EPL Round-Up
After a brief international break the EPL is back with a vengeance. Of course our soccer coverage wouldn’t be complete without James Kempton weighing in with his game capsules. Remember you can listen to his podcast by clicking here.
Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion
Chelsea -1.75 Goal Line 3
Most pundits have crowned Chelsea champions but this title race is not over…well not officially. The Blues tend to struggle against the Baggies and have not covered a -1.5 handicap in any of the last six meetings of the sides. Give me Albion here to keep it close enough.
Everton v West Ham United
Everton -0.75 Goal Line 3
Everton are stumbling through this season and have not kicked on from the successes of last season whilst West Ham are on the opposite trajectory. Everton are strong in this spot though winning the last four EPL meetings and going unbeaten in the last twelve. Will Everton win? Maybe, but I give the Hammers a good chance of getting a draw so on this line they offer the value.
Leicester City v Sunderland
Leicester -0.25 Goal Line 2.5
Both sides need this game more than you can say to alleviate some of the relegation pressure beginning to build. City have only lost one home fixture this season, last time out against West Brom, so this is a tough game for Sunderland. Poyet needs a response from his men but this is a big game for the home side and I expect a big performance from City. I lean towards them but the under appears the best value bet.
Manchester City v Swansea City
Manchester City -1.5 Goal Line 3
Man City failed to beat QPR last time out and on a cold, windy and wet night in London that could have been viewed as a good result. However, they had picked their side with those conditions in mind and their inability to beat a poor QPR team is troubling. Swansea came from behind to win against Arsenal and they have turned into a real EPL force. With Pellegrini still searching for the perfect formula if I was forced to bet I would take Swansea to keep it close and cash on the handicap line.
Newcastle United v QPR
Newcastle -0.75 Goal Line 2.5
Thoughts of an Alan Pardew sacking seem a distant memory now as the Black and Whites have rallied for the ‘Silver Fox’ manager. Newcastle have won the last three match ups of the teams and are unbeaten in the six EPL meetings of the sides since September 2009 with under 2.5 goals going 5-1. Heavy lean towards the home team and the under 2.5 goals in this one.
Stoke City v Burnley
Stoke -0.75 Goal Line 2.5
These are the sorts of games that Stoke never seem to lose. Over the past couple of seasons though they have had a tendency to draw these types of fixtures. Burnley didn’t want that international break as they won their first game of the season last time out when they beat Hull 1-0. Burnley boss Sean Dyche loves a scrap so on this handicap line I will take a bit of the dog to keep it tight.
Arsenal v Manchester United
Arsenal -0.25 Goal Line 2.75
When two attacking sides such as these meet you would normally expect an open game full of goals. It has not been like that of late though as the last three meetings of the sides have gone under 2.5 goals. The injury to Danny Blind on international duty leaves United even shorter from a defensive standpoint so it’s hard to make a case for the away team. I will just shade with the home team as the value on the match line.
Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Liverpool -0.75 Goal Line 2.5
Liverpool travel back to where their title bid of last season fell to pieces. Losing that three goal lead to draw 3-3 was the beginning of the end for Pool and their title aspirations. Selhurst Park will be rocking once more for this game but I do sense Pool will have just enough to get the victory. I like Liverpool straight up but not so much on the handicap line. Hull City v Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham -0.25 Goal Line 2.5
Spurs boss Pochettino does not look a happy man sat on the bench as the high tempo style he likes to play does not sit well with his experienced players. It is easier though for them to play on the road, away from their demanding home fans. Spurs are unbeaten in their three EPL visits to the KC Stadium and the Yes on Both Teams To Score, a popular bet over in the UK, has landed in each of those games since February 2009. Give me the away win as the value in this fixture.
Aston Villa v Southampton
Southampton -0.75 Goal Line 2.25
Villa are on a woeful run of results with just one point, the 0-0 draw at West Ham last time out, from their last seven games. The Villains have found the net just once in those seven games so the international break came just at the right time for them. The break came at a bad time for the Saints as they had won their last four games to nil. Southampton are an excellent side but laying 0.75 goals away from home is a big ask. I will settle with an unders ticket on the goal line.
