Posted on 31 Mar 2011 at 19:01 PM by
Formex
With Champions Leagues ties next week for Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham they can be excused if they are less than focused on this weekend’s games and if that is the case maybe we should be with their opposition.
Any slip up will certainly aid title challengers Arsenal and Man City and it is the former who play on Saturday when they entertain Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium who look the soundest bet to overcome declining opposition.
The Gunners have faltered of late, exiting three competitions in a fortnight, but couldn’t have wished for better opponents in Rovers who look destined for Championship football next season unless they can stop their freefall which has seen them take just two points from the last twenty one.
Arsenal have their own problems, especially in defence, but nothing other than a resounding home win is expected and for those so inclined a 3-0 correct score bet could pay dividends.
Man City have to wait until Sunday to host Sunderland at Eastlands and although their chance of the title is now nothing more than a dream three points here should keep them firmly in the fourth place they need to ensure Champions League football for their rich owners. Sunderland have the worst current form record in the league with only a single point from their last six games and are unlikely to improve on that here.
Leaders Man United start the weekend with a trip to West Ham on Saturday morning and with only four wins on the road this season we don’t need to take too short a price about an away win. West Ham have improved of late and have moved out of the bottom three although a repeat of their 4-0 victory over United in the League Cup earlier in the season is not on the cards. The Hammers record against the big clubs in the league is poor and unless United are to rest a number of key players ahead of the Champions League clash with Chelsea it is difficult to see a home win.
Rooney has found things tough again this season but United have been able to call on Berbatov and in recent weeks young Javier Hernandez has been scoring for fun and if his name appears in the starting line-up it is hard to see him not on the score sheet and he could be an interesting bet.
A wait for late team news is the best advice but with the Hammers improving and United less than convincing on the road and with that match against Chelsea next week the bet recommendation has to be for a draw.
Chelsea themselves are still in with a shout of retaining their title and nothing less than a win at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke on Saturday will suffice. The good news for Blues fans is they have an excellent record against Tony Pulis’ side but with Stoke boasting an 8-3-4 home record this season this could be closer than they would wish. Even if Ancelotti does rest a key player or two ahead of the United clash his side should take the points and a 1-2 correct score bet is the call.
Wigan find themselves at the bottom of the table as they host Tottenham at the DW Stadium but with the visitors having to travel to the Bernabeu to play Real Madrid next week in their Champions League quarter final it is the perfect opportunity for Wigan to pick up some points.
The Latics have beaten Arsenal and Chelsea at the DW in the last two seasons and they won the reverse fixture against Tottenham so odds of around 2/1 for a home win look more than tempting and it’s a bet we can get stuck into.