Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

Before we hark on about Liverpool, there's still a few words to say about Roy Keane's Sunderland. They've started very well but showed against Wigan that they can't replicate those initial performances week in week out. The key factor is that Keane would have been banking on maximum points at the JJB and to come away with a 3 goal deficit explains the proverbial hairdryer. I truly believe Keane is the man for the Sunderland job and his partnership with Niall Quinn speaks volumes about the way football clubs should be run; however, his side will pick up, but maybe not in time for Liverpool's visit. In some ways you have to admire the fact that the Reds (Benitez included) didn't protest even more vehemently after being denied all 3 points when Rob Styles gave the Chelsea penalty. Benitez's squad have shown much more this season than they did last and Torres scoring could be a huge bonus with regard to building confidence in the whole team. The Stadium of Light is a tough place to go but the Reds have already won at Villa Park and should do the same at Sunderland.

All eyes are now on Arsenal keeper, Jens Lehmann, after he again gifted the opposition a goal. Against Fulham, the Gunners managed to graft a victory but his gift at Blackburn ended up yielding just a point and his place in the first team must now be under careful consideration. The rest of the young Arsenal team are doing well but they can't kill teams off and it could be their downfall in a title race that seems the most open for many seasons. City visit the Emirates and there's no doubt Sven will be out to prove a point after cutting United down to size, topping the Premier league table and still to concede a goal. As easy as it is to find Sven a figure of fun, it can't be disputed that he has done well in keeping the strength of a City side (i.e. the defence) and supplemented it with creative scoring players. Additionally, Kasper Schmeichel has sparkled and moving Micah Richards from right back to centre half has been a master stroke. City may have maximum points but while they are probably capable of holding out a young Arsenal side, goals will be hard to come by and a draw looks likely.

It surprised me at first that some pundits had Bolton for the drop, although there was little doubt they'd finish further down the table. Allardyce's departure has left a big hole but Sammy Lee's intentions of playing football with the players he's inherited seems foolhardy; Allardyce did well with this set of players by playing the percentages. The Trotters are rock bottom with zero points from 3 games and with Bolton players such as Anelka and Diouf headed for the exit door, it looks like an uphill task for them to turn things around. Reading vist the Reebok after earning 4 points from 3 very difficult games; a point at Old Trafford followed by a narrow defeat to Chelsea, and then victory against a resurgent Everton sets the Royals up well for the season ahead. Coppell should be congratulated for sticking by the core of his squad and his footballing principles, and not splashing the cash in a vain effort to achieve success. Reading are determined to prove that second season syndrome is not a foregone conclusion, and look out for more evidence to that effect against Bolton.

I've never seen Mourinho with spectacles but maybe it's about time he took a leaf out of Alex Ferguson's book and bought himself a nice shiny pair; a penalty that never was had plenty to do with Chelsea players in Styles's earhole all day long, and a sniff or two was all that the Blues had at Anfield in a game where they found it difficult to get into the opposition's 18 yard box. Chelsea came away with a point, and about the only thing Mourinho spotted correctly was that Liverpool came away with 2 less than they should have. Chelsea are gradually getting players back from injury and you'd have to be a fool to bet against them; this isn't a dig at Portsmouth but when you're playing against referees and linesmen away from home, surely it's a foregone conclusion. Pompey have done well of late with 4 points at home against United and Bolton but as everyone knows, Portsmouth's downfall is their form away from Fratton Park. They only managed a draw at Derby and when you visit the Bridge you need a fully fit squad, lady luck and some men in black. Pompey are missing a few defensively and they'll want to keep the score down at Chelsea.

Derby were poor at White Hart Lane and after Billy Davies emphasised that his side must start well, they go out and concede 3 goals in 14 minutes. Were it not for Bolton's even poorer start, Derby would be bottom and that is where they'll be expected to finish. Davies has admitted that he needs to bring new players in but he'll struggle to attract the right quality to a club that's got a one way ticket to the Championship. In today's cut throat world of football management, one wonders how many weeks he has left at the helm and where even with little funds, managers are expected to perform miracles. Despite only 1 point from 3 games, Birmingham haven't acquitted themselves badly; they've made a good fist of it against Chelsea, Sunderland and West Ham but haven't really had the rub of the green. Steve Bruce will see the trip to Pride Park as a 'must win' game if the Blues are to have any hope of retaining their Premier league status. Birmingham have already shown they can score away from home with 2 goals at Stamford Bridge, and they could just have the edge against the Rams.

It looks like the Hammers finally put their home defeat against Man City behind them with a well earned 3 points at St Andrews, and a passionate display will be what the home fans expect when Wigan visit Upton Park. Curbishley has a nucleus of players that could see his stewardship at West Ham coming to an unfortunate end, but maybe he's the man to get the likes of Bowyer, Bellamy and Dyer all playing together. No doubt there's talent at Upton Park; they just need to knit together as a team. There's only one direction for their opponents to go and that is down; Wigan were top last Saturday evening and I still wouldn't be surprised to see them drop down to the Championship. Home victories over Sunderland and Boro are little to shout about, especially considering the Mackems were so poor and gave 2 penalties away, effectively sewing up the game for the Latics. Sibierski is the Premier league leading scorer with 3 goals in as many games and is a sign that some of Hutchings's transfer activity has paid off, but why did City and Newcastle get rid of the front man if he's that good. A Hammers victory seems the likely outcome.

Moyes will hope to have Yakubu signed and available for this encounter and the strong centre forward is the perfect compliment to the Everton squad; AJ hasn't impressed so far but maybe the Yak will spark off his striking partner. The blue half of Liverpool unexpectedly lost out at Reading last weekend but wins at home to Wigan and away at Spurs have the Toffees off to a good start. The vistors to Goodison are an improving Blackburn side that remain undefeated, although UEFA Cup involvement has meant they've only played twice. Rovers were fortunate to get a point at Arsenal after another Lehmann blunder, but the major blow from that game was Ryan Nelsen sent off for a second bookable offence meaning he's suspended for this fixture. Blackburn won't make it easy for Everton but they'll be weaker at the back without Nelsen and should Rovers go behind, they'll find Everton a difficult side to break down.

Southgate has almost rid himself of Yakubu and replaced him with the 'goal machine' that is Mido. The Egyptian may have scored on his debut but it was only down to Warner's cockup, and rumour has it that he did little during the game after this tame shot found the back of the net. Boro are in bad enough shape as it is and replacing Yakubu with Mido could be a big mistake. Not only did their first win of the season come as a result of a goalkeeping error but the linesman and referee failed to give a Fulham equaliser despite the ball being a foot over the line. This is a local derby but expect Newcastle to throw something a little different at the Boro defence after Allardyce's appointment. Big Sam is determined to stop the rot at the back which has meant that the team now play a narrower and longer game; this may not suit the current crop of players but I'd expect them to adapt over time. Boro have already lost at home to Blackburn whilst Newcastle won at Bolton, and the Magpies look favourites to get a result at the Riverside.