Weekend Premiership Tips for 17th April 2010
The Premiership title race has been diluted slightly by the fact Chelsea have taken control of the league title race with a good week of results, helped by the fact Manchester Utd have confirmed that without Wayne Rooney they appear to lack that killer edge against the better teams. Chelsea have a four point lead in the league with four matches remaining. Here are the tips for this weekends matches using the football betting odds from bwin.com.
Also in the news this week was Wayne Rooney potentially coming back from injury to play this weekend, a new chairman being installed at Liverpool whilst the club is up for sale and Frank Lampard being overlooked for PFA Player of the Year again which is surprising given the great season he has had again being amongst the top scorers in the league despite playing in central midfield for Chelsea.
Man City 17/10 Draw 5/2 Man Utd 27/20
Despite Wayne Rooney being 4/1 to score first in this match there is a small chance that he will not play. Man Utd could slip to third if they lose here and Arsenal win away at Wigan so there is a bit of pressure on them to perform. Both teams have plenty to play for with Man City fighting for the final champion’s league qualifying spot. Wayne Bridge and Stephan Ireland are available for selection for City after injury so this match promises to be a real fight. If Rooney plays I fancy Man Utd here as anything less than a win almost hands the title to Chelsea. My tip, however, is the draw due to the good strength of the Man City side and the fact without a fully-fit Rooney Man Utd have not looked nearly as dangerous this season with the results to match. Carlos Tevez is 9/2 to score the first goal of the game which also looks a good bet.
Sunderland 1/2 Draw 57/20 Burnley 11/2
For Sunderland fans this season is a story of what might have been after a great start and then after a fantastic 1-0 home win against then league leaders Arsenal they went on a fifteen match run without a win and very few draws. They have recently regained some form and today they face Burnley who are four points adrift in the relegation places. It is a home match I think they should win today. Lee Cattermole is a major doubt with manager Bruce indicating he may not play him again this season to ensure he is not injured further. Despite a good win against fellow strugglers Hull City I think Sunderland will beat Burnley today. The only question is whether Sunderland will be motivated as they no longer have a goal this season in terms of achievement but in front of their home fans I think they will do it. My tip is Sunderland at 1/2; their odds suit our needs with us backing a draw in the last match.
Sunday – Wigan 5/1 Draw 3/1 Arsenal 1/2
Thanks to Man Utd surprisingly floundering for wins at the end of the season Arsenal could not finish in second place. Arsenal go into this match weakened by the news Thomas Vermaelen is out for the rest of the season and they also have Andrey Arshavin, voicing his problems settling in the UK in the papers this week is also out and Van Persie might not recover from tight muscles as he continues his comeback from injury. Wigan needs a result as they are five points clear from relegation but not far enough away to feel safe. I feel that with Arsenals squad depth they will be able to beat Wigan away today, although the draw is a possibility. My tip is Arsenal at 1/2.
Although I might back the draw between Man City and Man Utd at 5/2 as a singles bet and the two 1/2 win matches as a double, if you were to follow our standard bet and have a £10 treble on Man City v Man Utd to draw at 5/2, Arsenal at 1/2 and Sunderland at 1/2 that would return, including your stake, a total of £78.75.
Enjoy the action this weekend, you might also like to bet on the other big game of the weekend at bwin.com that is not mentioned above which is Tottenham versus Chelsea; kick off at 6.30pm on Saturday. Good luck with whatever football betting selections you decide to bet on this week.
By Malcolm Clarke
