Archived Premier League Football Betting Tips

It's not often that Everton go into one of these games 5 places higher than United but that's the way of it at the moment and United have started slowly. Since Rooney's injury and Ronaldo's suspension United have found goals hard to come by and only Saha's strike after coming off the bench saved their blushes at home to Sunderland. There is good news for Ferguson however; despite Hargreaves's injury Rooney could possibly play and Ronaldo is available after suspension, plus Carrick's time on the bench for England leaves him fresh for United. Everton host the Champions after dropping just 5 points from their opening 5 games. New signing, Yakubu, is already off the mark and there are signs that his partnership with Johnson could flourish after getting an assist from the ex-Palace man. A key signing for Moyes has been Thomas Gravesen; his introduction from the bench at Bolton turned the game in Everton's favour and he then provided the assist for Lescott's winner. With the Dane back on his old ground, Everton are worth a point against a United side still waiting to spark.

Pompey's home form can usually be relied upon but their results so far have been a mixed bag. Redknapp has rung some changes at Fratton Park and one of the better prospects to come in looks to be John Utaka, a striker already with a couple of goals to his name. Pompey didn't offer much at the Emirates against an Arsenal side reduced to 10 men early in the second half, and if truth be told the scoreline could have weighed heavier in Arsenal's favour. The visitors to Fratton Park this weekend are a Liverpool side that currently top the Premier league table and Benitez finally looks to have built a team that can challenge Chelsea and United for the Premier league title. Their mauling of Derby at Anfield shows they mean business this season but it is 2 victories from their 2 away games so far that convinces most. They have started so much better this season than the last and Portsmouth may need to be focused on damage limitation.

Both these clubs are pretty much where they don't want to be even at this early stage of the season. Birmingham played well in their first few games without getting the right results but were very poor at the Riverside and will have been given a kick up the backside after that woeful defeat. They're yet to win in front of their home fans and should make the most of playing against a Bolton side one place off the bottom with 4 defeats in their last 5. The Trotters played well in periods during the home defeat to Everton but were it not for Anelka, they'd be finding it difficult to score as well. The Frenchman's finishing has been of the highest quality this season and the Birmingham defence will struggle to keep him quiet. Unlike their star striker, the Bolton defence has not been on song and their will be chances for the home strikers. Bolton are likely to improve as the season progresses but they could come unstuck at St Andrews.

Sunderland are finding life in the Premier league tough and Keane admitted as much before the United game when finding he was without several key players. Dean Whitehead remains injured but Keane will hope to have both Andy Cole and Carlos Edwards available, although both remain a doubt. After Sunderland's first day victory at home to Spurs they have struggled for points and only 1 place separates them from Reading in the relegation places. Coppell maintains that he's not a believer in second season syndrome but their performance in the last 2 games would have you think otherwise; defeat at Bolton followed by a heavy defeat at home to West Ham. Coppell gave his players the benefit of the doubt after the Bolton defeat but the Hammers victory means he needs to address the problems. Although Sunderland have lost games they haven't been hammered and even at Old Trafford they only lost by a single goal; there's little to choose between these two sides at the moment and the value could be on the draw.

One goal separates these two in mid-table although Boro have played an extra game. The Hammers exacted revenge for their 6 goal defeat at Reading last season by going there this season and winning by 3 goals without reply. Surprisingly, West Ham have won both their away games but only taken 1 point from their 2 home games, but if Craig Bellamy injects the same passion into his performance as he did for Wales against Slovakia then Boro had better be wary. Once again, Boro's performances lack consistency and I can't help thinking that they are a weaker side for losing Viduka and Yakubu; though Mido has started well I doubt he is the player to take Boro forward. Southgate reckons his side's best performance came in the home victory against Birmingham but the Blues were so poor, one can't help but think Southgate had his rose-tinted glasses on. West Ham are due a home victory and reality could give Boro a kick in the proverbials.

Wigan have slid down the table as expected after their surprising start but maybe everyone's been a tad premature in condemning the Latics as one of the likely sides to suffer the drop. They took Newcastle to the wire at St James Park and only a late Michael Owen goal inflicted defeat. Kevin Kilbane's suspended after being sent off in that game but the star for Wigan was the unlikely figure of Titus Bramble returning to his old stamping ground. After Heskey's impressive return from the international wilderness his new-found confidence should reap rewards at the JJB. Wigan have won their 2 home games and take on a Fulham side that managed 2 very fortunate goals late on to grab a point at home to Spurs. They should have been left dead and buried by the lily-whites but at least showed some graft and passion to get back into the game. Fulham are not renowned for their exploits on the road and 2 defeats away from home already this season leads to one conclusion; this looks like being another home victory for Wigan.

Chelsea's defeat at Villa Park came as something of a surprise but Villa were magnificent on the day and stifled Chelsea, allowing them to create very little. Ballack's injury has drawn a lot of attention but it looks like Drogba will miss out with an injured knee. Chelsea have won both home games so far although they did leak 2 goals against Birmingham, so there will be some hope for a Blackburn side that are not far away from competing with the likes of the top four. Savage could miss out with a shin injury but Rovers remain undefeated this season and will not want to tarnish their record at Stamford Bridge. The thing is that Chelsea don't do defeats at home and so strong is their squad that it's a brave man that gambles on anything other than a Chelsea victory. The home side will have to work for it but the result should go their way.

City's start to the season caught everyone on the back foot considering the number of new players that Sven introduced but the new playing staff have vindicated the manager's purchases. Three wins followed by 2 losses away from home has tempered the good start but goals in City games look to be a rare commodity. They've conceded just 2 in 5 games (none at home) and scored just 4 (2 at home). They play host to a Villa side high on confidence after their comprehensive win at home to Chelsea and Martin O'Neill's decision to move Gareth Barry to central midfield has paid not only dividends to England, but looks to be the right position for him and will serve Villa well; his partnership with Reo-Coker in midfield against Chelsea looked extremely accomplished. Villa have lost just the once, a tight affair at home to Liverpool, and their single away game so far finished in a draw. Villa were the draw specialists last season and there are unlikely to be many goals up for grabs at Eastlands but Dunne's suspension gives the away side some hope and the draw looks a likely outcome.