Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

Arsenal play their part in another humdinger to kick off the weekend's action, buoyed by their point at Anfield last weekend and confident that they dominated the game from start to finish. This game could go some way to determining the outcome of the title; there's nothing to choose between either side at the top except that the Gunners have a game in hand. Both have shown remarkable scoring form in recent weeks and though this has been a tight low-scoring affair in recent seasons, they're both playing a very expansive game at the moment; it should be spectacular and there should be goals. Arsenal have a 100% home record with just 4 goals conceded where as United have faltered a little on the road but have won their last 3 successive away games. Who will win is anyone's guess but it should be entertaining; the safest bet should be the draw but with goals. If anyone looks like taking points off Arsenal at the Emirates, United seem the most likely.

Derby nil travel to Villa Park with an abysmal away record; their first point away from Pride Park came at Craven Cottage last time they travelled, and they're still to score an away goal having conceded 17 in 6 matches. They currently prop up the rest of the Premier league and there's no doubt they'll return to the Championship next season, but to their credit they haven't shipped as many goals recently and are undoubtedly looking to consolidate with regard to an imminent return to the Premier league the season after next, rather than pulling out all the stops in an effort to maintain their status this season. While Villa's away form hasn't been anything to write home about, they've lost just 2 games at home (to Liverpool and United) and had only conceded 3 goals at Villa Park before the United defeat. Villa should win this one with ease.

Fulham are the Premier league draw specialists having drawn over half this season's games and winning just the once (their first home game against Bolton). The Cottagers were the better side at the Stadium of Light but they failed to kill Sunderland off and once again have to thank Niemi for coming away with a point. Their opponents, Reading, have had a poor start to the season but secured a valuable 3 points at home to Newcastle to kickstart their campaign, although a little late. Coppell now has to rejuvenate their away form; 1 point from 5 games on the road has been a poor return. The Royals have conceded a massive 16 goals on their travels and if they are to get anything at Craven Cottage, their defence needs to stop going walkabout. This has got goals written all over it but the outcome looks like a draw.

Boro's current position just outside the bottom three is fairly realistic and the scope for further progression up the table looks limited. They did well for 45 minutes at Old Trafford but Southgate appears to have forgotten that him and his team are measured over the course of a 90 minute period. They've taken just 5 points from 5 home games and they'll have no idea what to expect from a Spurs team under new management. Ramos has taken the job from hell and had no difficulty in identifying the areas of weakness; solving those problems will be no easy task but he seems to have started on the front foot by tackling the issue of fitness, ideally everything else will follow. Spurs are yet to win on the road (3 draws from 6) and will need to shore up a weak defensive line to stand a chance of any reward. Ramos needs to work quickly and with their first clean sheet for some time coming against Blackpool, they at least have a foundation to build upon. More pressure is on the Spurs contingent (than on Boro) to perform individually and as a team; to that end 3 points are mandatory.

Only 1 place separates these 2 sides just outside the top six. Allardyce has restored decent home form at St James Park although their away trips have yielded just 4 points, whilst Portsmouth boosted their away performances with 3 victories as well as maintaining an undefeated home record. Newcastle's last 4 at home have all ended in the home side's favour and Pompey's last 3 away have resulted in victories for Redknapp's side, so something is going to have to give at St James Park. Big Sam was disappointed with the Magpies' performance at the Madjeski last weekend and knows their away form needs addressing but he'll be expecting his charges to put things right against a Portsmouth side that faltered at home during midweek to Blackburn in the Carling Cup. Despite Pompey's new found resilience on the road, Newcastle will be tough to beat at St James.

Wigan are gradually getting players back from injury and sooner or later Chris Hutchings will run out of excuses when results continue to go against them. They took Birmingham to the wire against St Andrews but ended up throwing it away in the last quarter. The Latics have taken just 1 point from their last 3 home games and play host to a Chelsea side also benefitting from players returning to fitness. Their demolition of Man City will have Wigan running scared and Chelsea now appear to have their tail up in an effort to heap the pressure on United and Arsenal. The Blues are 5 points behind and know they can't afford to drop points, especially at the JJB, if they are to be in the mix come the middle of May. Chelsea have 2 successive Premier league wins on the road under Grant and they're expected to make it three.

Blackburn are a very underrated side and they showed at White Hart Lane (Spurs aren't the best at holding out for the points) that they can dig out a result when things aren't necessarily going their way; Hughes appears to have struck the right balance between defensive backbone and attacking verve. Rovers have dropped just 5 points in 5 games at Ewood Park with 3 wins coming in their last 4. Their opponents, Liverpool, have been treading a very thin line recently but have been fortunate enough to still get the results (at Everton and at home to Arsenal). Benitez seems unsure as to his best squad (his rotation policy has been widely criticised) but his selection of an injured Torres surely sends out the wrong message to the rest of his fit strikers. Torres and Alonso could both be missing through injury and though the Reds are yet to lose on the road, Blackburn will prove a tough test; Rovers are a point ahead in the table and the table doesn't lie this far into the season. Expect Liverpool's luck to run out.

The Hammers have had their injury problems but Curbishley stated that this week could play a big part in their season; a win at Coventry (which they narrowly scraped in injury time) and victory at home to Bolton could carry them into the top ten. Let's not pussyfoot around too much; Curbs is hardly setting his sights high but that's all they can manage short term and it's probably the difference between West Ham languishing in the wrong half of the table and actually making some progress. It's 2 wins from the last 3 at Upton Park for the Hammers and though their form has been erratic they should start favourites against a Bolton side getting back to what they do best under new manager, Gary Megson. Megson hasn't been the most popular manager at the Reebok and there are those that wish the chairman had picked someone with a better track record, but a point at home to Villa shouldn't be sniffed at and as long as he gets the dressing room onside, they'll be a match for most sides once their roles become more familiar. Bolton have secured just a single point on the road so it looks like the day will be claret and blue.

City were most certainly humbled at Stamford Bridge last weekend but it wasn't all about a a poor performance from City; Chelsea played their part in the 6-0 demolition. What Chelsea did well was to nullify the threat of Elano, so Sven will have to come up with a plan B if the playmaker isn't allowed to pull the strings. However, City at Eastlands are a different prospect and they'll want to continue their 100% home record with just 2 goals conceded. Sunderland travel to Eastlands without laying claim to a maximum 3 points on the road. Jones has proved to be Keane's get-out man and has been the only player in recent weeks to show he's got that little bit more about him at the highest level, but Keane does have a squad willing to carry the fight and though they're unlikely to avoid defeat against City, they're by no means certainties for the drop. It should be a comfortable home win.