ESPN & Skysports 1: Sat 12.45, Sun 12.30 & 15.00: Man United are 4/5 (Skybet) to beat Blackburn to nil while City are 14/5 to win by 1.
Blackburn held Liverpool on Monday but they look unlikely to repeat the feat against an injury-hit but in-form Manchester United at Old Trafford, where Betfred make Sir Alex Ferguson’s side just 1/6 to pick up a sixth straight win. United’s physio must currently be working overtime but that hasn’t stopped the champions keeping three consecutive clean sheets and they’re 4/5 at Skybet to register another triumph ‘to nil’ against Steve Kean’s strugglers.
Stan James price up United at 13/5 to notch up another big win, those odds mean the Reds must win by at least 4 goals while a 3rd straight 5-0 win is 14/1 at Sportingbet.
Another team with a busy treatment room are third-placed Tottenham but Harry Redknapp’s troops remain odds-on at 1.8 (4/5) with Betdaq to make light of their casualty list to garner a maximum haul at Swansea; however, the hosts are difficult to beat on their own patch and it would be no surprise to see the points shared at the Liberty Stadium, a result price at 13/5.
The rest of the top six, by contrast, should all rack up victories. Boylesports quote Chelsea at 2/7 to send Aston Villa away from Stamford Bridge empty-handed and Paddy Power rate Andre Villas-Boas’ team at 11/10 to combine that win with a clean sheet. Meanwhile, Liverpool are 8/15 () to put recent home frustrations behind them to overcome Newcastle and Stan James mark 1/4 against an Arsenal success against QPR.
Manchester City were unable to break down West Brom at the Hawthorns on what was a frustrating Boxing Day for the Premier League leaders and against a more resilient-looking Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, one or two punters might fancy chancing their arm on a similar outcome.
Skybet post 10/3 against Roberto Mancini’s men sharing the spoils again while Sportingbet offer 14/1 for another goalless encounter, but bookies are confident that City won’t drop more points, Ladbrokes installing them as 8/15 favourites and their extra quality should ultimately tell on Wearside.
Nevertheless the Black Cats, under Martin O’Neill, will inevitably make life tough for the title hopefuls, who are 14/5 via Partybets to prevail by a one-goal margin and bet365 quote City at an alluring 7/1 to chalk up a 1-0 success.
The visitors are no strangers to late goals and on that basis, a case can be made for an away win tagged onto the back of a drawn first period at 10/3 (Totesport). Along similar lines, it could take a while for the deadlock to be broken and Paddy Power make the opener 10/11 to arrive after the 23rd minute, while that first goal is 7/2 courtesy of Boylesports, to be struck by Manchester City’s Argentine front man Sergio Aguero.
In Sunday’s other televised encounter, West Brom and Everton are 12/5 (Skybet) to be inseparable at the Hawthorns and also at 12/5, this time via bet365, hapless Bolton are set to card their first stalemate of the campaign as they entertain Wolves.
At the Britannia Stadium Stan James quote Stoke at 4/6 to get the better of Wigan and finally, Norwich aren’t without appeal at 8/5 with Boylesports, as they come up against Fulham.
Recommended Bets:
Man City to beat Sunderland by one – 14/5 (Partybets)
Chelsea to beat Aston Villa ‘to nil’ – 11/10 (Paddy Power)
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