Live on Sky Sports 1: Sat 17.30: Crystal Palace (6/4, bet365) are one of our picks as we take a look at the weekend’s Premier League games.
Riding high in second spot, with a game in hand on leaders Chelsea, Liverpool have made the ideal start to the new season, picking up back-to-back 1-0 victories in their opening couple of fixtures.
Sceptics will point out that those wins came against Stoke and Aston Villa, teams that finished 13th and 15th respectively last term and indeed, the weekend will offer more of a measure of the Reds’ progress given that they come up against champions Manchester United.
Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers’s charges are narrow favourites at 13/8 via Paddy Power to get the better of their bitter rivals, managed now of course by the former boss of their adversaries from across Stanley Park, Everton; a factor sure to add some extra spice to the occasion, as if any were needed.
United meanwhile, are 19/10 with BetVictor to have the edge, as they have done in the pair’s last three league meetings and it’s 12/5 courtesy of William Hill to finish all square – a bet that’s certain to attract a significant number of neutrals.
BetVictor rate the visitors at 12/1 to play out a second consecutive goalless affair at Anfield, where bet365 quote odds of 9/2 about scores being level at the end of each half while punters anticipating at least one goal will be tempted to back Dean Sturridge at 11/2 via betway to fire the opener, given that he’s done likewise in both of Liverpool’s matches so far (as well as bagging a couple in the League Cup on Tuesday), but he’s a better bet at 15/8 (Stan James) to notch at any time.
Two teams expected to battle for a top four berth, Arsenal and Spurs lock horns at the Emirates and as it’s a derby showdown, neutrals are expected to get stuck into bet365’s 13/5 for the mouth watering clash to prove inconclusive.
The Gunners, on their own patch, are Skybet’s 11/10 jollies but it’s hard to pick a likely winner in North London where bet365’s 7/10 for the teams to conjure up more than 2.5 goals between them is one of the most eye-catching wagers.
At Selhurst Park, bet365 chalk Crystal Palace up at 6/4 to register their first victory of the campaign as they entertain Sunderland and BetVictor mark 13/10 against a maiden win as Everton boss for Roberto Martinez, who takes his team to Cardiff.
Elsewhere, BetVictor’s 13/5 for Fulham to plunder three points at Newcastle’s St James’s Park looks a touch high given that they’ve already won in the North East – at Sunderland – this season and West Ham (evens, Winner.com) should have too much for Stoke.
West Brom’s clash with Swansea at the Hawthorns meanwhile, is 12/5 (Stan James) to end in stalemate and the draw is arguably the stand out price at 12/5 with BetVictor at Carrow Road, where Norwich and Southampton collide.
Recommended Bets:
Fulham to beat Newcastle – 13/5 (BetVictor)
Double on West Ham and Crystal Palace – 4/1 (bet365)
Liverpool and Man Utd to draw – 12/5 (William Hill)
Daniel Sturridge to score at any time – 15/8 (Stan James)
Compare all Premier League odds and bet at the best price.