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EPL: A mouth-watering double bill

December 13th, 2007

Premiership Betting Previews for Matchday 17 fresh from Simon at PinnacleSports.com

The Premiership’s weekend schedule is dominated by the mouth-watering double bill of action featuring the fantastic four at the top of the table. Current champions, Man Utd, could go top if they can repeat last season’s win at Anfield, though Liverpool are boosted by an emphatic midweek Champions League victory. Later on, league leaders, Arsenal, defend an unbeaten home record against a resurgent Chelsea side, minus Didier Drogba.

Liverpool’s Title Credentials to be Tested by Champions

Though there have been rumblings of discontent at Anfield between Rafa Benitez and the club’s US owners, the football did the talking on Tuesday night as Liverpool crushed Marseille in France to make the last 16 of the Champions League. With the crucial Christmas period approaching, the Pool have the best opportunity for many years to mount a serious title Premiership challenge, and this game could be the litmus test of their credentials. Benitez will hope that last weekend’s shock 3-1 defeat at Reading was because his players were distracted by the Marseille game, and that the intensity of this game will raise performance levels.

Alex Ferguson has been to Anfield so many times that it will hold no fears for him. United did the double over Liverpool last season without conceding, and will be encouraged by the Reds home stats which show four draws from seven games, though United lost last time on the road – 1-0 at Bolton. Neither side have any fresh injury worries, but while United are likely to stick with the formation from last weekend’s 4-1 win over Derby, rotating Rafa is likely to mix things up. In left midfield Harry Kewell has been back in favour after injury, counter-balancing Yossi Benayoun on the right, but Benitez may opt for a more pragmatic line-up.

PinnacleSports.com make Liverpool marginal favourites off a level handicap 1.893 (0/scratch) with Man Utd 2.040 (0/scratch).

London Derby Could Shake Up Title Race

For the first time in a number of seasons, Arsenal go into a London Derby with Chelsea, heading their London rivals in the Premiership table. The gap is currently only three points, having been narrowed by the Gunners’ shock defeat at the Riverside last weekend. Arsene Wenger made no excuses for a poor performance, though the absence of Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb, Mathieu Flamini and Robin Van Persie weakened the Gunners. Wenger will expect a reaction this weekend at Emirates where his side are unbeaten.

Avram Grant has stepped out of the shadow of Jose Mourinho, tightening up Chelsea defensively, who are unbeaten in his 16 games in charge, keeping 13 clean sheets. The Israeli’s managerial skills will however be tested by the absence of Didier Drogba after knee surgery. He must motivate Andriy Shevchenko to finally fulfil his potential, and what better time than in this crucial Derby game. Though Drogba is out, Peter Cech, Florent Malouda, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira should be available for selection. Both meetings last season were 1-1 draws, but the Blues haven’t lost to the Gunners in eleven meetings.

PinnacleSports.com price Arsenal 2.150 (0/scratch & -0.5) with Chelsea 1.800 (0/scratch & +0.5) – a market price to under 102%.

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