Saturday
Fixture: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
Venue: Emirates Stadium (Arsenal home)
Kick-off: 12.45pm GMT
Verdict: Well now, whither Arsenal? The Gunners are being booed off by their ever fickle (sorry, faithful) fans after failing to score in the Champions League at home. They lose to Stoke and deserve it, and they lose a two-goal lead against Spurs. Is this a blip or some deeper malaise? Although it may be a blip, Man Utd are still terrific value to take this, despite only a draw against Celtic in midweek. That game was away, they didn't need the win AND they fought back from an early setback terrifically. Guts beats flawed genius.
Betting Advice: 2pts Man Utd to win at 6/4 (2.5 at Boylesports)
Fixture: Wigan 0-0 Stoke
Venue: JJB Stadium (Wigan home)
Kick-off: 12.45pm GMT
Verdict: Take away Arsenal's demise and Stoke are struggling. Although Wigan had four defeats before they picked up a win at Portsmouth, they remain one of my favourite value teams this season, and I back them to make it two in the spin at home. Big (as in tall, strong) teams have never worried Steve Bruce.
Betting Advice: 4pts Wigan to win at 5/6 (1.833 generally)
Fixture: Hull 0-1 Bolton
Venue: KC Stadium (Hull home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Hull are still on my betting black list. I still believe they will eventually implode. There are signs of it, and I think Bolton may surprise a few people. Shan't go big against Hull just yet.
Betting Advice: 1pt Bolton to win at 11/4 (3.75 at Boylesports, Coral)
Fixture: Sunderland 1-2 Portsmouth
Venue: Stadium of Light (Sunderland home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Two teams who have struggled of late. Sunderland will just be the favourites, but Portsmouth have the firepower to concern them. It's just a question of whether they have adjusted yet to the upheaval of Harry Redknapp leaving and nutter Tony Adams taking over.
Betting Advice: no bet
Fixture: West Ham 1-3 Everton
Venue: Boleyn Stadium (WHam home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: This is a very difficult week for home wins, and West Ham are a team that have struggled at times at home this season. Two defeats in five games is respectable, but not great considering that all three wins came in the first month of the season. They will be expected to beat Everton, but the Toffees are an improving side unbeaten in three who represent the value.
Betting Advice: 1pt Everton to win at 19/10 (2.9 at Victor Chandler)
Fixture: Liverpool 3-0 WBA
Venue: Anfield (Liverpool home)
Kick-off: 5.30pm GMT
Verdict: A lucky draw in Europe and a defeat to the bottom club was not the return Liverpool were expecting after beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. What they need to do is get back to their prudent ways starting with WBA.
Betting Advice: 2pts Liverpool to win to nil at 8/11 (1.73 at Paddy Power and Ladbrokes)
Sunday
Fixture: Blackburn 0-2 Chelsea
Venue: Ewood Park (Blackburn home)
Kick-off: 1.30pm GMT
Verdict: Two defeats in three games is very uncharacteristic of Chelsea and, I suspect, it has given us a smidgeon of value against Blackburn. Back the away win, Chelsea should be a class apart against a Blackburn side who haven't won since September.
Betting Advice: 6pts Chelsea to win at 1/2 (1.5 generally)
Fixture: Aston Villa 1-2 Middlesbrough
Venue: Villa Park (Villa home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: After last week's surprise defeat at Newcastle normal service should be resumed at home. Villa have been one of the class acts this season and continue to show why they are slowly becoming favourites to take fourth place from Arsenal.
Betting Advice: 5pts Aston Villa to win at 8/11 (1.73 at VC Bet)
Fixture: Man City 1-2 Spurs
Venue: Eastlands (Man City home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Same advice as pretty much always with Man City. Too erratic to bet on, particularly as Spurs are turning some kind of freaky lucky corner. Avoid.
Betting Advice: no bet
Fixture: Fulham 2-1 Newcastle
Venue: Craven Cottage (Fulham home)
Kick-off: 4pm GMT
Verdict: Fulham's home form is the only thing likely to save them from relegation, but a resurgent Newcastle may be a difficult hurdle to overcome. However, Newcastle's patchy form in the capital over the years leans me towards a small bet on a home win.
Betting Advice: 1pt Fulham to win at 7/5 (2.4 at Paddy Power and Skybet)
