Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

The Gunners are chasing United hard as the business end of the season approaches and the blip at White Hart Lane has not damaged their Premier league challenge. Two successive 3 goal victories at home to Newcastle has restored the confidence and there's no sign of the infighting that raised so many eyebrows. Arsenal have lost just once on the road in the Premier league this season and though City remain undefeated in the Premier league at Eastlands,the last three fixtures at home for Sven's men have all ended in draws. Midweek they were held at Pride Park and could count themselves fortunate to have taken a point after going behind and wasting good chances. City are struggling to find form and Arsenal have the belief to take full advantage; the suspicion is that City will lose their precious undefeated home record.

Derby remain winless away from Pride Park having picked up just 2 points on their travels and conceded 30 goals; an average of 2.5 goals per away fixture. A point at home to Man City in midweek boosts them to the mighty tally of 8 points; those contemplating Derby survival should be locked up in the same institution as any Liverpool fans still dreaming of the title. They travel to a Birmingham side just 3 places above them and currently avoiding the drop zone by the narrow margin of 4 goals. Times are tough at the bottom of the Premier league and McLeish may have wished he'd stayed in Scotland, but the bottom line is that this is a must win game for Birmingham; any thought other than victory needs to be banished form the players' minds if they are to avoid dropping back down to the Championship. A rare celebration for Birmingham and more expected gloom for Jewell.

Just 1 place and 10 goals separates these two sides in the bottom half of the table where teams are scrapping for whatever points they can and positions are changing week by week. Both are already caught up in the relegation dogfight and know that defeat is not an option. Reading have lost their last 2 home games where as Bolton have taken just 3 points on the road without securing a single victory. Goalscorers have been difficult to come by at the Reebok and the departure of Nicolas Anelka makes Gary Megson's job all the more difficult; a decent striker must be top of the wanted list but it looks like they're going to have to make do until the summer. Bolton have been poor away from home this season and Reading should be looking to capitalise.

Jonathan Woodgate was man of the match at Goodison and a valuable point was well earned. It's been a refreshing sight to see a Spurs manager concentrate on the weak areas, and the protracted signing of Alan Hutton should prove dividends in the near future. Spurs victory over Arsenal in the Carling Cup has instilled the belief that they are capable of competing amongst the top four and that their current position (11th) is most certainly a false one. These two sides met at Old Trafford last weekend in the FA Cup with United running out 3-1 victors but the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests and Dawson's handball proved to be the turning point, although Spurs still had opportunities late on. United may be top dogs but they've dropped points in 5 of their 11 away games. Spurs aim will be to stop United from playing (most importantly, Ronaldo) and with the Lane behind them they're more than capable of stalling United's charge for the title.

After Wigan's defeat at the Riverside, they now find themselves firmly entrenched in the relegation places but it's so close towards the foot of the table that one favourable result can give the respective side new hope. The Latic's results at home have been mixed but they've lost more games than they've won and they have to face a West Ham side that seem to be on the up. The last gasp victory at home to Liverpool kept the Hammers in 10th place but opened up an 8 point gap between themselves and Spurs, leaves them just a point behind Portsmouth and in contention for Europe. The talk always seems abouth West Ham players returning from injury but the truth of the matter is that they're challenging for Europe at less than full strength. The Hammers have won 3 of their last 6 away fixtures and should be backed to steal another 3 at the JJB.

The sunshine is rapidly disappearing from Benitez's world and the master has been the architect of his own downfall; his team selections have been questionable and the title race is gone. Liverpool's domestic target will be Champions League qualifying and any progress in the Champions League this season will be a bonus. They were the weaker side at Upton Park and justifiably lost; goalscorers are at a premium with Torres, Gerrard and Benayoun proving their only salvation. However, the Reds have lost just once at Anfield this season and visitors, Sunderland, have been no great shakes away from the safety of the Stadium of Light. Defeat has
registered very regularly for the Mackems on the road, but new signing, Rade Prica, proved a ray of sunshine by scoring on his debut and maybe there are better times ahead. Key to Sunderland's survival was beating Birmingham, but a similar result at Anfield is unlikely.

Two successive heavy defeats at the Emirates hasn't exactly been a honeymoon for Kevin Keegan, and maybe that's an omen for a returning manager, but this derby fixture will be one that could go some way to determining the success of his appointment amongst the fans. The fans are bound to be patient given they've finally got the man they wanted but victory over Boro would restore their faith and give them something to cheer about. The Magpies aren't safe yet and
have had only 1 win at home in their last six; Boro, on the other hand, have improved in recent weeks and have been defeated just once in their last six on the road. With Woodgate off to Spurs and Tuncay limping off injured against Wigan, maybe some of the Boro backbone has disappeared. Southgate's side look far from a team building for the future and Newcastle should enjoy a rare victory, though it will be 'seat of the pants' stuff.

The only positive for Roy Hodgson at the moment is that his side are keeping clean sheets. Unfortunately, that's not good enough if they are to climb out of the relegation places; 4 points separates them from short-term safety and whilst that might not seem much, it's a mountain for a side that are used to picking up the odd point here and there. Scoring goals has been a problem and Hodgson has plumped for 36 year old, Jari Litmanen; desperate times call for desperate measures. They face a Villa side that have lost just once on the road and are in the mix for the last Champions League spot. Martin O'Neill hasn't splashed out too much in the transfer window but his side still have a strong defensive unit and good attacking options; however, the squad is a little thin and needs some strength in depth. Villa should heap more misery on the Cottagers.