Premier League Preview 2nd Mar

With as many as eight games taking place in the Premier League Saturday here is the first of our two part guide to all the games and the best betting opportunities.

After his comedic press conference in midweek Rafa ’don’t call me interim’ Benitez is a man clearly at the end of the line with the situation at Chelsea. I suspect if it was not for the massive pay he would tell everyone to stick it. The Spaniard though must ride it out until the end of the season unless the owner decides enough is enough. It is 4/9 (Totesport/betfred/BetVictor) a Chelsea victory which is a terrible price as you don’t know how the players will react to the outburst from the manager. Some might come out fighting while others might be tempted to hang the boss out to dry. West Brom coincidentally was the final game in charge for Villas Boas and Di Matteo so maybe this could be the hat-trick. If you fancy the Baggies then you can back them at 8/1 (paddy Power/william hill/You Win) while the draw is 117/29 (pinnacle). Romelu Lukaku will not feature for West Brom as per the terms of his loan deal which is a blow as he is in red hot form. Shane Long though will step into his shoes and at 13/1 (BWin) first scorer and at 4/1 (Blue Sq/888 Sport) in the anytime scorer market he looks value. Long netted against Chelsea at the Hawthorns and netted a couple of times before the run of Lukaku saw his role changed away from the middle.

Both Everton and Reading will be disappointed with results last weekend, the Toffees letting slip a game they were in cruise control and the Royals not showing up for a clash with relegation rivals Wigan. It is 2/5 (general) an Everton victory here while the draw is 21/5 (BetVictor/pinnacle) and the away win is 98/11 (pinnacle). Both teams to score once more looks the way to play this as this has happened in a remarkable 24 of the last 27 Everton games and in eight of the last ten Reading games. This can be had at evens with boylesports.

Despite the distraction of a Champions League game with Real Madrid on Tuesday and the promise of a rotated squad you would think Man United would have too much for Norwich at Old Trafford not that I would recommend siding with them at the short odds of 4/11 (Pinnacle). This is a funny game to work as I would think if United got an early goal they would have few problems going to win this comfortably however the longer the game goes on Norwich will grow in confidence and they can be a very stubborn side to break down. Kei Kamara might have to settle for a place on the bench despite his heroics of last week. If he does come off odds of 20/1 (BetVictor/BWin) on him to score the last goal look decent. He will be a threat for tired defences and he did score against the Red Devils when turning out for Sporting Kansas City in a pre-season friendly.

I wonder how different a season QPR would have had if they had added the fire-power of Jos Hooiveld to their ranks. The Saints defender certainly has an eye for the goal sadly for Southampton it tends to be his own net. Hooiveld will know that if he nets an own-goal between now and the rest of the season he will break the record for most own goals by one player in a Premier League season (currently held by a number of players on three). It might be the only way QPR can score at the moment. Saints should win this but at 10/11 (general) they do not appeal and neither do QPR at 34/9 (Pinnacle). This could be an interesting game to watch but not one that appeals from a betting point of view.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Both teams to score in Everton v Reading, Evens (boylesports)
SILVER: Shane Long to score v Chelsea, first 13/1 (Bwin), anytime 4/1 (Blue Sq/888 Sport)
BRONZE: Kei Kamara to score last goal in Man Utd v Norwich, 20/1 (BetVictor/BWin)

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02/03/2013     © Frixo 2024