With some teams in FA Cup action and an international break on the horizon, there’s not much Premier League football around for the next few weeks. However, with a few games underway this weekend, BestOfBets previews the action and there’s some interesting games to be played.
Southampton vs Tottenham, Saturday 15 March @ 3pm
Whatever you’re backing when you bet on Southampton versus Spurs on Saturday afternoon, don’t back goals. Ruben Selles has certainly given the Saints a solid base since he was appointed to replace the chaotic Nathan Jones; they’ve conceded just three goals in their past five league games. But at the other end, goals have been hard to come by, scoring seven in all competitions since the middle of January.
Antonio Conte’s Spurs are hardly known for their free-flowing football either, so it could be a tricky watch at St Mary’s this weekend. Tottenham’s Champions League exit to AC Milan prompted calls for Conte to be dismissed, although the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend lifted some of the pessure.
Spurs are so inconsistent and Saints really need a result, so a draw might be the best bet for this one. A Tottenham win at 3/4 isn’t very generous and the home win, although appealing at 15/4, just isn’t very likely.
Chelsea vs Everton, Saturday 15 March @ 5.30pm
It feels like Graham Potter is finally building something promising at Chelsea. The Champions League knockout victory over Borussia Dortmund was a real shot in the arm and it was sandwiched by morale-boosting league wins over Leeds and Leicester. New signings Enzo Fernandez, Joao Felix and co are flickering into life as well.
Who better to spoil the Potter progress, then, than Sean Dyche and his gnarly Everton team? The former Burnley boss has prompted an upturn in results at Goodison Park, but they’re still very much mired in the relegation scrap and in desperate need of results.
An Everton win on Saturday evening is a long shot at 11/2, the draw is a chance at 7/2, but it’s probably best to play it safe and back the in-form Blues.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace, Sunday 16 March @ 2pm
Arsenal can really steal a march on Manchester City in the title race this weekend, with Pep Guardiola’s side – and Manchester United – in FA Cup action.
The Gunners have shown some real fortitude in recent weeks, battling past Bournemouth with a late winner and then producing a magical display to see off Fulham. But there’s no resting on laurels for Mikel Arteta’s side, especially after the shock sacking of former Arsenal favourite Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace, which may jolt the Eagles into life.
Palace aren’t exactly in fluent form – they’ve drawn a blank in four successive matches, hence Vieira getting the boot – although they nearly derailed City’s title bid last Saturday before Erling Haaland’s late penalty. Arsenal are the wise bet here, mind, and should win to nil to compound a bad week for Palace.
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