EPL Round 9
He’s had time to rest a bit amid the international break but our EPL expert James Kempton is on an international break of his own hanging out in Vegas this week so hit him up on twitter to watch a game, he’d be happy to let you buy him a pint! In the meantime, we won’t let him neglect his EPL analysis just because he’s providing his analysis from a different area code.
Want more from James Kempton? Read his Weekly Goal Rush column
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
Tottenham -0.25 and 2.5
Jurgen Klopp makes his debut as an EPL manager and he steps into a fixture where Liverpool has had great success recently. Liverpool have won five straight meetings between the sides, scoring at least three times in each compiling a total of eighteen goals. All of these recent trends plus the lift Klopp should bring tells me to back Liverpool plus a quarter.
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Chelsea -1.5 and 2.75 goals
A relegation battle at Stamford Bridge? Chelsea have won six of the last seven EPL meetings but have covered a -1.5 line at home against the Villains only four times in twelve meetings since September 2003. Villa should provide good cannon fodder for a much needed home win but it’s a complete pass for me.
Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Crystal Palace -0.5 and 2.5 goals
The away team in this London derby have won the last three meetings including West Ham’s 3-1 win at Selhurst Park last August. Since October 2011 Palace have lost just that game in the six meetings of the teams. I will take West Ham to get at least a point in this one.
Everton v Manchester United
Manchester United -0.25 and 2.5 goals
The home side have dominated this fixture when these teams meet as there have been just two away wins the last fifteen EPL encounters. If you’re giving me a quarter of a goal for a team with a solid home field like Goodison Park against a side who are not prolific in front of goal then I will take it. Take the quarter goal and back Everton
Manchester City v Bournemouth
Manchester City -1.5 and 3 goals
City should roll them shouldn’t they? Yes but this Bournemouth side play with no fear and that’s a danger sign for a City squad who’ve already lost at home to West Ham. You’d think an overs ticket would be a safer bet given Bournemouth’s carefree approach but remember those early games this season? City won five straight to nil and none saw four or more goals. Another pass for me!
Southampton v Leicester City
Southampton -0.75 and 2.75 goals
Both games were won by the home team last season by the scoreline of 2-0. The open attacking way in which Leicester play the game has pushed this goal line up a quarter of a goal more than it should be. Give me a little bit of the unders but I’m happy to pass the match market.
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland
WBA -0.5 and 2.25 goals
Sam Allardyce is the new captain of the Sunderland ship and he has a job on his hands to avoid the rocks! The sides have met twelve times since December 2008 in EPL action and there have been just no Sunderland wins. Ten of the twelve saw at least two goals and over 2.5 goals hitting 9-3. Everything I know about Big Sam makes me think the away side is a great bet but all the trends point to the home win. Yet another pass for me for me in the match market but I do lean to the overs.
Watford v Arsenal
Arsenal -1 and 2.75 goals
The international break could not have come at a worse time for Arsenal as they rolled Manchester United 3-0 last time out. Take them to slip right back into gear here though at Vicarage Road where the hosts have scored just once so far this season. A push should be your worst case scenario.
Newcastle v Norwich City
PK and 2.5 goals
Four of the last five meetings of the sides in EPL action has seen an under 1.5 goal ticket cash! Teams visit St James’ Park and turn it into a nervous first date type encounter with the home team fumbling around trying not to make a costly mistake too early. The pressure is building on Steve McLaren and look for Norwich to take this goalless to the break and let the anxiety grow within the ground. Unders for me!
Swansea City v Stoke City
Swansea -0.5 and 2.25 goals
There have been eight EPL meetings of the teams since December 2011 and there has not been a single away win as six home wins and two draws make it a tough away day. Interestingly each of the eight match ups have seen at least two goals but over 2.5 goals has only gone 3-5. Is there any reward to going overs with the risk of there being exactly two goals? I lean to the home team and just to the over.
