Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (19th November 2005)

Wigan have won 4 of their last 5 at home and their only loss at home was a last minute goal to Chelsea. This stat aside, Chelsea are the only top side to travel to the JJB and now they must host another of the big guns, Arsenal. The Gunners are yet to win away this season but they have had injury problems and not had Henry and Campbell available for a number of games. However Henry and Campbell are both back although Helb, Cole and Clichy remain injured. The absence of an orthodox left back for Arsenal will give Wigan some hope but while their defence has done well this season they have ridden their luck; Henry, Pires, van Persie etc should be able to pierce them open whilst Campbell gives them a solid platform to win the game. Arsenal should get their first away win of the season.

The usual suspects are still out for United (Neville, Keane, Heinze, Giggs and Saha) but their performance against Chelsea could reignite their season. Some of the United players have performed poorly this season and have been strongly criticised by some of their own but they have responded in the right way. United have only lost once on the road and travel to Charlton who might be starting to slip off the rails themselves. Charlton have only won once at home and just recently have started to stutter after an exceptional start to the season. As long as United can stop Murphy from playing they should roll out winners.

Liverpool's position in mid table is a false one at the moment as they've played 2 fewer games than most other sides. To date they have relied on home form to be where they are having only lost once but Benitez needs to get his strikers scoring to be certain of winning games. Most of their goals have come from midfield; Crouch and Cisse were even rumoured to be worst taking potshots at Gerrard's backside in training, hence the rumour that Benitez is pursuing Simao. They face a Portsmouth side who have had a poor start to the season but surprisingly their away form (2 wins and a draw) has kept them out of the relegation spots. They are still missing the impact of Lua Lua and O'Brien is injured, but although Portsmouth have improved Liverpool at home should be too strong.

City are doing well under Pearce and have won 4 of their 6 home games but Blackburn have improved since the start of the season and are probably on a par with Pearce's team. Both play good football; the latter despite their over-exuberant, strong-arm tactics. Blackburn's most notable away performance was the scalp of Manchester United and the availability of Bellamy after injury has given them a spark. City have won their last 3 at home whilst Blackburn have lost their last 2 away but Blackburn could do enough at Eastlands to earn a point.

Both these sides will be desperate for the points and a draw will not be good enough; it may be early in the season to be saying this but Christmas is not far away. Sunderland are bottom on 5 points and Villa are 1 place above the relegation zone with 9 points so the question is who looks most likely to win it? Sunderland have only taken 2 points at home whilst Villa have at least won on the road; Sunderland also have a number of injured players to add to their problems. Villa just seem to be prone to errors and lack any pace up front but maybe they can snatch a vital 3 points.

Spurs are gradually falling away from the lofty heights of a few weeks ago and need to start getting points on the board to prove that they have progressed. After the 2 consecutive draws against United and Arsenal, they were unucky not to get another point at Bolton where Defoe had a perfectly good goal chalked off and Nolan hit a sure-fire winner. King should have recovered from his knock last weekend and Lennon could be available after a hamstring niggle. The Hammers have only won once on their travels and have lost the last 2 on the bounce which could be a sign that the Premiership is starting to catch up with them. Defoe and Carrick will relish playing against their old club and should be on the winning side.