Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

Birmingham are precariously poised just 1 point above the bottom three and the gap above them has now stretched to 3 points. McLeish's side have shown rare glimpses this season of being a
good side (namely away and at home to Spurs) but they've only won 4 of 15 home games. They entertain a Man City side that have gone off the boil in recent weeks and seen their chances of European football next season diminish unless for whatever reason 6th place qualifies for the UEFA Cup; it's a slender thread to cling to especially with Portsmouth, Villa and Blackburn all in the mix. City have won just 3 away fixtures this season but their defence is usually pretty resolute despite Richards still out with a knee injury. A tough one to call but
there's likely to be very few scoring opportunities.

Arsenal appear to have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory; that analogy may appear a trifle harsh but four successive draws followed by a defeat has seen them slip to third after being 5 points clear at the top in mid February. Wenger went for broke against Chelsea and the
plan backfired but the game at the Reebok gives them a decent chance to rediscover the winning formula. Bolton are still entrenched in relegation territory and other than Birmingham, the other sides above them are gradually breaking away. A victory is vital if Megson's men are to stay in touch with those above them but the Trotters have failed to win any of their last 5 home fixtures and Arsenal are no pushover. The Gunners should have too much for Bolton despite
their recent poor run of form.

This is the last chance for Pompey players to impress Harry Redknapp before their FA Cup semi-final date with West Brom. One school of thought suggests that their minds will be elsewhere but Harry will be keen to get a good result under their belts before their biggest game of the season. Portsmouth eventually succumbed to defeat at White Hart Lane last weekend but they gave a fair account of themselves despite being without several key players. Since Defoe's move to Fratton Park, they've resurrected their decent home form and dropped just 2 points in their last 5 games. Wigan are the visitors to fortress Fratton and will no doubt find it difficult playing on grass and not some farmer's field, such is the poor condition of the pitch at the JJB. The Latics are another of those sides moving away from the relegation places but their away form has not been good; they were soundly beaten by 10 men at Ewood Park last weekend and have taken just 1 point from their last 4 away fixtures. It looks like more woe for Wigan and party time for Pompey!

West Ham are a side that have really blown hot and cold in recent weeks; they've put an end to the run of 3 successive 4-0 defeats by beating Blackburn and drawing at Everton. Their Premier league status is assured next season and their mid-table position with little left to play for has given Curbishley the opportunity to blood some of the youngsters coming through the Academy; the last 2 games has seen some success with this approach. They travel to the North East where Sunderland have made the Stadium of Light something of a fortress despite narrowly losing to Chelsea and Everton. The Mackems have won 7 of their 15 home games and moved 4 points clear of the bottom three after their surprising victory at Villa Park. Keane will be boosted by Jones's return as the striker has proved a handful for some of the top defences this season and they may just have enough to give the Hammers a shock.

As United go 5 points clear at the top of the table, Villa are struggling to find form with just 2 points from their last 4 games. The draw at the Emirates was a point well won but subsequent results have been disappointing, none more so than the home defeat to Sunderland. If UEFA places go as far as 6th position this season, then Villa are still in the running but they need to up their game as Portsmouth, Blackburn and City are all in contention. O'Neill is well aware that he has to rectify matters on the pitch but a visit to Old Trafford is unlikely
to improve the situation. United have won 14 of their 16 home fixtures and with 7 games to go the title looks nearer than it has at any other stage of the season. Fergie's warning that Chelsea would provide the likelier threat appears to have manifested itself and with these two
still to play each other at Stamford Bridge, the title race looks to have a lot of mileage left. United have already beaten Villa twice this season and a third victory seems the safe bet.

Chelsea leapfrogged Arsenal into second place after coming from behind to beat the Gunners at Stamford Bridge. That result leaves them just 5 points behind United knowing that they have to play the current league leaders before the end of the season. The Blues have missed out on the domestic cups this season but they're still in the Champions League, and the Premier league remains a distant possibility; the jury's still out on whether Grant's continued position will
be determined by success in either of those competitions. Chelsea remain undefeated at the Bridge this season and should be favoured against a Boro side gradually putting distance between themselves and the drop zone. The Riversiders have drawn 4 of their last 5 away
fixtures and there has been a considerable improvement in results since the turn of the year but Boro are far from the finished product and Southgate will need to think again in the summer. Whilst safety is not yet assured for Boro, they are almost there and will find it difficult to match Chelsea's desire to catch United.

Only 2 places separate these two sides but the 7 point difference tells more about the contrasting fortunes experienced by Spurs and Newcastle this season. Finally, the Magpies ended a miserable run by securing their first win under Kevin Keegan at home to Fulham. They
looked nervous until Owen scored the second of the day but that win gives them 7 points breathing space and goes some way to allaying any relegation fears. However, Newcastle have just 2 victories to their name on the road and travel to White Hart Lane having conceded 33
away goals, the most of any Premier league side bar Derby and Reading. As if to compound that statistic, Spurs have scored 43 home goals; the most of any Premier league side by a good distance. Ramos's men have dropped just 4 points in their last 6 home fixtures and were rarely troubled at the weekend by a weakened Portsmouth side. Ramos has threatened that some players may be moving on at the end of the season which has at least provided some motivation for them to put in convincing performances although there is little left to play for. Newcastle may have new found confidence but their defence is liable to let them down.

There's everything to play for when Everton visit Anfield; the Toffees are just 2 points adrift of their Merseyside counterparts as the battle for 4th position and the remaining Champions League place hots up. The measure of success of Everton's season now hangs on their
ability to snatch the prize from Liverpool and heap more misery on an already disappointing season for the red half of the city. However, since their UEFA Cup exit, Everton's results have not matched expectations with defeat at Craven Cottage and a draw at home to the Hammers. Liverpool, on the other hand, have enjoyed a good run of form to reclaim fourth spot barring the result at Old Trafford. Mascherano will obviously be unavailable and Benitez will be hoping that the likes of Gerrard and Torres come thorough the international friendlies unscathed. Liverpool have dropped just 2 points at home in their last 6 fixtures and though this will be a feisty affair, the Reds should be backed to win.