Weekend Premier Preview by Alan

Premier League
Saturday 1st March

Everton v West Ham, Kick-Off 15:00

West Ham are going through their best run of form ever in the Premier League. When their fans were looking at the form table in mid-February and saw WWW most of them thought they were setting up a new webpage. Well since that they have added another win at home to Southampton. They managed a 3-1 win despite having only 32% of the possession. Everton have hit a flat spot and haven’t scored in their last 2 games. They did put in a good performance against Chelsea and only lost to a late goal. Martinez won’t want to lose 3 on the trot and I expect them to keep this tight. West Ham are flying but Everton will put the brakes on them this weekend and I expect a no score draw.

Bet – Sell Total Goals @ 2.7

Fulham v Chelsea, Kick-Off 15:00

Fulham are playing well at the minute and maybe aren’t getting the results they deserve, but they are in serious trouble. It’s a good time to play Chelsea, after their midweek exertions. The longer Fulham can keep them scoreless the better chance they have of getting something. An early Chelsea goal will make it a very long afternoon for Fulham. I expect Chelsea to win this but it will be tight.

Bet – Small sell of Chelsea/Fulham @ 0.2

Hull v Newcastle, Kick-Off 15:00

Hull are buzzing off the back of their 4-0 win away to Cardiff last time out. With Newcastle struggling to score at the minute, Hull will fancy their chances of winning this and completing the double over Newcastle this season. Other that Remy, you can’t really see where goals will come from in this Newcastle team.

Bet – Buy Hull/Newcastle @ 0.3

Stoke v Arsenal, Kick-Off 15:00

Stoke are on the slide with only one win and only 6 points from their last 10 games. They are only 3 points off the relegation places and really need to steady the ship fast. Neither Chelsea nor City have been able to grab the league by the neck this season and Arsenal quite rightly have title aspirations. They have an extremely tough month ahead of them and no disrespect to Stoke but this will be by far and away their easiest game in March. They say you should start as you mean to go on, and nothing less than a win will do for Arsenal here. I expect them to do just that and not to take their foot off the gas.

Bet – Arsenal/Stoke @ 1

Southampton v Liverpool, Kick-Off 15:00

Liverpool are another team who quite rightly have title aspirations. Worryingly for them, they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 6 away games. That doesn’t seem to matter however, as they can’t stop scoring. Southampton’s current form is fair, which is exactly what you expect from a mid-table team. They are safe but don’t seem to possess the necessary drive to seriously push for a Europa place. Liverpool to win and expect goals

Bet – Sell time of first match goal @ 33

Sunday 2nd March

Aston Villa v Norwich, Kick-Off 16:30

Villa have gotten the better of the last 3 head to heads but their current form leaves a lot to be desired. They have 1 win and only 5 points from their last 7 games. Norwich themselves have had very patchy form of late. They are off the back of a good win at home to Spurs and that will have given them a boost. However, their away form is abysmal and they have only picked up 8 points on the road this season from a possible 39. I think that will go against them here.

Bet – Buy Villa/Norwich @ 0.55

Swansea v Crystal Palace, Kick-Off 16:30

The long season seems to be taking its toll on Swansea’s light squad and they have managed just 1 win in all competitions in February. Palace are enjoying a bit of a resurgence under Tony Pulis. They have 3 wins and 2 defeats in their last 5, but the defeats have come against Arsenal and Man Utd, which can be forgiven. Swansea had a midweek trip to Italy on Europa duty and I expect this to affect them on Sunday. On form Palace should win this and that’s what I expect to happen.

Bet – Sell Swansea/Palace @0.55

Tottenham v Cardiff, Kick-Off 16:30

Spurs had a serious slip up last weekend at Carrow Road and will be keen to get back to winning ways on Sunday. Cardiff are in freefall at present with only 1 win and 5 points from their last 10 games. I really can’t see things getting any better for them here. They are struggling to score at present and you simply can’t win games when that’s the case. Easy win for Spurs here.

Bet – Buy total Goals @ 2.8-3.0

Capital One Cup
Sunday 2nd March

Man City v Sunderland, Kick-Off 14:00

The first silverware of the season is up for grabs this Sunday and City will be hoping this is the first of many for them. The free flowing, goal scoring City of earlier in the season, seem to have faded a little of late. This could be Sunderland’s best chance of silverware for a long time to come. Their form of late has improved and a win from their league game in hand will see them out of the bottom three. Anything can happen over 90 minutes of football but you still expect City to win this one. I don’t see anything other than a big City win.

Bet – Buy City/Sunderland @ 1.8

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.