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GUIDE TO THE NEXT £1,000,000 1X2 PICK15
Guide to the next £1,000,000 1X2 Pick 15
Aston Villa vs Swansea
Head-to-Head: ASV 15-3-7 SWA
The pressure is mounting upon Aston Villa’s shoulders and in particular Tim Sherwood. Villa have suffered three consecutive Premier League defeats and sit in 19th place – one point ahead of Sunderland. Their recent record against Swansea is poor. The Welsh side are unbeaten in their last five encounters but will need to improve upon their latest performances to secure the full three points this weekend. Garry Monk’s men are without a win since August and are clearly lacking in confidence. This is a game that is very difficult to predict, therefore covering all bases is the best option.
Selection: HOME, DRAW & AWAY
Leicester vs Crystal Palace
Head-to-Head: LEI 23-17-23 CPA
Crystal Palace did the double over Leicester last season, however the Foxes are a completely different team this year. Under Claudio Ranieri, Leicester have lost just one league game against Arsenal and have looked exceptional in securing 16 points in their nine games. They are playing with fantastic fluency as well as showing tremendous fighting spirit in their recent performances. Striker Jamie Vardy is in exceptional form for the Foxes and will be hoping it can continue against Palace on Saturday. The Eagles have won three of their four away games this season, including a memorable success at Stamford Bridge. However, they will need to overcome a recent disappointment when beaten by West Ham at home 1-3.
Selection: HOME & AWAY
Norwich vs West Brom
Head-to-Head: NOR 20-15-24 WBA
Norwich will need to respond quickly from their thumping at the hands of Newcastle on Sunday. The Canaries lost 6-2 at St James’ Park last weekend and will be looking to put that quickly behind them against West Brom here. Albion will arrive in Norwich with restored confidence following their home victory over Sunderland on Saturday. Tony Pulis’ look good at times in the second half of that game and will look to build on the performance this weekend. The last time these two sides met was in the League Cup last month when Norwich came out the victors in a 3-0 win.
Selection: HOME
Stoke vs Watford
Head-to-Head: STO 11-6-13 WAT
In the last five meetings between Stoke and Watford, the London side have failed to taste defeat. Three victories and two draws in Watford’s favour will give the side plenty of confidence when they travel to Stoke on Saturday afternoon. However, the Potters are in tremendous form of late. Four consecutive victories in all competitions has seen Mark Hughes’ men play with a fresh flare. They bossed Swansea from the outset throughout their meeting last weekend and look a good bet to do similar to Watford here.
Selection: HOME
West Ham vs Chelsea
Head-to-Head: WHU 37-19-49 CHE
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 19 meetings with West Ham United but must improve upon recent performances to topple an in-form Hammers side here. West Ham have been sensational on the road this season with respective victories at the Emirates, Anfield and Etihad stadium. Their home form could improve as they have just one league win at Upton Park in four games. They host Chelsea this weekend who look a shadow of the side that won the title with dominance last year. The Blues boast just one away victory this campaign but will be buoyed by their recent record against the Hammers. This is very difficult to predict.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich
Head-to-Head: NOT 34-17-20 IPS
This fixture is known for being a draw. From their last four encounters, three has finished in a stalemate between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich. Forest are winless at the City Ground since August and are currently on a run of five league games without victory. Ipswich, likewise, are in the midst of five winless league games. They have lost their last four consecutive away games, in all competitions, and are desperate for a return to form following a solid start to their campaign. With both sides in such similar form, I see this playing out into a tight encounter with either team happy to walk away with a point.
Selection: DRAW
Wolves vs Middlesbrough
Head-to-Head: WOL 27-20-43 MID
Wolves’ home form has been very solid this season. A closely-fought defeat to QPR in August has been the Wanderers’ only slip up on home turf this campaign. Their visitors this weekend, Middlesbrough, already have a victory over their hosts in the Capital One Cup. On that occasion, Middlesbrough came out victorious with a stylish 3-0 win and they’ll be confident of maintaining that 100% record over the Wanderers season here. Wolves have won two of their last three and will fancy their chances back at Molineux. I anticipate a lively encounter between two well-established sides.
Selection: HOME
Arsenal vs Everton
Head-to-Head: ARS 99-45-59 EVE
October has been a fantastic month for Arsenal Football Club. A memorable 3-0 victory over Manchester United was followed by a smooth win away at Watford with the exact score line. It was all topped off, however, by their 2-0 Champions League win at the Emirates over Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger produced a brilliant display to outclass the German champions and establish themselves as amongst Europe’s elite once again. The Gunners are a team that thrive with confidence and become difficult to contain with such momentum. Everton must react quickly from their home defeat to Manchester United last weekend because if they don’t then Arsenal will take full of advantage of any lacklustre display.
Selection: HOME
Palermo vs Inter Milan
Inter Milan may be without a win in their last three games but they still sit in 3rd place in Serie A, and just one point behind leaders Fiorentina. Inter have shown good form away from home so far this season and will fancy their chances against Palermo who have lost four of their last five league games. The home side are not the most consistent on their own turf this season with one victory in four games and will host an Inter Milan side this weekend who are hungry to return to winning ways. I see only one result in this game.
Selection: AWAY
Sunderland vs Newcastle
Head-to-Head: SUN 49-49-53 NEW
Sunderland have an unbelievable record against Newcastle in recent years. This bitter Tyne-Wear derby has seen the Black Cats prevail victorious in the last five meetings. It is a statistic that leaves Newcastle angered and embarrassed to their core. However, with their recent victory over Norwich, Steve McClaren’s men will be motivated to end such an awful run against their neighbours. Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce will become an instant hit if he can guide the red and white to a sixth-straight victory over Newcastle, though based on their recent form it looks unlikely. This will no doubt be another lively encounter and one in which I see ending a draw as both sides have too much to lose.
Selection: DRAW
Bournemouth vs Tottenham
Head-to-Head: BOU 1-0-0 TOT
This is just the second meeting between Bournemouth and Tottenham in both teams’ history and one in which the home side will have thought was not capable a few years ago. The Premier League new-boys have taken England’s top-tier by storm this season, thanks mainly to their form at Dean Court. Bar their opening day slip-up against Villa, Bournemouth have looked solid at home. One win and two draws, respectively, have helped the side to eight points in their opening nine games. Alternatively, Tottenham are unbeaten in the league since the opening day of the season. A 4-1 win over Manchester City last month showcased the football philosophy that Pochettino is trying implement at the club and I see them continuing their solid run of form this weekend.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Manchester United vs Manchester City
Head-to-Head: MUN 70-50-49 MCI
In recent years, Manchester City have had the stranglehold on Manchester United. Four victories in their last five encounters has seen the colour blue dominate the city of Manchester. This season, United have looked rock-solid at Old Trafford with three wins and one draw in their four league games. City, likewise, are rock-solid on the road as well as on home turf. Manuel Pellegrini’s men started their campaign in blistering style before hitting a minor hurdle against Juventus and West Ham, respectively, last month. Since then, they have once again found their form and will be buoyed by their injury-time winner against Sevilla in the Champions League this week. This match is a real pick ‘em.
Selection: DRAW & AWAY
Liverpool vs Southampton
Head-to-Head: LIV 50-22-27 SOT
Although Jurgen Klopp enjoyed his first Anfield game against Rubin Kazan in the Europa League on Thursday, Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Southampton will feel more like the German’s first game at the famous Merseyside ground. Liverpool’s recent league stalemate at Tottenham saw glimpses of Klopp’s playing style implemented by his new team, though much more is expected this weekend now that he has enjoyed a longer length of time with the squad. Striker Daniel Sturridge is expected to return to the fold and will bring a fresh air of confidence as Liverpool seek to build on their solid start to the season. With it being Klopp’s first home league game, I see nothing other than a Liverpool win in front of a rowdy Kop.
Selection: HOME
Atletico Madrid vs Valencia
Atletico’s recent Champions League win on home soil will give them great confidence when they host Valencia this weekend. Diego Simone’s men looked good against mediocre opposition and should take the scalp of Valencia here. The visitors are in solid form themselves but could improve when playing on the road. Valencia have won just one of their four away games this season and I struggle to see them improving upon that on Sunday evening away at Atletico Madrid.
Selection: HOME
Cardiff vs Bristol City
Head-to-Head: CAR 29-22-36 BRC
Cardiff have won four of their last five games at home and, as a result, sit in 8th place in the Championship. Bristol City, on the other hand, have tasted success once in six away games and are playing with no real consistency. They secured a fantastic win at Middlesbrough in September, but have failed to build on the effort since. I see Cardiff being too hard to break on Monday night and I’d be surprised if they didn’t walk away with the full three points.
Selection: HOME