This weekends’ preview focuses on St James Park where all eyes will be on Steve McLaren’s Newcastle as they take on Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Newcastle are languishing just one place off the bottom of the table and are in desperate need of points.
The one team they don’t want to be playing right now is a resurgent Liverpool side who are in a rich vein of form, proven by the fact there odds have been slashed from 100/1 to win the league two weeks ago to a best priced 11/1.
Newcastle will not be helped by the fact that their last two games have ended in a 3-0 home defeat to Leicester and a 5-1 mauling away to Crystal Palace, for which they took an early lead.
Liverpool on the other hand appear to have been inspired by their new manager Jurgen Klopp and appear to be playing with a passion not seen since Daniel Sturridge last strung more than a few games together. Though he returned on Wednesday with a brace to help his side come from a goal down to beat Southampton convincingly in the Capital One Cup. Phillipe Coutinho is also in line for a recall having missed the past two games with injury.
All things point at a Liverpool victory and it will take something out of the ordinary for Newcastle to get out of their slump, I rarely do it but Liverpool have to be part of my acca this week
Dave’s Premier League Betting Tips;
Liverpool/Man Utd/Chelsea/Everton – 1 pt win @ 5.66/1
Olivier Giroud 1st Goalscorer – 1 pts win @ 3/1
Anthony Martial 1st Goalscorer – 1 pt win @ 11/2
Chelsea v Bournemouth
An improved Chelsea side host Bournemouth in Saturday nights’ evening kick off at Stamford Bridge.
The home side still sit in 14th place but have lost just one of their last five matches including 3 clean sheets on the bounce, looking more like their old selves last Sunday away at Tottenham.
Bournemouth were involved in a thriller last weekend where they earned a point at home to Everton. Watching that game however Everton were cruising until Bournemouth substitute Adam Smith turned the game on its head with a great strike.
For me Bournemouth still look below Premier League quality and given Chelsea’s improved form they are my banker for the weekend.
Everton v Crystal Palace
Monday night sees Everton host Crystal Palace in what looks a tough one to call on paper. Both teams are closely matched on form and the league table sees Palace just one point ahead of their opponents.
In a tricky affair I think Everton may just edge this one, their home form is very good scoring 10 goals in their last two games at Goodison and with Deulofeu and Lukaku in hot form, it’s going to be pretty tough for Palace to keep them at bay.