The Hard Tackle provides your one-stop shop for the best markets for the weekend EPL action, featuring Arsenal vs Manchester City and the Merseyside Derby.
The international break is over. There shall be none from now till the end of the season. And, the return to club football is set to serve us a cracking series of games in the English Premier League, with the Merseyside Derby kicking us off.
Liverpool and Everton are both very much in the running for the top four now, with Everton closing the gap on top six and the fixture is set to be an enticing one, as is always the case in each season. However, the big game is on Sunday, where we see Arsenal host Manchester City, a fixture which could shape Wenger’s future at the club.
Apart from the two big matches, an injury-plagued Manchester United are set to host a resurgent West Bromwich Albion side while Tottenham face a tricky away test at Burnley. Chelsea play hosts to Crystal Palace while there is a potential six-pointer in the offing as Swansea host Middlesbrough.
The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the best betting markets to profit from the current matchday of the Premier League. But first, let us take a look at the previous results of our betting suggestions.
(Note that the odds mentioned here have been extracted from Bet365.com as presented on smartbets.com)
(Note that all stakes are taken as 1 unit)
Favourable Bets for the last Gameweek: 8/14
The Hard Tackle aggregate: 167/329
Underdogs Result: We got two out of six. Decent.
Liverpool FC vs Everton FC
The Merseyside Derby, that too Anfield, has a special feel altogether. The fixture has been building up for the past fortnight or so, as a result of the international break. However, the injury to Seamus Coleman has dampened it a bit. Although, the injury could provide some inspiration to the Toffees to secure a win against their local rivals.
Challenges are expected to fly frequently at Anfield on Saturday and we could be set to see a potential thriller on the cards.
Favourable Bets:
1. Over 4.5 Cards @ 1.66
2. Full Time Result – Draw or Everton @ 2.15
3. Both Teams to Score – YES @ 1.70
Underdog Bets:
1. James Milner to score anytime @ 4.50
2. Ross Barkley to score anytime @ 5.50
Manchester United FC vs West Bromwich Albion
United have injury problems galore to tackle ahead of the fixture. And the injuries to Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have piled on more misery for Mourinho. Pogba, Herrera and Zlatan are all absentees for the game and it seems the defence is wailing as well.
However, the Red Devils are in with a great chance to make it to the top four, with Mourinho’s men just four points behind Liverpool, with 2 games in hand. And with the Reds set to face Everton, United could potentially cut the gap to a single point. It won’t be easy, though, with West Brom coming off the back of a brilliant 3-1 win over Arsenal.
Favourable Bets:
1. Both Teams to Score – YES @ 2.20
2. Marcus Rashford to score anytime @ 2.25
3. Over 1.5 Manchester United Cards @ 2.25
Underdog Bets:
1. Marcus Rashford to score 2 or more @ 7.00
Chelsea FC vs Crystal Palace FC
Crystal Palace have had three wins on the trot and it looks like Big Sam’s magic has worked again, with the former England manager set to hold his record of saving another relegation threatened side.
However, they now face Chelsea while in need of at least 4 more wins from the last 10 to move towards safety and away from the relegation zone. Chelsea themselves have won 3 on the trot but they have had to toil a lot in each of these victories, which means that Palace could very well trouble the current leaders.
Favourable Bets:
1. Over 2.5 Match Goals @ 1.80
2. Chelsea Clean Sheet – No @ 2.20
Underdog Bets:
1. Christian Benteke to score anytime @ 5.00
Arsenal FC vs Manchester City FC
Perhaps the most important fixture of the weekend. The match could not just decide Wenger’s future at Emirates but also Arsenal’s hopes to secure Champions League qualification for the next campaign. The Gunners would be relieved to have the international break to clear their heads after a poor 3-1 defeat to West Brom.
Goals come in premium in this fixture and with the array of attacking superstars on display, this fixture should not be any different, given the condition of the two defences. It is likely to come down to who scores the most and a battle between Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero could decide the result.
Favourable Bets:
1. Both Teams to Score – YES @ 1.50
2. Over 2.5 Match Goals @ 1.60
3. Sergio Aguero to score anytime @ 1.95
4. Alexis Sanchez to score anytime @ 2.37
Underdog Bets:
1. Theo Walcott to score anytime @ 3.10
Miscellaneous Bets
In other games, Burnley are likely to hand Tottenham a tough time while Leicester could distance themselves further away from the relegation zone with a positive result at home to Stoke City. Swansea are the favourites in the relegation six-pointer against Middlesbrough.
Favourable Bets:
1. Burnley Asian Handicap + 1.0 @ 1.650
2. Southampton to beat AFC Bournemouth @ 1.65
3. Swansea City FC to beat Middlesbrough FC @ 2.00
4. West Ham United Asian Handicap 0.0 vs Hull City @ 2.10
5. Jermaine Defoe to score anytime @ 2.50
6. Fernando Llorente to score anytime @ 2.37
Underdog Bets:
1. Robert Snodgrass to score anytime @ 4.00
2. Adnan Januzaj to score anytime @ 5.00
3. Andre Gray to score anytime @ 3.60