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EPL Match Preview: 6 – 8 February

Posted on | Posted by Clint Vojdinoski

Manchester City v Leicester City

Saturday February 6, 8.45pm, Etihad Stadium

Manchester City were on the defensive for much of their match and survived a late onslaught to grind out a 1-0 win at Sunderland. The winner came on 16 minutes when Sergio Aguero kept his cool to control Jesus Navas’ deflected shot to score from 10 yards. City keeper Joe Hart was unexpectedly busy and he had to make a number of fine stops with a first half reaction save to deny Jermaine Defoe the pick of them.

Jamie Vardy’s stunning half-volley propelled Leicester City to a 2-0 win over Liverpool to incredibly keep the Foxes top of the Premier League. Vardy found the breakthrough on the hour mark when he ran onto Riyad Mahrez’s long ball and lashed his shot over Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet. And Vardy doubled Leicester’s lead 12 minutes later when he reacted quickest to Shinji Okazaki’s blocked shot.

Prediction

An incredible top of the table clash. Leicester’s work rate from forward to defence makes them hard to beat while City were below par against Sunderland but won the kind of match that propels teams to titles. An in-form Aguero is the key as he will have to take on Leicester’s defence himself. Take City for the narrow win which will take them back to the top of the league with the 2.5 goal overs.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Manchester City

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Sergio Aguero

Swansea City v Crystal Palace

Saturday February 6, 11pm, Liberty Stadium

Swansea City blew two vital points in their battle to stay away from the relegation zone after they conceded a 90th minute equaliser to draw 1-1 to West Brom. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 64th minute goal was the difference until Salomon Rondon’s forced the ball home in stoppage time to equalise for the Baggies.

Crystal Palace’s miserable run continued as they threw away a 1-0 lead to go down 2-1 to Bournemouth. Scott Dann turned in Wilfried Zaha’s powerful cross on 27 minutes but could only hold that lead for a little over six minutes before falling behind in the second half. Zaha was a bright spark for Palace as he freely took on opponents and looked to create for his teammates but it was once again an insipid performance from their forwards.

Prediction

The lack of a goalscorer is hindering Palace’s season which means a lot will rest on enigmatic forward Emmanuel Adebayor to be the focal point. Swansea’s new recruit Alberto Paloschi adds the power and hold-up play they have been missing to go along with their possession based game. Overall, an improved Swansea are well priced at $2.21 for the win.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Swansea City

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Alberto Paloschi

Stoke City v Everton

Saturday February 6, 11pm, Britannia Stadium

Stoke City’s up and down season continued with their second straight 3-0 loss, this time to Manchester United. The Potters were never in the game after trailing 2-0 on 23 minutes as United played with greater fluency. Such was Stoke’s lack of dominance that they failed to register a shot on target.

Everton ended a run of poor league form as two late Ross Barkley penalties and a first half goal from Aaron Lennon helped the Toffees secure a first home league win since November. The comprehensive performance was made even more enjoyable for Everton manager Roberto Martinez as his side secured only their second clean sheet at home this season.

Prediction

It was a seven goal thriller when these clubs met in December but fast forward six weeks and both clubs are in shaky form. Everton have been draw specialists away while Stoke’s best form has been at home. Take a draw between both clubs ensconced in mid table.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Draw

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Romelu Lukaku

Aston Villa v Norwich City

Saturday February 6, 11pm, Villa Park

A moment of madness from leading scorer Jordan Ayew was the game’s turning point when Aston Villa went down 2-0 at West Ham. Ayew was shown a straight red card early in the first half for elbowing Aaron Cresswell as the two jockeyed for position. From there, Villa had no chance of getting back into the match and cracked in the face of constant West Ham pressure in the second half to concede twice.

Norwich City lost their fourth league match on the bounce as they were humbled 3-0 at home to Tottenham. The Canaries were always chasing the game after Dele Alli gave Spurs an early lead. Even more damning was a woeful defensive performance from fullbacks Martin Olsson and Ivo Pinto who had torrid evenings up against Tottenham’s forwards.

Prediction

For this relegation six-pointer Villa have to do it without Ayew. His silly red card is the type of incidence that relegated teams suffer. This match will be tense and scrappy, an out-of-form Norwich will be the more risk-averse, happy to take a draw, while Villa need to go for it. Villa to edge the match.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Aston Villa

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Rudy Gestede

Liverpool v Sunderland

Saturday February 6, 11pm, Anfield

Despite being the better side for much of the match, Liverpool still went down 2-0 at Leicester. Despite seeing a lot of the ball, Liverpool’s problem was they failed to find a way to push through Leicester’s compact defence and their inability to carve out clear-cut chances proved to be their undoing.

Sunderland are still stuck in the relegation zone despite causing Manchester City a lot of problems in their 1-0 loss at the Stadium of Light. In a spirited performance, the Black Cats had more possession after the break and played the game almost entirely in the away half. Jermain Defoe and Billy Jones both had great first half chances and City defender Nicolas Otamendi cleared off the line in injury time to deny Sunderland a point.

Prediction

Sunderland will aim to sit deep, keep it compact in midfield and defence which means a lot of the match will be played in their defensive half, but they run the risk of isolating their forwards. Liverpool are having some struggles in midfield with an inability to create chances on a consistent basis for forwards that oscillate between hot and cold. Liverpool might be favourites but take a look at a draw which is generously priced at $4.65.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Draw

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Jermain Defoe

Tottenham Hotspur v Watford

Saturday February 6, 11pm, White Hart Lane

Tottenham moved up to third with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Norwich. Dele Alli scored a tap-in in the second minute and then won a 30th minute penalty which was converted by Harry Kane. Spurs wrapped up the points in the 90th minute when Christian Eriksen played Kane through and he calmly finished a one-on-one.

Watford survived a late onslaught to earn a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea. Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes was the star as he made two superb saves, first to deny Branislav Ivanovic, before the keeper made an even better stop to repel Diego Costa’s header. Gomes’s fine match helped the Hornets keep their seventh clean sheet at home this season.

Prediction

Spurs are in top form with Alli and Kane proving they are one of the form duos in the division, and with Jan Vertonghen out injured, Kevin Wimmer has stepped up to provide security in defence. Tottenham to win as Watford need to come out and attack but have recently struggled to take the game to their opposition.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Tottenham Hotspur

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Harry Kane

Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion

Saturday February 6, 11pm, St James’ Park

The pressure on Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren increased as his side were dismal in a 3-0 loss away at Everton. The Magpies were exceedingly poor, lacking cohesion up front and defending haphazardly at best as Everton created chances at will. McClaren’s side were the most active in the January transfer window and he needs his players to gel with his side stuck in the relegation zone.

Salomon Rondon ended a run of nine games without a goal as his late equaliser salvaged a point for West Brom in their 1-1 draw at home to Swansea. In an evenly poised contest, Darren Fletcher and Saido Berahino looked the liveliest for Tony Pulis’ side with Fletcher guilty of passing up three gilt-edged chances.

Prediction

The Magpies have gone nine league games without a clean sheet and against Everton looked disjointed, which is the case when a lot of new arrivals enter a team in the midst of a relegation battle. West Brom meanwhile continue to be goal shy and lack the firepower to trouble any opponent.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Draw

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Ayoze Perez

Southampton v West Ham United

Sunday February 7, 1.30am, St Mary’s Stadium

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster was the star as he notched his fourth consecutive clean sheet in their goalless draw with Arsenal. Forster made 10 saves to keep the Gunners at bay with top saves to deny Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez.

West Ham comfortably saw off 10-man Aston Villa 2-0. From the 17th minute, West Ham’s evening was made a lot easier when Villa striker Jordan Ayew was given his marching orders for foolishly elbowing Aaron Cresswell. From that moment, West Ham dominated possession and created chances at will and their pressure finally told in the second half when Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate eventually made the advantage count.

Prediction

Southampton’s resurgence has coincided with Forster’s return from injury. He has added the extra bit of steel to a side that were sorely lacking it in the run-up to Christmas. Take the Saints at home.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Southampton

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Charlie Austin

AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal

Sunday February 7, 9.30pm, Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth came from a goal down to triumph 2-1 at Crystal Palace. A goal down after 27 minutes, the Cherries equalised seven minutes later when Marc Pugh showed off some neat footwork to give himself some space before firing a shot inside the far post. January signing Benik Afobe scored his third goal in three games by reacting quickest to head home a rebound to put the Cherries ahead in the 57th minute.

Arsenal’s title hopes took a blow in a goalless draw with Southampton that left Arsene Wenger’s men in fourth place, five points off Premier League leaders Leicester. The Gunners had numerous chances but were unable to find a way through a resilient Saints side and their keeper Fraser Forster. Arsenal are now winless in four league games.

Prediction

Arsenal have gone three league games without a goal with Olivier Giroud needing some extra help up front. Added to that the wastefulness of the squad has seen Arsene Wenger’s men slip away from the top two. In all, Bournemouth are still too susceptible defensively so take Arsenal for the victory at $2.11.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Arsenal

Over 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Olivier Giroud

Chelsea v Manchester United

Monday February 8, Midnight, Stamford Bridge

In a frustrating attacking performance, Chelsea drew 0-0 away at Watford. It took the Blues 60 minutes to register a shot on target but carved out some decent late chances to eventually trouble their opponents. Interim manager Guus Hiddink has now overseen an unbeaten run of seven Premier League games, with five draws.

Manchester United put in an exceptional first half performance to outclass Stoke City 3-0. On 14 minutes Jesse Lingard put United ahead with a diving header from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross and less than 10 minutes later Anthony Martial made it 2-0 with a fabulous curling shot from 15 yards. United sealed the points eight minutes after the break as a lightning quick one-touch move involving Juan Mata and Martial setup Wayne Rooney to tap home.

Prediction

Chelsea are difficult to beat but tend to drift out of matches. If United bring an uninhibited game plan and play with some width they will easily overcome Chelsea. Have a look at United to shock Chelsea at home which is paying $3.90.

Suggested Bets

Match Result – Manchester United

Under 2.5 Goals

Anytime Goalscorer – Wayne Rooney

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