With five intriguing league games playing out between Tuesday evening and Thursday, the greatest league in the world gives us a plenitude of action to look forward to.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
This being
my first article for SBN, I am ecstatic to join the team and will try and offer
our readers some direction with their bet slips – sprinkling in some value
where we can. Read on to see how I see these crucial midweek games playing out.
Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore
Tuesday 19 January
6/10 West Ham | Draw 3/1 | West Brom 9/2 (20:00)
Big Sam notched up his first win with West Brom at the weekend which will do wonders for his side’s confidence. The Baggies were excellent in the Black Country Derby against Wolves, but I’m still not convinced Allardyce knows his best side.
West Ham seem to have become a rather gritty side under David Moyes, their performances over the festive period in the league have seen them still competitive in the top half of the table, but I’m not sure how long they can sustain their current approach.
West Brom are dangerous from set pieces and pose a threat going forward, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win (and at 9/2 it might be worth a punt) but for the multiples, the ‘Both Teams to Score’ market should be included at 9/10.
19/10 Leicester | 24/10 | Chelsea 14/10 (22:15)
For a side
who regards themselves as a top-four challenger, Chelsea’s record away from the
Bridge is lethargic and going against them away from home has been profitable.
They just about got past a Fulham side playing with 10-men and I wouldn’t be
confident siding with the Blues.
Leicester
is now second on the table after their victory against Southampton and I was
really impressed with the Foxes at the weekend. They usually struggle when
asked to dictate the game but against the Saints they imposed themselves on the
game, remained dominant and came away with all three points.
Brendan
Rodgers will want to press Chelsea hard and cause damage on the counter-attack,
such an approach might prove handy against an underperforming Chelsea. The
home win should be considered at 19/10.
Wednesday 20 January
1/4 Manchester City | 52/10 | Aston Villa 19/2 (20:00)
There has been a fair amount of chatter recently about United and Liverpool with regard to the forming title-race but how dare we forget – even for a minute – the juggernaut that is Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side has seen massive defensive improvements this season. The combination of John Stones and Ruben Dias has been exceptional. Aston Villa will certainly threaten the tally of nine clean sheets the Citizens have been able to achieve, Dean Smith’s side have managed to find the back of the net all but twice this season. But for their recent disruptions, I think this could have been closer than many would have thought – nonetheless, Manchester City + BTTS at 29/20 offers plenty of value.
47/10 Fulham | 33/10 | Manchester United 11/20 (22:15)
I still haven’t been able to decide how I feel about the United performance at the weekend. I agree they grew into the game and by the end of it looked the side more likely to score, but I’m not sure the mentality of ‘don’t lose’ results in championships…anyway United are still at the summit, and the improvement from last season to this can never be questioned. I just wish they would take games by the scruff of the neck and kill them off.
Fulham are a side growing in confidence, they played really well against Tottenham and Chelsea but in both, they struggled to match the quality those sides have, playing in wide positions. Once the game is stretched somewhat and there are spaces in behind, Fulham struggle.
But they are a well-drilled side and will look to contain United getting bodies behind the ball. United won’t lose this but they have shown an impotence when asked to break disciplined sides down. Back United to win on the Double Chance (Win/Draw) + Under 2.5 at 27/20.
Thursday 21 January
1/5 Liverpool | 57/10 | Burnley 13/1 (22:00)
Liverpool is going through a patch – no question about it. They have injury concerns all over and their formidable attacking threat has looked rather toothless recently. But for all of that, they remain in the title picture and are yet to be outdone on their own patch.
I’ve enjoyed Burnley this season, there is a clear identity under Sean Dyche and everyone buys into it. The gritty, hard as nails, body on the line approach has served them well and to be honest is always a welcomed dose of true English football.
Goals remain a problem for them though, scoring only nine all season is worrying. They have definitely underperformed in front of goal this season notwithstanding the chances they create. But looking ahead to this fixture might provide a much-needed confidence boost for the Clarets, a Liverpool side with defensive frailty coupled with the fact that the Reds have failed to keep a clean sheet against Sean Dyche’s men at Anfield in their four of their previous six encounters. Both Teams to Score at 23/20 is thievery – get on.
Must-have Midweek Multiple totals at a massive 68/1 – see it as a welcome gift from me to you!
Written by Ryan Liberty
@Mr_R_Liberty
