Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

A re-run of the Champions League first leg quarter final but with far less importance attached to it. Liverpool are out of the title race and although they need to ensure they don't lose their grip on fourth place, the second leg against Arsenal next week holds the key to a potentially successful season. Given Benitez's tendency to rotate it's unlikely that Gerrard or Torres will play the full 90 minutes and Arsenal are likely to have the upper hand. To be fair, the Gunners were the better side during the week and should have taken at least a goal
advantage into the second leg at Anfield. Arsenal are still in with an outside chance of the Premier League title and should be expected to secure the necessary victory they need to maintain the pressure on Chelsea and United.

Villa have experienced a sudden downturn in form recently with 4 successive defeats and just 2 points scant reward for their effort over the last 6 fixtures. O'Neill's lightweight squad now looks even shorter on numbers after Gardner was injured on under-21 duty; Davies is out with an achilles injury whilst Carew is only 50/50 for this game and one wonders about the wisdom of the decision to send Luke Moore out on loan to West Brom. Villa host a Bolton side fighting against the threat of relegation but unable to make ground on the sides above them and now need to make up a 4 point deficit. Last weekend they lost at home to Arsenal after going 2 goals up and their record on the road has not fared much better with just 1 win all season and the last three all ending in defeat. There should be a reaction by Villa after the heavy United defeat but it looks an uphill task if Bolton are to survive.

Fulham find themselves firmly entrenched in relegation territory and a massive 6 points short of Premier league safety. Recently they were beaten at St James Park and last weekend could only manage a draw at relegated Derby; the Derby result underlines Fulham's failure this
season and the outlook is bleak with just 6 games to go. The Cottagers did spring a surprise with their home win over Everton but it's been 4 home defeats in the last six and they certainly can't bank on an easy home game against Sunderland. The Mackems secured their first away win of the season recently at Villa Park and showed plenty of fighting spirit last weekend when Andy Reid fired a late winner at home to West Ham. Sunderland are now 7 points clear of the drop zone but Roy Keane is unlikely to rest and another 3 points will be invaluable in maintaining their Premier League status. They'll provide a stern test for Fulham, one that just might see the London side crash and burn.

Before last weekend's fixtures there was a fair amount of concerted opinion that lightning wouldn't strike twice; this was in particular regard to Newcastle managing to achieve a second successive win at White Hart Lane after Keegan's first victory at home to Fulham.
Whether this result was solely down to a poor performance by Spurs or whether the Magpies have found their stride remains an open subject; one certainty is that the Keegan influence is finally paying off with 6 goals in 2 games although hopes of a top ten finish could prove too optimistic. Their opponents, Reading, are 6 points clear of relegation although they're still struggling on the road with 5 defeats in their last 6 and only 1 away victory all season. Coppell has galvanised his side in recent weeks but their task at St James Park could be an
uphill one if Keegan has rediscovered the winning formula; however, the jury's still out.

Only 1 point separates these two sides just above the drop zone; Birmingham are in the more perilous position but the gap is 4 points so there is some comfort in the knowledge that defeat means they won't drop into the relegation places. Birmingham may feel optimistic after their 3-1 victory over Man City at St Andrews but they've lost their last two away from home and will be rated underdogs on the JJB mudpatch. Wigan are on familiar territory playing on their bog of a pitch and the stats back up that statement; they've dropped just 2 points in their last 4 home fixtures and those results have played a significant part in steering them away from relegation. No doubt Bruce will want to prove that he made the right decision in switching from Birmingham to the JJB and what better way than lifting Wigan closer to safety at the expense of his old side. Wigan's pitch is bound to be a factor and for that reason the home side will have more than an edge.

Occasionally you get the wrong sort of reaction after a side has earned a fantastic result in Europe but with the Premier League title almost within touching distance, United are unlikely to slip up with just 6 games to go. The Romans were soundly beaten; a result that puts United firmly in the driving seat to reach the Champions League semi-final but Fergie will not want to relinquish their grip on the highest domestic honour. They've won their last 3 Premier league away fixtures and take on a mid-table Boro side that have won 3 of their last 4 home games so it may offer something as a contest. Boro have had a few good results this season but also some disappointing ones, hence their league position and if Boro are to finally progress Gibson and Southgate will have to make some hard decisions come the summer. Fergie may well rest some key men but such is their strength in depth that Boro could well find it tough containing them. Vidic could be out with a knee injury sustained against Roma but United should prove too strong.

Everton couldn't have an easier game and possibly have the opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool with the red half of Merseyside due to play at the Emirates for the second time in a week. The gap between fourth and fifth is 5 points but with 6 games to go, there could yet be some twists and turns; however, Everton have taken just 1 point from their last 3 games and the defeat at Anfield could have condemned them to fifth place. They play a Derby side that have become the first Premier league side to be relegated in March having won on just a single occasion this season. Since the turn of the year, it's become obvious that Jewell has been planning for the big push from the Championship next season but that league is notoriously difficult to get out of and automatic promotion is by no means a given. Derby have taken just 3 points on the road and conceded a massive 40 goals in those 16 games; it looks like a couple more will be added to that embarassing statistic.