EPL Weekend Round-Up
The FA Cup never ceases to offer it’s share of Cinderella stories. However fans of the EPL live for league play and this weekend there should be drama in some unusual spots. To break it all down by offering his favorite betting angles is James Kempton sharing analysis as only he can.
Chelsea v Swansea City
Chelsea -1.75 and 3 goals
Swansea are an impressive well organised outfit now under Paul Clement and they will be no pushovers in a rematch of that 2-2 draw on opening day last season. It’s hard to make a case that Swansea will take anything outright from this game but do they offer any value on the handicap line? A tentative lean to Swansea given their strong recent form but I sense the solidity of the Chelsea midfield two of Kante and Matic limits some of our slim value.
Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough
Crystal Palace -0.25 and 2 goals
Middlesbrough will look to keep the game tight, stay well organised, and play on the nervousness of the home crowd. Boro are eight games without a win but they’ve only conceded eight goals in their last nine EPL games. We keep saying Palace will be safe from the drop as they have Big Sam but four points and five goals in their last ten, yes ten, EPL matches suggests they are deep in the relegation mire. Boro for me plus a quarter of a goal as I just sense they will make less mistakes than their hosts.
Everton v Sunderland
Everton -1.25 and 2.75 goals
David Moyes’ side are a right Jekyll and Hyde bunch and here he takes a squad full of ageing Everton veterans back to Goodison Park. The home team are becoming the kind of reliable side under Ronald Koeman that they were under Moyes. The Toffees are eight EPL games unbeaten and they’ve scored at least twice in seven of their last eleven Premiership outings. Four clean sheets in their last six games makes me lean towards the home team and after they won 3-0 at Stadium of Light in September I will take them to win and cover here.
Hull City v Burnley
Hull -0.25 and 2.25 goals
Marco Silva has had a full fortnight to prepare for this game and this extra planning time could be the difference. I saw Burnley in the flesh last weekend as they crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Lincoln and I sense a lack of planning from Sean Dyche cost him dearly in that game. Hull earned a solid point at Turf Moor with a 1-1 draw back in September and getting on a bus for an away game again for Burnley means I shall be leaning to the home team.
West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth
West Brom -0.5 and 2.5 goals
The Baggies are such a reliable outfit this season as they continue to grind out the points in the quest to finish in the top half. Bournemouth are on the slide and their mental toughness will be severely tested here against this well drilled West Brom side who’ve scored plenty of goals on home soil this season. The Baggies have scored two or more goals in six of their home games this campaign and I see them doing it again this weekend. Bournemouth have conceded thirty three goals in their last thirteen EPL outings so I really like the home win here.
Watford v West Ham United
PK and 2.5 goals
This West Ham side looks a little short on creative threat to me since the loss of Dimitri Payet to his native France. Can Lanzini step forward and be their new talisman? Watford have pulled away from the relegation battle as they sit ten points and five places above the drop zone spots. Watford have only lost to Arsenal, Chelsea, Stoke and Spurs at home this season so on the Scratch line I lean to the home team.
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City
Spurs -1.25 and 3 goals
Losing 2-0 away at Liverpool is no disgrace for any side in this league as on their day Liverpool are almost unstoppable on home soil. However, the manner of Spurs’ performance last time out was truly disappointing and I believe it was possibly the worst showing under Mauricio Pochettino. We often go on about the strength of Stoke and their resilient nature but already this season they’ve lost by two or more goals at Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. Beware of the Thursday Night Europa League hangover but all the value is with the home team especially as they’ve scored ten goals in their last meetings with the newer more cuddly Potters.
Leicester City v Liverpool
Liverpool -0.75 and 2.5 goals
What a MNF this is and if any game could get the Foxes up for the battle then this is the one! I said last time out against Swansea that the Foxes back four would not cope with movement of the Swans so the prospects of what Liverpool could do to them here are truly frightening. This could turn ugly if Liverpool get the upper hand early in the match as their sharp incisive movement should cut Leicester to ribbons. Liverpool panned them 4-1 back in September and I sense we could see more of the same after the Scousers’ mid season break. Liverpool and over for me despite the Foxes sacking of Ranieri.
