Despite taking the EPL title last season, the 2015/16 campaign has been a nightmare for Chelsea as they have lost nine of their 15 Premier League games and sit just a single point above the relegation zone coming into this weekend’s action. They face a massive relegation six pointer as they could find their guests at Stamford Bridge – the second bottom side Sunderland – ahead of them in the league table if they are defeated.
Owner Roman Abramovich had enough of the poor results and fired manager Jose Mourinho during the week so will Chelsea bounce back this weekend or slump to another defeat and into the relegation zone at the foot of the league? We preview this massive game for the Londoners, as well as all of the other Premier League football playing this Saturday, with online sportsbook Bet365.com to provide our best EPL picks.
Chelsea v Sunderland: 1.33 – 5.25 – 12.00
So The Special One is gone from Stamford Bridge after the shocking set of results for the champions that has seen them lose five of their last seven league games, including losing 2-1 at current league leaders Leicester on Monday night, and now the Londoners will have to work towards rediscovering the form that saw them take the EPL title last season. Unfortunately, they do not have the best of results in recent times against Sunderland as the last three meetings between the sides have seen a win apiece as well as a draw, with Sunderland winning 2-1 at this stadium two seasons ago. Confidence is low for the Londoners right now, but they did beat Sunderland here 3-1 last season so can they repeat that to secure just their fifth victory this season?
Chelsea are definitely missing Radamel Falcao for this match and Edin Hazard is a doubt after picking up a hip injury in the defeat to Leicester on Monday night and Sunderland have their own injury issues too with Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson both missing this game. These two players will be a massive blow to the side from the North East especially as they have lost their last two games against Arsenal and Watford before this weekend to see them lose their confidence from back to back wins against Crystal Palace and Stoke.
We feel that this game will be a close and cagey game, but with both sides having scored reasonably well this season at more than a goal a game as well as conceding almost two goals per game so we can see their being goals in this match at Stamford Bridge.
Our best Chelsea v Sunderland bet is back both teams to score @ 2.20 at Bet365.com.
Everton v Leicester: 2.05 – 3.70 – 3.75
Two of the most attractive to watch sides clash on Saturday afternoon as tenth placed Everton take on top of the table Leicester and we’re expecting goals! The two sides have the three top goalscorers in the league in their teams as Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have 15 and 11 goals for the league leaders while Romelu Lukaku has 12 for Everton to see him second in the standings.
Nine of the last 11 meetings between the teams have seen both teams score and both clashes last season saw 2-2 draws, and with Everton winning three and drawing two of their last six at home while Leicester are unbeaten on the road with five wins and three draws in eight we would not be surprised to see another share of the spoils. However, we feel goals from these three top drawer players offers the best value and we’re splitting our bet as result.
We are backing half stake on Lukaku to score anytime at 1.95 and half on Vardy to score anytime at odds of 2.20 in the Bet365 Sportsbook!
Man United v Norwich: 1.45 – 4.50 – 8.50
The home side come into this clash with third bottom of the table Norwich City with back to back defeats to their name after Wolfsburg eliminated them from the Champions League and Bournemouth triumphed 2-1 last weekend. United have been suffering from a large number of injuries of late as well as playing some negative football, but they do have Wayne Rooney back for this match to provide some much needed experience up front while Ander Herrera and Chris Smalling have returned to training but are still doubtful to start this match. It is an improvement for a side that boosted an almost unrecognisable defence last weekend, but will it be enough to triumph this Saturday?
Norwich are without a win in four games coming into this clash and have taken just two points on the road since defeating Sunderland 3-1 on the opening day. They have lost five of the following seven matches and have scored just six goals in this time, so we feel that they will be in trouble this weekend as they face a Manchester United team that has conceded just one goal at Old Trafford in their last nine games in all competitions. However, United are not scoring many goals recently either and have drawn blank on their last two games at Old Trafford and, as a result, we can see there being few goals in this Saturday afternoon clash.
Our money is on Under 2.5 goals in this Man United v Norwich game @ 1.85.
Southampton v Tottenham: 2.70 – 3.40 – 2.80
After letting a one goal advantage slip on home soil last weekend as they were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle the away side at St. Mary’s Stadium this weekend missed the chance to move into the top four and saw their 14 match unbeaten run come to an end. They have had a week to regroup after looking tired and lethargic in the second 45 minutes of last weekend’s clash and will be desperate to restart another long unbeaten run against their manager’s former side.
Southampton are struggling at the moment as they have slipped to 12th in the table and have taken just one point in their last four matches, failing to win in six weeks since triumphing 1-0 away at Sunderland. They should welcome back Graziano Pelle for this match up front to boost their attacking options, but they are down to their third choice goalkeeper as Fraser Forester and Maarten Stekelenburg are both missing. With Tottenham unbeaten in six matches against The Saints and having the better and more in form attacking players available to them for this match we feel that they’ll be the ones to bounce back and take all three points on the South coast this weekend.
Our top Southampton v Tottenham tip is back the away win at odds of 2.80 at Bet365.
Stoke v Crystal Palace: 2.50 – 3.20 – 3.20
Although these two sides come into this game sitting 11th and sixth in the EPL table they are separated by just three points and we’re expecting a close contest between these two sides as there has been one draw and three one goal wins in the four EPL clashes between these sides over the last two seasons. Both teams are in similar form having taken ten points over their last six matches, but it will be the home side that will fancy their chances more this Saturday as they have recorded six clean sheets in their last seven games.
On top of this Crystal Palace, despite their fine form this season, have been suffering injuries to their front line and attackers Bakary Sako and Dwight Gayle are both out of this clash with hamstring injuries so may struggle to break through the Stoke defence. The only time that Stoke had their backline breached in recent times was when they had captain Ryan Shawcross sent off so if they can keep all 11 players on the field then they will be confident of winning this match.
Neither of these sides concedes many goals and both are certainly better defensively than they are going forwards, so we feel that this will be another close and cagey match that will see few goals scored.
Our best Stoke v Crystal Palace bet is both teams to score – No at odds of 1.83 in the Bet365 Sportsbook!
West Brom v Bournemouth: 2.60 – 3.30 – 2.95
Although they are the outsiders for this match at The Hawthorns, the newly promoted Bournemouth side will be the most confident side in the Premier League right now as they bring a four match unbeaten run, with victories over Chelsea and Manchester United in their last two games, to the Midlands this Saturday. Eddie Howe’s side have moved themselves out of the bottom three of the league with some fine performances despite a massive amount of injuries throughout this debut season in the Premier League as their own brand of attacking football that saw them score 98 goals in the Championship last season starts to work for a side that was on the brink just weeks ago.
West Brom come into the game in decent form too as they are unbeaten in four matches, although they have drawn all of the last three since upsetting the odds and defeating Arsenal 2-1 on this ground. Despite being a Tony Pulis side they have done well on the goal front too, especially on home soil, as they have scored eight in their last five at The Hawthorns whilst conceding the same amount of goals. With Bournemouth scoring goals now too we can see this game being a thriller and our cash is going on the goals market.
Back Over 2.5 goals at The Hawthorns @ 2.15 with Bet365.com.
Newcastle v Aston Villa: 2.05 – 3.50 – 4.00
The late kickoff on Saturday evening comes from St. James’ Park where Newcastle take on Aston Villa with both sides desperate for all three points. The Magpies are flying high at the moment as they have won back to back matches over Liverpool and Tottenham to move out of the bottom three and into 15th place in the league, but with just two points separating them and the relegation zone they will know that they must win this match against the struggling Midlanders to boost their chances of staying safe. Steve McClaren has the same players available to him that defeated Tottenham last weekend as well as the returning Cheick Tiote and with this boost plus the fact that they have been defeated on home soil only by league leaders Leicester in their last five they will believe that victory is theirs for the taking.
Things have not gone as well for Aston Villa as they would have hoped following the appointment of Remi Garde as they have lost three and drawn two of their five matches since the Frenchman took charge at Villa Park. They did get commendable draws against Man City and Southampton, but both were backs to the wall jobs, and they have conceded nine goals in their other three games against Everton, Watford and Arsenal. They are lacking in confidence and ability, and with the home side having the momentum coming into this clash we cannot see anything but a home win in this game.
We are backing Newcastle to beat Aston Villa at odds of 2.05 at Bet365.