All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Arsenal vs Everton – Match Preview

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Arsenal vs Everton
Sunday 23rd February 2020
FA Premier League – The Emirates Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Premier League – Kick-Off: 16:30 GMT.

Arsenal return to Premier League this weekend when they host Everton on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners fresh from their midweek Europa League triumph over Greek side Olympiakos will be hoping to get another win in quick succession, but this time in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions, and are yet to lose in this year. Last weekend’s Premier League win over Newcastle ended a run of four consecutive league draws, and added three points in their bid to secure European football for next season.

Everton are too in a good run of form, and have lost only once in the league since Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival on Merseyside. The Toffee’s are unbeaten in their last five encounters, winning three and drawing five. Since Ancelotti’s re-introduction to the Premier League with Everton, only Liverpool have taken more points.

Everton do however have a tendency to concede goals regularly, and have conceded the most goals of any team in the top ten (38). Arsenal on the other hand have defended astutely in recent weeks, and have kept three consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.

The last time these two sides met both Arteta and Ancelotti had not been announced as managers, Duncan Ferguson and Freddie Ljungbjerg took charge of their respective sides in a dull 0-0 draw at Goodison Park in December. Everton have won only one of the last six meetings between these two sides, which came last April. Arsenal have won four of the last six against Everton.

The referee for this weekend’s clash is Stuart Attwell. The 37-year old has averaged just over four yellow cards per game in his thirteen Premier League matches this season, and has also awarded two red cards. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this encounter.

Arsenal vs Everton will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League HD with kick off at 16:30 GMT.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Everton 

Suggested Tips – Arsenal vs Everton – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Arsenal 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang – (link no longer available).
  • Player to be booked – Seamus Coleman – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Arsenal vs Everton  – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Arsenal to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 7/4.

Markets last updated at 00:56 on Sunday 23rd February 2020.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview

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Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 22nd February 2020.
Premier League. Stamford Bridge.

Live on BT Sport 1/Ultimate. Kick-off: 12:30PM GMT.

Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge for the second time in a week as they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.

Frank Lampard’s side will be keen to avoid a second home defeat in a week following their 2-0 defeat to top four rivals Manchester United on Monday evening.

Spurs on the other hand left it late to overcome Aston Villa last weekend. Son Hyeung-Min struck in stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win at Villa Park, and further strengthen their bid to finish in the top four. Spurs were however struck with a damning blow days after the win with the news that Son will be out for the remainder of the season with a suspected broken arm.

Spurs will themselves be looking for a more positive result this weekend following their midweek Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig. Jose Mourinho’s side were defeat 1-0 on home soil, and have work to do if they want to secure qualification to the last eight of the Champions League.

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side are without a win in their last five Premier League encounters, and have won only once in the league this year. Meanwhile Spurs are unbeaten in their last four in the Premier league, and a win on Saturday afternoon would see them leapfrog Chelsea, and take fourth spot.

Since Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur, only Liverpool have registered more Premier League wins. SkyBet are offering odds of a Spurs win at 18/5.

The referee for this encounter is Michael Oliver. The 35-year old has been one of the more lenient officials in the Premier League this season, averaging just over three yellow cards per game. Oliver is yet to award a red card in the Premier League this season, for this fixture I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 1 HD with kick-off at 12:30 GMT.

Prediction: Chelsea 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Suggested Tips – Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).
  • Anytime Goalscorer – Lucas Moura – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 – 7/2.

Markets Updated 6:45AM GMT on Saturday 22nd February 2020.

 

 

Derby County vs Fulham – Match Preview

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Derby County vs Fulham
Friday 21st February 2020
SkyBet Championship, Pride Park Stadium.

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT.

Derby County return to SkyBet Championship action when they host Fulham at Pride Park on Friday evening.

Both sides will be hoping to bounce back from disappointing results in their last encounter. Derby were held to a 1-1 stalemate at home to Huddersfield, meanwhile Fulham were comprehensively beaten 3-0 at home against Barnsley. Following the defeat, Scott Parker’s side missed the chance to get into the automatic promotion places.

Since the turn of the year, Philip Cocu’s Derby County side have been one of the in-form teams in the division, losing only twice in 2020. Last weekend’s draw with Huddersfield means it’s now two without a win for the Rams, but before that they had lost only once in their last ten matches in all competitions.

Fulham on the other hand are doing everything they can to gain promotion back to the Premier League, at the first attempt. The Cottager’s defeat to Barnsley last time round was their only their second in the league this year, and ended a run of six matches unbeaten.

These two sides last met at the end of November, and Fulham were convincing 3-0 winners at Craven Cottage. Fulham have the better recent record ahead of this clash, and have won three of the last four meetings. Derby’s last win in this fixture came in May 2018.

Tom Lawrence has scored two goals in his last three appearances and is priced at 14/5 on SkyBet to score anytime on Friday night.

Fulham are unbeaten in their last five away fixtures in the Championship, and are yet to lose away from home this year. SkyBet are offering odds of an away win at 7/5.

The referee for this clash is Darren Bond. Bond has been one of the more relaxed officials in the Championship this season, and has averaged almost four yellow cards per game. For this fixture, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points.

Fulham vs Derby County will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football HD with kick off at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction: Derby County 1-2 Fulham

Suggested Tips – Derby County vs Fulham – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Fulham to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Aleksandar Mitrovic – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Derby County vs Fulham – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Fulham to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 5/2.

Markets last updated at 07:50 on Friday 21st February 2020.