Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

Arsenal may be 5 points clear at the top of the table but recent results in other competitions have been disappointing; there was the heavy defeat in the FA Cup at Old Trafford and they failed to net themselves any advantage in the first leg Champions League game at home to AC Milan making it a tough prospect for them to qualify for the next round. Additionally, Toure looks like he'll be out for 3 to 4 weeks after sustaining a calf injury. The Gunners have lost just 1 Premier league away fixture this season (at the Riverside) and should be fancied to
rediscover the winning formula away at St Andrews where Birmingham are scrapping to avoid relegation. Goal difference separates them from the bottom three and only a victory may be
enough to stop them slipping there this weekend. Birmingham have won only 1 of their last 6 home games and the draw against Derby underlines their current plight; common sense indicates there'll only be one winner.

Fulham may be second from bottom but they gave themselves a chance of survival with the home victory over Aston Villa; unfortunately they could only follow that up with defeat at the
Riverside. The win over Villa was only their third of the season (all three coming at the Cottage) but Hodgson has made new signings and the return of Jimmy Bullard has been a big plus. The Hammers travel to Craven Cottage needing to prove that they can deliver some level of consistency; since the victory at home to Liverpool they've disappointed with defeat at the JJB and a draw at home to Birmingham. The good news for Curbishley is that Bowyer will be
available for selection after his red card against Birmingham was rescinded. West Ham have taken just 1 point from their last 3 away games and are capable of securing a decent result but Fulham are not dead and buried yet and should carry the fight.

Only Sunderland have a worse away record than Derby and only Reading have conceded more away goals. Draws at home to City and away at Birmingham provided short term hope but Spurs' visit to Pride Park gave them a reality check and virtually condemns them to the Championship with just 12 games to go. Savage has declared himself fit for the visit to Wigan (whoopee!) but the Latics look a side capable of survival under Bruce despite just a point separating them from the dreaded drop zone. Wigan have won 3 of their last 5 home games and the players must know this is a mandatory 3 points if they are to find some breathing space in what is becoming a very tight relegation battle.

The Magpies are yet to win under new manager, Kevin Keegan, and whilst none of their games have been easy they need to tighten up defensively and stop shipping goals after getting their noses in front, as evidenced at home to Boro and away at Villa. Newcastle have won just 1 of their last 6 home games but it would be a fitting victory were Keegan to put one over on Ferguson; Keegan's 'love it' rant has been well documented. United know they can't afford to drop any more points if they are to close the gap on Arsenal; they've not had it their own way in the league recently suffering defeat at home to City and only managing a last gasp draw at White Hart Lane. Whatever their current league form it takes a brave man to bet against United and they should have too many attacking options against a Newcastle side all too familiar with that 'sinking' feeling.

Reading are currently second from bottom; their away form has been primarily responsible for their poor league position but a recent run of 3 home defeats has not helped their predicament. Last season, Coppell's team consistently punched above their weight in what culminated in an eighth position finish but they've rarely come close to those performances in this campaign. They play a Villa side that haven't yet given up hope of fourth place and suffered just 1 defeat on the road in their last 6 Premier league fixtures; that defeat was the out of character display at Craven Cottage and O'Neill wasted little time in showing his disappointment. Despite their lightweight squad, it looks like Luke Moore is destined to move on loan to West Brom until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move; he's obviously not been missed too much since sustaining a shoulder injury in early January. Villa have only won 4 of their 12 Premier league away fixtures this season but should be fancied to cause Reading a few problems.

Bolton have improved considerably under Gary Megson but relegation remains a threat, and though they are through to the next round of the UEFA Cup it could prove a distraction when Premier league survival is a must. The Trotters have won just a single game on the road and Blackburn won the reverse of this fixture back in January by two goals to one. Rovers are far more comfortably positioned in the Premier league than their opponents and hope to secure a place in Europe next season; they have the advantage over Bolton in that they haven't played a competitive fixture for 13 days. Blackburn have lost just 4 home games this season and should be too fresh for a Bolton side that must be feeling tired legs.

Only 3 points separates these 2 sides in the chase for 4th place. City's home form had been fantastic this season until 4 home games ago when they lost their 100% home record but it shouldn't be forgotten that they turned over their closest rivals at Old Trafford on the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster. Sven's side have lost just once in the league at Eastlands (recently against Arsenal) and will fancy themselves against an Everton side that have had the distraction of midweek European football. That aside, Everton currently hold that all important last Champions League spot and come hell or high water they're unlikely to relinquish it to their Merseyside rivals. The Toffees' away form has been pretty good with
just 1 defeat in their last 6 Premier league outings but they might come a little unstuck given City's fine home form and their own busy fixture list.