7th? No thanks. There appears to be a weak mentality among a few clubs as the opportunity to move into 7th is continuously passed up each weekend with Wolves, Watford and these two clubs both losing games in which would hand them the advantage. With a good performance at Old Trafford behind them but injury worries for Pellegrini, West Ham United welcome Leicester City who have vastly improved under Rodgers and I take a look at the game from a betting perspective…..
Both teams to score – 8/13
Prior to the Everton defeat, West Ham had scored in 8 of their last 9 home games with only Watford keeping them out but have only kept 3 clean sheets at the London Stadium this season. This market has landed in the last 6 away games for the Foxes which included games away to Spurs, Liverpool and Wolves.
Harvey Barnes to score anytime – 4/1
West Hams weak spot is their right back area again with the poor form of Zabaleta and Fredericks being a bit erratic and either of them will be up against a player who has impressed me despite not scoring. Barnes has started 11 games for Leicester after impressing at West Brom where he found the net 9 times and while he has yet to score in the Premier League, he does, on average, have 3 shots on target per game so a goal is due and with Chilwell providing width, Barnes may find himself with a couple of shooting opportunities on Saturday.
Before my last tip from the match, the guys at Gamblerspro.com have landed 34 of their last 40 EPL tips and this week they’ve avoided this fixture but have got 5 bets for their readers as they expect goals at Goodison, The Etihad and more so do head over there and check them out too!!
Robert Snodgrass to be carded – 3/1
Due to injuries, there is a fine chance he will be required to play 90 minutes and can often play in more than one position throughout the game as Pellegrini changes tactics but should start in the middle with Noble and Rice which will see him up against Youri Tielemans, who is the 3rd most fouled player at Leicester and produces the 2nd most key passes per game so he is someone that will need to be tightly marked with Rice likely looking after Maddison.
Snodgrass commits the most fouls, per game, on average for West Ham with him committing SLIGHTLY more at the London Stadium than he does on the road and is the Hammers most booked player this season with 8 cautions. The only negative for this bet is Lee Probert and he is one of the most leinient in the league with just 2.69 yellow cards per game.
Not a ‘tip’ but……
If you follow myself on twitter then you shall know I enjoy having a little wager on the first player to be carded in a game on outsiders. I have had a look at this fixture and assuming the line up(s) are what I expect then tomorrows bet is likely to be Michail Antonio at 25/1
He will start on the right wing and will be up against, who I consider to be, the 2nd best left back in the league in Ben Chilwell, who averages 1.3 dribbles per game which is the 3rd most for Leicester (behind Barnes & Pereira) and is their 4th most fouled player, both stats increase when playing away from home. In 5 of Leicester’s last 6 games, the right winger or the right back have picked up a booking.
Prediction: 1-1