Mid Week Fixture Report
It’s like the holidays come early when there’s a full slate of EPL matches in the middle of the week. Fresh off surprising results over the weekend players head right back to the pitch where James Kempton offers up his most compelling betting angles.
Bournemouth v Leicester City
Bournemouth -0.25 and 2.5 goals
The champions were unable to beat Bournemouth last season with this game finishing one apiece while the return game at the King Power ended goalless. Are Leicester back after the weekend win over Man City? Who knows for sure but I like them here receiving a quarter of a goal against a Bournemouth side who’ve conceded six goals in their last two games.
Everton v Arsenal
Arsenal -0.5 and 2.75 goals
Arsenal did the double last season when the sides met including a 2-0 win at Goodison Park. The Gunners have scored twice in each of the last four meetings of the sides and they are likely to do so here too. Ronald Koeman has a huge job ahead of him transitioning his older players out and replacing them with new signings at Everton. I lean Arsenal but you never know in a night game at Goodision with the bright lights on and the TV cameras broadcasting.
Middlesbrough v Liverpool
Liverpool -1 and 2.75 goals
Liverpool have to be the most exciting team to watch but maybe not for Liverpool fans! I am sure trips to the doctors for heart complaints have gone through the roof of late in the Merseyside area. I will take the home team receiving a full goal as they have shown this season they can keep matches tight in these spots.
Sunderland v Chelsea
Chelsea -1.5 and 3 goals
Over 2.5 goals is on a 8-1 run when the sides have met since December 2012 and Chelsea have not won in their last three trips to the Stadium of Light. The way Sunderland folded on Saturday at Swansea does not give you much hope of an outright victory from them in this game. Chelsea will win this game but trusting them to cover a big line in a midweek game away from home is one for the brave.
West Ham United v Burnley
West Ham -0.75 and 2.5 goals
As we know Burnley are a different side on the road and West Ham showed signs of life on Sunday at Anfield in that 2-2 draw. With Carroll coming back and playing more minutes and Payet looking somewhere close to his best if betting this game I’d take a chance on the home team Hammers giving up three quarters of a goal.
Crystal Palace v Manchester United
Man Utd -0.75 and 2.5 goals
Under 2.5 goals is 5-2 when the sides meet since September 2013 but Palace have not beaten United in any of those encounters. I will trust United to grind out a victory in this game as they will simply defend better than the home team. However on the handicap that extra quarter goal puts me off siding with them.
Manchester City v Watford
Man City -1.75 and 3.25 goals
City did the double last season when the sides met scoring two goals in each meeting. If City achieve that feat here can you really trust them to keep a clean sheet and fully cover the line? I will take Watford to score in this match so that brings in the over 3.25 goals line which I will have a little piece of here instead
Stoke City v Southampton
Southampton -0.25 and 2.25 goals
The sides have met nine times in all competitions since December 2012 and the home team in the game has registered just two victories in those meetings. That could go some way to explaining this rather bizarre looking line that sees the away team favoured. I can’t pass Stoke as a home underdog though against anyone bar the elite of this division. Back Stoke +0.25 as what could be one of the better bets of the week.
Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City
Tottenham -1.75 and 3 goals
Hull have never beaten Spurs on home soil in the Premiership and in the 2014-15 season it was the side from the capital who won both games including a 2-1 win in this fixture. I just have a feeling after that loss at Old Trafford on Sunday that Spurs will bounce back here and bounce back big. I will take Spurs to hand out a heavy beating to Hull in this one and win the game by at least three goals.
West Bromwich Albion v Swansea
West Brom -0.5 and 2.5 goals
It was one apiece when the sides met last season in this fixture but the Swans have won three of their five EPL trips to the Hawthornes. That said Swansea are not very good whereas once again over the weekend we saw just how reliable the Baggies can be. Back West Brom minus half a goal and fill up your Christmas betting bank!
