Tag: Tottenham

Chelsea v Tottenham Preview May 8th

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Tonight’s match between Chelsea and Tottenham is effectively a Cup final for both sides with a Champions League place at stake. The Blues did this column a favour by grabbing an excellent 1-0 victory on Sunday. Having tipped Juan Mata to score at 100-30 I was more than a little miffed when his deflected strike was credited as an own-goal. I understand that some bookmakers have been paying out on Mata so I hope that your bookie was doing the decent thing!

Moving on to tonight’s game and the Blues now know that they are now in a position to finally kill off Tottenham’s challenge. It has been a long and difficult season for Chelsea supporters but a disappointing season could still end on a high note with a Champions League spot and victory in the Europa League final. Juan Mata has been an absolute star for the Blues this season and he admitted that they were somewhat laboured at Old Trafford on Sunday. Even so, they still clung to the belief that they could sneak a famous win and were rewarded late on. They won’t need any encouragement for tonight’s match against their London rivals.

The game also sees the return to Stamford Bridge of former boss Andre Villas-Boas. Although he was not given sufficient time as coach to make any real impact, he had formerly served under Jose Mourinho and not unpopular at the club. The swift removal of Roberto Di Matteo at the start of this season followed by the appointment of Benitez shows that the fans have no say in what happens at the club and Villas-Boas should receive a warm welcome. Whilst Mata has been Chelsea’s star player, Spurs have been almost totally reliant on Gareth Bale this season. Once again he came to their rescue after a poor performance at home to Southampton and snatched an unlikely three points to keep their challenge alive. He has never really shone against Chelsea in the past and, despite reports to the contrary, there is no doubt that he will be given special attention.

Chelsea’s key player tonight could be Eden Hazard. He has been a revelation this season and can only get better in the next couple of years. His surging runs should prove as much of a threat to Spurs as Bale will to Chelsea and a full strength Chelsea team is capable of getting the win they need this evening. Hazard is 3-1 to score at any time during the match with Bet Victor and those odds are worth taking. Chelsea are a shade of odds-on to win the game and it might be worth going for a 2-1 home win at odds of 8-1 with Ladbrokes.

Chelsea 19-20 Bet Victor
Chelsea to win 2-1 at 8-1 Ladbrokes
Eden Hazard to score 3-1 Bet Victor

Preview and Football Tips

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Liverpool v Everton (1.30pm)

There are two cracking games this Sunday for stay-at-home punters. First up is the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton. The visitors still have a slim chance of sneaking into a Champions League spot but they would have to win all of their matches and hope that the London clubs slip up badly. Liverpool have nothing left to play for other than the local bragging rights but that is more than enough!

The Luis Suarez biting incident may have put Liverpool back in the news for all the wrong reasons but they came out and thrashed Newcastle 6-0 last weekend. Defensive stalwart Jamie Carragher has confirmed his retirement and will be appearing in a Merseyside derby for the last time in his career. As if any further incentive were required, the gap between Everton and Liverpool is five points and the Toffees have not finished above Liverpool for successive seasons in the last 50 years.

Everton fans are anxiously waiting to hear whether David Moyes is to remain at the club and a Europa League place might give him encouragement to do so. Bookmakers make Liverpool even money favourites to win with a draw priced at 5-2 and Everton as big as 100-30 to grab all three points. As impressive as the Reds were in crushing the Magpies last week, it has to be said that the opposition were woeful and Everton will be a completely different proposition. Liverpool have flitted in and out of form all season and it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see their form dip once again. I think Everton are over-priced when you take the season as a whole and the price is worth taking.

Everton 100-30 Bet Victor

Manchester United v Chelsea (4.00pm)

The second match features the fifth meeting of the season between Manchester United and Chelsea. United have just been crowned champions but mid-season talk of them being one of the greatest United teams in history have been proved to be misguided. An early Champions League exit was followed by defeat in the FA Cup against Sunday’s rivals.

The first league meeting of the season was the infamous Clattenburg affair, a game that arguably started the rot at Stamford Bridge this season. They gained revenge in the League Cup and staged a magnificent recovery from 2-0 down in the FA Cup quarter-final before Demba Ba’s solo effort settled the replay. On Thursday the Blues booked their place in the final of the Europa Cup but now face two crucial Premiership matches in the space of four days. They welcome Tottenham to the Bridge on Wednesday night in a potentially decisive match in the battle for a Champions League place.

Juan Mata has been exceptional for Chelsea this season and he only appeared as a late substitute on Thursday night. He looks a fair bet to find the target at any time during the match at 100-30. Demba Ba will lead the attack and Oscar should also make the starting line up. Chelsea will be hoping that United take their foot off the pedal a bit and allow them to gain a vital three points. If they play like they did in the second half against Basle they might just do it.

Chelsea 5-2 William Hill
Juan Mata to score 100-30 William Hill

Premiership Preview May 4th

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Norwich v Aston Villa 3.00pm

Aston Villa’s 6-1 mauling of Sunderland on Monday night has put them on the brink of Premiership survival. Christian Benteke’s hat-trick confirmed his status as one of the hottest properties in the league and questions are already being asked as to whether or not Villa can afford to keep him this summer. After such an emphatic victory, their supporters will need reminding that it was only three points and there is still work to be done.

Norwich are not yet safe themselves are not an easy side to beat at Carrow Road. They have only been beaten three times at home this season and conceded only 18 goals so Villa cannot expect to simply roll over them. A draw would probably suit both sides and that could be the value bet on Saturday.

Draw 12-5 William Hill

Tottenham v Southampton (3.00pm)

Spurs were lucky to escape with a point at Wigan last weekend, courtesy of an own goal and a complete gift to Gareth Bale via some ridiculous defending. Bale was on his way back from injury in that game and should strip a lot fitter for the visit of former club Southampton. The Saints put up their worst performance for some time in slumping to a 3-0 home defeat by West Brom and look ideal opponents for Spurs as they chase a Champions League spot. With Chelsea at Manchester United this weekend and then playing host to Tottenham, that qualifying places are still very much up for grabs. I don’t expect Tottenham to let this opportunity slip and they are worth including in doubles and trebles at odds of 1-2. I also expect goals and Bet365 offer 11-8 against more than three.

Tottenham 1-2 Ladbrokes
More than 3 goals 11-8 Bet365

West Brom v Wigan (3.00pm)

We are so used to Wigan producing a Houdini-like escape that it is slightly surprising to see them still languishing in the bottom three. The 6-1 win for Villa on Monday has really piled the pressure on the Latics to start producing the goods and it is now or never for Martinez’s men. West Brom comfortably beat Southampton last week with Romelu Lukaku looking particularly sharp up front. Arguably they do not have that much to play for whereas Wigan will be scrapping for their lives. I think West Brom have enough fire power to force Wigan to settle for a point here, a result that will see them edge closer to the drop.

Draw 12-5 Ladbrokes

QPR v Arsenal (5.30pm)

With QPR now relegated, this looks like a nailed on three-points for the Gunners as they chase down a Champions League spot. Rangers looked a broken side as they struggled to a draw with Reading last week and it will be difficult for Redknapp to gather his troops for the visit of Arsenal. Although they are not well placed with Chelsea or Spurs, those two teams meet on Wednesday and Chelsea have a much stiffer run in. A convincing win for Arsene Wenger’s men could see them in pole position by Sunday night.

Arsenal 4-9 Ladbrokes
More than 3 goals 6-4 Bet365

Premier League 20th & 21st April Preview

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Saturday

Fulham v Arsenal

Arsenal will be expected to come away with three points here after the Cottagers were comprehensively beaten 3-0 at home by Chelsea in midweek. However, their record at Craven Cottage is not that great with only one victory in their last four visits. They were not at their best when held to a goalless draw by Everton but are still enjoying a fine run of form that has seen them suffer only one defeat in eleven matches.

Arsenal to win 4-5 Paddy Power

QPR v Stoke

QPR are on the very brink of relegation and Stoke have slipped into the relegation fight with an appalling run since the New Year. The injury-time equaliser by Wigan last week summed up QPR’s season and left them hopelessly adrift. The players have been on the receiving end of some heavy criticism from their manager in recent weeks and it is surely only a matter of time before they are consigned to the Championship. Stoke, on the other hand, have time to respond to their perilous situation and could take all three points.

Stoke to win 13-5 Bet Victor

Sunderland v Everton

Everton held Arsenal a draw to keep alive their slender Champions League hopes but nothing less than a win will do here. Unfortunately for them, they meet a Sunderland side that produced their best victory of the season at Newcastle last week under new boss Paolo Di Canio. The Stadium of Light will be electric for his first home game in charge and this looks like being a very tight affair. With so much at stake for both sides, the draw looks the safest option.

Draw 12-5 Bet365

West Ham v Wigan

Much has been made of the return to form of Andy Carroll in recent days but he has flattered to deceive before. West Ham will not have things all their own way against a Wigan side buoyed by reaching the FA Cup final for the first time in their history. Coach Roberto Martinez has repeatedly stressed that Premiership survival is their priority and they gave Manchester City plenty to worry about in midweek before losing to a single goal. Wigan are the masters at escaping the drop and I can see them coming away with all three points on Saturday.

Wigan to win 9-4 Paddy Power

Sunday

Tottenham v Manchester City

Tottenham have suffered another late season mini-collapse and they have looked a moderate side without Gareth Bale. Their talisman winger could return on Sunday but he seems to be carrying an awful lot of responsibility and City can move within touching distance of securing second spot if they win this weekend. Spurs desperately need a win to put the pressure on Chelsea and Arsenal in the battle for Champions League places. The last four meetings between the sides have gone City’s way and they could extend that run here.

Manchester City to win 7-5 Bet365

Liverpool v Chelsea

Chelsea look destined to finish the season without a trophy but they still have their eyes firmly on a top four finish and they have every reason to give this game their maximum attention. They were too slow out of the blocks when losing 2-1 to City in the Cup last week but had no problem in seeing off Fulham on Wednesday. Liverpool rely heavily on Suarez but remain frustrating and the Blues could take a giant step towards a return to Champions League football with a win on Sunday.

Chelsea to win 13-5 William Hill

Europa League Quarter-Final Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Europa League may not sit very highly in the order of priorities for the top sides but there are plenty of reasons for the three remaining English sides to give it a real go tonight. Chelsea have blundered away numerous pieces of silverware this season and are in poll position to gain some sort of compensation after a comfortable 3-1 home leg victory against Rubin Kazan.

There have already been mumblings of discontent from the squad this week about being able to motivate themselves for the trip to Moscow but they have to be taken with a pinch of salt. The excuses of an artificial pitch, freezing cold conditions and their hectic fixture list have also been put up but they looked in a different class to the Russians in the first leg and must surely progress. Rubin believe that the away goal could prove vital and will be hoping to rattle Chelsea’s cage with an early goal. The loss of Ryan Bertrand has left a bit of a weakness at left-back for the Blues but they have enough quality to cope. The bookmakers have put up odds as high as 7-4 about Chelsea winning tonight and I think that is decent value.

Tottenham undoubtedly face a more difficult task in Basle after being held to a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane last week. The injury to Gareth Bale along with the absence of Lennon and Defoe certainly takes a lot of the creativity away from the Londoners as they go in search of a win. The first leg was a strange affair, with Spurs all at sea in defence as Basle strolled into a 2-0 lead. How the game finished at 2-2 is something of a mystery given the opportunities squandered by both sides in the second period. Spurs are priced at 9-4 to come away with the victory tonight with some suspecting that this competition may have to be sacrificed in order to keep their hopes of securing a Champions League spot alive. I don’t believe that for a moment and think that Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to claim a trophy this season.

Newcastle have crept quietly through the competition and are unlucky not to be in a better position going into tonight’s second leg against Benfica. They were unlucky not to gain at least a draw from the opening fixture. A 3-1 defeat was incredibly harsh on the Magpies who look tempting at 9-4 to win tonight. It may be asking too much for them to overturn a two-goal deficit but they will certainly give it a go. With the Premiership not represented in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this year, it may seem an odd time to be backing British. However, I think all three Premiership sides have a chance of victory this evening.

Chelsea to beat Rubin Kazan 7-4 Coral
Tottenham to beat Basle 9-4 BetVictor
Newcastle to beat Benfica 9-4 BetVictor