Premiership - 31st August 2013

Manchester City (2/11) v Hull (18)

Manchester City’s away woes manifested themselves once again with a lamentable defeat at Cardiff but back at home things will be an entirely different matter and they can cover a two-goal handicap at home to Hull. Steve Bruce’s side got their home campaign off to a much needed flying start but this is an entirely different task and damage limitation is likely to be the aim.

Advice: 3 pts Manchester City -2 (13/10 Paddy Power)

Cardiff (12/5) v Everton (7/5)

Cardiff got off to a flying start when beating Manchester City – a thoroughly  deserved win – at home and they have every chance of a result once again against Everton, who haven’t won on the road since January and were unable to break down West Brom at the weekend, in a stark contrast to the wonderful passages they put together at Norwich. Opposing them seems to be the stats based bet, but this looks a game to avoid with no outstanding bet or value.

Advice:  No bet

Newcastle (6/5) v Fulham (11/4)

Newcastle’s opening weekend defeat at Manchester City was a worrying one for Magpie fans but not unexpected; The toothlesness they showed against West Ham last weekend was surely of more concern. Newcastle have failed to score in five of their last 6 league matches, while Fulham – who edged a tight contest against Sunderland on the opening day and were brushed side by Arsenal last weekend – haven’t got the best away record. Unders is the call.

Advice: 1 pt Under 2.5 goals (10/11 general)

Norwich (19/10) v Southampton (13/8)

Both these sides are aiming high in the Premier League this season and both are realistic at the least top half contenders. Southampton’s strength in depth is much improved this season from last, but their away record was an area of weakness for them last year and Norwich’s home record is one of the best in the league – they won 11 times at home last season while beating Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United to name three. Southampton managed to get a draw there last season however and were impressive despite getting only a point against Southampton at St Mary’s. This game might be best avoided.

West Ham (10/11) v Stoke (10/3)

West Ham have made a fine start to this season with 4 points in their two games and can put their home  record to good use to beat Stoke, who have won just one of their last 12 away games in the Premiership. Observers might say the two are smilar but West Ham have more quality in midfield and the final third, so are the bet for a tight win with home advantage.

Advice: 1 pt West Ham to win by one goal (14/5 Ladbrokes)

Crystal Palace (13/8) v Sunderland (2)

Crystal Palace have lost their opening two games but played well in both of them for long periods, threatening the Tottenham back 4 on many occasions and then going down fighting to Stoke at the Britannia, and they have a realistic chance of taking points off Sunderland. However Paolo Di Canio’s side have proven tough to break down so far this season and took a point despite being put under a barrage at Southampton last weekend. While their recent away record – they’ve lost 6 of their last eight on the road – isn’t great, this is a higher quality Sunderland outfit than recent sides and they look well capable of being able to snatch another win.

Advice: 1 pt Sunderland to win by one goal (4/1 BetVictor)

West Brom (17/10) v Swansea (15/8)

A tricky game between two sides separated by very little last season. Swansea are the better team in our minds, but only won 5 away games last year. That said, they played well against United and Tottenham – especially at White Hart Lane – and can take all three points here although not strongly enough for us to back them here, although Swansea to win by one goal would be our idea of a value bet.

Advice: No bet

Liverpool (13/8) v Manchester United (19/10)

The first of a massive double header. Liverpool have been the subject of much ridicule over the last two years but investment youth and patience from John Henry with Brendan Rodgers having implemented himself and his style of play upon the club an several young talents having impressed. The Top 4 may be a season away still, but they’re back on the right path and have good prospects, especially if able to improve the finishing of their first two games – as promising as that pair of 1-0 victories were. Manchester United made a perfect start to life under Moyes with their 4-1 win at Swansea and had all the threat in their bore draw big meeting with Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday. Jose kept Robin Van Persie and the United attack quiet on Monday but that’s not been something that Liverpool have been able to do, having faced two sides that themselves don’t present anything near the threat that United will bring and it’s surprising to see them as underdogs. Liverpool should have won the clash of the two here last year, but missed chances and questionable referring prevented that from being so and United’s superior finishing power might be the difference between the two sides. A 2-1 correct score in the away side’s favour might be the value, with Bet Victor offering cashback in the event of a red card

Advice: 1 pt 2-1 Manchester United (21/2 Bet Victor), 1 pt Manchester United (23/10 Coral, Bet Victor)

Arsenal (6/5) v Tottenham (13/5)

Arsenal made the Champions League group stages for a record 17^th time but they have beaten North London rivals Tottenham by just one point in the last two seasons and Spurs’ improvements in the transfer market put them under serious threat. This North London Derby will go a long way to telling us where the two sides stand – Spurs have taken the lead and gone onto collapse to 5-2 defeats in the last two seasons – but all the evidence so far is that this is Spurs’ strongest side in recent history and the addition of Erik Lamela for a record fee is a huge coup for them in an attacking sense with no goals from open play so far, although on the evidence of the first fortnight the early failures that eventually cost them fourth won’t be a factor this time around. Arsenal’s full strength side is still a very capable one but even that has weaknesses and they do not make much appeal at odds on with the addition of Paulinhio and Capoue in midfield making Spurs an immeasurably harder side to attack in all areas, especially the ones Arsenal have used the last twice. This should be an exciting game, but a watching brief.

Advice: No bet