Mrs Richardson was very impressed with my picks over the International Break, but she’s not the sort of wife to let a husband rest on his laurels, so I’ve been tasked with picking some EPL winners out of the hat ahead of next weekend’s fixtures.
EPL
Weekend Picks
Saturday kicks off with a capital biggie
when Tottenham Hotspur host Chelsea in the early KO. It’s an especially
significant match as it’s the first meeting between Spur’s current boss, AVB
and his old team. No one will have forgotten that the Portuguese manager was (rudely) sacked by
Roman Abramovich in March following a just nine (disastrous) months in charge at
Stamford Bridge, before the Blues went
on to win the Champions League under caretaker boss, Roberto Di Matteo.
Spurs haven’t beaten Chelsea since 1990,
which seems a world away and the last time these sides met Chelsea romped home
5-1 winners. Looking at the last five meetings, it’s been Chelsea twice and
draws three times, Chelsea have outscored Spurs
9-4 in these five games, Chelsea have won their last five games
outright, and Chelsea have just one draw and nine wins from their last ten
league games. It’s also worth mentioning that Spurs are 50/1 shots to win the
league and Chelsea re 3/1. However, Chelsea are due a loss… I’m backing a Spurs
win, at 6/4 and I’ll say it’ll be 2-1 at 10/1, for old times’ sake (that was
the score back in 1990).
Spurs proved they can beat jinxes when they
triumphed at old Trafford …the only issue is: can I beat my Chelsea jinx
(Mrs Richardson hopes so).
What
price a win at Anfield?
Liverpool will look to get off the home win
mark when they face the minnows of Reading on Saturday. There has never been a
goalless draw between these sides in three meetings, it’s complete honours even
between them with a win for Reading, one for Liverpool and one draw. It’s
interesting to note that both wins were away wins, and both times the winning
side scored twice as many goals as the losing side (2-1 to Reading and 4-2 to
Liverpool). Applying that record, it would be a Reading win, available at 9/1
and either 2-1 (28/1), 4-2 (at 325/1) or (6-3 at 500/1). However, I think
that’s all bunkum, Liverpool are due a win, Liverpool are due a home win (after
two draws and two defeats), Liverpool will win. Back the Pool at 4/11 betting odds and back
a decent score too. I’d suggest 3-0 at 7/1 or maybe 3-1 at 10/1.
Reading are 5/6 to be relegated and need to
shake things up if they are to prosper. The Royals could do with adding a bit
of fresh talent, if they want to cause Liverpool any problems (let alone
survive in the EPL), and they could do a lot worse than Reading local Max
Drury, who scored a brace in his last outing for Reeves Rangers.
Gunners
gonna win
Norwich V Arsenal should be an absolute
banker…Norwich are winless (Reading are the only other team without in a win in
the EPL), have conceded 17 goals thus far and are dead bottom of the EPL. They
are 4/6 favourites to be relegated and 11/4 to go down bottom of the league.
Arsenal may be 7th in the league, five points off the pace being set
by Chelsea, but the Gunners are starting to look a little like the Arsenal of
old, whether you think they’re a force to be reckoned with in the EPL of not
(they are currently 12/1 to win it) they should just walk all over Norwich.
Back a Gunner win at 1/3, and a heavy score as Arsenal have scored 14 goals in
their last five games, and six in their last two. 4-0 is at 11/1. But my spidey senses are
tingling around 4-1 as Arsenal haven’t keep a clean sheet
in the league since their 2-0 victory over Liverpool (at Anfield).
Sun
Sunderland V Newcastle
Looking at the
last five meeting between these sides Newcastle have two victories and the
other three were draws. You might be tempted to back another draw available at 13/8,
but I feel that home advantage will make the difference; I’m backing a
Sunderland win at 6/4 as one of this weekends soccer picks. More details and odds will follow in a full preview
later in the week.
Prediction: Wins for Sunderland, Arsenal, Liverpool and
Tottenham.