Sunday stalemates have the greatest draw

There are a couple of English Premier League games on Sunday 26 August 2012 and, from a punting perspective, the draw constitutes the best value play in both matches.

The first game sees Stoke entertain Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium, although entertain is probably the opposite of what the boring Potters will do when the Gunners come to town.

Stoke`s style of play does not change week to week, month to month, year to year. Potters manager Tony Pulis is stuck in his ways and plays to the strengths of the players whom he has assembled in the Britannia Stadium club`s squad. It is not pretty but it is effective, particularly against sides that do not turn up ready for a major physical challenge.

Arsenal, fairly or unfairly, is a team with a reputation for going missing when the going gets tough. Since Stoke were promoted to the English Premier League for the 2008-2009 season, the Potters and the Gunners have met five times in all competitions at the Britannia Stadium. The results have been three Stoke wins, one Arsenal win and one draw.

How anyone other than, say, Gunners tragic Nick Hornby could back Arsenal to beat Stoke this weekend at odds of around 5-4 should be a mystery to a savvy football punter. The Gunners barely had a shot on target at home to Sunderland as they began life without Robin Van Persie and they have a poor recent record against the Potters on their travels.

So that leaves a choice between Stoke and the draw, both of which are available at around 5-2. The Potters are just not that good so get on both sides collecting one point from their second English Premier League matches of the term.

The second game is between Liverpool and defending champion Manchester City at Anfield and, once again, the home team is the underdog, with the Reds at around 2-1, the Blues at around 6-4 and the draw attractive at around 5-2.

The last four Anfield clashes of the clubs have ended level, including the two that took place in the English League Cup and English Premier League competitions last season.

Neither Liverpool nor Manchester City cry out to be backed at their respective odds. The Reds have lost 10 of their last 15 English Premier League matches and new manager Brendan Rogers is going to need time to turn them into legitimate championship contenders, something that the 18-time title winners have not been for several years.

The Blues have lost their leading marksman, Sergio Aguero, with a knee injury and, while Roberto Mancini has a bevy of striking options, the Argentinian is the best of them.

Manchester City has the class to beat Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 2003 but its defence is leaking goals and Aguero is a loss. The Blues are nothing better than a fair price at 6-4. The draw is the value at 5-2.

Go To bet365

#Ad

25/08/2012     © Frixo 2024