WE’VE finally got a real “Super Sunday” in the Premier League this weekend and the first match sees title favourites Manchester City host in-form Southampton at the Etihad.
Manchester City vs. Southampton
Pep Guardiola had a homecoming to forget after his former side Barcelona inflicted a 4-0 Champions League midweek defeat on City; this was the Spaniard’s heaviest loss in management, and in the middle of a difficult time at present he faces a tough challenge again at the weekend.
After a perfect 10 match winning start to the new season, City are just clinging on to top spot after four matches without a success, and they offer little value to win at just 1.55 with Coral.
Southampton’s season is a polar opposite to City’s; The Saints’ failed to win in their opening four matches, but they arrive in the blue half of Manchester flying without a loss in their last seven.
Claude Puel’s side are 7.00 to continue their winning form, and even though that does look very tempting on paper, six successive loses in this fixture is putting me off having a small wager on them.
Sergio Aguero was amazingly rested at the Camp Nou. The Argentinian looks certain to lead the line and he will be up against another in-form striker in Southampton’s Charlie Austin. With those two in excellent goalscoring form, I like both teams to score at 1.80 with BoyleSports for the sixth time in the last seven years in this fixture.
Chelsea vs. Manchester United
ALL eyes will be on the “special one” Jose Mourinho when he returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since being sacked last season, with his new Manchester United to take on Chelsea.
I was staggered when I looked at the prices for this and saw that Chelsea were just 2.10 for the win. Why?
The Blues’ did produce their best performance of the season last time out with a 3-0 win against Leicester. But the Foxes’ were dreadful, and prior to that win, Antonio Conte’s side had only won just once in their last five, and the Italian was backed into odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job.
Mourinho produced a tactical masterclass to frustrate Liverpool at Anfield on Monday, and I can see him doing the same again, cranking up the mind games in the press conferences before Sunday.
United are in very good form arriving in West London unbeaten in their last five matches, and why they are 3.75 for the win with Betfred is staggering.
I can’t see Mourinho walking away as a loser and if you are not tempted by the price on United to win the match, then 2.50 on them on the draw no bet market also makes a lot of appeal.
Goals might be hard to come by if United’s tactics at Anfield are anything to go by, and in seven of the last eight matches between these two rivals, under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet. At 1.91 again with Betfred, throwing in the “Mourinho” factor as well, that looks an obvious play.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
