All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Chelsea vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Chelsea vs Liverpool
Sunday 22nd September 2019
FA Premier League, Stamford Bridge

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

Liverpool aim to make it six wins from six in the Premier League when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides come into this fixture following disappointing midweek results in the Champions League. Chelsea were defeated 1-0 on home soil by Valencia, meanwhile Liverpool began the defence of their Champions League title with a 2-0 defeat to Napoli. Both managers will be expecting a strong response from their respective sides.

A win for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will extend their winning run from last season’s Premier League season to 15 matches, a run only bettered by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, twice.  The record currently stands at 18, held by City in 2017.

The last time these two sides met, Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners at Anfield thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and a thunderbolt from Mohamed Salah. Mane and Salah both to score this weekend is priced at 6/1 on SkyBet.

Fledgling Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has already shown this season he is not afraid to use his younger players, and much has been made of the contributions of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount. Incidentally, each of Chelsea’s nine Premier League goals this season have been scored by English players aged 21 or under. Tammy Abraham (6), Mason Mount (2) and Fikayo Tomori (1).  However, Mason Mount faces a race to be fit in time for this clash, as he limped off in the midweek defeat to Valencia with a suspected ankle sprain and has been given an outsider’s chance of appearing against Liverpool.

Liverpool will be eager to banish the feeling of their midweek defeat against Napoli and put things right this weekend with a win. However, in recent times Liverpool have struggled at Stamford Bridge, with their most recent win away to Chelsea coming three years ago.  A win for the reds this weekend is priced at 19/10 on SkyBet.

I think this match on paper is the pick of the bunch in this round of fixtures, and I as well as most am expecting a top-quality battle. Both sides will be eager to return to winning ways, but I feel Liverpool will just edge it and claim all three points in South London. I am backing Liverpool’s front three to be razor sharp as usual and extend their potentially record-breaking winning run.

This match will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League on Sunday afternoon, with kick off scheduled for 16:30 BST.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool.

Suggested Tips – Chelsea vs Liverpool – (BET365)

  • Correct score – Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Chelsea vs Liverpool – (SKYBET)

  • Liverpool to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 5/2
  • Scorecast (SkyBet): Liverpool to win 2-1, and Roberto Firmino to score first – 33/1
  • Tammy Abraham to score 2+ goals – 15/2
  • Over 1.5 goals, Over 8.5 corners, and Over 25 booking points – 5/4
  • Fabinho to be carded – 2/1
  • Liverpool to win and over 2.5 goals – 6/4

Markets Updated at 18:00 BST on Thursday 19th September 2019.

West Ham United vs Manchester United – Match Preview

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West Ham United vs Manchester United
Sunday 22nd September 2019
FA Premier League, London Stadium

Sky Sports Premier League – 14:00 BST

West Ham United return to home soil as they host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Hammers come into the weekends fixture unbeaten in their last four Premier League fixtures, with their only league defeat coming at the hands of the defending champions Manchester City on matchday one. Their opponents Manchester United are too on a positive run of form, losing once in their opening five fixtures so far this season.

Manchester United will be hoping they don’t suffer any type of midweek European hangover prior to this fixture. The Red Devils face Astana from Kazakhstan in their opening group match in the Europa League, and manager Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer will be expecting his side to deal with the load of fixtures in the best way possible.

This match is one of the oldest in English football history, with the first fixture between these two sides dating back to February 1911. The most recent encounter between these two sides ended in a 2-1 victory for United back in April, and SkyBet are offering odds of a repeat result of 8/1.

United’s summer signing Daniel James has really hit the ground running since joining the Red Devils. The Wales international who signed from Swansea has impressed with his direct approach and has scored three times so far this season. James made 38 appearances for Swansea last season, scoring five times; another two this season would match his tally of last seasons goal total. Daniel James to score this Sunday is priced at 11/4 on SkyBet.

I expect a tight fixture between these two sides, and I cannot see too much between them as a result. Both sides have started the season well, however Manchester United Have struggled on the road so far, failing to win in either game, and I don’t see that changing this weekend.   I believe both sides will strike in a scored draw.

The man in charge for this fixture is Anthony Taylor. Fresh from the midweek Champions League clash between PSG and Real Madrid, Taylor is back in action this weekend. The 40-year old has officiated seven matches so far this season, awarding a total of 35 yellow cards; with an average of 5 yellow cards per match. As a result, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this fixture.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League with kick off scheduled to take place at 14:00 BST.

Prediction: West Ham United 1-1 Manchester United

Suggested Tips – West Ham United vs Manchester United – (BET365)

  • First goal scorer – Marcus Rashford – (link no longer available).
  • Correct Score – 1-1 –(link no longer available). 

Suggested Tips – West Ham United vs Manchester United – (SKYBET)

  • Scorecast (SkyBet): Marcus Rashford to score first, and 1-1 – 28/1.
  • Both teams to score in first half – yes – 3/1
  • Match result – draw – 13/5
  • 1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 draw – 10/3
  • A referee’s decision to be overturned using VAR – 5/4
  • Sebastien Haller and Anthony Martial to score – 7/1

Markets Updated at 16:30 BST on Friday 20th  September 2019.

West Bromwich Albion vs Huddersfield Town – Match Preview

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West Bromwich Albion vs Huddersfield Town
Sunday 22nd September 2019
Sky Bet Championship

Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 12:00 BST

West Bromwich Albion return to the Hawthorns this weekend as they host Huddersfield Town in the SkyBet Championship on Sunday afternoon.

The Baggies currently sit 6th in the Championship standings, and Slaven Bilic’s side are the only team in the league yet to suffer defeat so far this season. The same cannot be said however for Huddersfield Town. The Terriers rank 23rd in the Championship and have lost 6 out of 7 of their league fixtures this season, only registering a point in the 1-1 draw with QPR. Following their wretched run of form, Jan Siewert parted company with the club, and Danny and Nicky Cowley were appointed, leaving their role at League one side Lincoln City.

The Cowley brother’s introduction to Championship management ended in a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, but there is now a sense of positivity amongst the Terriers supporters after a disappointing beginning to the season following the arrival of Danny and Nicky Cowley.

The last time these two sides met was in the Premier League campaign of 2017/18, a season to forget for all concerned with West Brom as they suffered the heartbreak of relegation. Huddersfield completed the double over the Baggies and boast a good record in recent years against this weekend’s opponents. West Brom have won only four of the last sixteen meetings against Huddersfield but will be expected to claim all three points this time round.

Huddersfield come into this fixture as heavy underdogs, especially considering the seriously contrasting form of the two sides. SkyBet are offering odds of 4/1 for an away win.

Grady Diangana on loan from Premier League side West Ham United has enjoyed a bright start with West Brom and has scored three times already this season for the Baggies. The DR Congo international previously worked under current manager Slaven Bilic at West Brom, and his contributions may well be an added extra to West Brom’s promotion hopes come the end of the season. Diangana to score and West Brom to win is priced at 12/2 on SkyBet.

I expect West Brom to come away with all three points, however I don’t think it will be as one sided as the two sides form would suggest. There is some hope for Huddersfield in the fact that West Brom are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league so far this season. BTTS may be a sensible pick to choose for this fixture. BTTS is priced at 8/11 on SkyBet.

The man in charge of this weekends fixture is Tim Robinson who has appeared in five matches so far this season, awarding 20 yellow cards in the process. This considered I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this match.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football and kick off is scheduled to take place at 12:00 BST.

Prediction: West Brom 2-1 Huddersfield Town

Suggested Tips – West Bromwich Albion vs Huddersfield Town – (SKYBET)

  • Correct score – West Brom 2-1 Huddersfield Town – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – West Bromwich Albion vs Huddersfield Town – (SKYBET)

  • West Brom to win and BTTS – 11/4.
  • Scorecast (SkyBet): Charlie Austin to score first, and West Brom to win 2-1 – 20/1.
  • Charlie Austin to score first – 10/3.
  • West Brom to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 7/4.
  • Huddersfield Town to win 1-0 – 14/1.