The EPL returned to action with three games last night following the weekend’s FA Cup Third Round action and now this Wednesday sees the final seven matches from round 21 of the 2015/16 play out. There are some massive matches being played with league leaders Arsenal travelling to Anfield to take on Liverpool while Tottenham and Leicester clash at White Hart Lane for the second time in 72 hours following their 2-2 FA Cup draw on Sunday. The relegation battle of Swansea v Sunderland and Man City taking on Everton for the second time in a week also draw the attention.
We preview all seven matches playing this evening with WilliamHill.com to provide our best EPL picks from tonight’s football.
Tottenham v Leicester: 1.80 – 3.50 – 4.50
The biggest game of this Wednesday evening’s EPL action sees two of the top four sides in the league clash for the second time since Sunday when their 2-2 draw, which saw Harry Kane ensure the Londoner’s name in the hat for the fourth round draw with an 88th minute penalty, saw both teams on the scoresheet for the 11th successive meeting between Spurs and The Foxes. Their last six meetings have produced 24 goals and with Leicester having rested Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy for the cup tie, while the home side were forced into playing Harry Kane and Dele Ali when chasing the match, we can certainly see goals from the away side in this EPL clash.
Tottenham have lost just one of their last ten at home in all competitions, but have just three clean sheets in this time, while Leicester have lost just a single of their 13 games on the road this season and have just two clean sheets. With Kane, Mahrez and Vardy all in excellent goalscoring form this season we feel that, once again, goals in a Tottenham v Leicester match is the way to go.
Our best Tottenham v Leicester bet is back Both Teams to Score – Yes @ 1.80 with William Hill.
Liverpool v Arsenal: 2.90 – 3.10 – 2.50
Arsenal come into this clash at Anfield having had the better time of things over the weekend as they fielded a strong side to cruise past Sunderland 3-1, while an injury hit Liverpool side needed to hang on to claim a 2-2 draw away at League Two side Exeter. It is The Gunners who have the better recent record in recent meetings with Liverpool too with two wins and two draws in their last four clashes, although one of those draws came at Anfield and with Liverpool winning the previous home match 5-1 they have not lost to Arsenal in front of The Kop since 2012. Can they upset the odds and avoid defeat this Wednesday evening too?
Liverpool are in fine form at home with three wins and a draw in their last four matches in all competitions since losing 2-1 to their bogey side Crystal Palace two months ago, but with them devastated by injuries and missing key players all over the pitch they may find themselves on the end a defeat this midweek. Arsenal have won seven of their last eight matches, losing only to Southampton on Boxing Day, as they top of the EPL table and with them having the greatest midfielder in the league (statistics wise at least) in Mesut Özil – he has created 16 goals this season already – we feel that The Gunners will find plenty of space at the back of the home team’s side and we’re backing the away win in this one.
Our money is on Arsenal to beat Liverpool at odds of 2.50 in the William Hill Sportsbook!
Man City v Everton: 1.53 – 4.00 – 6.50
These two sides meet the for the second time in a week following their clash in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi finals that saw Everton claim a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park to lead the tie at the halfway stage before the return to The Etihad Stadium for the second time this season (after tonight) in two weeks time. They would love to put down a marker for that match as they aim to secure a spot at Wembley by claiming their first win away to City since back to back wins in the 09/10 and 10/11 seasons.
City have certainly had problems on the road this season with just two wins in their last seven in all competitions, but they have not had these problems at The Etihad as they have won ten of their last 11 on home soil. Only Liverpool have beaten them here since September and these 11 games have seen them score 38 goals despite missing Sergio Aguero for a number of these games. The biggest problem they have is that they have not kept a clean sheet on the blue half of Manchester since August and with their defensive leader Vincent Kompany still out injured they are unlikely to end this record on Wednesday night.
Romelu Lukaku has bagged 15 goals in the EPL already this season for The Toffees and he scored the winner against City last week in the cup and with City conceding so many goals we’re backing the Belgian to find himself of the scoresheet once again.
Back Romelu Lukaku to score anytime v Man City @ 3.10.
Swansea v Sunderland: 1.80 – 3.50 – 4.50
This clash at The Liberty Stadium is a definite relegation six pointer as Swansea are out of the bottom three by just two points and only Sunderland’s local rivals, Newcastle, act as a barrier between these sides. There are just four points separating The Swans and The Black Cats coming into this match and both teams will be desperate to bounce back from the FA Cup losses at the weekend with their first win against the other after three successive draws between the sides.
Swansea were shocked by League Two side Oxford on Sunday as they exited the competition after losing 3-2 and their guests this midweek were also sent packing as they led at Arsenal before falling to a 3-1 loss. This is the sixth loss in seven matches in all competitions for Sunderland and they have now lost four successive away games conceding 13 goals so things are not looking bright for them. The only thing that will see the away team for this match having any positivity is that they have scored in each of their last six matches away from the Stadium of Light and as Swansea have failed to score in five of their last eight home games they will believe that a single goal could see them take all three points.
We are not confident of either side winning this match and we would not be surprised to see a fourth straight draw between these two teams. However, we feel that a lack of goals offers more value and is a more certain outcome, so we’re putting our money on few goals at The Liberty Stadium.
We are backing Both Teams to Score – No and Under 2.5 goals to be scored at odds of 1.91 with WilliamHill.com.
Chelsea v West Brom: 1.44 – 4.20 – 8.00
Despite sitting 14th in the EPL table Chelsea come into this second match with The Baggies this season having finally put together some semblance of form as they are unbeaten in five matches following their 2-0 win over Scunthorpe in the FA Cup over the weekend following an impressive 3-0 thumping of Crystal Palace. They are certainly playing with more confidence under Guus Hiddink than they were under Jose Mourinho and victory against the Midlanders will see them go level on points with their guests, but can they keep this form going?
Chelsea are now unbeaten in four in all competitions at Stamford Bridge and with West Brom having won just one of their last seven away games we can see why William Hill have made the home side the heavy favourites for victory. Tony Pulis’ men have just six goals scored on the road this season and with them having failed to win away at Chelsea since 1978 while failing to score in eight of their last ten visits to this area of West London we feel that this match will end as a comfortable victory for the home side too.
Our best Chelsea v West Brom bet is back Chelsea to win by at least two goals (Chelsea -1) @ 2.20 at William Hill.
Southampton v Watford: 2.00 – 3.20 – 4.00
Their 2-1 home loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup at the weekend saw Southampton continue their poor recent form as they have now lost three successive matches since thumping Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day and this win is their only triumph since beating Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light as November began. They have taken just one win and one draw in their last ten matches in all competitions as they now sit 13th in the EPL table while they are, bar the defeat of the league leaders, struggling for goals and confidence is low at St. Mary’s.
Southampton are unbeaten in four matches against The Hornets as they have won two and drawn two in this time, but it will be the away side who have taken the more confidence from the 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road at the start of the season. They bounced back from 2-1 defeats to Tottenham and Man City at the weekend as they saw off Newcastle 1-0 to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest they will be further boosted.
Watford have lost just one of their last seven away matches before this trip down south and with top scorer Odion Ighalo having been rested at the weekend we feel that they’ll be once against amongst the goals and we are backing the away side to take something back to London from this clash.
Our top Southampton v Watford tip is back Watford/Draw Double Chance at odds of 1.75 in the William Hill Sportsbook!
Stoke v Norwich: 2.05 – 3.30 – 3.75
The recent history of meetings between Stoke and Norwich has not provided much in the way of entertainment as all of their seven EPL meetings since the 2011/12 season have seen either one or two goals, with both of their last two games ending 1-1. However, in recent matches Stoke have been finding their feet and impressing on home soil as they won four of their last six at The Britannia Stadium beating Chelsea, Manchester United and Man City too during this time.
Norwich were dumped out of the FA Cup by Man City at the weekend but with just a single defeat in their last five league games they’ll be confident for this match. Unfortunately for them they have won just one of their away games in all competitions since August and with Stoke being so good on home soil we are backing a home win in this final game from round 21 of the Premier League this midweek.
Our money is on Stoke to beat Norwich @ 2.05 with WilliamHill.com.