Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (31st March 2007)

The weekend gets off to a cracker with a lively encounter between 4th and 3rd places and Liverpool will be out for revenge after Arsenal's juniors knocked them out of both domestic cups. The Gunners may have a game in hand but only 1 point separates them and though Chelsea may be out of sight, don't doubt that 3rd place isn't worth fighting for. Forget those earlier Cup games because the Reds are bound to field their best side and if Gerrard leads by example as he did against Andorra, Arsenal will find them too hot to handle. At Anfield Liverpool have lost to only United in the Premiership where as Arsenal have lost 6 away fixtures this season; 2 of those coming in their last 5 on the road. Liverpool have the best home defence in the Premiership having only conceded 4 goals and though Arsenal play some pretty football, they will need to be more incisive to get anything here.

Although Bolton have no chance of a Champions League place, they still occupy 5th spot after suffering 3 successive Premiership defeats. Everton, Spurs and Reading lead the chase behind them for the UEFA Cup places and Allardyce will be desperate to get a result against the Blades in the hope of turning around their current slump; they'll have to do it without Ivan Campo who's suspended for this one. Sheffield Utd are gradually being dragged back into the relegation quagmire and now only have a 4 point safety net between themselves and potential survivors Charlton. Warnock's men have lost their last 6 away games but more importantly than their recent results is the loss of Rob Hulse with a broken ankle. Hulse was responsible for a quarter of all United's goals and is just the sort of player required to hold the ball up and win vital headers against a side like Bolton. Sheffield United can't be caught this week but I suspect they will be closer to the drop zone come Saturday evening.

Wigan have put together some vital results of late to boost their chances of Premiership survival but they're still in a dangerous position and safety is by no means guaranteed. They travel to the Valley where Charlton have the best home form of the bottom 6 sides thanks to 3 wins from their last 5 home games. Pardew seems to have inspired the Charlton players and they have responded with some gutsy performances. Injuries once again threaten to derail his preparations but hopefully Darren or Marcus Bent will be fit to spearhead their bid for another 3 points. Wigan have lost over half of their games on the road this season and with new signing, Caleb Folan, injured Jewell could revert to the Heskey/Camara partnership. The Addicks now stand a realistic chance of playing Premiership football next season and the light at the end of the tunnel should drive them to an important victory.

Once again Fulham have failed to build any momentum this season and are still languishing in the lower half of the table. Despite 3 teams between themselves and relegation safety remains their prime concern. Four draws and 1 win from their last 6 home games has been disappointing but they will be up against a Pompey side that have only taken 2 points on the road in their last 5. Redknapp is keen to commit both James and Campbell to longer contracts in the hope of finally putting down some decent foundations at Fratton Park. Their form in the first half of the season set them up well and has meant that disapointing results after Christmas still leaves them in a healthy 9th place. Whilst they wil be keen to avoid defeat at Craven Cottage, it's about time Fulham pulled their finger out and gave their fans something to cheer about.

Unless Mark Hughes decides to man mark Wayne Rooney, you are likely to see the United striker have a far less frustrating and consequently more productive game this weekend. United still maintain a 6 point gap over closest challengers Chelsea, and have the best Premiership home form having dropped just 5 points at Old Trafford all season. Plus 50 goal difference is worth another point and it seems such a remote possibility they could be caught given their experience and excellent stewardship. Their opponents, Blackburn, have climbed to safety in recent weeks but the manner of their home defeat to West Ham will have left a bitter taste in their mouths for months to come. The bottom line is that Rovers have lost 3 of their last 4 on the road and Old Trafford is extremely unlikely to be a hapy hunting ground. United to win with Rooney on the scoresheet.

There's been much talk on Tyneside of Owen returning to action towards the end of April but it is likely to be too late to affect their chances of playing in Europe next season. Roeder's side have done well given their injury problems but the key for him in taking Newcastle forward is to bring in some decent defenders; schoolboy defending has let them down too many times this season. The Magpies haven't lost in their last 6 Premiership home games but face a City side that have only lost 1 of their last 5 away games. City's poor home form has been well documented and Pearce was under immense pressure going into the Boro game but the City lads pulled together and dug out a result; Boro may have been weakened prior to their FA Cup replay with United but it will still have relieved some of the pressure faced by the England under 21's manager. City's strikeforce is fairly impotent with most of their goals coming from Barton, so the Newcastle defence should not feel too stretched; vice versa the City defence should be able to handle a lively Magpie attack and a draw could be a fair result.

Watford remain rock bottom and while Aidy Boothroyd is outwardly confident that his side can still maintain Premiership status with 8 games to go, the reality is that the Championship is virtually within touching distance. The Hornets have registered just 3 Premiership victories all season and though they may not capitulate in the face of the opposition, it remains unlikely that they won't be worn down by the current champions. Chelsea have their rock back in the centre of defence and it's not just the defensive quality he brings to the side but leadership and organisation. The Blues have lost just 2 Premiership games all season; their last 3 on the road all resulting in away victories. Mourinho's job may be in doubt come the end of the season and they will probably have to relinquish the title, but the one certainty come Saturday is that the 3 points will be theirs.

Spurs are flying at the moment with 4 successive Premiership victories, goals aplenty and a UEFA Cup quarter final encounter awaiting them in Seville. The only disappointment in recent weeks has been losing the FA Cup semi-final replay to Chelsea, especially when the tie was there for them when they were 3-1 up at Stamford Bridge. Besides the top 4, Spurs have the best home form with 10 wins from their 15 games and will have to be focused for the visit of Reading; Coppell's side have surprised everyone in their first season in the Premiership and they currently hold 8th place, only 1 point behind their opponents. The Royals have lost their last 2 away from the Madjeski but they are rarely intimidated and will play the only way they know how; they're likely to attack Spurs from the off leaving the likes of Lennon, Berbatov and Keane to hit them on the counter. It would be a disservice to dismiss Reading so easily but Spurs should notch up another home win.