Saturday Premier League betting preview with Free Bets
Arsenal v Blackpool, 3pm
The Tangerines have been featuring heavily on the back pages this week after going to Wigan and coming away with an amazing 4-0 victory. Their attacking approach to games should be applauded and they will be going to the Emirates in search of another three points, something which they’re 18/1 (Victor Chandler) to manage.
It could be a good time for Ian Holloway’s team to be playing the Gunners, who looked very ordinary against Liverpool on Sunday. That hasn’t stopped firms from going no bigger than 1/5 (Blue Square) about Arsenal, with Cesc Fabregas (4/1 William Hill) expected to return to the starting line-up after missing the trip to Anfield.
Robin Van Persie (3/1 bet365) should also line up for Arsene Wenger’s team, with Marouane Chamakh (14/5 Victor Chandler) looking to improve on his debut. It’s little surprise to see Over 2.5 Goals priced at 9/20 with bet365 considering the gung ho approach likely to be adopted by Blackpool, with Over 3.5 Goals on offer at 5/4 with Paddy Power.
Indeed, perhaps some tasty correct score wagers could be the order of the day. Laurent Koscielny will be suspended, leaving Arsenal short at the back and a 5-1 win in their favour looks interesting at 28/1 (Sporting Bet). Ladbrokes go 66/1 that the Gunners win by a 4-2 scoreline.
Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers, 3pm
Rovers were the outsiders to beat Everton and the bookies have chalked them up at 12/5 (Sky Bet) to win at St Andrews on Saturday, despite their 1-0 win over the Toffees. Blackburn deprived their opponents of possession and another win by a solitary goal is available at 8/1 with Ladbrokes, something which is perfectly possible with the defence looking so solid.
Birmingham showed tremendous character to battle back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Sunderland last weekend, although Alex McLeish felt that many players delivered a sub-par performance. Bet365 offer 13/10 that City pick up their first win of the campaign and the manager might be tempted to give Nikola Zigic his first start against physical opposition. The Serbian is 5/1 (William Hill) to open the scoring.
While the Arsenal v Blackpool game looks destined to have plenty of goals, it’s likely that we might only see one or two at most at St Andrews. Boylesports offer 8/13 about Under 2.5 Goals and it could be the bet to have.
Everton v Wolves, 3pm
David Moyes will be looking for a reaction from his team after they suffered defeat at Blackburn and the bookies are taking few chances with their quotes about the Toffees winning on Saturday. Ladbrokes stick their head above the parapet to quote 4/7 about a home win and Everton should oblige with the three points in front of their passionate supporters.
Indeed, that 4/7 might not be around by kick-off, with William Hill offering just 4/9 that the Merseyside team get their campaign up and running. It was an uncharacteristic mistake from Tim Howard that allowed Blackburn to win, although the American is 5/6 (Paddy Power) to bounce back by getting a clean sheet and Everton are priced at 5/4 with the Irish firm to win to nil.
Jermaine Beckford (4/1 Boylesports) will be chomping at the bit to get involved, although Louis Saha (4/1 Ladbrokes) is likely to lead the attack again with Tim Cahill (9/2 Stan James) playing in a supporting role.
Wolves will arrive at Goodison Park with their tails up after beating Stoke City on the opening day of the season and they are 6/1 (Blue Square) to continue their unblemished record by securing the points in this match. Mick McCarthy’s team did come away with a draw from this fixture last term and bet365 go 3/1 that this game also ends all square.
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur, 3pm
Nobody was talking about Stoke as relegation candidates this season, although James Beattie has left the Britannia Stadium for Rangers and new signing Kenwyne Jones is already injured. Ladbrokes’ 6/1 that the Potters are relegated could be an interesting bet, especially as they might struggle to win this match.
They were second best against Wolves last Saturday and are 13/5 (Ladbrokes) to beat Spurs and record their first maximum haul of the season, In their favour is the fact that Tottenham have had that midweek Champions League trip to Switzerland and Ricardo Fuller (7/1 William Hill) will be looking to take advantage of tired legs.
However, Spurs won this fixture last season and a repeat performance of last Saturday’s game against Manchester City should be enough to secure the points. Ladbrokes go 11/10 that Harry Redknapp’s team win the game and it’s possible that Roman Pavlyuchenko (6/1 William Hill) and Peter Crouch (6/1 Coral) will be given the nod in attack due to their physical prowess.
West Brom v Sunderland, 3pm
The Baggies won’t be too disappointed about their 6-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, especially as it will have taught the players not to leave gaps in the wall. They have a chance to get their season going with a winnable match against the Black Cats and are 13/8 (Victor Chandler) to delight their supporters with a victory.
Roberto Di Matteo is unlikely to make many changes to the team that lost to Chelsea and there has been much focus on Graeme Dorrans, Albion’s Scottish midfielder who loves to get forward. He’s on offer at 8/1 (Paddy Power) to open the scoring against a team that will have Lee Cattermole suspended. Roman Bednar is 6/1 (Stan James) to get the party started, although the Baggies will be focusing on shutting out the opposition.
Especially with Darren Bent looking sharp against Birmingham, thus continuing his excellent First Goalscorer record. It really would be no surprise to see the England international break the deadlock at The Hawthorns (9/2 Ladbrokes) although it would be more interesting to see whether Sunderland can hold on to a lead after relinquishing a two-goal advantage against the Blues.
Steve Bruce’s team are 15/8 (bet365) to win the match, although there remains a lingering doubt that they are a soft touch away from home and the discipline doesn’t appear to have improved all that much.
West Ham v Bolton Wanderers, 3pm
While everyone was raving about an excellent Aston Villa performance last Saturday, it was a very ordinary showing from the Hammers who are now 9/2 (Ladbrokes) to be relegated from the Premier League. If they are to avoid the sort of relegation bother experienced under Gianfranco Zola last term, they need to be beating the likes of Bolton at home and you can get 5/4 (bet365) about a home win at Upton Park.
Avram Grant might be a canny operator, but he might also need time to get the best out of this limited Hammers squad. He will at the very least hope that the defence can be more solid at home and Paddy Power offer 9/5 that West Ham keep a clean sheet. Carlton Cole is 5/1 (William Hill) to open the scoring, while Frederic Piquionne (6/1 Stan James) might get his first start.
Bolton are an eye-catching 13/5 (Ladbrokes) to win at Upton Park as they did last season and Owen Coyle’s team were unfortunate not to beat Fulham last Saturday. Johan Elmander looked especially bright and the Swede is 13/2 (William Hill) to break the deadlock.
Wigan Athletic v Chelsea, 5.15pm
Many people will be adding Chelsea to their accumulators this weekend after a 6-0 demolition job on West Brom, especially as Wigan were busy getting tonked 4-0 by Blackpool. However, football is a funny old game and the Latics did beat the Blues at the DW Stadium last term. Bet365 go 14/1 that they manage a repeat success and the players will have an almighty kick up the backside after such a shoddy performance.
Mauro Boselli looked especially out of sorts in attack, although the striker is getting up to speed with the Premier League and perhaps he’ll rise to the occasion against the champions. You can get 14/1 (Sky Bet) that he scores first, although the home defence might be spending a lot of time trying to stop Didier Drogba (11/4 Sky Bet), Nicolas Anelka (7/2 Sporting Bet), Florent Malouda (11/2 bet365) and Frank Lampard (4/1 Ladbrokes).
Chelsea should run out as comfortable winners if last weekend’s matches are any yardstick and the Blues are a best price 1/4 (Ladbrokes) to win this televised encounter. You can back them at 4/6 (Stan James) to do a Blackpool and lead at half-time, while Paddy Power go 11/1 that the champions win by a 4-0 scoreline. If you think another 6-0 is on the cards, Ladbrokes offer 50/1.
