• Home
  • Posts made in October, 2016

Match Preview : Southampton vs Chelsea

naijabet.com

Southampton have only suffered one defeat in their last 10 matches and that came in the Europa League away to Serie A giants Inter.

Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat in midweek to West Ham was the first time they’ve failed to win in their four matches. In league competition, Chelsea have failed to concede in their last 320 minutes of action.

Southampton have only won one of their last five home matches against Chelsea and that came way back in 2013.

Claude Puel’s side have the firepower to hurt Chelsea, but getting those chances against this resilient backline may prove difficult. Naijabet.com

Team News
Southampton – Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett are still doubts for Southampton so Sam McQueen could retain his spot at left-back.
 

Match Preview : Manchester United vs Burnley

naijabet.com

Manchester United bounced back from their 4-0 defeat to Chelsea last weekend with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday night to advance to the League Cup quarter finals.

They must now turn their attentions to Saturday where they need to beat Burnley to avoid dropping further behind the league leaders, with six points currently between them and Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Burnley pulled off a surprise 2-1 win over Everton last time out, but have lost all three of their away games in the league thus far and have conceded three goals in each of them.

They cannot continue that form away from home and need to change that quickly, although that is easier said than done.

The home side have scored three goals in each of their previous two home meetings with Burnley, which does not bode well for Sean Dyche’s side this weekend. Naijabet.com

However, United have endured a a tough schedule in the last few weeks and fatigue could definitely play a part this weekend.

Match Preview : West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester City

naijabet.com

Pep Guardiola has now gone six matches without a win for the first time in his managerial career following their 1-0 defeat in the League Cup to Manchester United on Wednesday.

Despite having gone the whole of October without a win, Manchester City are still top of the league, level on points with Liverpool and Arsenal. City need to arrest that form, although West Brom won’t go down without a fight.

West Brom have drawn three of their last four matches, although they were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool last time out. They have only won two matches all season but are three points above the bottom three, with four other teams bridging the gap between the Baggies and the relegation places.

City have won each of their last six matches against West Brom and scored at least two goals in each of those matches. Guardiola rested some of his key men in midweek and their freshness should give them the edge at the weekend. Naijabet.com

Team News
West Bromwich Albion – Tony Pulis will be without Claudio Yacob after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last time out. West Brom can, however, welcome Jonny Evans back from suspension.

Match Preview : Tottenham vs Leicester

naijabet.com

Tottenham have now failed to win their last four games in all competitions and will look to bounce back from the disappointing midweek defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup. Spurs remain the only unbeaten team in England’s top tier, however.

Defending champions Leicester meanwhile have the worst away record in the Premier League this term and have lost all four games on their travels this season. They did, though, win this fixture last season, landing a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane.

Spurs can exact revenge upon the Foxes on Saturday, with a home win a possibility.

Team News
Tottenham – Moussa Sissoko serves the second of his three-match ban having been reprimanded for an elbow on Harry Arter in the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth.
Harry Kane is back in training, but Saturday’s welcome of Leicester could come too soon for the striker, while Toby Alderweireld is set to feature after being forced off in the 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Match Preview : Sunderland vs Arsenal

naijabet.com

Sunderland are still looking for their first win in the Premier League this season having lost seven of their nine league matches this season.

Arsenal’s run of six straight wins in the league game to an end last weekend after only managing a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough.

Ominously, the last time these two played it finished 0-0 but Arsenal haven’t gone two league matches without a goal since February.

Team News 
Sunderland – Sunderland were dumped out the League Cup on Wednesday after losing 1-0 to Southampton and frustrations boiled over as David Moyes was sent to the stands. Naija and Bet

Match Preview : Chelsea vs Manchester United

naijabet.com

Chelsea have won both of their last two matches since changing to a back three and that looks to have given the team a new lease of life.

They have also kept a clean sheet in both of those matches but Sunday’s clash with Manchester United will serve their new formation its first real test.

Jose Mourinho will be desperate to get one over on his former club after being sacked by Chelsea in December. He returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his dismissal and only the second time ever as the opposition manager.

He took his Inter side there in March 2010 and recorded a 1-0 win en route to winning the Champions League with the Serie A giants.

United are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions but haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since October 2012. The away side cannot afford to drop many more points if they want to challenge for the title this season, which means a win is almost mandatory here. Naija and Bet

Mourinho and Conte’s paths have only crossed on one occasion (Atalanta vs Inter in December 2009) in which the match finished as a draw. That looks like the most likely outcome here, but you wouldn’t be surprised to see the ‘Special One’ enjoy a special return to Chelsea.

Team News

Chelsea – Willian missed their win over Leicester last weekend following the death of his mother and it remains to be seen whether he is in the right frame of mind to return this weekend. Pedro is on standby to retain his place if Antonio Conte is without the Brazilian.

Match Preview : Manchester City vs Southampton

naijabet.com

Manchester City’s 4-0 thumping at the hands of Barcelona means they have now failed to win their last four competitive outings and the title favourites need to quickly return to winning ways.

With those within touching distance playing on Saturday, City could find themselves in fourth by the time this match kicks off.

Southampton, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last four in the league and will be looking to quickly overcome a disappointing 1-0 loss in Milan to Inter on Thursday night.

However, they have struggled at City in recent seasons, losing their last five trips to face the two-time Premier League winners.

Saints won’t make things easy for City, but Pep Guardiola’s side have what it takes to return to winning ways here.

Team News

Manchester City – With Bacary Sagna out and Pablo Zabaleta a doubt, Pep Guardiola could revert to a three-man defence used in the 1-1 draw with Everton last weekend.

Fabian Delph is also a doubt, but is closing in on a return to fitness, but Yaya Toure misses out having been suspended by the club. Naijabet.com

Nolito and Vincent Kompany are both pushing for starts, however may be forced to start from the bench.

Southampton – Shane Long sustained a thigh injury in the midweek 1-0 defeat against Inter and with Nathan Redmond a doubt, club-record signing Sofiane Boufal may make his full debut up front.

Florin Gardos, Jeremy Pied and Cedric Soares are all ruled out for the away side.

Youngster Sam McQueen could feature at left-back, with Matt Targett and Ryan Bertrand both struggling to overcome hamstring strains.

naijabet.com

Match Facts

Man City have been winning at both half time and full time in their last 6 home matches against Southampton in all competitions.

Man City have won their last 6 home matches against Southampton in all competitions.

Man City have seen over 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 10 matches against Southampton in all competitions.

Man City have scored at least 2 goals in their last 6 home matches against Southampton in all competitions.

Man City are undefeated in their last 7 home matches in Premier League.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Manchester City has 1.46 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Southampton has 6.42 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 4.36.

 

Match Preview : Liverpool vs West Bromwich Albion

naijabet.com

Liverpool were disappointed to come away with just a point at home to Manchester United last time out and Jurgen Klopp will expect a response from his players at home to West Brom on Saturday. Nevertheless, the point shared means Liverpool are still unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.

However, this isn’t the home banker many expect. Tony Pulis is actually unbeaten in his last eight matches against Liverpool, but the loss of Jonny Evans in this fixture could prove definitive in their attempts to prolong that record.

West Brom have drawn each of their last three matches 1-1 and have only lost two league matches in eight this season. Four of the last five meetings in this fixture have finished in a draw and it will require a good performance from Liverpool to ensure they end that streak.

Team News

Liverpool – Georginio Wijnaldum has returned to full training after missing the 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Monday with a hamstring injury. Naijabet.com

Adam Lallana is also in better shape having been forced to start that match from the bench and both should come into contention to start this weekend.

Match Preview : Arsenal vs Middlesbrough

naijabet.com

A 6-0 thumping of Ludogorets on Wednesday night means Arsenal have now won their last seven competitive outings and are unbeaten in their last 11. They will be confident of extending that run against a lacklustre Middlesbrough side this weekend.

Boro have now failed to win their last six league fixtures, losing four. They have, however, lost only one of their four away league games.

Arsenal, though, come into the tie as favourites and should land a routine win.

Team News

Arsenal – Granit Xhaka is suspended for the Gunners, with Francis Coquelin expected to start alongside Santi Cazorla. Naija and Bet

Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom are all sidelined here.

This game is likely to come too soon for Carl Jenkinson and Aaron Ramsey, who are both closing in on a return to fitness.

Middlesbrough – Grant Lead bitter is ruled out for Middlesbrough ahead of their trip to the Emirates.

James Husband and Fabio are both doubts and will be assessed closer to kick off.

Calum Chambers is ineligible to face his parent club, with Daniel Ayala in line to feature, while Adama Traore could start.

naijabet.com

Match Facts

Arsenal  have won their last 6 Premier League matches.

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Arsenal’s last 5 Premier League home games.

Arsenal  have seen under 2.5 goals in their last 4 home matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions.

Arsenal have scored at least 2 goals in their last 5 home matches Premier League.

Arsenal are undefeated in their last 7 home matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions.

Middlesbrough have failed to win their last 6 matches in Premier League.

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Arsenal has 1.25 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Middlesbrough has 11.32 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 5.63.

 

Match Preview : Bournemouth vs Tottenham

naijabet.com

Bournemouth’s 6-1 thumping of Hull means the Cherries are unbeaten in their last three league outings, winning two.

After struggling at Dean Court last term, the Cherries look to have corrected their home woes, winning three of their four Premier League matches on home turf this season.

Tottenham were lucky to come away with a point in Germany in midweek, but have a good record against Bournemouth. Naija and Bet

They won both of their league outings against Eddie Howe’s side last season and remain the only unbeaten team in England’s top tier.

The Cherries will hope to frustrate Spurs, but an away win is on the cards for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Teams News

Bournemouth – Marc Pugh is a doubt for the home side with a hamstring problem.

Max Gradel and Lewis Cook are both ruled out for Bournemouth.

Eddie Howe could name the same XI that secured a 6-1 win over Hull last weekend.

Tottenham – Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane are both ruled out for Spurs.

Danny Rose is a doubt for the visitors, with Ben Davies in line to deputise at left-back.

Erik Lamela could start from the bench, with Vincent Janssen leading the attack.

naijabet.com

Match Facts

Tottenham have scored at least 3 goals in their last 4 matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.

Tottenham have been winning at both half time and full time in their last 4 matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.

Tottenham are undefeated in 20 of their last 22 away matches (Premier League).

Tottenham have won their last 4 matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.

Bournemouth have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 4 matches against Tottenham in all competitions.

Bournemouth have won their last 3 home matches (Premier League).

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post Bournemouth has 3.77 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Tottenham has 3.47 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 1.94.