The international break is finally over and we’re back to a packed Saturday afternoon of Premiership football, with a few bets that catch the eye.
In the early kick off Manchester United travel to The Wearside to take on Sunderland. Having taken such a commanding position at the top of the Premier League with the title assured in all but a mathematical sense, you’d be forgiven for expecting an upset here with their focus being on Monday’s FA Cup quarter final replay at Chelsea. Instead, we think that the fringe players or those who currently seem out of favour will be looking to prove a point and put themselves back in Sir Alex Ferguson’s thoughts. Players such as Nani, Anderson and Chicharito will especially be looking to shine, and should easily have enough class to see of an out of form Sunderland, whose last victory was back in the middle of January.
Since then, they’ve lost to Reading, West Brom and QPR and are sitting too close to the drop zone for comfort. Backing over 2.5 goals at 21/20 with BetVictor seems generous, but the real bet in this game is Javier Hernandez to be First Goalscorer at 9/2. Scoring 8 goals in 690 minutes of Premiership football gives him by far the highest goals:minutes ratio of the United squad and he’s a potent striker that scores rather than creates goals. Either Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, or both will be rested for this game, and Chicharito should take the most advanced forward role.
In the 3pm kick-offs, the stand out bet is West Brom to beat West Ham at 13/5 with Bet365. West Brom are an unglamerous side but you can count on them to get the job done in games like this. If this were Liverpool away at West Ham, you wouldn’t be getting 13/5 on the victory, and with West Brom only 1 point behind the Reds, they’ll be looking to leapfrog them with a victory here. West Brom offer a consistency that’s needed for games like this, and whilst West Ham have shown some potential recently and should avoid relegation, they’re the kind of side that WBA should be able to defeat in a close game.
Down on the South Coast, Chelsea travel to Southampton and they will look to keep the pressure on Man City with a victory here. Rafa Benitez is well known for his squad rotation policy and we’d expect a strong Chelsea side to take to the pitch and dispatch a usually leaky Southampton side who flattered themselves with their victory over Liverpool. Odds against is good value, so take the 6/5 with William Hill.
There’s also something to be said for backing Newcastle to beat Man City at a massive 11/1 with Bet365. It’s not a bet to go crazy on, but Newcastle have been playing a lot better football than their recent results show and with a long break since their game against Wigan, the European hangover won’t worry them this time. City’s season is almost over and if they’re slow out of the blocks, Newcastle could capitalise.
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.
