Sport
GUIDE TO THE NEXT £1,000,000 1X2 PICK15
Bournemouth vs Newcastle
Head-to-Head: BOU 3-1-2 NEW
Bournemouth have endured a slip in form in recent weeks following seven straight games without a victory. Eddie Howe’s men were defeated by Southampton last weekend which was their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions. They host Newcastle this Saturday lunchtime who themselves are in the midst of a luckless run. The Magpies have won just one of their last nine games in all competitions and sit in 18th place in the league, as a result. Don’t expect a whole lot of action between these two sides as both try their utmost to avoid another defeat.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Leicester vs Watford
Head-to-Head: LEI 24-17-18 WAT
Leicester City’s displays in recent weeks have been nothing short of exceptional. The Foxes have lost just one Premier League game this season and find themselves in third position thanks to a number of consistent performances. Striker Jamie Vardy sits atop of the goalscoring table and has scored in his last eight league games. Watford, likewise, are in solid form with back-to-back victories against Stoke and West Ham respectively. They are proving touhh to break down on the road following one defeat in five away games thus far this season. Expect plenty of action between two teams in fine heart.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Norwich vs Swansea
Head-to-Head: NOR 20-10-21 SWA
Six winless games has seen Norwich City drop to 16th place in the Premier League and in desperate need of a victory to return to some sort kind of form. The Canaries battled tenaciously in defeat to Manchester City last weekend and should take great confidence from the outing. The visitors this weekend, Swansea, fell victim to an onslaught from Arsenal last weekend which was their third consecutive league defeat. With Norwich and Swansea enduring a spell of mediocre form, it may be best to cover the draw as both teams do their upmost to avoid another point-less weekend.
Selection: DRAW
Sunderland vs Southampton
Head-to-Head: SUN 24-15-24 SOT
Sunderland have lost just one of their last eight encounters with Southampton, albeit if that defeat was a 8-0 thumping at St Mary’s last season. The Black Cats should still be buoyed by their derby victory over Newcastle a fortnight ago but must rebuild from a 6-2 defeat to Everton last Sunday. Southampton, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions and will arrive at the Stadium Of Light full of confidence. The Saints showed great movement against Bournemouth recently and will be difficult to beat with such momentum behind them.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
West Ham vs Everton
Head-to-Head: WHU 37-28-67 EVE
West Ham have failed to beat Everton in their last 14 Premier League meetings. The Hammers looked a shadow of their former selfs against Watford last week and will be eager to return to the sort of form that saw them topple Manchester City earlier this season. Everton travel to London following an exciting 6-2 victory over Sunderland recently. Striker Arouna Kone netted a hat-trick which will give both the player and team significant confidence as they move towards a crucial few weeks in the season. This really is a difficult game to predict as both teams are showing no consistency in their play though Everton’s poor away form sways me to a West Ham victory.
Selection: HOME
Bolton vs Bristol City
Head-to-Head: BOL 17-15-25 BRC
Bolton are without a league victory in their last nine consecutive games. Neil Lennon’s side sit in 22nd place in the Championship, four points behind this weekend’s opposition. Wanderers have just one win at home in eight games this season, in all competitions, and in need a solid moral boosting performance. Bristol City will arrive in Bolton with some momentum following a good 1-0 victory over Wolves in midweek. It should give the side plenty of confidence ahead of this weekend’s clash which is an opportunity for Steve Cotterrill’s men to further distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Cardiff vs Reading
Head-to-Head: CAR 22-18-22 REA
Cardiff are without a win in their last three league games – a statistic that is becoming increasingly concerning for City supporters. However, their home form is rock solid and they are becoming renowned for their stability at the Cardiff City Stadium. One defeat in eight games, in all competitions, on their turf this season makes them a very difficult outfit to break down. Reading will travel to Wales this weekend having drawn three of their last four games in the Championship and based on both sides’ recent performances, I see another stalemate here.
Selection: DRAW
Hull vs Middlesbrough
Head-to-Head: HUL 16-17-24 MID
One point separates these two teams in the Championship as both target automatic promotion to the Premier League next May. Hull currently sit atop of the league on goal difference with four consecutive victories without conceding a goal. They are unbeaten at the KC Stadium this season and will prove tough to crack on Saturday afternoon. Middlesbrough should still be full of confidence after their recent League Cup victory over Manchester United where Aitor Karanka’s side won on penalties at Old Trafford. Their away form, however, is not the most consistent with two defeats in their last three games on the road. Based on this evidence, it is hard not to see Hull at least take a point away from a potentially tight encounter.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Stoke vs Chelsea
Head-to-Head: STO 29-21-45 CHE
There is no better time to face Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team than at the moment as they are enduring one of their worst runs in recent years. The Premier League champions have lost six of their opening 11 league games this season and find themselves 15th in the table. Mark Hughes side recently enjoyed a victory over the Blues in the League Cup and will be confident of securing another win over the champions here. This is a must win game for Chelsea and anything other than victory can only worsen Mourinho’s chances of staying at Stamford Bridge in to next season. Back a return to form for the Blues.
Selection: AWAY
Torino vs Inter Milan
A potential banana-skin in this week’s Pick 15 as Torino host Inter Milan on Sunday. The home side are without a league victory in five games which is affecting their team confidence. Inter Milan, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last five, including recent back-to-back victories over Bologna and Roma respectively. They sit as joint leaders with Fiorentina in Serie A with just one defeat thus far this season. Based on such form, I’m finding it difficult to look past a comfortable Inter victory.
Selection: AWAY
Feyenoord vs Ajax
A clash between the two leaders in Eredivisie is included in the pool this week and it is a game that could swing either way. Feyenoord have won all of their games at home this season, though will need to respond from defeat to Den Haag recently. Ajax will arrive at Feyenoord following an exciting 6-0 victory over Roda JC Kerk last weekend which should further boost their confidence. The away side have won five of their last six games in the league and should be difficult to contain this weekend.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Arsenal vs Tottenham
Head-to-Head: ARS 80-48-61 TOT
The North London derby is always a great spectacle to watch and both of sides will arrive at the Emirates on Sunday in fine form. Arsenal have won five consecutive league games since September, including respective victories over Manchester United and Everton. As I have stated previously in this column, the Gunners are a team that excel with momentum. Their recent performances will have given them great confidence in the run up to this derby and they could be tough to beat. Tottenham, likewise, have enjoyed a solid run of form which has seen them go unbeaten in their last 10 league games. Recent victories over Bournemouth and Aston Villa has helped improve the goalscoring form of striker Harry Kane with the England international now back to the level that saw him net 32 goals for club and country last season. Spurs have, however, stumbled at the Emirates in recent years and I struggle to see them toppling Arsenal on their own turf this weekend.
Selection: HOME
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Head-to-Head: LIV 22-11-12 CPA
Liverpool’s recent win over Chelsea will come as a great boost to Jurgen Klopp and his squad following a number of mediocre contests. The Reds took their chances at Stamford Bridge and deserved to win all three points. They are unbeaten in their last seven games at Anfield and will take all the beating once again. Crystal Palace are in the midst of a poor run of form in recent weeks which has seen Alan Pardew’s men lose three of their last four games, in all competitions. The Eagles will need to improve significantly upon their recent performances if they wish to trouble Klopp’s side this weekend. Crystal Palace are tough to predict as they can look like world beaters one weekend, and relegation-bound the next. I feel Liverpool’s recent victory over the league champions will make them tough to beat this weekend with such momentum behind them.
Selection: HOME
Sevilla vs Real Madrid
Sevilla tasted defeat to Manchester City in the week which has seen their Champions League aspirations somewhat vanish. Real Madrid, on the other hand, enjoyed a solid victory over PSG in a tight encounter at the Bernabeu. Rafa Benitez’s men sit atop of the La Liga table and are unbeaten in 16 games, in all competitions, this season. With Madrid on such a run they can be incredibly hard to beat, and I expect another bold showing here.
Selection: AWAY
Sampdoria vs Fiorentina
The Pick 15 closes this weekend with Sampdoria hosting high-flyers Fiorentina on Sunday evening. The home side are unbeaten in four games on their own turf this season and will welcome the opposition on Sunday after a solid draw away at Chievo recently. Fiorentina enjoyed a 4-1 victory over Frosinone last weekend and will arrive at Sampdoria full of confidence and momentum. Based on the away side’s recent performances I find it hard to see Fiorentina not leave without at least a point.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
