With live football on the telly for the next 6 days, it’s a good time to be a football fan. There’s plenty of mouth-watering action in tge Premier League for you to look at.
Titles may be won, title challenges may be salvaged, teams could be doomed to relegation or rise from the ashes – with most Premier League teams playing two games in the next six days, a lot can happen by next weekend.
Manchester United v QPR
A cracking double header on Sky Sport’s this Sunday, with Man United taking on QPR hours before their rivals City face a tough trip to the Emirates.
United have the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League if they beat the R’s at Old Trafford (1.30pm Ko, SS1), and they are a top priced 1.2 with Paddy Power to do so.
Sir Alex will be well aware of the psychological blow they can inflict on their neighbours and it would take an extremely brave person to back against the Red Devils.
The champions were briefly eight points behind Roberto Mancini’s side at the start of December but a win here would see that situation completely reversed and make the title theirs to lose.
QPR are embroiled in the relegation battle at the bottom of the table and also desperate for points.
Mark Hughes’ men face a difficult run-in but have done well in recent weeks to register home victories over Liverpool and Arsenal.
However they have been a totally different side away from Loftus Road, and are without a win on their road since victory at Wolves way back in
United have won nine and lost none of their last 12 matches against QPR in all competitions and won 32 and lost just two of their last 36 Premier League games at Old Trafford. They are also the most efficient Premier League side of the last three seasons.
They have only conceded one goal in their last five Premier League home matches and it’s impossible to envisage them not winning this with plenty to spare
Valencia, who has 12 assists and four goals in 16 Premier starts this season, looks worth a wager at 9 with Betfred to net the opener.
United to win 4-0 appeals in the correct score market at the 11 on offer with Boylesports.
Arsenal v Man City
Less than an hour after the United game finishes, City face a tough trip to London to take on Arsenal (4pm KO, SS1) and the Gunners look value at 2.6 with Boylesports to put an end to their title hopes.
City have failed failed to score in three of their last four Premier League games against Arsenal and each of their last four visits to the Emirates.
They have also won none of their last 26 away league games against the Gunners (W0 D8 L18), and come into the game on the back of disappointing draw against Stoke and Sunderland.
Roberto Mancini’s men seem to be running out of gas at the wrong time, whereas Arsenal had been on a roll before their 2-1 defeat at QPR.
Arsene Wenger’s men have won 11 and lost one of their last 14 PL games on their own patch and that makes them look a big price considering City’s current form.
One player who will be hoping to find the back of the net is Robin van Persie, as City are one of only three teams in the top flight that he has not scored against this season.
If he does manage to bag one in this then he will become only the fourth player to score against 17 different teams in a Premier League season (after Cole 1993/94, Shearer 1994/95 and Wright 1996/97).
The Dutchman has been chalked up at 5 with Boylesports and Paddy Power to score first, and 2.2 with the former to net anytime.
Both those prices make plenty of appeal in what is likely to be a hard fought and fiery encounter.
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Liverpool have been chalked up at 1.45 to beat Villa at Anfield, but given their current form you could not be backing them with any confidence at odds against – never mind long odds-on.
Kenny Dalglish’s side have now lost six of their last seven league matches and won just twice since the turn of the year in a dreadful run which has overshadowed their Carling Cup triumph back in February.
Their performance in their latest defeat to Newcastle lacked any passion or cutting edge, and left fans angry and deflated with many calling for Dalglish.
It was not a surprising reaction as the Reds currently sit seventh in the table – one place below Everton.
You get the feeling that he is being given a lifeline because of his past exploits as a player at the club, and there is no doubt whatsoever that things need to change things around fast.
This game represents the ideal opportunity for Liverpool to start the fightback as their opponents are in dire shape.
Alex McLeish’s side are only five points clear of the drop zone having managed just two league wins in 2012 and with all but one of the five teams below them all managing to pick up points in recent weeks the pressure is really on.
They come into the game having been thrashed by Arsenal and Chelsea, and Liverpool really should beat them if anywhere near their best.
However I couldn’t back them to do so at 1.45, so the suggested put is to back Suarez to score anytime at even money (2) with Boylesports.
Chelsea v Wigan
Chelsea are 1.25 shots to beat Wigan at Stamford Bridge and the stats suggest that they will have little difficulty doing just that
The Blues have won 10 and lost just one of their 13 Premier League meetings with the Latics, and registered their record league win over them when they won 8-0 back in May 2010.
The visitors have never managed to keep a clean sheet against them in the league, and have lost five and won none of their last six visits to the Bridge.
Roberto Martinez’s side have also lost 14 of their last 15 trips to London, conceding 46 goals in the process.
Those are grim stats, especially when you throw in the fact that Chelsea have lost just one of their last nine PL games (W5 D3 L1) and kept three clean sheets in a row at home.
So despite the fact that Wigan come into this having picked up 8 points from their last four games it’s hard to see anything other than a win for Chelsea.
I think that the Blues will win this without reply, and they look a decent punt at even money (2) with bet365 and Paddy Power to win to nil.
My idea of the outcome is a 2-0 victory, and that scoreline is a 5.5 chance with bet365 and Betfred.
In the first goalscorer market looks value at 10 with Boylesports.
For more betting tips, see the Soccerlens betting page.
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