Category: Premier League Betting
The two current heavyweights in the Premier League go head-to-head this weekend as Man Utd travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. The Blues currently occupy top spot with Utd two points adrift in second place in what is looking to be one of the most open title-races for some time.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are unbeaten at the Bridge in 27 games, since a Robin van Persie brace sealed a 2-1 win for Arsenal, and have not been beaten at home by United since a 3-0 defeat in 2002.
United had the better of the two encounters last year earning a 1-1 draw away from home before hammering Chelsea 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Didier Drogba is a man in form with six goals in his last five appearances, including an eight minute double against Atletico Madrid during the week. The Ivorian is an 11/2 chance to open the scoring on Sunday.
With both sides in good form we could be in for a close encounter, six of the last 10 games have ended up all square and I would be inclined to follow this trend backing the 2-2 draw at 12/1.
Hull face Stoke in what could be Phil Brown’s final game in charge, if reports he is to be sacked if the Tigers don’t win is believed.
Brown’s men are without a goal in three games and have picked up just two wins all season, both coming at the KC Stadium and have managed a miserly four goals at home in the league.
Tony Pulis’ Stoke side are coping with the second season in the top flight superbly. Just three defeats this year, against Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea, have seen the Potters climb into the top half of the table. They pulled off an impressive 1-0 defeat away to Tottenham recently and are unbeaten in four league games.
I fancy the visitors to get another win on Saturday and maintain their fine form, and possibly spelling the end for Brown, with a 2-0 Stoke victory available at 11/1.
Elsewhere Sunderland travel to north London to take on Tottenham. The Black Cats don’t have the best of records at White Hart Lane in the Premier League suffering seven defeats in eight appearances. They do have one of the top strikers in the league on their side in Darren Bent, signed from Spurs during the summer. Bent has eight league goals in 11 appearances and can be backed at 17/2 to open the scoring against his former club. Interestingly since August 2005 Bent has scored 57 goals in the Premier League which is only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
David Moyes’ Everton side will be looking to bounce back from Europa League defeat to Benfica with a win at West Ham. The Hammers are eight games without keeping a clean sheet and have only beat the Toffees once in the last seven matches. Tim Cahill would be my fancy to open the scoring at 9/1.
