Premier League Predictions > Feb 6th - 8th

[StevieDay1983]

[StevieDay1983]

Here are the odds and ratings for this weekend's Premier League matches. The midweek games threw up some shock results so let's see what predictions you have all got for these games! 

[McInnes949]

06.02.2021, 07.02.2021 – Round 23
 Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Stalemate!
A very decisive game for Arsenal after the dramatic Wolverhampton loss. If Arsenal wants to have a chance for European leagues they really have to take this one home. The Lions are just one point ahead of Arsenal and there are 3 teams lurking behind Arsenal for their spot. They have lost 1-3 to West Ham but who could blame them? So the same goes on for Aston Villa, if they will fight for a qualifying position, they should start winning these big games. Both teams will play for a win, Aston Villa does better with scoring than Arsenal and I don’t think they will revoke Luiz’ red card ban, it is expected that we might see some goals in this game. If the both teams do their best, its going to be a draw at best. 1-1 or 2-2.

 3 way - X @ 3.50
 O/U 1.5 + 3 way – O + X @ 4.00
 Arsenal Total Goals, 1-2 – YES @ 1.51

 Manchester United vs Everton
One step closer?
After the shock home defeat against Sheffield and the Arsenal draw, Man Utd must ride the wave of the glorious 9-0 victory and win this game then they can enjoy the nice Sunday on their couch watching Man City and Liverpool eating each other out. Everton proved to be one of the toughest teams of the league but they struggle to win against teams up from their standing. Narrow win for Manchester United.

 3 way – 1 @ 1.58
 O/U 2.5 – O @ 1.66

Liverpool vs Manchester City
Anfield stronghold has seen some stain on its badge after Brighton and Burnley losses, their contenders have already called its record into question. On the other side, the record-breaking clean sheet run Man City is going for and the injuries Liverpool has been facing should really ring the bells Klopp this Sunday. I fear the Brighton loss will be what it was signalling all along. With the outstanding performance of Ilkay Gundogan, Liverpool wont be able to break the defensive line I can imagine another clean sheet and a win and that will be the goodbye title for Liverpool this year.
 

3 way – 2 @ 2.14
O/U 2.5 – O @ 1.68

[malabgd]

Newcastle United vs Southampton

 

 

Newcastle United

Doubtful: Paul Dummett (2/0 d), Jamal Lewis (19/0 d), Ciaran Clark (12/1 d, personal issues)

Out (injuries/other): Jamaal Lascelles (12/0 d, captain), Federico Fernandez (16/0 d)

Suspended: -

 

Southampton

Doubtful: Oriol Romeu (16/1 m), Kyle Walker-Peters (18/0 d), Jannik Vestergaard (13/3 d, probably in)

Out (injuries/other): Stuart Armstrong (18/3 m), Theo Walcott (15/2 f), Ibrahima Diallo (11/0 m), Mohamed Salisu (0/0 d), Michael Obafemi (1/0 f), Nathan Tella (5/0 m), William Smallbone (3/0 m)

Suspended: Alexandre Jankewitz (2/0 m)

(Jan Bednarek will be available after successful appeal against his suspension.)

 

Daily updated injuries and suspensions information from more then 100 football leagues and competitions worldwide at: www.injuriesandsuspensions.com

 

Over/Under Goals
Newcastle United 11 home games	Southampton 10 away games

91%	Over 1.5 goals	70%
73%	Over 2.5 goals	40%
18%	Over 3.5 goals	30%
9%	Over 4.5 goals	30%
0%	Over 5.5 goals	30%
9%	Under 1.5 goals	30%
27%	Under 2.5 goals	60%
73%	Over 0.5 goals at half-time	80%
27%	Over 1.5 goals at half-time	40%
9%	Over 2.5 goals at half-time	30%

[StevieDay1983]

Aston Villa vs Arsenal

The Premier League action begins this weekend with a mid-table clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal in a 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday lunch-time at Villa Park. It seems odd calling this a mid-table fixture when the home side led the table after the first four games and the away side have long been considered top four contenders. Still, here we are with these two mid-table sides.

Aston Villa were looking like a side in freefall after their encouraging start to the campaign but recent wins over Newcastle at home and Southampton away have helped to steady the ship. The midweek 3-1 loss at home to West Ham was a blow but enough signs have been there in recent performances to suggest the Villains will be OK this season. Dean Smith's side are 9th in the table and still only 4 points adrift of the Europa League qualification spots. The downside to recent form is that it's 4 defeats in the last 6 league games for Villa. February is also historically a poor month for Villa with the club having lost 16 of their last 18 Premier League games in this month. The team does only need 1 more win to equal their final points tally of 35 from last season though. Shows how far they've come in just one campaign.

Arsenal started this season very poorly to the degree that their name was even thrown about in relegation dogfight discussions. Mikel Arteta has managed to turn things around with the club now up to 10th in the table and just 5 points behind the European qualification places. A 7-match unbeaten league run was halted by Wolves away in midweek after a 2-1 loss which was largely down to the sending off of David Luiz and Bernd Leno. The Gunners have still got a decent recent away scoring record in tact having scored 9 goals in their last 4 away league games. The side also has the joint 2nd best defensive record in the top flight this season with 22 goals conceded. A cheeky anytime scorer bet to consider could be Nicolas Pepe with the wide man having scored in his three previous away matches for Arsenal.

This is a tricky one to call. I feel like had Arsenal not suffered from that harsh Luiz sending off then it might have been a different story against Wolves. They've been impressive in recent weeks and one result like that shouldn't change everything. Aston Villa are showing a little bit less consistency now and I worry they could struggle to break down this Gunners team. That said, the absence of Leno is huge for Arsenal and I wouldn't be surprised if the changes Arteta needs to make to his back-line due to suspensions will hurt them.

Aston Villa to Win @ 2.82 with SBK

BTTS @ 1.62 with William Hill

[StefanBB]

Manchester United vs Everton

After two rounds from which they picked up only a point, Manchester United got back on the winning track with style. They booked an astonishing 9:0 victory over Southampton last Tuesday and remained three points behind Manchester City. That one made Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side the most efficient team in the Premier League. However, Marcus Rashford and the lads need to continue in the same fashion and hope for their rivals to slump at the same time. The Red Devils had a terrible start to the campaign, especially when playing at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, they managed to improve home displays, and Manchester United booked four wins in the previous five games at their ground. The hosts need to be on their top-level in February since great challenges expect them starting from March.

Everton sits in 7^th place, but the visitors don’t give up on the Champions League spot battle. They are only four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, with two games in hand. Carlo Ancelotti’s side has been in a variable form lately as they booked two wins and lost twice in the previous five rounds. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the lads are doing a very good job in the front. On the other hand, although the defense has been decent, the away side didn’t manage to keep the clean sheet on the past five occasions. Everton puts excellent performances on the road, and they won four times in a row at the away grounds. Seven wins from ten outings is a fantastic record, and the visitors hope of extending it.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

It is going to be an exciting clash as both sides have the chance to get some points from it. However, the hosts are full of confidence after their remarkable victory in the latest round, and they will take all three points.

Goals Market Prediction

Manchester United has been involved in many efficient matches at Old Trafford this season. We expect to see another exciting display, and the game should go over a 2.5 margin.

Manchester United to win @ 1.55

Over 2.5 FT @ 1.65

Correct score 3:1 @ 13.00

[betcatalog]

Arsenal could and probably should have scored more against the Wolves before Luis' controversial dismissal changed the course of the game and Arteta would demand an immediate response from his players here. The expected rotation of Aston Villa will help their efforts this weekend, but the Kanonieri have undoubtedly improved despite their disastrous night in Molino, so we support the visitors to be the ones who will return to victories.
ASTON VILLA vs ARSENAL @@ +0 Ah ARSENAL, odds 1.87

[mrclubbie]

Can't wait to see Man City recording a win at Anfield since 2003 ?

Me predicting many goals for this match with Man City eager to chase for wins while Liverpool to fight back strongly after a dip of performances

[ALEXXXXXXXX]

Newcastle United

Newcastle United lost to Crystal Palace last round at home and missed a chance to win a winning streak. Their recent state is still not ideal. Although forward Wilson currently scored 10 goals, his teammates added up to only 11 goals, which is also the reason for the weak attack power of the team. The team currently averages just one goal per game, which is the inverse of the Premier League.

 

Southampton

Southampton's state has recently taken a turn for the worse. In the last 3 games they have lost to Arsenal, Villa and Manchester United. They were humiliated 9-0 in the game against Manchester United, which greatly affected their morale. And they also received 2 red cards in the last round, also had a great influence on the lineup of this game.

 

Verdict:

Southampton has suffered heavy losses, even if it faces opponents who are not as strong as them, it may be difficult to score points. The Asian handicap live odd is Southampton-0.25, seems no clearly support to both side. Newcastle United should at least take 1 point in this game.

 

Newcastle United VS Southampton

Pick: Newcastle United+0.25

[StevieDay1983]

Burnley vs Brighton

The Premier League gives us two 3pm GMT kick-offs on Saturday afternoon. The first of those two matches that I'm looking at is the clash between Burnley and Brighton that's set to take place at Turf Moor. If you haven't seen the press conferences of Sean Dyche this past week then it's worth giving them a go. Can his side end a run of back-to-back defeats against a visiting side hitting a decent run of form?

Burnley have done well to dig themselves out of the mess they found themselves in earlier in the season. Dyche's men have moved up to 17th in the table and 8 points clear of the relegation zone but their fans will be concerned after two league losses in a row against Chelsea and Manchester City. Those losses might not have been a surprise but the failure to score or even have a single shot in either might worry them. The Clarets still have a number of injury concerns including Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood, Robbie Brady, Charlie Taylor, and Josh Brownhill. Brownhill in particular has been a key factor in their positive results with his work in midfield. If Barnes and Wood are also absent then the team could add to their division-high of 12 games without scoring this season.

Brighton are a team I've long praised and said their league position has been false. A run of 3 wins and 1 draw from their last 4 league games with 4 clean sheets kept during that period has propelled the Seagulls up to 15th position and 10 points clear of the drop zone. Graham Potter's men have been superb in recent matches with performances built on a solid back-line. There is the possibility they could win a third away league game in a row here but they'll have to do it without key operator Solly March. The decision to put Robert Sanchez in goal has been inspired with the Spaniard conceding just 10 goals in his 11 appearances compared to Mat Ryan who conceded 19 goals in his 11 starts. 

The head-to-head record doesn't make good reading for Burnley fans with the club having won just 2 of their last 10 meetings with Brighton. When you blend that statistic in with the fact that the away side are in far better form right now then it becomes a little dour for the home team. Injuries could well hamper the home side for this game and I feel Brighton are well worth backing for at least a draw here. Will their efforts required to beat Liverpool produce a hangover in this one though to deny them a win?

Draw @ 3.40 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Under 1.5 @ 2.85 with Matchbook

[StevieDay1983]

Newcastle vs Southampton

It's the battle of north and south this weekend in the Premier League in the second 3pm GMT kick-off on Saturday afternoon when Newcastle play Southampton at St James' Park. Neither of these two teams have been in very positive form lately so getting something from this game will be a big deal for them. A defeat could be hugely detrimental to their respective campaigns though.

Newcastle are slowly seeing their campaign that started so encouragingly drift into another relegation battle. Steve Bruce's team might have picked up a morale-boosting 2-0 win away to Everton the other week but that has been a rare joyous moment for the Toon Army in a run of results that has consisted of 1 win in 11 league games including 6 defeats in their last 7 league matches. The Magpies could remain without several key defenders including Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Paul Dummett, Jamal Lewis, and Ciaran Clark. It's now 5 home league games without a win for the Tynesiders so everything is pointing to more disappointment.

Southampton suffered the humiliation of losing by a 9-0 score-line for the second consecutive season under Ralph Hasenhuttl. It's an incredible statistic given how well the Austrian has done for the Saints. The club might have lost their last 4 league games only scoring 1 goal in the process but they remain in 12th place and only 7 points off the European qualification spots. Stuart Armstrong has been ruled out but there is good news in Jannik Vestergaard and Kyle Walker-Peters potentially being fit to start and Jan Bednarek's red card being rescinded so he is also available. Liverpool loanee Takumi Minamino could also make his first start for the club. It is now just 1 win in 9 league games for the team and if they lose here then it'll be their worst run of results in a season since 1998.

I appreciate that neither of these teams are brimming with confidence right now but I feel that Newcastle are still the team in a more desperate situation. I think they're just fortunate that the three teams in the relegation zone are so far behind them but you wouldn't bet against Sheffield United catching them the way things are going. I feel Southampton are always likely to turn things around because they have the players and manager to do it. It may be naive but I can see a big reaction from Southampton after that 9-0 result in the same way their performances improved last season after the 9-0 loss to Leicester. The difference is they're playing Newcastle here and not Manchester City.

Southampton to Win @ 2.44 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 2.05 with RedZone

[StevieDay1983]

Fulham vs West Ham

The early evening kick-off in the Premier League on Saturday is Fulham versus West Ham at 5:30pm GMT in a game that is scheduled to take place at Craven Cottage. This is a game where the home side will desperately be wanting to pick up a win to boost their survival hopes but they take on a visiting team that are exceeding expectations this season so far.

Fulham had shown signs that they could turn their fortunes around with resilient performances in November and December but things have gone awry since then. The Cottagers are now without a win in their last 11 league games and with the club down in 18th place and 8 points adrift from safety their situation is looking quite dire. Scott Parker has signed former Sunderland striker Josh Maja and that sums up where they are right now. Pinning their hopes on a young lad who has next to no Premier League experience. A defeat here would give the team 5 straight defeats in all competitions for the first time since 2013. They could also set a club top flight record of 8 home games without a win if they lose this one. The most worrying stat is that Fulham have only managed to score 1 goal in their last 6 home games.

West Ham continue to exceed their expectations this season. Midweek saw a stunning 3-1 win away to Aston Villa that made it 5 wins from their last 6 league games. David Moyes is doing with the Hammers what he successfully managed with Everton and Preston before that. The days of Moyes being laughed at for his failings at Manchester United and Sunderland are long gone. The Scotsman has led West Ham to 5th and they're just 2 points off the pace of the Champions League qualification spots. There is the opportunity to equal their club record of 4 straight away league wins. This is also the highest number of points West Ham have achieved at this stage of a top flight season since 1985/86.

It's hard to see how Fulham are going to dig their way out of this situation. Time is running out and the gap between themselves and safety seems to be getting bigger with every passing week. I think we can all agree that Maja isn't the answer but it's clear Parker wasn't gifted with an array of options to bring in given their current plight. West Ham have been irresistible recently and that's especially the case away from home. Anything other than a solid away win would be a surprise.

West Ham to Win @ 2.10 with William Hill

Anytime Scorer: Tomas Soucek @ 4.50 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Manchester United vs Everton

The last game of the day on Saturday in the Premier League comes up at 8pm GMT when title challengers Manchester United will look to build on their impressive 9-0 win over Southampton in midweek against an Everton side that are struggling to find any real consistency at the moment. A big game for both teams that are looking to boost their own aspirations.

Manchester United had their critics in the 2-1 defeat at home to Sheffield United and the 0-0 draw away to Arsenal but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men firmly silenced their critics with the resounding victory over the Saints on Tuesday night. The Red Devils are now in 2nd place and only 3 points behind league leaders Manchester City with the potential to extend their lead over 3rd placed Leicester to 5 points at full-time. The fact remains that United are on an impressive run of just 1 loss from their last 16 league games. However, each one of their 4 losses in the league this season have come on home turf. Bruno Fernandes has earned 12 goals and 9 assists this season. If he gets another assist then he'll join an elite club of being just the 4th United player to earn double figure goals and assists in a Premier League season. Answers on a postcard for the other three players!

Everton are just not quite managing to string a run of results together at the moment. Carlo Ancelotti's side are in 7th place and only 4 points off the Champions League qualification spots but it's just 2 wins from their last 5 league games. The midweek schedule did see them come away with a 2-1 win at Leeds on Wednesday night so there's a foundation to build on there. History beckons for the Toffees here with the chance to win 5 league games on the road in a row for the first time since 1970. Ancelotti is also no stranger to winning at Old Trafford having guided both AC Milan and Chelsea to victory here.

There is every reason for Manchester United to feel confident coming into this game. The club have already beaten Everton twice this season and the Merseyside club have also only managed 1 win in their last 13 matches against United. An even more devastating statistic is that United have only lost 1 of their last 27 home Premier League games against Everton. I feel like that poor run could continue but the visitors will make it tough for the home team here. A defeat for United isn't entirely beyond the realms of possibility here.

Manchester United to Win & BTTS @ 3.35 with SBK

Manchester United HT/FT @ 2.63 with Smarkets

[StevieDay1983]

Tottenham vs West Brom

The action in the Premier League starts on Sunday with a midday kick-off between two out-of-form sides when Tottenham host West Brom at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. On paper, you'd think that this should be a done deal for the home side but with talisman striker Harry Kane out injured and form wavering is there a chance for the visitors to cause an upset?

Tottenham were considered as potential title contenders just a couple of months ago but life in the top flight moves fast. Jose Mourinho's men are now down in 9th place and 7 points off the Champions League qualification spots. Spurs have earned just 2 wins in their last 10 league games and it's now 3 successive defeats in the league. The fact that it's just 1 goal scored in over 300 minutes of league football shows where the main problem lies. No surprise that this goal drought has coincided with Kane's injury. Another concerning statistic is that Tottenham have dropped points in 7 of their 11 home league matches so far this season. The 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea was also the first back-to-back home league loss for Mourinho in his managerial career.

West Brom are the one team that Tottenham could wish to play right now. The Baggies are down in 19th place and 10 points adrift of safety. Bottom-placed Sheffield United have now clawed themselves to within 1 point of the Midlands club. Sam Allardyce was drafted in to try and save their season but the former Bolton and England manager has now managed just 1 win in his 9 league games in charge. It's also 26 goals conceded in those 9 league matches. The defensive record is the worst in the division this season by some way with their 52 league goals conceded being 14 more than the next worst record in the top flight this campaign. West Brom have only taken 3 points from a possible 33 against teams that have begun the match day in the top half of the table.

If West Brom fans were looking for hope in the head-to-head record then they'll be deeply disappointed. The team have won just 1 of their last 14 away games at Tottenham in all competitions. The single win came back in 2014. Still, Tottenham are far from solid at the moment and they could be vulnerable. I just think as bad as Tottenham have been lately, West Brom have been far worse. A business-like home win and I can see the home side doing it with a clean sheet as well.

Tottenham HT/FT @ 2.36 with SBK

Tottenham to Win & Over 2.5 Goals Scored @ 2.34 with SBK

[StefanBB]

Liverpool vs Manchester City

It has been a tough period for Liverpool after Boxing Day. From the day when West Brom got away with a point from Anfield, the Reds booked only two Premier League wins. This poor run saw them declining to 4^th place, being seven points behind their upcoming rivals. Everybody expected Jurgen Klopp’s side to get back on the winning streak after beating Tottenham and West Ham on the road. However, Liverpool failed to another defeat at the home ground, this time against Burnley. Mo Salah and the lads scored just one goal at Anfield in the last four league games. On the other hand, they haven’t been so tight in the back as the home side conceded five times in a row. Liverpool needs to win this match if they want to have the chance to defend the title.

After a slow start into the season, Manchester City enjoys a great streak that launched them to the top of the table. The visitors booked 13 victories in a row in all competitions and are three points clear from Manchester United. City hadn’t lost since their trip to London when Tottenham celebrated a 2:0 win. Although Kevin de Bruyne and the lads are not efficient as they used to be in previous seasons, they are very disciplined in the back. Since that loss against the Spurs, Pep Guardiola’s side conceded only five times. Manchester City celebrated four times in a row on the road, and this game could be crucial for their title bid.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

We expect to see a fascinating clash, and although Liverpool is inconsistent, the hosts won’t give up. Both teams have the chance to win some points, and the game could end in a draw.

Goals Market Prediction

Both sides have significant attacking potential, and they can score against any team. We believe that the nets won’t remain still in this clash.

Draw @ 3.60

BTTS Yes @ 1.60

Correct score 1:1 @ 7.00

[StevieDay1983]

Wolves vs Leicester

One of the more intriguing games in the Premier League this weekend comes from Molineux on Sunday afternoon at 2pm GMT when an improving Wolves host a Leicester team who are still just about keeping in the title hunt despite the recent absence of their top scorer Jamie Vardy. Both teams won in midweek and will be looking to make it back-to-back victories.

Wolves have struggled during life without their star striker Raul Jimenez. The arrival of loan signing Willian Jose has rejuvenated their options and the 2-1 win at home to 9-men Arsenal in midweek ended a winless run in the league of 8 games. Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed his team is plagued by a number of absentees but hasn't gone into details about who is set to miss out this week. It's known that he'll certainly be without Jimenez, Jonny, Marcal, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and, potentially, Romain Saiss. This is where the paper thin Wanderers squad could suffer. Central midfielder Ruben Neves has been in hot form lately scoring 3 goals in his last 5 league matches. The team is down in 14th place so a win is badly needed.

Leicester can be considered a surprise package this season with the Foxes currently in 3rd place and just 5 points off the title pace. Brendan Rodgers has played down talk of a title challenge but it won't go away any time soon. The club have only lost 1 of their last 9 league games and with Vardy set to return to the first team squad this week they now have added fire power coming into this game. One of the most impressive stats has been Leicester's away form with only Manchester United picking up more points on the road in the league. They have also won 9 of their 12 league games against teams that have started the game day in the bottom half.

I'm coming into this game feeling that the injuries and absentees Wolves will suffer could damage their chances of taking something from this game. I have a mate who is a Wolves fan and he's bemoaned their lack of additions this season. Leicester are a team that are showing no sign of slowing down and they could sweep their hosts away here. The visitors have lost just 1 of their last 7 encounters with Wolves but have only managed 2 wins from their last 19 visits to Molineux. I still think an away win is worth the value.

Leicester to Win @ 2.20 with BetVictor

Anytime Scorer: James Maddison @ 4.10 with Unibet

[StevieDay1983]

Liverpool vs Manchester City

The biggest game in the Premier League this weekend is undoubtedly the 4:30pm GMT kick-off on Sunday afternoon of reigning champions Liverpool against current league leaders Manchester City at Anfield. These two sides have essentially dominated English football for the past few seasons and we could be in the process of watching the power shift between these two sides once again. Can either side win here or is it destined to end in a draw?

Liverpool are in serious danger of letting their title defence slip away. Jurgen Klopp is constantly angry and the Reds are dropping points at will. The latest incident came in midweek when the club lost 1-0 at home to Brighton to drop to 4th in the league table. It is hoped that both Sadio Mane and Fabinho will be fit to play with Alisson also set to return to the first team. Liverpool can come into this game full of confidence though with the club unbeaten at home against Manchester City in 17 league matches. It's a worrying time for Liverpool though. After going so long without a loss at Anfield, they could now potentially lose three home league games in a row at the stadium for the first time since 1963. If they fail to score in this game then it'll be the first time in the club's history that they would have failed to score in 4 consecutive home league matches. It's now 348 minutes of football without scoring a goal at Anfield for Liverpool. It's grim reading.

Manchester City fans will no doubt see this as an opportunity to twist the knife into one of their title rivals. Pep Guardiola's men are top of the table and 3 points clear of 2nd placed Manchester United with a game in hand. The Citizens are undefeated in 20 competitive matches and have won 13 games in a row in all competitions. A win here would equal a top flight club record of 14 wins in a row set previously by Preston in 1892 and Arsenal in 1987. There is also a chance to keep a record 7th clean sheet in a row in the league. It's now 768 minutes since Ederson last conceded in the Premier League. If you think that Ruben Dias and John Stones are tapping into the spirits of Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi then you'd be correct for feeling that way because the pair have only conceded 1 goal in the 11 league games they have started together.

Well, this could well be the game that tells us just how ready Manchester City are to regain the title they lost to Liverpool last season. There is no denying they are the most in-form team not only in the Premier League right now but European football as a whole. In contrast, Liverpool are at sixes and sevens. I don't care what history tells us. This is Manchester City's game to win and I think they could send a big message here. How poetic would it be if Raheem Sterling scored his 100th goal for City against his former employers as well?

Manchester City to Win @ 2.10 with Boylesports

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.82 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Sheffield United vs Chelsea

After the dust has settled on the big game of the weekend in the Premier League, we're treated to a more low-key affair (no offence to the fans involved with these two clubs!) between relegation battlers Sheffield United and Champions League chasing Chelsea at 7:15pm GMT on Sunday evening from Bramall Lane. Both of these teams are under a bit of a revival over recent games so will their good form continue?

Sheffield United have endured one hell of a season so far. The Blades are still bottom of the table with just 11 points from their 22 league games so far but 9 of those points have come in their last 5 league matches. Chris Wilder has guided his team to victories over West Brom, Manchester United, and Newcastle to keep his side's faint hopes of survival alive. There is also plenty for the team to be optimistic about heading into this one. The club have never lost a Premier League home game in February. David McGoldrick has scored 3 goals in 2 matches against Chelsea. United have also won 3 of the 4 meetings between the two teams in the Premier League at Bramall Lane. There is some sad news though with loan player Ethan Ampadu not eligible to face his parent club.

Chelsea started life well under new head coach Thomas Tuchel with 2 wins and 1 draw from his opening 3 league games. The German has seen his team keep three consecutive clean sheets as well. He's the first Chelsea manager to do this since Jose Mourinho back in 2004. The Blues have now kept 10 clean sheets in the league this season and their results under Tuchel have seen them move up to 6th in the table and just 4 points off the pace of the top four. The club's record against teams starting the match day bottom of the table with 10 wins coming from those 12 encounters. 

This is one of those games where all the odds should favour the one side but I'm just not comfortable backing Chelsea to win away against a Sheffield United team that may well be bottom of the table but are improving. I fear the absence of Ampadu could hit Wilder's side badly in the defensive department and I think we're either looking at a 0-0 draw or a 1-0 win for Chelsea. I think I have to reluctantly back the narrow Chelsea win.

Chelsea to Win to Nil @ 2.40 with BetVictor

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.95 with BetVictor

[StevieDay1983]

Leeds vs Crystal Palace

The Monday night football game in the Premier League this week is an 8pm GMT kick-off between Leeds and Crystal Palace at Elland Road. This is a game the home side will feel they need to win if they want to consolidate their mid-table league position against a travelling team that come into this match having won back-to-back games against fellow mid-table rivals.

Leeds remain the great entertainers this season but as wonderful as it is to watch from a neutral perspective it's becoming frustrating for the Whites fans to see their team endure such inconsistent results. Marcelo Bielsa's side are in 11th place with 9 wins, 2 draws, and 10 losses this season. It's impossible to tell which Leeds will turn up. Will it be the Leeds that beat West Brom 5-0 away or will it be the Leeds that lost 4-1 at home to Leicester? Speaking of 4-1, that's the score-line that Crystal Palace beat Leeds by in their meeting at Selhurst Park earlier this season. Recent form isn't very good with Leeds losing 4 of their last 6 matches. The team has also failed to earn a clean sheet in this calendar year so far. Interestingly, Leeds games have averaged 3.52 goals per game in the league.

Crystal Palace will understandably feel like this is a game they can win after their convincing victory over Leeds in their last league encounter. Roy Hodgson's teams have won their last 2 league games and currently sit in 13th place. The team will have to handle this game without leading man Wilfried Zaha but the form of Eberechi Eze in recent games should give them hope. The absence of Zaha will be a concern though given the fact they have lost 16 of the last 18 games he's not played in. The Eagles are without a win in their last 8 league games played on a Monday night. They have also lost on each of their last 5 visits to Elland Road across all competitions.

I think if Zaha was playing in this game then I'd have a confidence in Crystal Palace to get the job done. Unfortunately, he's missing after picking up that hamstring injury against Newcastle and I think this could cause problems. Leeds are a relentless force and with the home side winning 8 of the last 10 meetings in this fixture it feels like Leeds are due some revenge.

Leeds to Win @ 1.94 with Novibet

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.73 with SBK

[harry_rag]

I'd be more inclined to fade my fixed odds selections of late than to follow them but that doesn't stop me trying! Life would be boring if all I did was the admin of executing pre-determined spread trades to churn out a guaranteed profit! 

Leeds v C Palace: 16 points on Raphina to score at 4.4 on BF and 10 points on Bamford to assist a goal at 8/1 PP.

Hopefully moaning about my recent bad results will see Bamford teeing up an early goal for Raphina.