Newcastle and Spurs should provide Arsenal and Chelsea with tough tests

A stat on every Premier League game taking place this weekend

Portsmouth v Everton (Saturday, 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1)
There have been under 2.5 goals in each of Everton’s last four trips to Fratton Park and their last ten away games.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at 1.66 on Betfair

Blackburn v West Ham
West Ham have won six straight games against Blackburn but have lost all five of their Premier League away games against Sam Allardyce sides.
Best Bet: The home win at evens with most bookmakers

Fulham v Manchester United
Both teams have scored in each of the champions’ last three league games and six of their seven Premier League trips to Craven Cottage.

Posted: March 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Manchester City’s away form isn’t as big an issue in Europe

Aalborg/Man City, 8pm, Five, Free Bets, Best Odds

Manchester City have been waiting seven months for a domestic away win but they don’t have struggle anywhere near as much in Europe. Here are five key stats to bear in mind when betting on their trip to Aalborg tonight:

» Mark Hughes’ side have gone fourteen domestic matches on the road without keeping a clean sheet but have shut the opposition out in three of their six European away games.

» The Citizens have been beaten just once in their six UEFA Cup away games this season - winning four and drawing one. The loss came 3-1 away to Racing when City’s qualification from the group stage was already assured.

Posted: March 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Nemanja Vidic is evens to be named PFA Player of the Year

Serbian defender’s recent form sees him installed as favourite

Paddy Power have installed defender Nemanja Vidic as the evens favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award after being an ever-present in Manchester United’s run of thirteen straight clean sheets.

Counting against him is the fact that a defender has triumphed just once in the last fifteen years. If the voting took place a month ago, as Micah Richards confirmed was the case last season, it is also possible that he wouldn’t have received as many mentions as he would if votes were cast now.

Steven Gerrard is second favourite at 7/2, which seems surprising as the general consensus has been that Xabi Alonso has been Liverpool’s standout performer for most of the season, with current holder Cristiano Ronaldo close behind at 5/1 despite not matching last season’s form.

The player that has impressed chickendinner this season - Stephen Ireland - is a big outsider at 50/1, which is unsurprising as ten years have passed since a player from outside the Big Four last triumphed.

Key trends:

Posted: February 12th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment