Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Super Sunday betting preview: Arsenal v Manchester United

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.

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.




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.

Saturday, 10 December 2011

Chelsea v Manchester City: Betting preview

Chelsea have shown some inconsistent form this season. They have won their last 2 Premier League games by 3-0, a scoreline they repeated against Valencia in the Champions League last Tuesday. But they have also lost 3 of their last 6, and have been beaten 3 times at home this season. City do not have a good record at Stamford Bridge, winning just once in their last 9 visits, but City have been rewriting records all season and bring a better team in better form than on any of those 9 visits. City match up well physically against Chelsea and should cause lots of problems for Chelsea on the counter. I prefer the 2/1 for a City win than 6/4 Chelsea.

Both Teams Score - this looks the nap bet for this match. Chelsea have scored in every home Premier League game this season, City have not failed to score in any domestic fixture. Both teams have scored in 6 of 7 of Chelsea's home games, and in City's last 7 Premier League games. It's 4/6 both teams score.

Under/Over 2.5 goals - Chelsea have scored 19 in 7 home games, City 24 in 7 away. Only 5 of the combined 28 league games these sides have played in this season have seen under 2.5 goals. 6/7 is available at Betfair for over 2.5 goals.

Under/Over 3.5 goals - Games between last season's top 4 average over 7 goals per game this season, with 4 the least scored. Chelsea's home games and City's away games both average over 4 goals per match. 2 of the last 4 games between these sides at the Bridge have seen 6 goals scored, a 6-0 win for Chelsea and a 4-2 win for City. William Hill and Coral both offer 2/1 for over 3.5 goals.

Anytime goalscorer - It's a toss up between Dzeko and Balotelli to partner City's 11 goal leading scorer, Sergio Aguero, in attack. Dzeko has started the last 3 and may take a rest. Aguero will start and he scored twice on his last appearance v Chelsea when playing for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Coral offer 2/1 Aguero scores on Monday.

Picks: 3 x singles: both teams score, over 2.5 goals, over 3.5 goals.

Friday, 2 December 2011

Premier League live games 3 Dec: Betting preview

A few things to consider if you fancy a bet on Saturday's live games:

Newcastle v Chelsea - 4th plays 5th at the newly named Sports Direct Arena (they say it won't catch on) and either would go 3rd with a win, at least until Spurs play Bolton later on Saturday. Newcastle have lost only to Manchester City this season and managed a draw at Manchester United last time out. Chelsea's recent form is not good with 3 defeats in 6 but they are unbeaten at Newcastle since 2006. Newcastle are available at 29/10 with Bwin and the draw also looks good value at 13/5 with 32Red. Chelsea are 11/10.

Under/Over 2.5 goals - Newcastle's home games average 2.5 goals, Chelsea's away games also average 2.5 goals and the last 6 games Premier League games between these sides at Newcastle have all seen less than 2.5 goals. 15/16 is available at Betfair for under 2.5 goals.

Both teams score - 10 of Newcastle's last 11 games in all competitions have seen both teams score. Newcastle have not failed to score at home and Chelsea have scored in 8 of 10 away games this season in all competitions. 4/5 is available that both teams score.

Correct score - if you think both teams will score and that the match will see under 2.5 goals you'll like the 6/1 available that the game finishes 1-1.

Anytime goalscorer - Demba Ba has 9 goals this season and looks good value at 12/5 with Unibet but keep in mind that only 1 of his 9 goals have been scored at home.

Picks: I like the look of the 1-1 draw and all the bets that go with that but I am playing it safe and doing just 1 single bet that both teams score.










Thursday, 1 December 2011

Premier League live games 3 Dec: Betting preview

A few things to consider if you fancy a bet on Saturday's live games:

Aston Villa v Manchester United - the last time Villa beat United at Villa Park was the 3-1 victory in 1995 that led Alan Hansen to declare in the general direction of Alex Ferguson that "you win nothing with kids". United won the double that season and plenty since, including 9 of the subsequent 15 league fixtures between these sides at Villa Park, although the last 3 have ended in a draw. Villa have lost 1 of 6 home games this season, United are unbeaten away. United's second string suffered a humiliating defeat at home to Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup on Wednesday but Ferguson will send out a far superior side this Saturday, and will look to add to 2 successive 1-0 victories away from home in the Premier League. 8/11 is available for a United win but recent history says the draw at 14/5 with Stan James may offer better value.

Under/Over 2.5 goals - 7 of United's last 8 Premier League matches have seen less than 2.5 goals. Villla have 10 goals in 6 home games, United have conceded only 3 away. United have managed just the 1 goal in 4 successive away games. Going all the way back to Hansen's comment again, 12 of the last 15 league matches between these sides at Villa Park have seen less than 2.5 goals. Form and history suggest a low-scoring game and 28/29 is available at Betfair for under 2.5 goals.

1st Goalscorer - I tend to prefer betting on anytime goalscorers but history and form says there might be only 1 goal in this. I like the 5/1 available at Bwin for Javier Hernandez to score first. Hernandez has 6 goals this season, 5 of them have been the first goal.

Picks: under 2.5 goals, Hernandez first goalscorer.

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Thursday, 24 November 2011

Premier League live games 27 Nov: Betting preview

A few things to consider if you want to have a bet on Sunday's live games:

Liverpool v Manchester City - City have dropped only 2 points in the Premier League this season but head to Anfield on the back of a loss to Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday. Following their only other defeat this season, also in the Champions League, City reeled off 9 straight wins scoring 33 goals in the process, so they have demonstrated an ability to recover from disappointment. Liverpool are currently unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions and are unbeaten at Anfield this season. City have not won in 8 trips to Anfield, and lost 3-0 there in April, but they have been in devastating domestic form this season, particularly on the counter attack away from home. Liverpool are rarely 2/1 to win a home game but the 13/8 available for City to win looks a good price.

Under/Over 2.5 goals - Liverpool's home fixtures average just over 2 goals per game, City's away games average over 5. City have scored a minimum of 2 goals in every domestic fixture this season and have scored 23 in 6 away matches. This game looks to have plenty of goals in it. It's 10/11 for over 2.5 goals and the 27/11 available for over 3.5 goals merits serious consideration.

Both Teams Score - 5 of 6 league games at Anfield this season have seen both teams score. 5 of City's 6 away games in the league have also seen both teams score. Liverpool have only failed to score once in the league at Anfield this season, whilst City have not failed to score in any domestic game. Strongly advise to back the 4/6 available for both teams to score.

Anytime goalscorer - Andy Carroll scored for both Newcastle and Liverpool against City last season. There have been concerns over Carroll's fitness but if he does play he will seriously test City both in open play and at the set-piece. Carroll is currently 5/2 to score anytime. I would check the teamsheet first. Sergio Aguero started on the bench in Naples on Tuesday and saw only 10 minutes action. Aguero is likely to start on Sunday. He has 10 goals in 11 league games, with 4 scored away. The 19/10 currently available for Aguero to score anytime looks good value.

Picks: 6 x singles: City win, over 2.5 goals, over 3.5 goals, both teams score, Carroll anytime (if he starts), Aguero anytime.