I may have called the Arsenal v Manchester Utd match wrong but it was a very profitable week for the column nonetheless. My old team Everton did the business for us once again and their 0-1 win got us paid out to the tune of 8.4, whilst Birmingham last-gasp equaliser against Spurs meant our 1-1 prediction in that one was also a winner at 7.0. All of which means we were £54 in profit for the week on our Premier League correct score predictions!
We were also up in our predictions with the football bet of Manchester City to be leading at half-time and winning at full-time against Portsmouth coming in at 1.8 and our back of the draw in Sunderland v Stoke also a winner at 3.45. That left us with a profit of £2.50 for the week across the live TV matches.
The Premier League seems to be my most profitable competition to place your free football bet on so I'm glad we've got another full set of matches this weekend before returning to the enigma that is the FA Cup next week. And what a set of matches they are, with the Merseyside derby kicking off Saturday lunchtime and Chelsea hosting Arsenal on Sunday, a match that could be vital in terms of deciding where the title ends up this season. Here's what I'm backing on Betfair.com this Saturday...
What a game this promises to be. For all of Liverpool's recent problems with injuries, criticism of Benitez and crashing out of the FA Cup, their home form in th Premier League is actually pretty good, having won their last four. Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester City have so far shown to be genuine contenders for a top four finish so Liverpool can't afford too many more slip-ups or else they won't even be making the Champions League group stages next season, let alone the knockout stage.
But they're not hosting any old club this weekend. Everton are a side on the up. They're unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches with their opponents in that run including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. And they've won their last three. Tim Cahill is back amongst the goals, Marouane Fellaini is finally justifying the tag of being Everton's record signing and Louis Saha is showing everyone at Betfair what he's capable of.
When he stays fit Saha brings plenty of goals to any side and some eye-catching performances could yet bring a call-up to France's World Cup squad. But let's not go overboard here: any draw away to a Big Four side is a great result and if you asked David Moyes if he'd take a point from this one, he'd bite your hand off... and come back for seconds! Liverpool are at home but Everton are arguably in the better form and carrying more momentum so a share of the spoils is my prediction here.
It's been an eventful week at White Hart Lane with Robbie Keane and Alan Hutton going out on loan in search of more first team football and Eidur Gudjohnsen making his return to the league where he made his name with Chelsea. That was followed by a good midweek win in the FA Cup where Leeds held their own for much of the match but in the end just couldn't quite handle hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe.
Saturday's match against Aston Villa should give us some serious clues as to which of these two will be pushing the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool for that priceless fourth place. I've liked the way Villa have gone about their business this season and they're actually a more attacking side than people give them credit for. They may not play possession-based attacking football the way the likes of Arsenal, but they send plenty of men forward when they catch teams on the break.
In Stylian Petrov and James Milner they have plenty of guile whilst Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young are right up there with the quickest players in this league. This is a tough match to call but it has all the signs of being an open game so I'm football betting that there will be plenty of goals. |
