Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (3rd February 2007)

Liverpool have dropped just 2 points in their last 6 home games and have even improved their away form in their bid to maintain the pressure on second placed Chelsea. The Reds are one of only 3 sides to remain undefeated on home turf and though local derbies are usually close calls, it would be a major shock if the Toffees were to steal victory. Everton haven't played for almost 2 weeks but will still probably miss their main goal threat, Andy Johnson, due to an ankle injury. On the road they've enjoyed 2 victories in their last 3 Premiership games, but were hammered in the FA Cup at Ewood Park. This is likely to be a scappy affair but with Liverpool's confidence sky high, their class should tell.

The Hammers have the worst away form in the Premiership with just 3 points from 12 games (incidentally all 3 were drawn results so no victory on the road as yet). Curbishley has pulled off a major signing with Matthew Upson joining the club after much to'ing and fro'ing; a decent centre half couldn't have come soon enough for West Ham but will he be enough to stop them going down? Charlton have now drawn level on points with the Hammers and only Wigan look like they can realistically be caught. Villa have not enjoyed their best run of form in recent weeks but their defeat at Newcastle showed some promise as they dominated the proceedings after Young scored on his debut, but subsequently couldn't put the ball in the net again to take anything from the game. Target man, Carew, has also been a good signing and should pose problems for most defences. Villa's last home fixture ended in a well-fought win over Watford and it looks like the home side should take another 3 points from one of the relegation candidates.

Sheffield United are doing themselves and the supporters proud as they climb ever closer to safety. The gap between themselves and relegation is now 7 points and they are only 2 points adrift of the teams above them. The Blades may have been getting the results at Bramall Lane but they've lost the last 3 on the road and face a Blackburn side with 2 victories from their last 3 home games; not surprisingly, they lost to Arsenal and are still looking for their first home win in 2007. Hughes looks to have some decent striking talent at Ewood Park with McCarthy, Nonda and Derbyshire all getting on the scoresheet recently. He'll also be pleased that Nelsen is back to bolster the defensive lineup and Rovers should edge this one.

Pardew has ground out some good results away from home lately with their first win of the season at Fratton Park and a draw at Bolton, but the real test of how far they've progressed comes at the Valley where they'll take on the Champions. Charlton have lost more than they've won at home which goes some way to explaining their precarous position, but they've given themselves a chance with recent performances and any sort of result could see them go above West Ham. Their opponents, Chelsea, have come a little unstuck on the road this season losing to Boro, Spurs and Liverpool. It's no coincidence that John Terry's injury has made them more vulnerable at the back, and the injury to Cole will only have added to Mourinho's defensive problems. Despite these setbacks Chelsea are still only 6 points behind United and won't be counting themselves out of the title race just yet. Whilst Charlton have improved and Chelsea have not looked their best, it will take a huge effort for the Addicks to get anything from this game, and Chelsea should emerge victorious, especially if Terry returns from injury as expected.

No doubt Stuart Pearce will be the centre of attention in the build up to this fixture and unless City can pull a result out of the bag, there will be much debate as to the wisdom of his decision to take the under 21 role. City have lost 3 of their last 4 home games but Joey Barton's influence is vital and his availability will be a plus; where City do have problems is that none of their strikers have yet done enough to convince anyone that they're the real deal. Their opponent's success has not been in doubt so far this season and Coppell has done wonders in the Premiership with what is still essentially the side that won the Championship last season. Reading have two draws and three defeats from their last 5 away games, but now have to travel to Eastlands without Sonko. Reading usually have no problems scoring goals but City are a miserly lot and a low scoring draw looks likely.

Two head-on styles come face to face in what promises to be a very dull encounter indeed. Watford are still rock bottom but have taken points from 3 of their last 6 home games. They've proved a hard nut to crack; Villa only broke them down in the dying minutes and a penalty at Old Trafford was the turning point as United eventually outclassed them. However, their recent win at Vicarage Road against an in form Blackburn side will have Allardyce concerned. Bolton look like they will be without both Kevin Davies and Anelka, leaving Nolan to do his best up front. The Trotters have failed to win in 2007 and though they are still lying in 5th, they're losing track of the big four and failing to consolidate their own position. If the teams below them had not lost form at the same time, they'd have slipped further down the table. A tough fixure and a draw looks likely.

It was never in doubt that Southgate was going to get time at the Riverside and after a less than promising start, it looks like Boro are finally making some progress in the right direction. The partnership of Yakubu and Viduka seems to be bearing fruit and both will need to be bang in form for the visit of Arsenal. It seems that whoever Wenger plays they can just slot comfortably into the side, but expect him to bring back the big guns after the kids did their bit in getting the Arsenal to the Carling Cup final. In the Premiership, the Gunners have won 3 of their last 4 on the road, Boro have won their last 3 at home, so expect a close affair; if Arsenal perform to their usual high standards they should go back to the Emirates with another 3 points.

There is something about the Spurs' mindset that really lets them down against the big sides. They went into the Arsenal second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final looking like they were going to get beaten; the side that had to score to progress should have attacked from the off but they retreated into their shells. Spurs have broken one hoodoo this season with their fine win over Chelsea and maybe they can do something against United, but yet another defeat against Arsenal won't have done much for their confidence. Spurs have faltered at home in the Premiership recently with 2 successive defeats and given that United have the best away form in the league, it looks like the home fans could be in for a disappointing time. United did lose at the Emirates after going ahead last time away from Old Trafford but with Rooney and Ronaldo in fine form the Spurs defence, without Ledley King, will be in for a torrid time. United could end up running away with the title this season and it's unlikely that Spurs will put too much resistance in their path.