ZABALETA value to ASSIST the Man City cause

In the second of our three part guide to the Premier League action this Saturday we take a look at the bets of the bets from the games involving the two Manchester sides.

If away games only counted this season then Man City would be 11th in the Premier League with just eight points. Which is not to say that they are incapable of blowing apart Fulham it is just that at 2/5 (TOTESPORT/betfred) I will not be backing them to do so. City have won just two of their eight games away in the Premier League this season. The Cottagers meanwhile can count themselves a little unlucky to lose to Everton never mind losing 4-0. Before this they won a home game with Aston Villa and the signs are in place that replacing Martin Jol with Rene Meulensteen might have been the right move. If you think Fulham can add to the away day worries of City then you can take the 8/1 (BETVICTOR/WINNER/SPREADEX) or back the draw at 22/5 (BETVICTOR).

City will be without key man Sergio Aguero and it will be interesting to see what Pellegrini does in terms of team selection. Will he allow Edin Dzeko a start following a League Cup double in midweek or will he select a five man midfield with Silva, Nasri and Nasri taking turns to support Negredo? Speaking of Negredo the Spaniard has seven goals to his name though just one of these came away from home and he is 4/1 (BETVICTOR/CORAL) to open the scoring and evens (CORAL) to net at anytime.

The best bet though is Pablo Zabaleta at 20/1 (boylesports) to grab the first and with the same firm the 6/1 that he gets an assist at anytime in the game. The Argentine full-back may be among the top five performers in the Premier League this season and is a constant attacking threat down the flank grabbing three assists from the last four league games.

A win over Aston Villa last weekend in the Premier League and a victory at Stoke in the League Cup means that things are a little easier for David Moyes. Taking three points from a game at Old Trafford (where they have dropped 10 points this season) is vital on Saturday and they could not have asked for kinder opponents than West Ham. The Hammers have won just one of their nine games away in the Premier League this season and lost each of their last three. A United victory is a 4/11 (GENERAL) chance while the draw is a best priced 17/4 (bet365/BETVICTOR/BWIN) and a victory for the London side is 9/1 (BETVICTOR).

Although I fancy the home side to take all three points the prices do not appeal so you might want to consider enhancing the odds. You can get 5/4 (betway) that United win to nil which might appeal to some considering West Ham have failed to score in nine Premier League games this season. In addition the Hammers have failed to find the net in their last five visits to Old Trafford.

United have a number of question marks against their forwards with Wayne Rooney a doubt so it might come to Danny Welbeck to lead the line after his brace last weekend and he is 5/1 (paddy Power) to score first or 7/5 (888 SPORT/unibet) to net at anytime. The bet I like in this game is Antonio Valencia at 5/1 (888 SPORT/unibet) to score at anytime. The Ecuador international only has one goal to his name this season in the Premier League though he has two in the Champions League and will be given more to licence to get forward against West Ham as United look to gain all three points.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Pablo Zabaleta to assist anytime v Fulham, 6/1 (boylesports)
SILVER: Pablo Zabaleta to assist first v Fulham, 20/1 (BOYLESPORTS)
BRONZE: Antonio Valencia to score anytime v West Ham, 5/1 (888 SPORT/unibet)

Go To bet365

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20/12/2013     © Frixo 2026