Sport
Guide to The Next £1,000,000 1X2 Pick 15
Liverpool vs Manchester United Liverpool were involved in another classic Premier League encounter with Arsenal on Wednesday which saw the team score a last minute equaliser to level the game 3-3.
Head-to-Head: LIV 74-61-86 MUN
Guide to The Next £1,000,000 1X2 Pick 15
Sheffield Wednesday vs Leeds United
Head-to-Head: SHW 30-24-36 LEE
Sheffield Wednesday’s home form has been superb in recent weeks. The side have gone unbeaten in their last 11 games at Hillsborough, including respective victories against Arsenal in the Capital One Cup and Fulham – most recently – in the FA Cup. They host a rejuvenated Leeds United side on Saturday who arrive on the back of eight consecutive games in all competitions without defeat. New manager Steve Evans has helped kickstart their season once again which has seen the team improve to 13th in the Championship table. However, Wednesday are truly rock-solid on home turf and should prevail from the test of Leeds here.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Bournemouth vs Norwich
Head-to-Head: BOU 17-15-23 NOR
Bournemouth recently enjoyed a solid FA Cup victory against Birmingham last weekend which saw the Cherries come from a goal down to secure a 1-2 away win. Their form in the Premier League throughout December was brilliant for a newly-promoted team. Victories over Chelsea, Manchester United and West Brom saw Eddie Howe’s men showcase fantastic spirit and drive to beat two of the biggest teams in European football. Norwich have lost four of their last five away games in the league though that sole victory did come against Manchester United at Old Trafford. They must respond quickly from last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Carrow Road to Manchester City where they were outclassed from the opening whistle. Their away form is inconsistent which will need improving on to trouble a dangerous Bournemouth team here.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Chelsea vs Everton
Head-to-Head: CHE 68-51-53 EVE
Chelsea last lost a Premier League game to Everton at Stamford Bridge back in 1994. It is a record that has seen the Londoners dominate the Toffees in every meeting since. However, the reigning title-holders have endured one of their worst ever starts to a Premier League campaign this season, and now unlikely to even secure a Champions League position come May. Manager Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club in December which saw former boss Guus Hiddink installed as new manager until the end of the season. Since his arrival, Chelsea have won three of their five outings – excluding the midweeks encounter with West Brom – and are beginning to show signs of returned confidence. Everton are themselves in strong form this month. A Capital One Cup victory against Manchester City will give Roberto Martinez’s men plenty of momentum before their trip to Stamford Bridge, though they may struggle against a rejuvenated Chelsea side.
Selection: HOME
Newcastle vs West Ham
Head-to-Head: NEW 51-37-40 WHU
Newcastle will be buoyed by Tuesday’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Manchester United which saw the Magpies return from a losing position on two occasions to salvage a point. The recent £12m signing of Jonjo Shelvey shows their intention of evading relegation this season under Steve McClaren, but they will need to improve upon their home form to do so. West Ham, on the other hand, are flying under Slaven Bilic and are unbeaten in all competitions since November. Their victory against Bournemouth in the week showcased the immense talent of Dimitri Payet who inspired their 1-3 comeback at Dean Court. The Hammers’ away form earlier this season was quite exceptional. Victories at Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have played a major role in helping the side to fifth in the league and just seven points behind pace-setters Arsenal. I struggle to see anything other than another West Ham win here.
Selection: AWAY
Southampton vs West Brom
Head-to-Head: SOT 26-24-23 WBA
Southampton are proving to be an inconsistent side this season. They have lost their last three games in all competitions, and are only six points from the Premier League relegation zone. The Saints have won just one of their last six games played at St Mary’s which includes an FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend. West Brom may be unbeaten in three outings, in all competitions, but they have won just one Premier League away game since September. Tony Pulis’ side have relied heavily on home form in recent weeks which has seen the Baggies topple Arsenal, Newcastle and Stoke. However, their away form is real concern and I think Southampton should prevail from a tightly-contested encounter.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Blackburn vs Brighton
Head-to-Head: BLA 11-11-13 BRI
Blackburn may be lurking closely above the Championship relegation zone, but their home form has been rock-solid in recent weeks. Rovers are unbeaten in five games at Ewood Park which dates all of the way back to October. Brighton, on the other hand, are without a win in any of their last eight games in all competitions. It is a run that has seen the Seagulls drop down to sixth in the Championship and only two points inside the play-off positions. Four consecutive defeats without scoring a single goal has dented Brighton’s confidence and the trip north to Blackburn could be another difficult encounter.
Selection: DRAW
MK Dons vs Reading
Head-to-Head: MKD 0-1-0 REA
Prior to MK Dons’ brutal defeat to Burnley recently, their home form had been good. Back to back victories against Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday, respectively, helped the Dons lift themselves from the Championship relegation zone. Reading are unbeaten in their last three games but have not won an away game since September. It is a trend that manager Brian McDermott will hope to correct this weekend in Milton Keynes but the Dons’ recent form could prevent them from doing so. I expect a tight encounter between two sides who are not notorious for running away with victories this season. Cover the home win and draw in this one.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Wolves vs Cardiff
Head-to-Head: WOL 25-13-15 CAR
Wolverhampton Wanderers are on a run of four consecutive victories in the Championship. As a result, they are up to 10th in the table and within seven points of a play-off position. They host Cardiff City this weekend who are level on points with the Wanderers but boast far less momentum than Saturday’s hosts. The Welsh side travel to Wolves following a disappointing FA Cup defeat to Shrewsbury last weekend where they looked mediocre at best. Wednesday proved to be no different when defeated for a second time in four days by high-flyers Hull City. It is a week Cardiff will want to forget though I feel Wolves hold a real chance of worsening the away side’s run of form.
Selection: HOME
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Head-to-Head: AVL 33-23-41 LEI
Aston Villa secured a much-needed Premier League win against Crystal Palace this week. It was their first victory in the league since the opening day of the season and increased their points tally to 11 from 21 games. Villa are still eight points from safety, but will hope Tuesday’s victory can kickstart some kind of revival. Leicester kept their phenomenal title credentials alive this week when seeing out a tough 0-1 victory at White Hart Lane against Tottenham. Robert Huth’s late headed winner helped the Foxes back to the top of table alongside Arsenal on 43 points. It was their fifth away win from their last six games on the road and I expect them to enhance that record against Villa this weekend.
Selection: AWAY
Udinese vs Juventus
Udinese are showing no consistency this season. Nine defeats from their 19 games in Serie A has seen the side sit in a laboured 12th position. Juventus, on the other hand, are only two points behind league leaders Napoli and have won their last nine consecutive games in Italy’s top tier. Udinese may have defeated Juventus earlier this season, but the Italian champions were a team clearly out of form in that period and had won the previous six league encounters prior to 2015. Back the away side to continue their fine run of form.
Selection: AWAY
Liverpool vs Manchester United
Head-to-Head: LIV 74-61-86 MUN
Liverpool were involved in another classic Premier League encounter with Arsenal on Wednesday which saw the team score a last minute equaliser to level the game 3-3. Jurgen Klopp’s men squandered a lead on two occasions after scoring two goals before the 20 minute mark. It was the Reds’ second consecutive draw following a disappointing outing against Exeter City in the FA Cup last weekend. Their inconsistency in the Premier League is notable. Defeats to Watford, Newcastle and Crystal Palace have dented Liverpool’s title aspirations under their new manager. They await the arrival of Manchester United this weekend who are still underperforming with Louis van Gaal at the helm. Reports over Christmas suggested that United would part-ways with the Dutchman though that has yet to materialise. The Red Devils have won only one of their last eight league outings and I struggle to see them leaving Anfield with much to cheer about with the two teams’ rivalry such a notorious topic in English football.
Selection: HOME & DRAW
Stoke vs Arsenal
Head-to-Head: STO 25-23-54 ARS
Stoke City are a side that can be very difficult to beat when at the top of their game. Recent wins against Manchester United and Everton showcased the team’s new attacking style under Mark Hughes. They do, however, have a tendency to throw in a mediocre performance. Their trip to West Brom earlier this month saw Stoke lose 2-1 and display a lack of discipline. It is an issue that will need to be corrected to beat Arsenal this weekend who are sitting nicely atop of the Premier League. Arsene Wenger’s men looked certain to beat Liverpool in the week, but conceded a last minute Joe Allen equaliser. The Gunners have been ruthless throughout much of the campaign with Mesut Ozil in the best form of his career. If the engine is well-oiled, Arsenal will prevail.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Getafe vs Espanyol
Two points separate Getafe and Espanyol in La Liga which could make for a tightly-contested encounter. Getafe are unbeaten at home in their last six games in all competitions since October, whereas Espanyol haven’t won an away game in any of their last eight attempts. On that basis, it is Getafe who must be backed here with such solid home form behind them.
Selection: HOME
AC Milan vs Fiorentina
This is very difficult game to predict. AC Milan have won two of their last four games at the San Siro but are not showing any consistency in their performances. Fiorentina, likewise, have lost three of their last five games in all competitions and have slipped to fourth in Serie A following a good start to the season, as a result. They have, however, only lost one away game in all competitions since October and will travel to Milan with a fair degree of confidence. Cover the draw here as neither side are really arriving at this game with a solid run of form.
Selection: DRAW
Swansea vs Watford
Head-to-Head: SWA 20-9-14 WAT
Swansea have been victims of three consecutive defeats in January. A loss at Old Trafford was followed by FA Cup last weekend. The Welsh side suffered another damaging defeat to Sunderland this week where they let slip of a winning position in being defeated 2-4. They host Watford on Monday evening who boast some fair away form in the Premier League this season. Respective victories at Aston Vila and Sunderland have helped the newly-promoted side to tenth in the table. The Hornets should fancy their chances on capitalising on Swansea’s recent form in what could develop into an exciting encounter.
Selection: AWAY
