MaliMisko12

Leicester vs West Ham
OK, so I know we have all the Saturday matches still to play but I thought I'd get a start on the Sunday matches too. The early league pace-setters Leicester host an inconsistent West Ham in a 12pm BST kick-off on Sunday lunch-time. Grab your roast dinner, pour yourself a drink of your favourite beverage, and settle down for what is likely to be yet another unpredictable match-up in the English top flight.
Leicester are starting fast out of the blocks once again. Brendan Rodgers deserves all the plaudits once again. It's not only 3 league wins on the bounce to start their campaign but the Foxes have managed to score an incredible 12 goals during that time. Jamie Vardy is free-scoring, James Maddison is back fit, and the whole dynamic of the team just feels so fluid. If the 3-0 win over West Brom and 4-2 victory over Burnley didn't impress people enough then the 5-2 win away to Manchester City certainly made people stand up and take notice.
West Ham had looked a bit lost in their opening two league games when they lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle and 2-1 away to Arsenal. Granted, the performance against the Gunners was much-improved on that first match but it still failed to deliver any points. However, the 4-0 win at home to Wolves was simply outstanding and this has been complemented by a run to the EFL Cup 4th Round that unfortunately ended in a heavy 4-1 loss away to Everton in midweek. It's this inconsistency that makes it hard to work out which Hammers side will turn up. Manager David Moyes is still self-isolating after his covid-19 diagnosis so Alan Irvine is set to be in charge on the day.
The last time these two teams met was back in January when Leicester ran out as 4-1 winners. You can't help but feel Leicester have only gotten stronger since then where as West Ham are a weaker side. West Ham have only beaten Leicester once in their past 11 league meetings with Leicester unbeaten in their last 4 encounters. I can only see that record getting worse for the Hammers here.
Leicester HT/FT @ 2.70 with BetVictor
Leicester -1 @ 2.80 with BetVictor

I agree with you 100 %, because last season ALWAYS when they played at home against team at below table of PL, they always win HT and FT. I feel sorry for Joe Bryan today because he need to mark Adam Traore.

Wolves vs Fulham
The second 2pm BST kick-off taking place in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon is the clash between Wolves and Fulham at Molineux. Both of these sides will probably be disappointed with their results so far this season but there is certainly a feeling that this is a game the home team will need to play badly in if the visitors are to take anything away from the fixture.
Wolves were all set for this season to make a big push for European qualification after narrowly missing out last season. It all looked positive after the 2-0 win away to Sheffield United on the opening weekend but consecutive defeats to Manchester City and West Ham with 7 goals conceded across those 2 league games has left Nuno Espirito Santo with a fair few questions to answer. Wanderers have now lost 5 of their last 9 league games continuing from last season. However, the shining light of optimism is that they're unbeaten in 7 league home games against newly promoted sides in a run that goes all the way back to September 2011.
Fulham are still yet to show me anything to suggest they won't finish bottom of the Premier League this season. Scott Parker's side suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss away to Championship side Brentford in the EFL Cup 4th Round in midweek. It further exposed the frailties of this Cottagers side. In the league, it's been three consecutive defeats with 10 goals conceded in those matches. An even more worrying statistic is that Fulham have conceded at least 2 goals in 17 of their last 21 top flight matches. On a lighter note, the last four teams to lose their first four league matches in a Premier League season have gone on to avoid relegation that year.
I appreciate that things aren't going as well for Wolves as they might have hoped but they still have a quality manager at the helm and they have players at their disposal that should see them start putting those positive results together. Fulham already look like a club out of their depth with a manager who has run out of ideas and an owner who clearly is losing patience with the manager. I can only see another defeat for the away side here as their problems will continue.
Wolves HT/FT @ 2.40 with BetVictor
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.78 with BetVictor

RB Leipzig vs Tottenham
The talk of coronavirus and the future of games being played across Europe continues to dominate conversations throughout the game but this second leg of the last 16 Champions League clash between German Bundesliga title challengers RB Leipzig and Premier League under-achievers Tottenham is scheduled to go ahead as planned tonight in an 8pm GMT kick-off at the Red Bull Arena.
RB Leipzig boast a 1-0 lead from the first leg after Timo Werner's decisive penalty. Scoring penalties is becoming a trend for Julian Nagelsmann's side with 4 of their last 5 goals in this competition coming from the spot. It will concern the German team that star striker Werner hasn't managed to hit the net at home in this competition in his last six outings. If Nagelsmann leads his team to victory here then he'll become the youngest ever manager at 32 years of age to guide his side through a Champions League knockout tie. The current holder of that record is Didier Deschamps who was 35 years old when he managed it with Monaco back in 2003/04.
Tottenham come into this game feeling like all the odds are against them. As if holding a 1-0 deficit heading into an away second leg wasn't bad enough there is also an injury list longer than Tottenham's wait for a trophy. Sorry, @thfc, that was uncalled for!  Anyway, the absentees had already included Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Juan Foyth, Moussa Sissoko, and Ben Davies. Jose Mourinho can now add new signing Steven Bergwijn to the sidelines. There is hope though. Spurs have only lost 1 of their 5 away Champions League matches in Germany. They have also been eliminated from 8 of their last 10 European knockout ties after losing the first leg. However, we all remember that Ajax semi-final last season.
I'm not convinced Tottenham are in the right place to turn this around. You get the feeling that football throws up some times when it's written in the stars for a player or a team to have their moment in the sun. It happened for Tottenham last season and I think it could happen for RB Leipzig this season. It was a mighty fine win in the first leg and I don't think Tottenham have enough about them to turn it around with so many big game players missing. I can maybe see Tottenham getting a draw and falling just short but realistically I think it makes sense to back a home win.
RB Leipzig HT/FT @ 2.40 with SpreadEx
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.67 with Betfair

Real Madrid vs Manchester City
The Champions League last 16 first legs keep on coming this week with tonight's 8pm GMT kick-off between La Liga side Real Madrid and reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. The odds cannot separate these two sides but will the prospect of two seasons without European competition spur the travelling team on to earn success in this competition?
Real Madrid cruised through to this stage of the competition from Group A. Zinedine Zidane's men might have finished 2nd behind group winners PSG but they ended up 8 points ahead of 3rd placed Club Brugge. The 2nd place side in La Liga will be without key attacking player Eden Hazard for the rest of the season after he picked up a fractured ankle in their 1-0 loss against Levante in the league. The club from the Spanish capital come into this game knowing they've progressed from all four of their most recent knockout ties against English opposition. They have also scored in each of their last 22 home games in the knockout stage of this competition. Zidane also has a 100% win record in knockout games in this competition for Real Madrid.
Manchester City know everything rests on their success or failure in this competition. Liverpool have all but sealed the Premier League title. The FA Cup and EFL Cup are still on but will those trophies really matter if the league and Champions League have escaped Pep Guardiola's men? City are unbeaten in this competition so far having qualified as winners from Group C that saw them finish above Atalanta, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Dinamo Zagreb. Raheem Sterling is welcomed back into the fold after a few weeks on the sidelines. It might well be worth backing Sterling as an anytime scorer because he's bagged 10 goals in his last 13 Champions League matches. Unfortunately, City have been knocked out in each of the last three knockout ties with Spanish clubs.
My initial feeling for this one is a draw but I'm even swaying with the idea of backing a City win. I think they can afford to concentrate all their energy on this competition now and after the recent UEFA punishment they'll have a determination to win it for the first time in their history before the ban kicks in. Real Madrid, Zidane, and the Champions League are a special triad though and I'm just not sure they'll have enough stability at the back to keep Real at bay. I'm expecting an exciting game.
Draw @ 3.65 with Unibet
Total Goals Scored Over 3.5 @ 2.95 with SportNation

Chelsea vs Bayern Munich
The rather elongated Champions League last 16 phase enters the second half of the first legs this week with our focus today on the 8pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday night between Premier League club Chelsea and Bundesliga side Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge. The German club possess fond memories of their last trip to London when they dismantled Tottenham by a 7-2 score-line back in April.
Chelsea squeaked through Group H ahead of last season's semi-finalists Ajax but behind surprise package Valencia. It was far from convincing but Frank Lampard's team got the job done. It was the 14th time in 17 seasons that the Blues reached this stage of the competition. However, the stats don't make for kind reading for Chelsea at home in the Champions League over recent years. They have been eliminated in each of their last four Champions League knock-out matches and have only won 1 of their last 6 home Champions League games. The biggest blow for me is the fact that N'Golo Kante has been ruled out.
Bayern Munich come into this game as one of the competition's favourites. It's easy to see why. Hansi Flick's side finished top of their group with a 100% record against Tottenham, Olympiakos, and Red Star Belgrade. The German club have been the English club killers in this competition in recent years having eliminated English opponents in 4 of their last 5 meetings with teams from England. You might want to be wary about an anytime scorer bet. Robert Lewandowski might have scored 10 goals in this competition this year already but he's not scored in the knockout stages for more than 597 minutes.
I know I've under-estimated Chelsea before but I've also over-estimated them. Bayern Munich look a steal for this away win price given their form in this competition this season. I think Chelsea will struggle to contain this Bayern attack and aren't quite doing enough in terms of their performances in the final third to make me think they'll be a threat to Bayern's back-line.
Bayern Munich to Win @ 2.00 with SportNation
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.66 with Marathonbet
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Leicester vs Manchester City
The evening kick-off in the Premier League today is a 5:30pm start between long shot title challengers Leicester and Manchester City at the King Power Stadium. It now seems certain that Liverpool will seal their first domestic league title since 1990 but the race to secure that runners-up spot is still firmly wide open with a chasing pack getting ever more congested.
Leicester were looking like the biggest competitors to Liverpool's title push but have faded off the pace over recent weeks. Brendan Rodgers continues to do a cracking job with the Foxes still in 3rd place and 9 points clear of 4th placed Chelsea but with just 3 wins from their last 10 league matches there are concerns they are starting to run out of gas. Back-to-back draws against Chelsea and Wolves are decent stand-alone results but have contributed to a poor run of return in points. This home game is a chance for them to not only get back to winning ways but make up ground on City themselves. My big concern is that Leicester come into this game with a lack of defensive midfield options with Wilfred Ndidi, Nampalys Mendy, and Hamza Choudhary all unavailable. That could mean Matty James being drafted in to start his first game in over a year.
Manchester City had a rough start to the season but things have steadied recently. Pep Guardiola's men are still reeling after the 2-year ban from European competition but we'll see how that develops over time. It didn't appear to have any impact on the player morale as they strode to a 2-0 win at home to West Ham in midweek in a game where they never really got out of second gear. That was their 5th win in 7 league games and even though the title looks gone they know a win here will put them firmly in the driving seat to finish 2nd.
There is hope for Leicester fans here because they did beat City at home last season. However, they have lost 5 of the last 6 meetings between the two clubs. Rodgers himself has never lost a home league game against City but I think that will have little bearing on the outcome here. Leicester need to have their best players available on their best form. Neither of those factors are going to happen so I have to back a solid City win.
Manchester City to Win @ 1.73 with Coral
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.60 with Betfair

Getafe DNB @1.96 is a gift at the moment:
Ajax will most likely play with second goalie Varela (Onana is suspended). If that's the case....well....just try to find videomaterial from the Utrecht (Y) - Ajax (Y) match yesterday (7-2, 3 big mistakes Varela). This guy can't be trusted. Ajax willl most likely miss important players like Veltman, Promes and Neres. Maybe Ziyech/Babel isn't also fit, but for now Ajax thinks they will be ready at time. Labyad also injured at this moment, but he isn't "important". In recent matches the injuries of Promes and Ziyech were truly felt. Far less danger from attacks. Getafe at home is very strong. They've lost just 5 in 35 matches (! 2x Barcelona, Basel, Real Madrid and Leganes). Getafe strong performance last week with 3-0 win over Valencia. Recent form also good. Maybe Ajax will get a point here, but it's far more likely they'll will go home with 0 points.

Tottenham vs RB Leipzig
The second night of Champions League last 16 first leg matches gets underway tonight at 8pm GMT with Premier League side Tottenham hosting Bundesliga title challengers RB Leipzig at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. How badly will the injuries problems suffered by the home side affect their chances in this game and will the away side fully capitalise on this?
Tottenham head into this game with a striker shortage. Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are both out for the foreseeable future with Jose Mourinho likely to call upon either Steven Bergwijn or Lucas Moura as his attacking outlet. Dele Alli or youth graduate Troy Parrott are potentially other options. Spurs will be wary that their attacking options are limited but they also have statistically the weakest defence remaining in the competition having conceded the most goals in the group stage with 14 goals conceded. It's now been 6 years since Mourinho himself reached the last 8 of this competition and it's now 10 years since he reached the final.
RB Leipzig are playing in the last 16 of this competition for the first time in their history. Julian Nagelsmann's side cruised through to the last 16 as group winners. Scoring goals is not a problem for this side with Die Roten Bullen setting a new Bundesliga record on the weekend by scoring 3 goals or more for a 9th consecutive league match. However, the team has an injury crisis of its own at the back with Dayot Upamecano suspended with Ibrahima Konate and Willi Orban out injured. It could mean Welsh international Ethan Ampadu is given the nod.
Everything is pointing towards a goal fest in this game. The defensive crisis of RB Leipzig, the scoring prowess of the German side, the poor defensive record of Spurs so far in this competition, and the fact that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has witnessed more goals in the Champions League venue this season than any other venue. I think Tottenham are worth backing to get a point because Mourinho should never be ruled out. I'm not sure I can see them winning though.
Draw @ 3.55 with Unibet
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.80 with Betfair

Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool
The Champions League is back and it's the first legs of the last 16 matches. La Liga side Atletico Madrid will look to put their recent league woes to one side as they host Premier League leaders Liverpool in an 8pm GMT kick-off at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday night. Can the Reds take one step closer to the elusive treble or will this prove to be the biggest test of their season so far?
Atletico Madrid might be struggling to qualify for next season's Champions League via the league but they reached this stage of this year's competition with relative ease. Diego Simeone's side finished as runners up in Group D behind Juventus but were 4 points clear of third placed Bayer Leverkusen. Since the 2013/14 season, Atletico have reached the last 16 in six of the following seven seasons. Their record under Simeone at home in the knockout stages is also incredible remaining undefeated with 8 wins, 4 draws, and only conceding two goals in those 12 matches.
Liverpool are all but confirmed as champions of England so their aim will now focus on retaining the Champions League trophy they won last season. Jurgen Klopp's men qualified from Group E as group winners but it was far from straight forward. Still, you get no bonus points for playing better in the group phase. They face a challenge here having never previously won three away games in a row in this competition in its current guise. The last time they managed such a feat was under Joe Fagan in 1984 in the old European Cup. Sadio Mane could be one to watch as an anytime scorer. His record of 10 goals in 14 knockout matches in the Champions League since 2017/18 has only been bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo who has 11 goals.
I don't think a draw would be a disaster for either team here. Atletico Madrid come into this game with a reputation for getting the job done on home soil and Simeone knows how to navigate his side through the business-end of the season. Liverpool are undoubtedly the best team in the world right now but they'll know a draw will be a decent result and will allow them to bring the tie back to Anfield for the second leg where they'll certainly fancy their chances of winning.
Draw @ 3.35 with Unibet
Anytime Scorer: Sadio Mane @ 3.40 with 888Sport
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The two teams are equivalent and the qualification will be judged in detail. The seat plays a very important role in this kind of confrontation and the… qualifier meter José Mourinho wants to prove that he has not… finished off the European standings. I expect an open game, where both teams will score
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs RB LEIPZIG @@ Both team to score, odds 1.55
Historical and at the same time interesting duel for both clubs. Atalanta will give everything for the qualification, especially at home. Her attack throws fires, while Valencia's defense is incomplete and experimental, expecting the home side to take full advantage of their stadium and win, taking the first step to the Champions League quarter-finals.
ATALANTA BERGAMASCA CALCIO vs CF VALENCIA @@ ATALANTA BERGAMASCA CALCIO, odds 1.70

Atletico has not been doing well lately and its mission to Liverpool will be extremely difficult. Jurgen Klopp's "reds" are having a great season and are heading to the easiest league in their history. They can concentrate on the European clashes, as the team's goal is to win and win the trophy. Defensively Atletico can stand up and close lanes, while Liverpool have a balance on both sides of the court. I expect an overall low score in Madrid
ATLETICO MADRID vs LIVERPOOL FC @@ +2.50 Under, odds 1.60
Two of Europe's most productive attacks will take place today in one of the hottest stadiums. Borussia knows that if it wants to have good hopes of qualification it will have to work at home. I expect to have many goals in the match
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs PARIS SAINT GERMAIN @@ +2.50 Over, odds 1.43

Wolves vs Leicester
The Premier League winter break continues into this weekend with a reduced schedule but that doesn't mean we don't have lots to contemplate. Six matches coming up and our focus turns to the Friday night kick-off at 8pm GMT between Wolves and Leicester at Molineux. The odds contrast the ELO ratings so which way do we call this one between two sides that have had very positive seasons so far.
Wolves currently sit in 9th place but are only 6 points off the pace of the Champions League qualification places. Nuno Santo was being linked to the vacant Arsenal managerial post earlier in the season and it's easy to see why. Recent form has dipped with the club only managing 1 win in their last 6 league games and that has been a theme with their home form too with just 1 win coming from their last 4 home league games. To add further woe to the statistical build-up to this game, Wolves have only won 1 of their last 5 meetings with Leicester.
Leicester continue to exceed expectations this season. Brendan Rodgers has done a terrific job at the Foxes with the club now in 3rd place and 10 points inside the Champions League qualification spots. The Foxes have been stumbling lately with just 1 win in their last 4 league games but they've arrested the blip of two defeats by going two league games unbeaten. Only Liverpool and Manchester City have won more games on the road than Leicester this season.
This one is too tight to call. Neither side is currently hitting the heights that they've hit earlier in the season. Yet they remain two sides that are capable of going toe-to-toe with even the best sides in the division. The most logical outcome for me is a draw. I was tempted to put my faith in the ELO ratings and back an away win but Wolves raise their game against the teams above them and I think that'll see the two teams settle for a point each.
Draw @ 3.40 with Boylesports
BTTS @ 1.80 with Betfair
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Sheffield United vs Bournemouth
The reduced Premier League schedule gives us a fascinating clash this Sunday afternoon when Sheffield United host Bournemouth in a 2pm GMT kick-off at Bramall Lane. The home team are keen to continue their assault on a potential shock European qualification campaign against an away side that are still locked deep in a relegation battle at the wrong end of the table.
Sheffield United's outstanding season is still showing no sign of coming to an end. Chris Wilder has led his team to 6th in the table and they will move into 5th place and just 2 points outside the Champions League spots if they win today. The Blades have faltered slightly lately with just 2 wins from their last 7 league games but they've kept in touch with the teams around them. The club has won more points on the road than they have at home but they'll surely fancy their chances in this game. Especially given out of the 7 league games they have lost so far this season that 5 of those have been against the sides in the top three. It'll be interesting to see what involvement new signings Sander Berge and Richairo Zivkovic have in today's match.
Bournemouth were looking a bit lost at sea not that long ago. Eddie Howe's men were free falling down the table having lost 5 of 6 league games played. The rot has stopped to some extent in recent matches with the Cherries having won back-to-back matches against Brighton and Aston Villa. However, both of those games were at home. The south coast club have only won 3 of their 12 away league games this season and have lost 6 of their last 7 on the road with only 1 win in their previous 9 away league games. Defensive frailties remain a concern for Howe with his team only keeping 1 clean sheet in their last 14 league games.
I appreciate that this game will be closer than it might have been a few weeks back. Bournemouth look to have restored some confidence with those two wins but they're still down in 16th place and just 2 points above the relegation zone. It's a fragile position to be in. This is a great opportunity for United to really put the cat amongst the pigeons at the top end. I think Bournemouth's poor away form will hamper them. It's one thing to win at home in this division but away wins are a lot harder to come by. I'm not overjoyed by United's price but I have to back it.
Sheffield United to Win @ 1.83 with Unibet
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.67 with Betfair

Brighton vs Watford
The second preview of this weekend's Premier League games covers one of the trickiest matches to call in quite some time. It's Brighton hosting Watford in a 5:30pm GMT kick-off at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening. Neither side is really instilling me with any confidence that they can get the win here so it makes me wonder if backing the draw is the most sensible option?
Brighton need to have a little word with themselves because right now they are in 15th place and just 2 points above the relegation zone. Graham Potter's side are without a win in 5 league games now. The Seagulls can't even blame an FA Cup run for their league woes because they lost 1-0 at home to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the 3rd Round. That means they've not tasted a competitive win in 2020. The positive news is that they have only lost 1 of their last 5 home league matches. They also remain unbeaten at home in the league against clubs positioned below them.
Watford manager Nigel Pearson will want to see a reaction from his team after back-to-back defeats in the league. The Hornets are in 19th place and 2 points adrift of safety. In both of their last two defeats, the decisive goal has been scored in injury time. If that is a sign of fitness issues then Watford will need to be wary against a Brighton side that like to get it down and keep possession to tire their opposition out. Pearson himself will want to lay to rest a ghost he has having failed to win on all four of his previous visits to the Amex Stadium.
I do think we'll see a reaction from Watford after their previous two matches. The ELO ratings fancy the away side to get the win but it's close. Brighton feel like they are on the verge of a home win. They've been knocking on the door but it's just not come. @sajtion has rightly pointed this out and as much as I want to back him for the home win I just feel Watford will put in a more assured display so I'll go for the score draw.
Draw @ 3.45 with Unibet
BTTS @ 1.75 with Betway

Everton vs Crystal Palace
The distorted Premier League winter break begins this weekend with half of the teams in action with the other half on a two week break. Why not just let them all have a weekend off is beyond me but I suppose money talks! Everton host Crystal Palace in the 12:30pm GMT kick-off this Saturday lunch-time to begin the action. Is the home win the sure-fire bet here?
Everton are one month into Carlo Ancelotti's reign and results have remained more positive than negative since the departure of Marco Silva and following on from Duncan Ferguson's heroic spell as caretaker manager. The Toffees are in 9th place and whisper it but they're only 4 points off the automatic Europa League qualification spots. A season that looked set to be a relegation battle is now fast turning into a potential European qualification campaign. It's now 4 league games unbeaten and the team is looking a lot more organised and competitive than earlier in the season. The club managed to keep all of their players including fending off interest from Barcelona for Richarlison. It's all very encouraging.
Crystal Palace might not be performing quite to Everton's levels but there's no doubt that Roy Hodgson is doing an incredible job with the resources at his disposal. The Eagles are in 14th place and 6 points above the relegation zone. Wilfried Zaha remains a Palace player after another transfer window but the board failed to financially back Hodgson. Could that prove costly? Back-to-back defeats in the league failing to score in both matches has been a sour note for Palace. It's now 10 league matches that the club has failed to score a goal in this season. They also head into this game having won just 3 of their 12 league matches on the road this season.
The head-to-head record between these two clubs weighs heavily in Everton's favour. This is a slight surprise given how up and down Everton have been over the past few seasons. The Toffees are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Palace. The last time Palace tasted victory away to Everton was on 21st September, 2014. I think that run will extend here with Everton possibly worth backing for a clean sheet win.
Everton HT/FT @ 2.70 with BetVictor
Everton to Win to Nil @ 2.55 with Unibet
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Cardiff vs Reading
Oh, look, Cardiff are playing Reading again! Yes, for the third time in 11 days these two clubs will compete against each other. This time it is an FA Cup replay that is scheduled to kick-off at 7:45pm GMT tonight at the Cardiff City Stadium. False racist abuse allegations, fans mocking the death of Emiliano Sala, and a general level of dislike between the two clubs has materialised over the past two encounters so this could be a feisty one.
Cardiff come into this game looking to finally get the victory that they feel they deserve against Reading having failed to capitalise on their chances in the previous two games that both ended in draws. Neil Harris has admitted he's planning on making a number of changes to his first team for this game but has also stated he sees the FA Cup as an important competition. The winners of this tie face a home tie against Premier League club Sheffield United so will feel a potential route to the Quarter-Final and even Semi-Final could open up after this game. The Bluebirds have won just 1 of their 4 FA Cup matches against Reading.
Reading manager Mark Bowen has said he intends to send a squad to Cardiff that he feels will be strong enough to get the win. He says that despite fielding a side that boasted sweeping changes in the original tie. The Royals did well to cling on to a point when the sides met last Friday night at the same venue. They will feel they can win this game having won their last 6 replays in the FA Cup. However, they have only managed 1 win in their last 7 away matches in the competition.
The two previous meetings over the last week and a bit have both ended in draws so the sensible money would be backing a draw again. I'm not totally against that but I feel due to the way we played on the weekend against Reading that we are worth backing for the win here. Our home record this season remains really solid and I'm wondering if Bowen has one eye on the play-offs slightly more than Harris does. Cardiff to win!
Cardiff to Win @ 2.00 with Coral
Anytime Scorer: Danny Ward @ 2.88 with VBet

Manchester United vs Wolves
The evening kick-off on Saturday in the Premier League is at 5:30pm GMT between Manchester United and Wolves at Old Trafford. This might end up being a controversial decision but I'm thinking that the ELO ratings might be taking us down a dark path with this one because right now I don't really have much faith in the home side getting something from this game.
Manchester United have endured their fair share of criticism over the season and the duo of Ed Woodward and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have taken the brunt of the abuse. I got it wrong in midweek backing them to get stuffed by Manchester City but, in all fairness, it did feel like City were taking the mickey a bit. Recent league performances have been lacking for the Red Devils lately. The club is in 5th place but only 4 points above 14th placed Newcastle. Three defeats from their last four league games is pretty awful and they've failed to score in those three losses. A statistic not exactly giving their fans delight with Marcus Rashford out for the foreseeable future.
Wolves were the giant killers last season and this season Nuno Santo's men have already picked up points against the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal. Wanderers are positioned in 7th place and only behind United on virtue of goal difference. Just 1 win in their last 5 league games mean they don't exactly come into this game full of confidence. Interestingly, Wolves have only lost 3 of their 12 away league games this season so they know how to grind out those results on the road. However, two of those three defeats away have been since Christmas.
You can never rule this Wolves side out of a game involving one of the reputed top six sides. Despite suffering a slow start to the season, Santo's men are looking good to make a push for automatic qualification for the Europa League again. They're not even out of the battle for the Champions League either. I think these two sides will end up fighting out a draw though. Before midweek, I'd have probably said Wolves could even sneak it.
Draw @ 3.30 with Bet365
BTTS @ 1.95 with RedZone

Leicester vs Chelsea
The Premier League action starts on Saturday afternoon with a mouth-watering tie between two exciting teams at the top end of the table when Leicester host Chelsea in a 12:30pm GMT kick-off. It's third versus fourth in the race for the Champions League qualification. Can one of these two teams take a step closer towards that goal by winning here or will they cancel each other out and open the door for the challengers behind them?
Leicester are having a bit of a poor spell at the moment. The midweek defeat to Aston Villa in the EFL Cup was disappointing but also showed further evidence that maybe the Foxes are running out of steam. Brendan Rodgers has now seen his team lose 3 of their last 5 matches in all competitions. Star striker Jamie Vardy is also without a goal in 6 games now. The club remains in 3rd place and with 14 points separating them from 5th placed Manchester United it will take a dramatic drop off in results to see them relinquish a top four spot but form needs improving.
Chelsea have been linked with a lot of players during this January transfer window. It seems amazing that Olivier Giroud is being linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge when he's had such a decent record with the club in the past. Just 1 win in their last 4 league games shows that performances need to improve. Rumours are that Frank Lampard is frustrated with the lack of arrivals at the club during the window. Is this a Blues side that is young and starting to fatigue? Only 2 wins in their last 6 away league games isn't great reading but can they rectify that form here?
The score was 1-1 when these two sides met earlier in the season and it would be hard to argue against a similar outcome here. Players that were buzzing just a couple of months ago and firing on all cylinders are now playing a bit flat. The likes of Vardy, James Maddison, Mason Mount, and Tammy Abraham aren't producing what they were for these clubs. I think it's a case of both teams going through similar issues at a near identical level. A draw seems the best priced option for this game.
Draw @ 3.70 with Unibet
Anytime Scorer: Willian @ 5.30 with Unibet
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I´m take the Both2Score in the Arsenal Game. Arsenal without Auba unpredictable and think at Home they can score here against a danger Sheffield Utd Team who are full of confidence and now after X-Mas and New Year Games with this small Squad - full of freshnes.
Other bets for me are the Draw in WestHam-Everton Game and in the Saints-Wolves Game. Think in both Games - both Teams will be agree with that Draw at the Moment.
Also for me is the Over 2.5 in the Norwich-Bournemouth Game. Important Game and Norwich maybe with Pukki back in Action today.

Watford vs Tottenham
The Premier League action begins this weekend with a 12:30pm GMT kick-off between Watford and Tottenham at Vicarage Road on Saturday lunchtime. The host team are discovering a decent run of form right now under new manager Nigel Pearson and they face a travelling side that is suffering from a bit of an injury crisis. Who will prevail as the winners?
Watford come into this game in 17th place and 1 point above the relegation zone. It's a huge turnaround for a side that looked lost at the bottom of the table just a month or so ago. Pearson has come in and lost just 1 of his 7 league games in charge. That defeat was away to Liverpool so can kind of be excused as well given their form this season. The Hornets remain undefeated at home under Pearson and that includes winning their last three home league games and conceding just 1 goal in those matches.
Tottenham had started life under Jose Mourinho reasonably positively but a range of injuries including to star striker Harry Kane has hit the team hard. Spurs are now in 8th place but still 9 points off the Champions League qualification spots. The club are now winless in three league games and their 2-1 win against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup 3rd Round replay during midweek was hardly convincing. Until new signings are brought in it looks like Tottenham could be a team struggling to pick up points. Particularly on the road.
I'm not sure whether to back the home win or a draw. I don't have a lot of confidence in Tottenham at the moment but Mourinho does have a habit of grinding out the results when his sides are up against it. The ELO ratings still favour Tottenham but it's very tight. On that basis, I'm going to have to back the draw. If I was being bold and backing a correct score I'd say 1-1. It'll be close however this ends up.
Draw @ 3.60 with Marathonbet
BTTS @ 1.70 with Sportingbet
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Bournemouth vs Watford
The first game on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League is a 2pm GMT kick-off between Bournemouth and Watford at the Vitality Stadium. These two sides are experiencing a contrasting turn of fortunes with the home side plummeting down the league table where as the away side are seemingly in a state of resurgence as they look to move closer to safety.
Bournemouth had started this season very well but things have turned sour for Eddie Howe's men. The Cherries are now in the bottom three and 1 point adrift of safety. It's been a dismal run of results that has seen them pick up just 1 win in 10 league games. Perhaps even more worrying is that the last taste of victory on home soil was back on 2nd November. In fact, since that date, they have acquired the lowest points tally of any team in the top flight. A big problem has been the lack of goals with just 0.5 goals scored on average per game over the last 14 matches.
Watford have dragged themselves off the foot of the table under new manager Nigel Pearson. It seems the Hornets have finally found the right appointment after faffing about with Javier Gracia and then Quique Sanchez Flores. The club is now up to 19th and just 1 point behind their opponents heading into this match. Victory could potentially take them out of the relegation zone this weekend. It's now 4 league games without a loss. However, we need to be wary because their away form is still a problem with no victory in their last 4 league games on the road. Only Liverpool and Manchester City have earned more points than Watford since Pearson took charge.
This is a tricky one because I want to back Watford to win this one but I always feel Howe has it in himself to get a result when needed. Something isn't right at Bournemouth at the moment and I probably fancy a draw more than an away win but the home side's form is that awful that I'm not sure I have enough faith to back them to take anything from their games right now. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt this weekend and say it'll be a draw but I have a funny feeling I'm going to regret that.
Draw @ 3.45 with Unibet
Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.95 with Sportingbet

Odds on Tottenham - Liverpool for Under 3.00 are 1.90 at my bookie. I think it's a good bet:
Tottenham has many injuries and one of them is Kane (11 goals). Also, but far less important, Ndombele and Sissoko are out (both 2 goals). Liverpool also has some less important missings, but still they are missings; Liverpool hasn't allowed a goal in 9 out of 10 recent matches; I expect Mourinho to use a (very) defensive approach against Liverpool (as he normally does against stronger opponents, but surely if a key-striker is missing); If Tottenham takes the lead I expect a even more defensive approach. If Liverpool takes the lead maybe they will take the foot of the gaspedal, because next week Manchester United awaits. All-in-all I don't see many goals coming in. Why not Under 2.50? Well the possibility margin isn't huge as 1-2 / 0-3 (and even 1-3 [I think a Tottenham win is out of the question]) are also possible outcomes under these circumstances. I don't want to take that risk either and 1.90 is absolutely good enough for me.

First I would like to say hi to all the members of this brilliant community. I`ve been following the forum for a long time now and I`ve (finally) decided to contribute a bit more with a pick or two here and there. Let`s say this is some kind of my New Year`s resolution. Now off with the picks...
Norwich - Crystal Place Under 2,5
I real like Palace this year. They are a team in the true sense of the word, they have an excellent well experienced coach and with players like Zaha they posses a threat wherever they play. I addition to that they are defensively, at least in my opinion, one of the better sides in the Premier League. They`re in a middle of an injury crisis right now and their bench looks really weak.
On the other hand we have Norwich that sits last on the table and I believe this will be a sort of  do-or-die match for them. They`ve had  I expect a tight match with a goal or two because none of the sides won`t like to concede first and will wait for their opponent`s mistakes.
 
Southampton - Tottenham  2
Tottenham should have the edge over Saints today. It`s not easy to play Southampton on St Mary`s but I think Mourinho`s side will push for the win right from the start because they won`t want to lose the chance to fight for the Champions League spot next season. I believe Spurs will score one more that the hosts.
 

Arsenal vs Chelsea
The big game this weekend in the Premier League is between two clubs struggling to recapture their glory days when Arsenal host Chelsea for a 2pm GMT kick-off at the Emirates Stadium. It's a pivotal time for these two sides as they look to navigate their way through trouble times. Can either of them take the victory in this game or will they share the spoils come the final whistle?
Arsenal continue their life under new manager Mikel Arteta. A 1-1 draw away to Bournemouth hardly inspired hope in the new era but Arteta has been keen to emphasise that the club needs to mend its relationship with the fans. The Gunners head into this game in 12th place but a win would put them within 5 points of the top four. Just 3 wins from their 9 home league games have been recorded so far. Can they earn a first league win in three games?
Chelsea have also endured their own issues recently. Frank Lampard had started life well in the Blues hot seat but things haven't gone to plan recently. A win would give Chelsea some breathing space in 4th place ahead of Wolves who are positioned just behind them. However, 5 losses in their last 7 league games suggests that all is not quite clicking with this team. Has the 3-4-3 formation been worked out? The hope for Chelsea fans is that they have won 6 of their 9 away league games this season. The anticipated returns of Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic should offer a boost.
This is a massive game for both of these sides and I really don't know which way to call it. I have an urge to back Chelsea even though they've only won 1 of their last 7 matches at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta is still getting his feet under the table at the Gunners and their squad is nowhere near packed with the players he'll want for his system. Until he gets that personnel in he'll be managing with one arm tied behind his back. Yes, I'm backing a Chelsea win even though I was tempted by the draw.
Chelsea to Win @ 2.39 with Marathonbet
Total Goals Scored Under 3.5 @ 1.65 with Marathonbet