Spurs spirit can see them through
Following a thrilling midweek programme, the Premier League continues over the weekend and the early game on Saturday promises plenty of entertainment.
Tired Tottenham still too good for Toon
Mauricio Pochettino must be sick of the questions being asked about his relatively meagre resources, but the Argentine will have been pleased with the spirit his Tottenham side showed in battling back to beat Watford 2-1 on Wednesday.
The scheduling gods have not been kind to them as they now have to get straight back into the action on Saturday lunchtime, against a Newcastle side full of confidence after beating Manchester City 2-1.
Rafael Benitez’s side took the game to City and may adopt a similar approach at Wembley against a Spurs side who won 2-1 at St James’ Park in August. That scoreline keeps appearing in the analysis for this game and a home win by that margin is 6.85.
Inevitably tiredness will affect Tottenham but with Son Heung-min back from the Asian Cup and scoring on Wednesday, the Lilywhites should have enough to come through an entertaining game.
Battered Blues to punish Terriers
There is no point avoiding it: Chelsea were woeful on Wednesday at Bournemouth. That 4-0 defeat was the heaviest of the Roman Abramovich era and things can only get better.
It sounds unkind, but they have arguably caught a break with their next game being against bottom club Huddersfield, a team who have failed to win any of their last 12 games, a run that stretches back to November 25.
The Terriers were hoping for an immediate impact from new boss Jan Siewert, but they conceded after just three minutes of his opening game against Everton on Tuesday and could not get back on level terms.
Huddersfield did draw 1-1 last season at Stamford Bridge and will again face a team in crisis, as Maurizio Sarri plots his way back to redemption.
The Blues on home turf are tough to ignore though and it seems sensible to back a home win to zero at 1.64, but with that a touch short, a 2-0 Chelsea victory is worth considering at4.80 and punters can back Gonzalo Higuain to score his maiden goal in England by breaking the deadlock.
Watch out for Wolves
Wolves were one of the stars of the midweek programme, beating West Ham 3-0 at home on Tuesday evening to collect their 19th point in 10 games.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were irresistible and having scored twice from crosses, will be licking their lips at the prospect of taking on an Everton defence who showed their shortcomings in last weekend’s 3-2 FA Cup reverse at Millwall.
That 1-0 victory at Huddersfield appeased some of Marco Silva’s doubters but to add context, the result means the Terriers have now scored in just one of their last six.
Everton have won just one of their last five at home and while they have not kept a clean sheet on the road since October, Nuno’s men look capable of making it a sticky afternoon for the Toffees and the away win is 3.20.
Fulham can claim Selhurst points
Fulham looked in big trouble as they fell 2-0 down early on against Brighton, but Claudio Ranieri changed his shape and the Cottagers ran out 4-2 winners.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is 3.00 in the Anytime Scorer market on Saturday against Crystal Palace, as the Cottagers travel south of the river to face former boss Roy Hodgson.
Palace will be missing talisman Wilfried Zaha, who received two yellow cards in the midweek 1-1 draw at Southampton and his absence could be crucial.
The Eagles have won only once without the winger since September 2016 and may lack inspiration from elsewhere.
Fulham are without a win on the road this season but are a tempting price at 3.95.
City to claim Etihad classic
Finally to Sunday’s late game and if goals are your game, expect plenty of them at the Etihad where Manchester City take on Arsenal.
City were on the wrong end of that 2-1 loss at Newcastle on Tuesday and will be keen to bounce back, against an opponent they have beaten to nil in their last three meetings.
The Gunners moved up to fourth thanks to their 2-1 win over Cardiff but still appear well in transition, as Unai Emery looks to find his best team and shape. However, they will take heart from their recent 2-0 triumph against Chelsea where they shut down the opposition and may choose a similar approach on Sunday.
The Citizens will be desperate to strike back though, especially with Liverpool the favourites to win at West Ham on Monday.
An open game is likely and over 3.5 goals comes in at 1.90, meaning more positive punters may look at the over 4.5 at 3.00.
