The Premier League threw up many thrills and spills on a dramatic midweek and more drama should be served up on an intriguing Saturday fixture list which sees clashes in the race for Champions League spots and the battle to avoid dropping down to the Championship as well as a crunch dust-up between Duncan Ferguson and Steven Gerrard at Goodison Park.
City Can Make it Unlucky 12 For Rivals
Most of the matches look tight on paper which is reflected in some close betting heats but that is not the same story at St Mary’s where champions Manchester City are aiming to make it 13 straight Premier League wins when they take on Southampton.
There is no desire to lump on City at 1/4 even though Pep Guardiola’s outfit look in a league of their own and Southampton may even be able to make life at least a little tricky for the visitors.
For a bet consider the half-time full-time market where Saints to land a shock lead at the interval before a City comeback could be of interest at 19/1 to small stakes.
Southampton have the fifth-best first-half record in the league and often go after opponents early with their aggressive pressing game but are unable to sustain the pace.
Their second-half record is 18th of 20 teams and there is no doubt City won’t be panicked even if Saints come flying out of the traps.
United to Make it Manchester Double
More appealing bets are to be found elsewhere and, for a change, Manchester United look a value bet at 20/23 at home to West Ham with both teams in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Ralf Rangnick’s hosts were poor in the first half at Brentford on Wednesday but kept the Bees at bay thanks to goalkeeper David de Gea and their supreme attacking talents shone in the eventual 3-1 success once the Red Devils had seen off the first hour.
Bruno Fernandes’s return to form is a welcome boost and with Cristiano Ronaldo hungry for goals expect them to see off a Hammers team carrying defensive injuries at the heart of their rearguard.
Old Trafford
COME ON YOU IRONS!!!
#MUNWHU pic.twitter.com/1J1uaiNiSb
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 22, 2022
David Moyes, on his return to Old Trafford, will be aware West Ham have two clean sheets in their last 13 league games.
Those shutouts came against Norwich and Burnley and the Hammers have also lost all three away games at top-half opponents in the league.
Newcastle Could Nab Vital Points
Leeds beat West Ham 3-2 last week thanks to a Jack Harrison hat-trick but they lost Adam Forshaw and Junior Firpo to injury to leave the small squad stretched further.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men don’t appeal at 1/1 and relegation-threatened Newcastle make small appeal with the tie on the double chance market.
Brentford v Wolves sees two teams in the bottom four of shots per game average and therefore the draw looks a runner in a low-scoring encounter, but it could be much more fun at Goodison Park where Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is sure for a hot reception as Aston Villa’s manager.
The Everton faithful will be buzzing at the thought of their own cult hero Duncan Ferguson leading out the Toffees on a caretaker basis following the sacking of the despised Rafa Benitez.
Expect Everton to come out all guns blazing and backing both teams to score makes sense at 4/5.
Villa had a lot of attacking flair before bringing in Philippe Coutinho but come into the game on a run of just two clean sheets in their last 14 league games.
*All odds correct at time of writing.