Manchester United can close to within a point of the title

Wigan/Manchester Utd, 8pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Steve Bruce has made his annual “we won’t roll over against Manchester United speech” - a speech he probably wouldn’t have to make if it didn’t keep happening - but to say the bookmakers are unconvinced would be an understatement. With the home win available at 14.5 on Betfair, even the most optimistic of Liverpool fans won’t be holding out too much hope. Here are five stats about tonight’s game:

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1. Wigan have lost all eight of their meetings with Manchester United.

2. Steve Bruce’s side have lost just two of their last 12 games at the JJB but have won just two of their last 15 league games.

3. The Latics have taken just one point from their four home games against the top five sides (two points from nine games overall) and they conceded four times against both Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Posted: May 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Where Manchester United are most likely to drop six points

chickendinner provide the straws for Liverpool fans to clutch

Paddy Power think the title race is over and offer just 1/14 on Manchester United winning for the third straight season. To stop them, Liverpool must win all their remaining games and hope that the Red Devils drop six points. It’s all very unlikely but rather than accepting a premature end to an exciting campaign, we decided to look at where the holders are most likely to slip up:

Tottenham (h)
Spurs are unbeaten in six league meetings with the Big Four sides and have lost just one away game against a top-half side. Harry Redknapp’s side have lost one of their last nine and he has won there with West Ham and Portsmouth. Spurs haven’t won an away league match against a Big Four side since August 1993 - when they beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield.
Verdict: United could drop two points here but three is unlikely.

Middlesbrough (a)

Posted: April 23rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

West Ham and Aston Villa both face a difficult away day

Stats on tonight’s other five Premier League games

It’s a big night for the top-flight’s claret-and-blue crusaders as Aston Villa need to win away to Manchester City to extend their lead over Arsenal to six points while seventh-placed West Ham travel to eighth-placed Wigan in a battle that could be worth a place in Europe next season if two of the top six reach the FA Cup Final. Here are a few quick stats on each game:

Fulham v Hull
Hull have taken just three points from their last eleven games. The Tigers beat Fulham in August but have failed to complete a double over Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham and West Brom. The Cottagers have the second best home points average in the league and have lost once at Craven Cottage all season.

Manchester City v Aston Villa
Villa have won seven consecutive Premier League games on the road. However, they are winless in five and have lost six of their last seven away to the Citizens, who have won four straight home league matches.

Stoke v Bolton

Posted: March 4th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Wigan will finally beat Spurs on Sunday

Wigan/Spurs, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Wigan have now faced Tottenham eight times without tasting victory but chickendinner researcher Danny Harris has found five reasons why that’s going to change on Sunday in Sky Sports’ Manchester United/Chelsea curtain-raiser. The Latics can still be backed at 2.7 on Betfair.

1. Following three wins on the bounce Wigan are top of the Premier League form table with five wins from six. Spurs in comparison have only one league win in their past six.

2. Although Spurs beat Wigan 3-1 at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup last week, beating Wigan away is another prospect. They haven’t lost in the league at the JJB since October.

Posted: January 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Everton will beat Wigan and climb to sixth

Wigan/Everton, 8pm, Setanta Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

Aston Villa have gone odds-on to finish best of the rest this season after beating Arsenal and drawing with Manchester United but victory at the JJB will put Everton just two points behind them before they clash at Goodison Park in a fortnight. Here’s why the Toffees should get the job done tonight against struggling Wigan:

1. Everton have won at the JJB Stadium in each of the last two seasons and are unbeaten in five contests with Wigan, winning the last three.

2. The Toffees have the third-best away record in the Premier League this season behind table-toppers Chelsea and Liverpool in terms of average points per game. They have won four, drawn one and lost just one (to Arsenal) of their six away games.

3. Wigan lost just one of their last eight home games last season when their pitch was a mess but now that it’s improved they have lost their advantage and hold the second-worst home record in the Premier League, with one win from six games at the JJB this season.

Posted: November 24th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment