Premier League Betting Preview

Last updated : 29 January 2009 By FootyMad
We take a look at the forthcoming Premier League games, crunch the stats and offer a few betting predictions to hopefully help earn you a few quid down at the bookies...

It's hard to know what result on Sunday Sir Alex Ferguson would most like to see when Liverpool host Chelsea. Ideally he would like both teams to collect zero points but several injuries to key players.

The Reds and the Blues have both tripped up recently handing the initiative to the champions. Chelsea are without a win in their seven recent trips to Big Four opposition while on Man United have won at Anfield (twice) in 38 Premier League games.

Caution appears the watchword when these two teams meet with 18 of the 20 competitive games between them featuring fewer than three goals and 55% under two goals.

At first glance United don't have an easy task with the visit of Everton, but the Toffees have not won away to a Big Four team in 22 matches whereas United's home record is W26-D2-L1 since 2007/08.

Instead the value appears in backing the half-time draw, Man Utd win. Everton have been behind on their travels at half-time just once this season with their last seven games all 0-0 at the break.

The other prime fixture will see Sunderland attempt to do the double over Newcastle for the first time in 42 years. It is a hard fixture to predict given Newcastle's previous strong home form against bottom-half teams - only one such team from 15 visitors have left St James' with three points, Hull at the start of this season. While the Mackems have won just three of 15 away to bottom-half teams since promotion.

Instead back both teams to score. This have happened in all but one of Joe Kinnear's eight home games in charge and 9/15 of Sunderland's visits to bottom-half teams while 5/7 Newcastle v Sunderland matches at St James' have seen both teams net.

A tough one to call at the Emirates when West Ham visit Arsenal. Under goals might be the order of the day because the Gunners have seen two goals or less in their last five home games and 70% of their last 23. West Ham have seen under two goals in six of their last eight away and eight of their last 10 away to top-six opposition.

Aston Villa have taken 22 points from a possible 24 ahead of Wigan's visit but they have a record of conceding first at Villa Park. Villa have fallen behind in 12 of their last 22 at home and when hosting top-half opponents (excluding the Big Four) they have conceded first in six of eight. Wigan have scored first in half their last 10 away games.

With several relegation six pointers in this round, there could be quite a few matches that don't soar to the footballing heights the advertising would have us expect from the Premier League.

There is little to excite in the Stoke v Manchester City match. Stoke have been level at half-time in six of their last eight home games, as have City in 14 of their last 24 on the road.

Bolton have drawn the first half in seven of their nine home games against bottom-half sides since the start of last season while Spurs have been level at the break in nine of their 14 trips to bottom-half opposition over the same period.

Portsmouth have taken just one point from six away games as they visit Craven Cottage. Fulham have gone W7-D3-L1 at home since the start of last season, of which five were W/W doubles.

Blackburn are now undefeated in five league games while Middlesbrough are without a win in 11. Gareth Southgate's team have not scored more than two goals in a home match since October while the visitors have lost just two of their last six at the Riverside.

There could be goals when Hull host West Brom. The Tigers have had more than two goals in eight of 11 home games this term while WBA have had at least three in six of their eight on the road.

In association with Bettorlogic - providing betting previews and unique tools to research your own betting decisions