by ·Comments Off on Arsenal vs Everton – Match Betting Preview

Arsenal vs Everton is the Saturday evening live televised game from the premier league. New signing Pierre Emerick Aubameyang will be hoping to make his debut as Arsenal host Everton at the Emirates.

Fresh from completing his deadline day from Borussia Dortmund, the Gabon international looks inline for his home debut against the Toffees assuming he overcomes a late illness. Blessed with lightning pace and great finishing ability, Aubameyang adds a more physical and dynamic option up front. His goal record in recent seasons speaks for itself, but the big question is whether he can transfer that form to the Premier League.

With Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil and Aubameyang all at Wenger’s disposal goals shouldn’t be a problem; keeping them out may. The Gunners fell to a 3-1 defeat to Swansea in midweek, with more defensive relapses the cause of the loss. Whilst Aubameyang is a great addition to replace Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal are desperate for a world class centre back and holding midfielder.

The spine of the team is not strong enough when compared to their City rivals and until they address that issue, they have no chance of winning a Premier League title. A second away defeat on the bounce against relegation-threatened opposition is a testament to their lack of strength and character, whilst tougher fixtures against the top six loom in the next weeks.

Everton are without a win in seven games. Following their initial resurgence under Sam Allardyce, the Toffees have fallen back into bad habits and resemble more of the side that struggled under Ronald Koeman. Similarly, the Blues haven’t won away from Goodison Park since early December last year, losing three of their last four away ties.

Allardyce will be hoping that January additions Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun can have the desired impact and breathe new life into an ageing Everton squad. With big changes expected in the summer, Allardyce’s main aim is to try and build some momentum and secure the club a top ten finish. They currently hold ninth place but after such a bad run they need a result quickly to avoid any chance of falling back into a relegation scrap.

Arsenal have won five of their last eight games against Everton, losing just two. Both of those defeats were at Goodison Park, with the Toffees last win away from home coming back at Highbury in 1996, over twenty years ago. Neil Swarbrick has been appointed as the referee after officiating West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in midweek. Swarbrick has one of the lowest booking points in the league, with just 24.3 which ranks him third from bottom. In keeping with that record, he dished out just two yellow cards in Tuesday night’s game, which is a sign of things to come.

Whilst the Gunners have lacked authority at times, it has tended to be away from home. They have been good recently, in front of their home faithful and have scored a lot of goals. With Everton’s poor defensive record I think they’ll return to winning ways.

Arsenal vs Everton will be televised live on BT Sport 1 in the UK

Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Everton

Suggested tips Arsenal vs Everton (BET365):

Correct score, Arsenal to win 3-0 – (link no longer available)

Arsenal to win to nil – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips Arsenal vs Everton (Skybet):

Aubameyang to score first and Arsenal to win 4-1 – 40/1.

Lacazette and Mkhitaryan to both score – 3/1.

Arsenal to win and over 2.5 goals – 8/11.

More premier league game previews will be up for this weekend will be up in the tips and previews section of the site so keep checking back.

by ·Comments Off on Burnley vs Manchester City – Match Betting Preview

This Saturday’s early-afternoon action in the Premier League sees Burnley vs Manchester City take place at Turf Moore.

Both sides have enjoyed very successful seasons to their standards thus far, performing consistently well throughout their campaigns.
Burnley have gained a reputation as a giant slayer, proving a difficult team to beat, even for the best teams in the country. Manchester City have become the powerhouse in English football, having lost only one game all season.

The hosts are currently 7th in the Premier League – with only the ‘big six’ ahead of them. They have accumulated 35 points from 25 games this season. At times, they haven’t been the most eye catching team to spectate, however their performances have become effective and at times, devastating.

Chris Wood Burnley’s record signing & Ashley Barnes have been influential netting seven goals between them.

Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes have proved vital members of the squad, with seven goals between them. Burnley have only scored 20 goals all season but only conceded 22. They have already upset some of the top six but arguably face one of their toughest tests all season. Can they silence the Manchester City roar ?

Many people believe that Manchester City have already won the league, and that’s a hard point to argue. Their potent attack has proved too hard to handle for too many clubs. In their last outing, City strolled past Premier League strugglers West Brom, 3-0. Goals from Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero saw their overall goal tally go to a whopping 73 goals in 25 league matches. They are proving almost impossible to overcome, with still only Liverpool achieving a victory over Pep Guardiola’s side. It is tough to see City not getting another three points this weekend.

Burnley have showed their defensive tenacity however this City side will break them down at some point.  Burnley have scored two or more goals in only 8% of their home league fixtures. City have scored two or more in 75% of their away Premier League matches. Burnley have been awarded an average of 4.3 corners per match this season, City have been awarded an average of 7.2 corners. Martin Atkinson will take charge of this fixture. The referee has awarded an average of 39.4 in 17 Premier League matches.

Burnley vs Manchester City will be televised on Sky Sports in the UK from 12:30 PM GMT.

Prediction: Burnley 0 – 2 Manchester City

Suggested tips for Burnley vs Manchester City (BET365):

Correct score, 2-0 Manchester City – (link no longer available)

Sergio Aguero to score first – (link no longer available)

Half Time / Full Time – Draw/Man City – (link no longer available)

Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams To Score No – (link no longer available)

Man City over 2.5 Team Goals – (link no longer available)

Burnley over 1.5 Team Goals – (link no longer available)

Burnley Win – (link no longer available)

All the televised weekend games in the UK are being previewed this weekend so remember to keep checking our tips and previews section for updated previews and betting markets/odds.

 

by ·Comments Off on Bolton vs Bristol City – Match Betting Preview

Friday night action in the Championship comes from the Macron Stadium for Bolton vs Bristol City.

Relegation-threatened Bolton host promotion chasing Bristol City with the visitors looking to narrow the gap to the automatic promotion places.

After narrowly missing out on a place in the Carabao Cup final, Bristol City can turn their attention to the league. They currently sit in fourth place, just two points behind Derby who occupy second. Despite their lofty league position, the Robins have won just one of their last eight games. That victory did, however, come last time out as they beat QPR 2-0 at home. With interest from Premier League clubs in a number of their star assets, it’s crucial that Lee Johnson can keep hold of his current players if they want to achieve promotion. Aden Flint, for example, has reportedly acquired the attention of Brighton and Derby with the club knocking back a six million pound bid last week. With a run of tough fixtures against play-off chasing sides, the next month could be decisive in the club’s season.

After looking dead and buried not along ago, Bolton are now out the relegation zone. A run of one defeat from their last four games has lifted them to 20th in the table, one point above the bottom three. Bolton are unbeaten at home in their last eight games, with Phil Parkinson’s side winning five of those matches. Gary Madine’s recent upturn in form has been crucial, with the former Sheffield Wednesday striker attracting the interests of Cardiff City. The 27-year-old has 10 goals this season and is the club’s leading marksman. If Bolton want to remain at this level for a second consecutive year, maintaining their home form will be pivotal to their chances.

Bristol City have won their last two fixtures against Bolton, scoring eight goals in the process. However, the Robins haven’t won at the Macron Stadium since 1994 and have lost on three of their last four visits. Andrew Madley is the referee for Friday night’s fixture, having refereed more Championship games than anybody else this season. Madley has an average booking points total of 30.2, which is low when compared to his fellow officials. He has averaged 2.9 yellow cards per game and is yet to show a red card this campaign.

Given Bolton’s recent home form, I think this one could be a draw. Bristol City are back on the rise again after their recent downturn in the results, and I think could mean nothing will separate the two come full-time.

The game will be televised in the UK on Sky Sports 1. Kick off 7:45 GMT.

Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Bristol City

Suggested tips for Bolton vs Bristol City (BET365):

Correct score, 1-1 draw – (link no longer available)

Flint to score first – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips for Bolton vs Bristol City (Skybet):

Madine to score and Bolton to win – 4/1.

Reid to score first and BCity to win 2-1 – 20/1.

BTTS and FT result draw – 7/2.

Draw 0-0 & No Booking Points –  150/1

Reminder – we have a full weekend of games, our tips and previews section will be updated with additional previews from the televised UK games so be sure to keep checking back.

 

 

 

 

 

by ·Comments Off on Unibet Darts Premier League 2018 Betting Preview

The Darts Premier League is back for 2018 and it’s going to be bigger than ever. A fresh-faced line-up means there are plenty of new players ready to enter the fray.

The worlds greatest, Michael van Gerwen is the favourite to retain his trophy before a dart has been thrown. The darting fairy-tale that is Rob Cross is also among the favourites after his World Championship shock.

Players, Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney will make their Premier League debuts this year after their rampant rise up the PDC rankings during 2017. Australian, Simon Whitlock has made the cut after a few years out of the competition as well as Mensur Suljovic finally reaching the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Raymond van Barneveld, Peter Wright, Gary Anderson and Michael Smith also return to the Premier League after characteristically impressive performances on the PDC Circuit. With the Unibet Masters done with and Michael van Gerwen named champions, here are some of the outright odds that SkyBet are offering for the 2018 Unibet Premier League:

Michael van Gerwen – 10/11

The Dutch darting dynamo is heavy favourite to retain his Premier League title. Despite his upset against Rob Cross at the World Championships, ‘MvG’ has continued to prove why he is the best in the PDC, with his most recent victory coming at ArenaMK where he lifted the first major of the year. His 11-9 victory over Raymond van Barneveld showcased his fighting spirit and incredible ability to grind his opponent down. Tough to ever bet against this man, he is just too talented.

Michael Van Gerwen will be looking to retain his crown from 2017 starting with a tough opening night challenge against Rob Cross. Photo Credit: Sky Sports

Rob Cross – 7/2

As the Unibet Masters proved, he isn’t indestructible. What he has achieved in the past 12 months has been nothing short of miraculous, however this competition will be his first major test to find out if he can withhold those high standards that he has set himself, or whether he was a lucky man at the 2018 World Championships. His power hitting is something to behold and he has some devastating percentages on the doubles, I don’t see him going all the way but he has already proved so many wrong.

Gary Anderson – 6/1

The Flying Scotsman is a fan favourite among Premier League fans. Anderson can be a tricky customer when on his game however he will be praying for no injuries throughout this campaign. The ageing athlete is beginning to feel his body ever so slightly which as everyone knows, can have a big effect on his performance. However, he is still one of the worlds best and can beat anyone on his day. He has the capabilities to go all the way and maybe win you a big pay-out!

Peter Wright – 9/1

Cast into the shadows in recent months, Peter Wright will be hoping that the Premier League will be his answer to rejuvenating his world-class form. The Scotsman endured an agonising moment last year, as he had darts at the double in the final to win the Premier League, however crumbled under the pressure and allowed van Gerwen to steal the prize. Revenge will be on his mind, and the long format of this competition will help Wright to reach the stage of the competition where he should be.

Other Player Odds:

  • Daryl Gurney – 40/1
  • Raymond van Barneveld – 40/1
  • Mensur Suljovic – 50/1
  • Michael Smith – 80/1
  • Gerwyn Price – 125/1
  • Simon Whitlock – 200/1

The Darts Premier League will be televised on Sky Sports in the UK. Don’t forget to check out our facebook and twitter pages for DARTS accumulators. We will also be previewing the later stages of the tournament which will be up in our tips and preview area.

 

by ·Comments Off on Tottenham vs Manchester United – Match Betting Preview

Wednesday night sees Tottenham vs Manchester United in a vital clash at Wembley. Spurs will be looking to move into the top four. United on the other hand will be trying to close the gap at the top of the table.

After being held to an FA Cup replay by League Two Newport County, Tottenham will be hoping to move into the top four with a win. Sitting two points behind Liverpool who occupy fourth, it’s vital Spurs don’t lose more ground in the race for Champions League football.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are now eight games unbeaten; a run that has seen them win six of their last seven home games. Having firmly ended their ‘Wembley hoodoo’, Spurs need to take use home advantage to beat one of their closest rivals. Having already lost to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City this season, Tottenham need to prove they can beat the best teams and that they aren’t just flat track bullies.

Madrid calling – Spurs’ Pochettino and Harry Kane are both wanted by Real Madrid.

With speculation linking both Pochettino and Harry Kane to the Bernabeu, securing more Champions League football could prove key to their futures. With a new stadium to come next season, this further underlines the importance of European football as they look to consolidate their place amongst Europe’s elite.

Five consecutive wins without conceding a goal has boosted Manchester United’s hopes of a second-place finish. Whilst it isn’t what they set out to achieve at the start of the season, Jose Mourinho will be happy with his side’s recent form. Alexis Sanchez made his debut in their 4-0 win over Yeovil, meaning the Red Devils are still challenging for two pieces of silverware. With the Chilean’s addition into an already talented squad, the main question is where he will play.

Lukaku is back amongst the goals for United with 3 in his last 4 games. Photo Credit: The Sun

Personally, I think he would be best suited on the right, as it gives him the chance to inter-change with players like Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard in the number the position. With Anthony Martial’s recent form, he should keep his place on the left, which leaves United with a very quick, dynamic attack, spearheaded by Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian also appears to be finding some form, with three goals in his last four games.

Andre Marriner takes charge of the Wembley fixture. Marriner has only used his red card once this season – could he be using it again on Wednesday night. Photo Credit: Sky Sports.

Manchester United have lost just two of their last seven games against Spurs and beat them 1-0 in the reverse fixture last year. Meetings between these two sides have been tight in recent years, with just two of the last 11 fixtures being separated by more than one goal. Andre Marriner will be the man in the middle at Wembley, having recently refereed Liverpool’s win over Manchester City. Despite issuing five yellow cards that day, Marriner has an average booking points total of just 28.8 and has only shown one red card this season.

I think this one will be a draw. Away from home, Mourinho would probably take that if you offered it him now, whilst I don’t think Tottenham have enough quality to grab all three points.

The game will be televised in the UK on BT Sport 1 with Kick Off at 8PM GMT.

Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Manchester United.

Suggested tips – Tottenham vs Manchester United – (BET365):

Correct score Betting – Tottenham vs Manchester United – 1-1 draw – (link no longer available)

Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals – Yes – [bet365oddslink participant_id=’1520130508′ odds=’11/10′ starttime=’1517428800′]11/10[/bet365oddslink]

Suggested tips – Tottenham vs Manchester United – (Skybet):

Kane to score a brace – 9/2.

Lukaku and Sanchez to both score – 17/2.

Martial to score first and United to win 2-1 – 55/1.

BTTS and Tottenham to win – 7/2.

 

by ·Comments Off on Huddersfield Town vs Liverpool – Match Betting Preview

Premier league action returns on Tuesday night with Huddersfield Town vs Liverpool. After back to back defeats in the League and FA Cup, Liverpool will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they visit the John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield.

Liverpool’s defensive issues still persist despite signing Virgil Van Dyke. Both keepers’ Karius & Mignolet are struggling to hold the number 1 position under Jurgen Klopp.

Anfield witnessed the shock results of the FA Cup fourth round as West Brom came away with 3-2 victory. The result means Liverpool’s only chance of silverware this season is the Champions League, with many fans sighting the FA Cup as a more realistic chance of winning a trophy. Since beating Manchester City 4-3, the Reds have struggled, losing to two teams embroiled in a relegation battle. Virgil van Dijk has yet to had the intended impact since joining the club, whilst there are still major doubts over the long-term abilities of Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet.

Whilst Liverpool have been poor defensively for a number of years, I think a lack of quality in the goalkeeping department could be an issue. To win a title or any form of silverware, you have to have a top goalkeeper, something Liverpool have lacked since Pepe Reina. When you look at the club’s main rivals they all have top stoppers; David De Gea, Thibaut Courtois and Hugo Lloris are amongst the best in the world. Jack Butland, Jan Oblak and Alisson should be at the top of Jurgen Klopp’s shopping list in the summer if he wants to improve Liverpool’s leaky defence.

David Wagner is struggling of late to get his team to show the form that served them well at the start of the season. Photo Credit: Sky Sports

After a run of just one win in eight games, Huddersfield are enduring their toughest patch since promotion to the Premier League. Without a Premier League point since December, David Wagner’s side are now just two points above the bottom three in fourth place. Goals have been the main issue for Town, with just three goals from their last six league matches. Whilst they have always struggled away this season, their home form has been excellent but they are now without a win in four at the John Smith’s Stadium. With only Monaco defender Terence Kongolo joining the club this month, time looks to be running out as they search to bolster their attacking options.

Kevin Friend takes charge of the fixture at the Kirklees Stadium.

Huddersfield haven’t beaten Liverpool since 1959, losing eight of their last ten meetings. The Reds comfortably dispatched of the Yorkshire side 3-0 in the reverse fixture last year and will be hoping for a similar result this time around. Kevin Friend will take charge of the match in West Yorkshire in his 14th Premier League match of the season. Friend has averaged 26.9 booking points this season, the sixth lowest in the division. He has also only averaged 2.7 yellow cards a game and is yet to dismiss anyone in the league this campaign.

With both sides in poor form, this game is tough to call. Given Town’s recent defensive frailties I think Liverpool’s attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firminio and Mohamad Salah will be too much for them to handle.

The game will be televised in the UK on BT Sport 1 from 8PM.

Prediction: Huddersfield 1-3 Liverpool.

Suggested tips from BET365 for Huddersfield Town vs Liverpool:

Correct score, Liverpool to win 3-1- (link no longer available)

BTTS and over 2.5 goals – (link no longer available)

Mane to score first – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips from Skybet for Huddersfield Town vs Liverpool:

Firmino and Salah to both score – 4/1.

Oxlade-Chamberlin to score from outside the area – 18/1.

Depoitre to score and win – 12/1.

Huddersfield v Liverpool  RequestABet Specials – 80/1 and above – Firmino to score, Liverpool 3-1, 5+ Huddersfield corners and Mane to be carded – 150/1.

RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Huddersfield v Liverpool – Liverpool 3-0 and Can, Van Dijk & Robertson to be carded – 500/1.

Huddersfield v Liverpool  RequestABet Specials – 80/1 and above – Huddersfield to win, over 2.5 goals, Under 12 match corners and 20+ booking points each team – 80/1.

 

 

by ·Comments Off on Hull vs Leeds United – Match Betting Preview

Hull vs Leeds United takes place on Tuesday night in the SkyBet Championship game. Both sides haven’t enjoyed the seasons they would have wanted so far, with both sets of fans enduring frustrating campaigns.

Hull are currently 21st in the SkyBet Championship, sitting one place above the relegation zone. They have only accumulated 25 points from 28 matches, with their defensive frailties being at the forefront of their struggles. The Tigers have conceded a whopping 45 goals in the league; one of the highest tallies in the competition.

Nigel Adkins side Hull City will be expecting a strong test from Leeds United

In their previous outing,  Hull defeated fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round. That result, has helped them progress to the next stage of the competition. Two first half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Nouha Dicko was enough to see off Forest, whose second half goal was nothing more than a consolation. Jarrod Bowen has been a bright star in this Hull side with eleven league goals, he could be the difference on Tuesday. Nigel Adkins side face a very tough test.

Leeds United are currently 9th in the Championship standings, five points behind the play-off spots. Thomas Christiansen’s side have managed to score 40 goals in their 28 league matches however have conceded 33 goals in the process. Their inconsistent defending has led to a frustrating campaign thus far, as they sit only a few places above where they expect to be.

Kemar Roofe will be looking to back on the scoresheet for Leeds United on Tuesday night. Photo Credit: Yorkshire Evening Post

In their previous outing, Leeds came out worse in a 4-3 thriller at home to Millwall. Despite having the lead with only ten men and a few minutes left, goals from Millwall’s Tom Elliott and Jed Wallace broke many Leeds hearts in the 91st minute of play. Leeds will be hoping to carry that form in front of goal into this match, despite the defensive issues. Kemar Roofe has 8 goals and two assists in the league so far, could he help Leeds to a massive win?

Can see the quality of the Leeds team being too much for the weak Hull defence. Despite their league position Hull have scored two or more goals in 64% of their home games. Leeds have scored two or more in 50% of their away matches. This could be a goal-fest!

Tony Harrington, will take charge of Hull vs Leeds United.

Hull have been awarded an average of 4.9 corners per match, Leeds have been awarded an average of 3.8 corners per match.

Tony Harrington will take charge of this fixture. The referee has awarded an average of 36.1 booking points in 18 matches.

Prediction – 2-0 Leeds.

Hull vs Leeds United – Suggested Tips (Odds Provided by BET365):

Correct Score Match Betting Hull vs Leeds United – 2-0 Leeds – (link no longer available)

Both Teams to Score Match Betting Hull vs Leeds United – (link no longer available)

Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score (YES) Match Betting Hull vs Leeds United – (link no longer available)

Any Time Goal Scorer Match Betting – Hull vs Leeds United – Kemar Roofe – (link no longer available)

Clean Sheet Match Betting – Hull vs Leeds United – Leeds – Yes – (link no longer available)

by ·Comments Off on Cardiff City vs Manchester City – Match Betting Preview

Today’s final tie of the afternoon features Cardiff City vs Manchester City. Championship high-flyers Cardiff host Manchester City looking to create a huge upset in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Aguero grabbed a hat-rick last weekend to end any hope of a Newcastle comeback on the weekend.

Manchester City come into this tie following their return to winning ways against Newcastle. Saturday’s 3-1 win over Rafa Benitez’s side re-established the Citizens 12 points lead at the top of the Premier League. Sergio Aguero was back in the goals for Pep Guardiola’s men as his hat-trick was enough to seal all three points. City glided into the fourth round of the competition, beating fellow Premier League side Burnley 4-1. It’s worth remembering that City were 1-0 down at half-time in that game, before coming back to book their place in the next round. After opting against signing both Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Sanchez, City are still looking to bolster their defensive options. The latest speculations has seen them linked with a 60 million pound move for Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte. To enable the deal, City would be required to trigger the Frenchman’s release clause and this would secure them the services of one of Europe’s hottest young centre-backs.

Cardiff needed a replay to secure their spot in the fourth-round, eventually beating Mansfield 4-1 in the return leg. Neil Warnock’s promotion-chasing side have won two of their three games, after previous losing four in a row. Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday kept the Bluebirds in third spot, two points behind second-placed Derby County. With the push for automatic promotion very much alive in the Welsh capital, this will be a great opportunity for them to pit their wits against the Premier League’s very best. Neil Etheridge record this 12th clean sheet at the weekend, the third highest in the league. With Cardiff’s promotion charge built around defensive solidity, it will be a real test for Sean Morrison and Co as they look to shut out the most potent attack in England’s top flight.

Lee Mason takes charge of today’s final cup tie of the fourth round between Cardiff City vs Manchester City.

Cardiff have lost just one of their last four meetings with Manchester City. They’ve also won their last two home games against the Citizens, with the last coming back in 2013. Lee Mason has been appointed as the referee for Sunday’s standout fixture. He has an average of just 25.5 average booking points, which registers as the fourth lowest in the Premier League. He has produced just 33 yellow cards and is yet to send anyone off this campaign.

After the recent loss to Liverpool, I can’t see Pep Guardiola taking anything for granted in this tie. With City securing their place in the Carabao Cup final in midweek, I think they’ll be desperate to continue their push for a domestic treble. As a result, I think they’ll have too much for Cardiff, who will want to concentrate on the Championship.

Prediction: Cardiff 0-3 Manchester City.

Suggested tips (Skybet):

Correct score, City to win 3-0 – 13/2

Aguero to score a brace – 11/4.

City to win and over 2.5 goals – 4/6.

Sterling and De Bruyne to both score – 5/1.

Zohore to score and win – 10/1.

by ·Comments Off on Chelsea vs Newcastle United – Match Betting Preview

An all-Premier League tie sees Chelsea vs Newcastle fight for a spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

After crashing out of the Carabao Cup in midweek, Chelsea have only the FA Cup for domestic silverware this season. Despite Eden Hazard’s early strike, Chelsea came unstuck 2-1 as they watched their London rivals progress into the final to play Manchester City.

In the last round, Chelsea needed penalties to progress against Championship side Norwich in a game that saw the Champions reduced to nine men. Despite putting four goals past Brighton in their last Premier League outing, Chelsea have still managed just six goals in their last six games. Hazard’s return to form could be key, as the Belgian looks to secure the club a top-four finish and some silverware come the end of the season. With Chelsea reportedly close to finalising a deal for Roma pair Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri. Dzeko will provide much-needed cover and support for Alvaro Morata, with reports suggesting Michy Batshuayi could head the opposite way on a loan deal. The Bosnian forward has vast Premier League experience from his time at Manchester City and could be the perfect tonic to revitalise a faltering attack.

Newcastle’s new signing Kennedy will be unavailable to make his debut after signing on loan Stamford Bridge. The winger has struggled for game-time at Chelsea and a move to Rafa Benitez’s side could help unleash the Brazilian’s undoubted potential. Benitez will be sighting further additions to bolster his squad, with a striker at the top of his wish list. Despite the club being up for sale, Mike Ashley has promised Benitez January funds in order to keep his side in the Premier League. In the last round of the cup, Newcastle avoided an upset against an in-form Luton Town side as they came away 3-1 winners. They have lost just two of their last seven wins and have beaten both Stoke and West Ham, two clubs fighting against them in the battle to avoid the drop.

Chelsea have won four of their last six fixtures with Newcastle, losing just once. The Toon army’s last win at Stamford Bridge came back in May 2012, over five years ago. Whilst Newcastle are unbeaten in their last four meetings at St James’ Park, winning three, it will be a much tougher order away from home. Kevin Friend has been appointed as the referee for Sunday’s game. He has an average booking points of just 26.9, brandishing an average of 2.7 yellow cards per game. He is also one of just five Premier League officials yet to brandish a red card this campaign.

Despite their poor run in front of goal, I think Chelsea will be buoyed by their recent win over Brighton. If Hazard plays, I think it’ll be extremely tough to stop the Chelsea man in his current form. Without the Belgian, Chelsea are a different proposition and it has been proven this season they can be vulnerable.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle

Suggested tips (Skybet):

Correct score, Chelsea to win 2-0 – 5/1.

Hazard to score first and Chelsea to win 3-1 – 25/1.

Batshuayi and Willian to both score – 9/2.

Chelsea to win to nil – 5/4.

Chelsea to win and under 2.5 goals – 5/2.

by ·Comments Off on Liverpool vs West Brom – Match Betting Preview

Liverpool vs West Brom is the final fourth round tie for the day, in an all-Premier League affair, both sides look to seal a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

After losing to Swansea City on Monday night, Liverpool will be desperate to atone for their defeat with a win against Alan Pardew’s side. Monday night’s results was strangely predictable, as Liverpool followed up a fantastic result against the league leaders with defeat to the Premier League’s basement club.

During Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club, Liverpool’s Achilles heel has always been their results against inferior opposition. On such a high from their victory against Manchester City the week before, the Reds were undone by a corner which cost them three points. Set pieces, in general, have also plagued Klopp’s time at the club, which is an area most teams would target against them.

Despite the addition of Virgil van Dijk, it remains to be seen as to whether the towering central defender can end their defensive woes. Uncharacteristically, Liverpool struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities against the Swans and when they did get into good attacking positions, there was a lack of quality about their play.

After losing just one of their last six matches, West Brom appears to be finally picking up some form under Pardew. With two wins and a draw from their last three games, they seem to be much more organised and carrying a greater threat going forward. Last time out in the cup they defeated League Two side Exeter 3-0, with this trip to Anfield a much tougher assignment. Salomon Rondon’s recent performances have been a catalyst to WBA’s recent improvements.

The Venezuelan was the man of the match as the Baggies earned a deserved point at Everton last time out. With speculation still rife surrounding the future of defender Johnny Evans, it is vital the club bring some additions into the club. Regardless of Evans’ future, another attacker to help bolster the squad is essential as the Baggies have managed just 19 goals in 24 Premier League games.

Whilst West Brom haven’t beaten Liverpool since 2013, they have only lost two of their last six games against the club. They’ve also drawn two of their last three trips to Anfield, including a 0-0 draw back in December last year. Despite the contrasting league positions of these two sides, games between the pair are always tight, with their last eight games being separated by one goal or less. Craig Pawson is in charge of this all-Premier League tie and he has the highest average booking points total in the top flight. Similarly, Pawson has shown 0.2 red cards on average in his 17 Premier League matches, the joint highest in the league.

Whilst I still think Liverpool will make it to the fifth round of the FA Cup, I think this will be tight. The statistics back this up, and team selection, as always, could play a huge part. A good bet might be Liverpool to win by exactly one goal. The game will be televised in the UK on BT Sports 2 live at 7:30PM.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 West Brom.

Suggested tips (Skybet):

Correct score, Liverpool to win 2-0 – 5/1.

Salah and Firmino to both score – 11/4.

Liverpool to win by exactly one – 3/1.

Btts and FT result draw – 6/1.

Correct score group betting, Liverpool to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 13/8.

Keep checking our tips and previews section of the site for our picks from tomorrow’s fourth round ties.