Sky Sports 1: Sun 13:30 & 16:00. Chris Hutcheon previews Sunday’s Premier League matches and fancies Carlos Tevez to score in a Man City win over Arsenal.
Manchester City lie just two points off the Premiership pace with home wins against Chelsea and Liverpool to their name already this season and they can stay in the title hunt today by bagging maximum points as they entertain third-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners have looked far from invincible of late in the league having drawn at Sunderland, before suffering back-to-back losses against Chelsea and West Brom and battling back from a goal down to record an unconvincing victory over Birmingham. Subsequently, bookies have seemingly got it right by making Arsene Wenger’s side outsiders, Paddy Power pricing them at 2/1, although the good news for punters is that the odds don’t lean enough towards City, who have been overpriced by William Hill at a generous 6/4.
Nevertheless, Roberto Mancini’s men have found the going tough in their last couple, narrow victories over Newcastle and Blackpool respectively, and there is no doubt that the Gunners have the quality to make life difficult for them. A triumph for the hosts by a solitary goal stands out then at 3/1 with bet365and for the more ambitious Betdaq offer 17/2 for City to shade it 2-1.
Meanwhile, time and again this term, Carlos Tevez has popped up with a crucial goal for the home side and the Argentine striker’s brace at Bloomfield Road on Sunday took his tally to seven in seven. Coral’s 6/4 for the former Manchester United man to add to that total could allow punters to cash-in on that rich vein of form.
At the Britannia Stadium, Manchester United are odds-on at 8/11 with 888Sport to overcome Stoke but on current form, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who have drawn all four matches on the road, don’t look reliable enough to warrant an interest against the resilient hosts, Betfred’s 9/2 outsiders and this one could be a game to avoid from a betting perspective.
Beleaguered Liverpool however, are worth considering at 4/6 courtesy of Totesport to lift the Anfield gloom with a victory over Blackburn (4/1, Gamebookers) in the Reds’ first home match with their new owners in place. Roy Hodgson’s side dug in to record a 0-0 draw in Naples on Thursday and they can build on that result by edging out Rovers in what is a must-win game.
It can get even better for Liverpool as well as they can combine victory with a clean sheet, an outcome quoted by Ladbrokes at 6/4. Sam Allardyce’s men have drawn a blank in their last couple and they can come up short in attack again as they face a home defence boosted by Thursday’s Europa League shutout.
Recommended Bets:
Man City to beat Arsenal – 6/4 (William Hill)
Carlos Tevez to score at any time – 6/4 (Coral)
Liverpool to beat Blackburn to nil – 6/4 (Ladbrokes)
