Down the stretch we come…with the finish line in site for another EPL campaign one unfortunate club in Sunderland already knows their fate but plenty of others still don’t.  Tottenham’s defeat on Friday night means Chelsea can finally put a stranglehold on the top of the table.  To give you everything you need to know before making a wager this weekend our resident James Kempton is here to help. Manchester City v Crystal Palace Man City -1.75 and 3.5 goals City have scored twelve goals in the last three meetings of the sides in all competitions at the Etihad. City are 8-0-1 in the nine meetings of the sides since December 2013 and Palace have netted just four times. We saw possible signs last week that Palace sees their season as over with EPL status assured because that is the only explanation that home defeat to Burnley can be given. Both lines look steep and lean heavily towards a convincing home win but given the historical trends they should be.  Bournemouth v Stoke City Bournemouth -0.25 and 2.75 goals Bournemouth won 1-0 in Stoke earlier this season but last season saw Stoke win both games including a 3-1 win in this fixture. An end of season game between two mid table sides with safety secured always tends to see a line set of -0.25 in favour of the home team. If you can figure out this game then it may be best to bet the side you favour on the money line for the extra value but it’s one I am staying away from.  Burnley v West Bromwich Albion Burnley -0.25 and 2.25 goals Burnley were hammered 4-0 at the Hawthornes earlier this season and in the three meetings of the sides in the...

The drama continues this weekend all over the EPL table.  Whether it’s keeping tabs on the race for league supremacy between Chelsea and Tottenham, the quest for UCL inclusion in top 4, or the cellar dwellers fighting to stay up plenty of matches this weekend offer plenty of intrigue.  Like he’s done all season James Kempton is here to run it all down like only he can before you head to the window Southampton v Hull City Southampton -0.75 and 2.5 goals Whatever we may think of Marco Silva in terms of the way he has impressed in his job at Hull so far he’s yet managed to turn around the club’s terrible away form. They are 1-2-14 on their travels and have netted just nine goals in those fixtures, fewer than Burnley who’ve not yet won away from home. The Saints are an indifferent 6-4-5 on home soil and although I want to take the unders in this game the fact that Hull have conceded no fewer than forty one times in those seventeen away games really makes me wary of that bet.  Stoke City v West Ham United Stoke -0.25 and 2.5 goals It was one apiece earlier this campaign and Yes on Both Teams To Score has gone 5-1 in the previous six meetings of the sides. The Potters have not lost any of the last seven meetings of the teams and have netted seven times in the last three games played at this venue. At this stage of the season and with nothing for either side to play for I will take the Yes on Both Teams To Score to to keep those trends going. Sunderland v Bournemouth PK and 2.75 goals Sunderland won 2-1 on the south coast back...

FA Cup matches over the weekend forced some of the league’s biggest clubs into mid week fixtures.  Table topping implications on the line especially in a Manchester Derby where both City and United are vying for a UCL birth.  James Kempton shares his thoughts on the complete slate. Chelsea v Southampton Chelsea -1.25 and 2.75 goals The blueprint is out on how to stop Chelsea, nullify Hazard and Pedro and the job is done. Well that’s easier said than done as only certain teams have the personnel to do such a number on them. Southampton may have just the players capable of doing that. I will take a piece of the away team to at least stay within striking distance on what could be a nervous evening at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal v Leicester City Arsenal -1 and 3 goals The first meeting of the sides this season finished goalless but last season Arsenal did the double over the Foxes including a last gasp 2-1 win in this fixture against just ten men. Can you really see Arsenal adapting to the threats that the Foxes pose? No, me neither but that didn’t bother them last season when Leicester won the title. They are riding the crest of that FA Cup wave and seem to have the Foxes number. Home team or pass.  Middlesbrough v Sunderland Middlesbrough -0.5 and 2.25 goals Middlesbrough won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light earlier this season but that game seems a long time ago now. Who is really going to bet this game as both teams are doomed to relegation. I have no clue or interest as to what happens in this match of the north east losers.  Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham -0.75 and 2.75 goals Under 2.5...

With the season winding down the chase for a championship heats up atop the table.  Chelsea’s once insurmountable lead is now 4 over a hard charging Spurs team with only a month left in the season.  Neither of those teams will be in action this weekend but that doesn’t mean there isn’t money to be made on the pitch.  James Kempton is here to steer you in the right direction Bournemouth v Middlesbrough Bournemouth -0.5 and 2.5 goals The home team will all but secure their own safety if they can take a victory away from this game. Boro showed some real fight last time out at home to Arsenal but their attacking threat is still limited to the talented but completely immobile Negredo. Under normal circumstances here I would lean to the away team but in all honesty on this line a draw is pointless as it serves zero purpose for the visitors. With Boro possibly going for broke late on if the game is a stalemate I will take the home team. Hull City v Watford Hull -0.25 and 2.5 goals Watford won 1-0 pre the Silva era last October and they’ve now amassed forty points following that 1-0 win over Swansea last Saturday. That result was a great one for Hull and remember Marco Silva has not lost any of his last forty home league games across all divisions. Give me the home win as they’ve been impressive under Silva on home soil, the manager has a track record of delivering big wins when they matter most and quite honestly Watford won’t care too much for this game.  Swansea City v Stoke City Swansea -0.25 and 2.5 goals Stoke won this fixture 1-0 last season and a similar result here would...

As the season continues to wind down the opportunities to make some money in the EPL only get ramped up.  James Kempton is here to give you everything you need to know for all the weekend’s biggest fixtures Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth Tottenham -1.75 and 3.25 goals It was goalless earlier this season when the sides met but in the last campaign Spurs won this game 3-0 and Harry Kane netted a hat trick on the south coast in a 5-1 victory. I know Bournemouth are a vibrant side but this goal line suggests a lot of faith in them breaching a home defence who’ve allowed just eight goals at White Hart Lane all season. A lean to the under.  Crystal Palace v Leicester City Crystal Palace -0.5 and 2.5 goals Leicester won 3-1 earlier this season and achieved two 1-0 victories last season when the sides met. The previous season both games were won to nil by Palace 0-1 and 2-0 and you have to think that now Leicester have reverted to type that this game should be a low scoring affair. Palace are rolling after that great win against Arsenal where they played off the back foot but they may find it harder to take the game to the Foxes.  Beware of the Champions League hangover for Leicester but it’s unders for me.   Everton v Burnley Everton -1.25 and 2.5 goals Burnley won 2-1 at Turf Moor in October but they’ve not managed to score in either of their two previous EPL trips to this famous old ground. Everton are on a strong run at home and Burnley are sitting very comfortably out of the relegation dogfight. Sean Dyche may talk the talk about his side looking to fight hard in...

Fixture congestion to the max! From mid-week matches to a comprehensive weekend slate James Kempton is here to get you in a positive state of mind for all things Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur v Watford Tottenham -1.75 and 3 goals Spurs have won three straight meetings in EPL action but last season it was just a 1-0 win on this ground for them. Without Harry Kane in the line up their link play is not as efficient so I’d not want to be trusting on giving up too much on the handicap line. I can’t go against Spurs after that midweek comeback against Swansea but it’s a steep line for them to cover. Although Watford performed well in midweek they’re not to be trusted on the road! Manchester City v Hull City Man City -2 and 3.25 goals Hull grabbed a 1-1 draw on this ground in February 2015 but that’s the only meeting of the sides in the last five that Man City have not won by at least two goals. Marco Silva has greatly impressed me this season and I do not see his well organised Hull side getting destroyed in this fixture. A tentative lean to the away side as they will scrap for every ball and against this dodgy home defence who’d say that the Tigers won’t find a way to score.  If they do covering a -2 line becomes tricky even if they play well.  Middlesbrough v Burnley Middlesbrough -0.25 and 2 goals Burnley ground out a 1-0 win when the sides met on Boxing Day and they had that much needed midweek win over Stoke. For the Clarets this is basically a ‘do not lose game’. Boro have to win to try and drag Burnley back into the...

The only thing better than a weekend slate of EPL action? That’s easy…it’s mid week fixtures highlighted by two table toppers.  To make sense of the madness is our EPL guru James Kempton with game capsules on every single match. Burnley v Stoke City PK and 2.25 goals For the first two thirds of their weekend game with Spurs the home side matched their high flying counterparts. They will have regrouped ahead of this critical game against Stoke as they look to avoid being sucked into the relegation battle. Home win or pass for me Leicester City v Sunderland Leicester -1 and 2.5 goals It was a Leicester performance from last season that the Foxes blew Stoke away on home soil. The fight almost looks gone out of this Sunderland side as they sit more than two full wins away from safety. The line is steep though set at -1 so I will be staying away even though I believe Leicester will all but clinch safety in this one.  Watford v West Bromwich Albion PK and 2.25 goals Watford are a funny side and we all know about the strengths of this Baggies outfit. I sense the value here is with the home win as West Brom are now well and truly thinking of the summer break. It’s easy for their squad to get up for big games at venues such as Old Trafford but this is a different test and off this line they offer no value.  Manchester United v Everton Man Utd -1 and 2.5 goals It’s a brave man given current form who lays a full goal for this United side against any team in the top half of the table. Everton should be able to stay in this game long...

Domestic league action returns after a brief hiatus for the international break.  James Kempton gives you everything you need to know before walking to the window with an EPL wager (or two) this coming weekend Liverpool v Everton Liverpool -0.75 and 2.75 goals Everton has not won any of the last thirteen meetings of the sides and have not won at Anfield since 27 September 1999. The loss of the inspirational Seamus Coleman from the Toffees backline just tips the balance of this game to the home side for me. It’s not a big enough factor though to make me back the home team as I worry that Lukaku could always net against this fragile looking Pool defense Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham -1 and 2.5 goals It was 2-1 to Spurs when the sides met for the first time this season and here they are priced up a full goal favourite going to one of the toughest venues in the EPL. This is a major pricing error as without Harry Kane the away side should be at most a -0.75 favourite. Following an international weekend and without Kane back the home dog.  Chelsea v Crystal Palace Chelsea -1.5 and 2.75 goals Chelsea won 1-0 at Selhurst Park last December but it was the Eagles who won this game 2-1 a season ago at Stamford Bridge. The seven EPL meetings of the sides since December 2013 may have seen five Chelsea victories but only one of those came via a margin of greater than one goal. Games after international breaks can be strange affairs and with Man City on deck in midweek Chelsea may just look to manage their way through this game. Small value on the away team.  Hull City v West Ham...

There’s not a weekend that goes by where our EPL Insider fails to bring the goods.  James Kempton provides his complete game capsules for a busy weekend in the Premier the week before teams break camp for international duty. West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal Arsenal -0.75 and 2.75 goals Arsenal have not won any of their last seven trips to the Hawthornes by more than one goal. Under 2.5 goals is on a 7-3 run when these sides meet in all competitions with just one of those games seeing more than three goals. Having seen Arsenal in person myself last weekend I have to say no Premiership side should fear them, unless Sanchez is on the ball! Its worrying though for potential Baggies backers that they’ve lost 2-0 and 3-0 in their last two games. One to miss for me. Crystal Palace v Watford Crystal Palace -0.5 and 2.25 goals It was 1-1 when the sides met earlier in the season and Yes on Both Teams To Score is 5-2 since August 2011. These are two teams that I just cannot trust and in these seemingly tense relegation type battles you’re usually attracted to the under on the goals line even if it is set at 2.25 goals. Watford have kept just one clean sheet though since the end of October and that was against Middlesbrough! They’ve scored ten goals themselves in their last six EPL outings so with the line set at 2.25 I’m almost tempted to take a piece of the over.  Everton v Hull City Everton -1 and 2.5 goals Marco Silva has Hull playing a far better game from a tactical perspective since he took over the role as Head Coach and they are 3-2-3 in their last eight EPL outings....

It’s a Friday tradition around here during the EPL season and our insider provides all the nuggets to make you better informed.  Also, forgive Mr Kempton if he gets a little giddy talking about his local side trying to do the unthinkable and progressive further in the FA Cup.  Take his preview on THAT match with a grain of salt! Bournemouth v West Ham United PK and 2.75 goals Bournemouth have been struggling of late but last weekend’s tetchy 1-1 draw at Old Trafford could be a turning point for Eddie Howe’s men. Bournemouth haven’t kept many clean sheets of late whilst West Ham have only failed to score against Leicester, Man City, and Man Utd over their last seventeen EPL games. I like a bit of the over here.  Everton v West Bromwich Albion Everton -0.75 and 2.5 goals Everton won 2-1 at the Hawthornes earlier this season but the Baggies have kept three consecutive clean sheets from their EPL trips to Goodison Park. They won this fixture 1-0 last season with the previous two trips ending goalless. That shock loss last week puts me off West Brom here even getting more than half a goal. Does mid table obscurity see them already thinking of the beach? One to pass on. Hull City v Swansea City Hull -0.25 and 2.25 goals Under 2.5 goals is 6-1 when the sides have met since December 2013 and I see another cagey game here. Hull just don’t look capable of scoring more than once in a game whilst Swansea will be keen to offer the home side no encouragement at all. The Swans have netted in seven of their last eight games and that just gives them the edge in my book for this one. Back...

IT’S TIME…for your weekly dose of Premier League intel from James Kempton.  As always he’s here to share his thoughts on all of the week’s biggest matches (and some not so big ones) but with one thing in mind; making you money. Manchester United v Bournemouth Manchester United -1.75 and 3 goals United won this fixture 3-1 last season and each of the three EPL meetings of the sides has seen a Yes on Both Teams To Score and overs wager cash. Those trends plus the recent decline in the fortunes of the Cherries suggest that the over 3 goals bet could offer some value. Set at United -1.75 the match market doesn’t appeal to me greatly especially given the way Bournemouth have shown they can generate chances even against the elite teams.  Leicester City v Hull City Leicester -0.5 and 2.25 goals Hull started the Leicester decline with that 2-1 win on EPL opening day this season. I’m not convinced though that this Foxes revival that started on MNF will continue but I’m not prepared to get in the way here at just -0.5 on the home win. A game to leave alone completely and if you want to here my full thoughts on the Leicester situation then listen to my weekly EPL podcast with @petenordsted where I pull no punches! Stoke City v Middlesbrough Stoke -0.5 and 2 goals It was one apiece when the sides met in August at the Riverside and Middlesbrough will look to grind out a result. It’s unlikely that Mark Hughes will pick the same old workmanlike looking side that he did for their trip to White Hart Lane last Sunday where they were pummeled. I lean to the home team but would want to see a...

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...