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English Premiership Online Betting Preview

April 18th, 2008

Matchday 35 of the English Premier League (Games playing April 17-20, 2008)

Man Utd now have one hand firmly on the Premiership trophy after a momentous 2-1 victory over close Premiership rivals, Arsenal, at Old Trafford last Sunday, was followed by Chelsea’s shock draw at home to Wigan on Monday. United’s coach, Alex Ferguson, believes they could tie up the title with wins in the next two games, but it could be all over before then, if the Blues fail to win at Goodison Park on Thursday night.

Victory or Bust For Chelsea at Goodison Park

Though Chelsea travel to Goodison Park on Thursday night for their second league game within 72 hours, fatigue shouldn’t be an issue. Following Monday’s dropped points at home to Wigan, the Londoners’ motivation is clear; with just four games to peg back the Red Devils’s five point lead, and a vastly inferior goal-difference, they simply must beat Everton or wave goodbye to the Premiership title. Coach, Avram Grant’s decision to rest Didier Drogba and Joe Cole on Monday backfired, while Frank Lampard was a late withdrawal due to his mother’s ill health. All three should start for this must-win game.

Everton’s UEFA Cup ambitions for next season guarantee this will be a highly competitive game, that could easily derail the visitors title challenge. The Toffees have lost just three home games this season, but tellingly those defeats were against Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd, who make up the top four sides along with Chelsea. Everton are ending the season with a whimper, winning just one of their last five league games, following exit from the UEFA Cup. The ongoing absence of midfielder, Tim Cahill, is a huge blow, while their other key playmaker, Mikel Arteta, hasn’t trained for over week and missed the weekend draw at Birmingham.

PinnacleSports.com price Chelsea favourites 1.855 (0/scratch & -0.5), with Everton 2.080 (0/scratch & +0.5) – a market priced to less than 102%.

 

Lancashire Derby Represents Potential Banana-skin for Man United

Alex Ferguson, the wily coach of Premier League leaders, Man Utd, has targeted wins in the next two of his side’s four remaining games – against Blackburn on Saturday, and Chelsea on week later – to put a tenth Premiership title within his grasp. Wigan did United a huge favour with their draw at Stamford Bridge on Monday night , but the short journey down the road to Blackburn’s Ewood Park, is a potential banana-skin. Not only is it a local Derby, but Rovers’ manager, Mark Hughes, is a Man Utd legend with designs on succeeding Fergie, when the 66 year old eventually retires.

United have won the last three meetings of these sides, but at Ewood Park they have taken maximum points in just one of the last seven visits; that statistic should give United backers’ some concern. The one clear mitigating factor against Blackburn’s chances is that they are floating in mid-table with nothing to play for other than spoiling United’s party. The league leaders will be hugely boosted by last weekend’s win over Arsenal, and Chelsea’s slip-up, but bear in mind that their last away game, at Boro ended in a disappointing 2-2 stalemate.

Top handicap bookmaker PinnacleSports.com price Man Utd 1.826 (-0.5 & -1) with Blackburn 2.110 (+0.5 & +1). 

 

*All odds subject to change so check out the latest LIVE ODDS across the top online sportsbooks here at BookieLabRat.com.

Entry Filed under: English Football,Sports Betting