Rooney on form to make them tick. Van Persie offers excellent value at 11/8 to score anytime. Rooney is 7/5 and Welbeck merits attention at 2/1. Don't expect Henry or Scholes to make an impact.
Picks: both teams score at 4/6, Van Persie anytime at 11/8.
Wednesday 18 January 2012
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Super Sunday betting preview: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
City will again be without the key figures of Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure. For Spurs Ledley King is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury and Emanuel Adebayor cannot play against his parent club. Spurs haven't won any of the last 3 against City but prior to that won an incredible 10 of 11, including 6 away at City. David Silva (11/4 to score anytime) returned from injury on Monday night at Wigan and City will hope he can provide the spark missing from City's last home game, the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool.
De Jong and Barry will likely anchor the City midfield with Milner possibly taking a position on the right to help Zabaleta/Richards combat the threat of Gareth Bale (7/2 to score anytime) down the Spurs left. Scott Parker gives some substance to the Spurs midfield that was clearly lacking when they lost this reverse fixture 5-1 at White Hart Lane last August. Parker's addition and Yaya's absence makes this match a more finely balanced proposition but Silva's return and the recent form of Aguero (11/8 to score anytime) presents a formidable challenge to the Spurs rearguard, which has kept only 2 clean sheets away from home. It is worth noting that Dzeko (15/8 to score anytime) scored for the first time since early 2 November on Monday night and he tends to score in bunches, inlcuding 4 at Spurs when he started the season with 6 goals in 3 games. City have won 15 straight at home in the Premier League and are priced at a hard to ignore 10/11 to win this. Spurs are 7/2 and the draw is 13/5.
City have conceded only 4 Premier League goals at the Etihad this season but Spurs have scored in 9 successive away games since opening their campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford. City have scored at home in 22 successive league games. 8/10 of City's home games this season have seen over 2.5 goals, 7/10 of Tottenham's away games have also seen over 2.5 goals. However, this fixture has seen 1-0 victories for either side in the past 2 seasons in what have effectively been deciders to qualify for the Champions League. It's 8/11 for over 2.5 goals and 4/6 that both teams score. It is also worth noting that 5 of City's last 8 games in all competitions have seen under 2.5 goals, with the figure rising to 7 out of 8 for Spurs. The 11/10 available for under 2.5 goals is tempting given the importance of this game. Spurs could find themselves within 2 points of City or as far off as 8.
Picks: City win at 10/11, under 2.5 goals at 11/10.
De Jong and Barry will likely anchor the City midfield with Milner possibly taking a position on the right to help Zabaleta/Richards combat the threat of Gareth Bale (7/2 to score anytime) down the Spurs left. Scott Parker gives some substance to the Spurs midfield that was clearly lacking when they lost this reverse fixture 5-1 at White Hart Lane last August. Parker's addition and Yaya's absence makes this match a more finely balanced proposition but Silva's return and the recent form of Aguero (11/8 to score anytime) presents a formidable challenge to the Spurs rearguard, which has kept only 2 clean sheets away from home. It is worth noting that Dzeko (15/8 to score anytime) scored for the first time since early 2 November on Monday night and he tends to score in bunches, inlcuding 4 at Spurs when he started the season with 6 goals in 3 games. City have won 15 straight at home in the Premier League and are priced at a hard to ignore 10/11 to win this. Spurs are 7/2 and the draw is 13/5.
City have conceded only 4 Premier League goals at the Etihad this season but Spurs have scored in 9 successive away games since opening their campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford. City have scored at home in 22 successive league games. 8/10 of City's home games this season have seen over 2.5 goals, 7/10 of Tottenham's away games have also seen over 2.5 goals. However, this fixture has seen 1-0 victories for either side in the past 2 seasons in what have effectively been deciders to qualify for the Champions League. It's 8/11 for over 2.5 goals and 4/6 that both teams score. It is also worth noting that 5 of City's last 8 games in all competitions have seen under 2.5 goals, with the figure rising to 7 out of 8 for Spurs. The 11/10 available for under 2.5 goals is tempting given the importance of this game. Spurs could find themselves within 2 points of City or as far off as 8.
Picks: City win at 10/11, under 2.5 goals at 11/10.
Monday 2 January 2012
Manchester City v Liverpool: Betting preview
City come into this game off the back of New Year's Day's shock defeat at Sunderland. Liverpool have had a couple of extra days rest since they won 3-1 at home to Newcastle last Friday. City will probably recall Richards, Clichy, Milner, Silva, Aguero and Balotelli to the starting line-up as they will need their best XI to take anything against a strong Liverpool side likely to feature Gerrard and Suarez. The 2 sides drew 1-1 at Anfield recently in an excellent, uncompromising encounter that saw City's 10 men hold on thanks to Joe Hart's keeping. City won this fixture 3-0 last season but Liverpool are otherwise unbeaten since 2005 at the Etihad. Liverpool haven't lost against any of last season's top 4 in 5 fixtures this season. City have won 9/9 at home in the Premier League and were unbeaten in 28 matches there in 2011. City last lost successive games in October 2010. This is a tough game to call, with the draw possibly the best bet at 13/5. City can be backed at 10/11, which is good given their home record. Liverpool are 7/2.
Both Teams Score - City have scored 28 and conceded 4 in 9 home games this season but resilient Liverpool have conceded just 7 in 9 away. City have 4 clean sheets from their last 6 matches and Liverpool have managed only 10 goals in 9 away from Anfield. In what is likely to be a tough, tight match it could be that both teams do not score, which is available at 11/10.
Over/Under 2.5 goals - City have been less rampant of late, failing to score in their last 2 games, and have failed to score more than 1 in a game 7 times in their last 10. 7 of Liverpool's 9 away games have seen under 2.5 goals. 5 of the last 7 between these sides at the Etihad have seen under 2.5 goals. Most firms are offering around 10/11 under 2.5 and 10/11 over 2.5 goals.
Total Bookings Points - Andre Marriner takes charge of the game and is fond of a card, dishing out 33 yellows and a red in 8 Premier League games this season. The Anfield fixture saw 6 yellows and a red and I expect a similar figure in this game. A yellow is worth 10 points and a red 25. It's 35 points when 2 yellows for a player leads to an automatic red (as with Balotelli at Anfield). 13/10 is available for over 50 points with Blue Square and 888Sport.
Picks: 2 x singles: Under 2.5 goals and Over 50 Bookings Points.
Both Teams Score - City have scored 28 and conceded 4 in 9 home games this season but resilient Liverpool have conceded just 7 in 9 away. City have 4 clean sheets from their last 6 matches and Liverpool have managed only 10 goals in 9 away from Anfield. In what is likely to be a tough, tight match it could be that both teams do not score, which is available at 11/10.
Over/Under 2.5 goals - City have been less rampant of late, failing to score in their last 2 games, and have failed to score more than 1 in a game 7 times in their last 10. 7 of Liverpool's 9 away games have seen under 2.5 goals. 5 of the last 7 between these sides at the Etihad have seen under 2.5 goals. Most firms are offering around 10/11 under 2.5 and 10/11 over 2.5 goals.
Total Bookings Points - Andre Marriner takes charge of the game and is fond of a card, dishing out 33 yellows and a red in 8 Premier League games this season. The Anfield fixture saw 6 yellows and a red and I expect a similar figure in this game. A yellow is worth 10 points and a red 25. It's 35 points when 2 yellows for a player leads to an automatic red (as with Balotelli at Anfield). 13/10 is available for over 50 points with Blue Square and 888Sport.
Picks: 2 x singles: Under 2.5 goals and Over 50 Bookings Points.
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