Well it’s week 7 already and what a first 6 weeks we’ve had so far with the big boys like Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea all struggling to a certain degree. If anything it makes the this weekend and the following weeks all the more interesting as the fight for the top 4 places builds in this early part of the season. I for one wouldn’t have thought all these teams would be all out of the top 4 at this stage of the season, but watching the majority of their games so far it’s easy to see that they are not in the best form. United I feel are struggling largely with new management and perhaps Moyes isn’t yet used to working with and rotating such a big talented squad than what he has been used to – I don’t think he yet knows his best XI. City I think are struggling with a combination of new strategies and injuries. At their best this season they have been unstoppable, but they’ve also shown they can lapse in concentration and perhaps lack respect for lower opposition. Chelsea meanwhile have done better than City and United but they just can’t buy a goal from a striker. Why they let Lukaku go on loan again seems just crazy to me.
Best Bets
Arsenal to beat West Brom at $1.8
Hull and Aston Villa both to score at $1.88
Best Value
Southampton to beat Swansea at home at $2.18
Betting odds from Betfair as at 4/10/13
Manchester City ($1.7) Vs Everton ($5.6), Draw ($4.1)
One of the games of the weekend will be the first with Manchester City hosting an unbeaten Everton side that have been in impressive form. City are coming off a stunning loss to Villa and a loss to Bayern Munich during their Champion’s league fixture during the week where they were both outclassed and outplayed. The differing fortunes of both these sides certainly makes for an interesting matchup.
It won’t just be their recent form slump that will be on the minds of Manchester City, but also their poor record against Everton in recent times. Everton have won 7 of the last 10 of which 3 came away at City, so given their form it’s a pretty good chance here for an Everton win if they continue the way they played against Newcastle last week in the first half. Whilst Everton won’t be able to play Gareth Barry against his parent club, they will have new signing McCarthy pulling the strings in the midfield along with the terrorising Lukaku. Lukaku was in terrorising form last week against Newcastle in the first half with 2 goals and an assist. City’s problem last year was scoring, but this year they have 14 goals already but their new problem has become conceding (7 goals). I think they’ll bounce back enough for a draw this weekend and whilst it’s a tough match for Everton, they’ll certainly trouble City enough here.
Predicted result: Draw 1-1
Best bet: Both teams to score at $1.7
Best Bet Confidence: 70%
Cardiff ($2.46) Vs Newcastle ($3.2), Draw ($3.45)
This is another really good matchup with Cardiff hosting Newcastle this week. Cardiff have been incredibly strong at home with a win over Man City and drawing Everton whilst then letting Tottenham only leave with a 1-0 win. They are also coming off a solid 1-0 away win over Fulham which will give them the confidence to know they can compete both home and away. Newcastle have had it a little tougher in recent weeks with a loss at home to Hull and a terrible first half against Everton last week. The positive is that they came back into the game very well against Everton and could have well snatched a draw.
Cradiff will be a tough contest for Newcastle this week, though they can take some momentum from their second half against Everton which gives them a sniff. Cabaye was a positive coming on in the second half to score a very nice goal to lift his team back into the contest. Their problem though has been conceding goals. Besides Sunderland, they have conceded the most goals with 11. The positive, if you can take one, is that they have started scoring in their last 3 games with 6 goals. So whilst they have improved up front and should continue to pose a threat up front, they are prone to conceding. I think Cardiff will get the points at home here with a few goals scored to make it a comfortable over 2.5 for me.
Predicted result: Cardiff 2-1
Best bet: Over 2.5 goals at $2.06
Best Bet Confidence: 80%
Fulham ($2.46) Vs Stoke ($3.35), Draw ($3.3)
Fulham take on Stoke this week with both sides coming off two losses. This is a really important game for Fulham to win, and even more so for their Manager Martin Jol, because if they succumb to another loss his days could be numbered. It’s been surprising to me that they’ve not performed better than they have with the players they have brought in though it could just be down to an adjustment period. Stoke have been much better performers so far this season with wins over West Ham and Crystal Palace and an impressive draw against Manchester City though their recent form has left them in perhaps a more familiar position as last year.
Fulham hold a good record over Stoke at home and in general are pretty strong at home, though their start this year suggests they need improvement as they are yet to notch a home win. I think they are due for a win though and especially if Berbatov and Bent can gel together up front then they’ll cause plenty of problems for a stubborn Stoke defence. Not expecting many goals in this one either, so an under 2.5 play could be a go.
Predicted result: Fulham 1-0
Best bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.75
Best Bet Confidence: 70%
Hull ($2.44) Vs Aston Villa ($3.3), Draw ($3.35)
Another of the impressive promoted sides in Hull take on a spirited Aston Villa side this week who had a stunning win over Manchester City last week. I’d have to say, Aston Villa are probably one of my favourite sides because they are young, ambitious, seem to hold no fear, and have a man called Benteke who unfortunately is injured. But even with their star man out injured, they managed to get an incredible result against the odds. Likewise, Hull are one of those sides that whilst are not brimming with talent they have a bit of fight about them. It sure does make for an exciting contest this week.
This for me is one of the tougher matches to call this week and I’m leaning towards a draw. Hull have been very impressive this year and they are coming off wins away to Newcastle and at home to West Ham. With Villa as equally impressive, I can’t see a clear cut winner with a draw looking most likely. What we should see though, is plenty of attacking runs with goals from both sides here.
Predicted result: Draw 1-1
Best bet: both teams to score at $1.88
Best Bet Confidence: 85%
Liverpool ($1.23) Vs Crystal Palace ($18), Draw ($7.4)
The return of Suarez saw the return of Liverpool to the winner’s list against Sunderland having come off a loss to Southampton at home the week prior. For Crystal Palace it’s another tough match coming off three losses to Manchester United, Swansea, and Southampton. Whilst they’ve shown some fight amid numerous injury problems, they’ve also shown how lacking their depth is.
Liverpool will head into this one still without Countinho who is injured, thought he return of Suarez should cover the majority of their creativity problems. The other concern is that Lucas Levia will be out having picked up 5 yellow cards already. With Sturridge and Suarez leading the attack and with both in form, particularly Sturrdige, I can’t see anything but a home win here as the odds suggest. It’s perhaps a question of what the score-line will end up being.
Predicted result: Liverpool 3-0
Best bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.58
Best Bet Confidence: 80%
Sunderland ($6.2) Vs Manchester United ($1.64), Draw ($4.1)
The intriguing matchups keep rolling in with a wounded Sunderland hosting a struggling Manchester United this week. Sunderland will be up and about this week again after the departure of Di Canio and putting in a good performance against Liverpool last week despite the end result. With United coming off losses to Manchester City and West Brom, they’ll be desperate to bounce back. They would have liked to have done so in their Champion’s league fixture against Shakhtar but they could only get away with a 1-1 draw.
Whilst Sunderland will be using the firing of Di Canio as a means of bouncing back, they’ll have to beat a United side that is undefeated against Sunderland in their past 19 meetings. Whilst I think Sunderland will play well with plenty of spirit this week, United should have too much for them with RVP to add to their 14 goals conceded so far this season and keep them still looking for their first win of the season.
Predicted result: Manchester United 2-1
Best bet: Manchester United to win at $1.64
Best Bet Confidence: 70%
Norwich ($6.6) Vs Chelsea ($1.63), Draw ($4.1)
Mourinho’s Chelsea travel to Norwich this week looking for their fourth win of the season. Norwich meanwhile will be looking for their 3rd win having beaten Stoke away last week in an impressive performance against a strong defensive side. It was a game of two halves last week for Chelsea, with Tottenham dominating the first until they took control in the second by bringing on forgotten man Juan Mata. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get a start this weekend after his performance against Spurs.
With Torres out suspended after his run in with Vertonghen last week, we should see Eto’o recalled to lead the attack for Chelsea. He’ll want to impress too given that no Chelsea striker has scored thus far in this campaign in the Premier League with the workload being shared amongst the midfielders and defence. Whilst Norwich have had one of their strikers score a Premier league goal this campaign in Van Wolfswinkel, they too will be looking for goals from their strikers this weekend. Regardless of the dry spell for these strikers, Chelsea should get the win here in a tight contest with Norwich pretty formidable at home.
Predicted result: Chelsea 1-0
Best bet: Chelsea to win at $1.63
Best Bet Confidence: 80%
Southampton ($2.18) Vs Swansea ($3.85), Draw ($3.45)
An impressive Southampton side that have only lost once in their first 6 take on Swansea at home this week. Whilst Swansea don’t have as an impressive start as Southampton, they do have the two wins so far and have had a great start in the Europa League adventure with two wins so far which should see them safely through to the next stage. It’s a tough trip for them though down to Southampton and it’s sure to be a tight and exciting contest.
Southampton will be looking for their first win over Swansea in the premier league having drawn twice last season. Swansea are a good side and can trouble any on their day, but this Southampton side just seems to be getting better and better as the weeks go on. And with that come belief which puts them in great shape for this home game. With Osvaldo breaking through for his first goal for his new club last week against Crystal Palace and in combination with Lambert up front, they should have enough firepower to notch another home victory. Swansea won’t let it come easy, but Southampton look in great shape.
Predicted result: Southampton 1-0
Best bet: Southampton to win at $2.18 is value for me
Best Bet Confidence: 75%
Tottenham ($1.45) Vs West Ham ($9), Draw ($4.8)
Tottenham take on West Ham this week in a London derby and will yet again have a pretty fresh squad with AVB rotating 8 players out for their Europa league clash with Anzhi on Thursday. Perhaps unlucky to not get the win over Chelsea last week, a draw was a fair result given Chelsea was the superior side in the second half last week. West Ham meanwhile will be hoping they can cause an upset against a side that has only conceded twice in their first 6 games and has kept clean sheets in their two Europa league fixtures thanks largely to the form of Hugo Lloris.
The two things against West Ham here are that they have yet to score an away goal and they have a poor recent record against Tottenham. Spurs have won 7 of their last 10 home and away against West Ham and this trend looks very likely to continue with Spurs one of the form teams of the competition. This will be another good opportunity for Soldado to cement his place in the side and keep the in-form Defoe out of the team after his goal scoring run in the Europa league and League Cup with 5 goals in 3 games.
Predicted result: Tottenham 2-0
Best bet: Tottenham to win at $1.45
Best Bet Confidence: 90%
West Brom ($4.9) Vs Arsenal ($1.8), Draw ($4)
Confidence will be sky high at West Brom having beaten Manchester United last week to now host another top side in Arsenal this week. But just like West Brom, Arsenal will be full of confidence this week having won their last 5 in the Premier League scoring 12 goals along the way. Add this to their unbeaten run in all other competitions so far and it’s safe to say Arsenal are the team to beat at this stage of the year.
Without taking too much away from West Brom, this is Arsenal’s game to lose this week and if they head into without being complacent, they should have no trouble notching another win. West Brom will have to focus on shutting down Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud who have been the key men for Arsenal. I can’t see West Brom replicating their win last week against United, albeit against a United side in a bad patch. Arsenal have just been too good this season and are great value at $1.8 for the win once again.
Predicted result: Arsenal 2-1
Best bet: Arsenal to win at $1.8
Best Bet Confidence: 85%
Please Note:
All of the above are the opinions of the author and are not recommendations or advice. The author may not be taking every bet listed above. Bet at your own risk.
All of our information is provided free. If you want to show your support, if you are wanting to join a new bookmaker, please use our banners. Thanks.
