Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

Bolton got their first win of the season last weekend at home to Reading and Sammy Lee will be eager to build on this performance and drag his side up the table. The Trotters have done well to hold on to Nicolas Anelka but should have invested more in the defence after losing Tal Ben Haim and conceding an average of 2 goals per game. Lee wants his charges to play better football but the majority of those players have been used to a powerful, long ball game under Allardyce and changing it could be to their detriment. Everton visit the Reebok after Moyes strengthened his squad with Yakubu and Gravesen; these are good signings for a Toffees side that are already hard to score against and now they might just have more of an edge in the opponents half. Bolton could well score first but Everton are progressing and should emerge on top after 90 minutes.

Both these managers are under pressure and need a result to ease not only their position in the league but also the pressure they are under as managers. Fulham have lost Zat Knight to Villa but replaced him with Portsmouth's Stefanovic, and after conceding 7 goals in 4 games will want to keep it tight against a very attack-minded Spurs side. Sanchez has been extremely unlucky with the way a couple of the games have gone and Fulham are a better side than their position (second from bottom) indicates. Spurs also were unlucky at Old Trafford and possibly deserved a point but not much ever goes Spurs' way at the Theatre of Dreams. What would have been important to Jol was the performance of his players who seem fully behind him and though they have just 1 victory from 4 games, they should have the platform to climb the table; at any rate, they can't sink much lower. Dawson and Lennon could feature and if Spurs play to their potential, they should be too strong for Fulham.

Both these sides have 4 points and identical goal difference but I'd expect a result here to separate them. Boro's sole victory this season came at Craven Cottage thanks to a dodgy linesman but their performances have improved with a valuable draw at home to a rejuvenated Newcastle. Southgate has finally rid himself of Yakubu and the signing of Mido appears to have worked (short term), but it is the return of both Woodgate and Rochemback that could prove the most valuable. Birmingham's only victory has come at Derby but their performance at Stamford Bridge on the opening day was a positive one despite losing. Bruce's men were exected to beat whipping boys, Derby, and they'll need to build on that result against Boro if they are to avoid struggling in the bottom half of the table for the rest of the season. Boro should take the 3 points but the Blues will not make it easy for Southgate's side.

Wigan's third place position and their return of 7 points from 4 games has come as a bit of a shock. As expected, they went to Everton on the first day of the season and lost but have since bounced back with home wins over Boro and Sunderland and a draw at West Ham. Hutchings has signed Marcus Bent from Charlton on loan but is unlikely to be the sort of player to improve Wigan, and unfortunately for the Latics the only way is down. They face a tough visit to St James Park where Allardyce has made Newcastle a harder side to break down despite it coming at the cost of more expansive football. A huge bonus for Big Sam was the scoring return of Michael Owen in the Carling Cup game against Barnsley and he'll be keen to start against Wigan with a view to cementing his place in the England starting lineup against Israel. The Magpies will have been disappointed with their home draw against Villa and twice being pulled back for only a point at Boro, so will be keen to make amends at home to Wigan.

Curbs took a big risk when he took Kieron Dyer to West Ham and it's a gamble that didn't pay off when the injury-prone player suffered a double leg-break in the Carling Cup during the week. Dyer will be a big miss after putting in some good performances and the Hammers remain active in the transfer market right up to the end of transfer deadline day. Interestingly, West Ham are interested in Nicky Shorey and should he go to Upton Park, the reception he'd receive at Reading so soon after moving could be a little hostile. The Hammers have not been shy of splashing the cash; something not exactly synonomous with the Reading manager, Steve Coppell. Reading have had a good start to the season considering the opponents they've played but the heavy defeat at the Reebok will have earned Coppell's men a kick up the backside and some extra training. At home, the Royals have already seen off Everton, lost out narrowly to Chelsea and if they play to their strengths they should be too good for West Ham.

There's no doubt this fixture is all about Roy Keane returning to Old Trafford but the Sunderland manager is likely to be the first to play down the media circus. The return of Kieran Richardson to Old Trafford is likely to be overshadowed but the ex-United youngster will be keen to prove his old manager wrong. Sunderland had started well but the defeat at Wigan showed that the Mackems will have to perform week in week out if they are to survive in the Premier league. Despite the significance of Roy Keane returning as a manager, this is a match United should be expected to win. Ronaldo and Rooney still miss out but the Red Devils have finally climbed into mid table after a narrow victory at home to Spurs. With Solksjaer retiring and key attacking players out, Fergie's problems are most definitely in the final third, but given the quality in United's squad, you'd be mad to bet against them.

Arsenal remain undefeated this season and have also comfortably qualified for the Champions League group stages. Many thought they would struggle after the departure of Dein and Henry but the opposite looks to be true and rather than Arsenal dropping out of the top four, that exclusive group now looks just as hard to crack. The Gunners have left it late in games and their patience has certainly paid off but they are still a side that tend to overplay and want to walk the ball in the net. Portsmouth visit the Emirates after bringing back Glen Johnson to Fratton Park on a permanent deal and letting Stefanovic go to Fulham. Pompey remain a toothless side on the road although their organised defence has proved hard to penetrate, but Arsenal are unlikely to let the away side get the better of them on home turf.

Rovers eased their way through to the group stages of the UEFA Cup but the extra midweek games could have a detrimental effect on their league performances. Mark Hughes has assembled a talented side that have not yet really stamped their authority on the Premier league but it's not going to be long before someone feels the full impact. Rovers remain undefeated this season and take on a City side that have conceded just 1 goal under new manager, Sven Goran Eriksson. That goal came in City's late defeat at the Emirates but the key to City's defensive record is that Sven has kept the core of the defence that did so well last season. What has come as a surprise is that Sven's new recruits have started so well and blended so quickly. Second in the table and only 1 point behind Chelsea has given City a great starting position. The question is can they keep up this level of performance? Given City's miserly defence and Rovers' midweek game, a goalless draw looks on the cards.