Storyline: Here’s the skinny on key matches this weekend. Check out all the action at BetAdvisor.com. Written by Steve Paget, London
Courtesy: ign.com
After another double-header in European Championship qualifying, it’s back to domestic action for England’s finest. In case you missed it there have been a couple of major managerial changes since the least round of fixtures, as well as lengthy injuries to Sergio Aguero and Tim Krul. With the winter months closing in, things are about to get serious in the Barclays Premier League. Here are three big games from Week 8 that won’t be escaping the eyes of the top football tipsters at Betadvisor.com.
Tottenham V Liverpool, Saturday 17/010/15 at 12.45 GMT
How can we start anywhere else? The new managerial arrival at Anfield has caused somewhat of a stir on Merseyside – Jurgen Klopp’s appointment being met with the kind of hysteria The Beatles were used to on their return to the city. After the negativity of the final months of the Rodgers’ era, a wave of positivity has washed over the Reds and the general consensus is that Tottenham will be the first victims of a tide of euphoria currently engulfing everything around the away side. However, these battles are not won off the pitch, and on it’s where the new boss will be seeking to rectify things sooner rather than later. The fitness of severable players will be eagerly assessed by both backroom teams on their return from international duty, but an away win certainly seems more possible now the likable German is in the hot seat at Anfield. He may be the self-styled ‘normal one,’ but Reds supporters up and down the land will be hoping they have finally landed their very own ‘special one.’ Tottenham beware. See how the smartest football tipsters are calling it at Betadvisor.com
–Tottenham 2.40, Draw 3.50, Liverpool 2.87
Chelsea V Aston Villa, Saturday 17/10/15 at 15.00 GMT
Speaking of ‘special ones,’ the Blues boss has proven to be anything but of late. A disastrous start to the campaign has left the home side in a barely believable 16th position, level on points with West Brom who themselves are in 17th. Chelsea has already lost four games in the league this season, which is more than they lost in the entirety of their title winning campaign last time out. Add to that a few other items: their defeat in the Champions League to Mourinho’s old side FC Porto, the controversy surrounding the departure of club doctor Eva Carneiro after a very public spat, and rumours of an unhappy dressing room.
It has been a thoroughly miserable start to the season for the usually unflappable Chelsea boss. Indeed, he was probably rather glad to see the back of some of his players over the international period with the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabrgeas recently feeling the pressure after their indifferent form so far. They are far from the only ones. Yet if Chelsea feel they are under pressure, they should surely spare a moment for Saturday’s visitors Aston Villa. Shorn of their best player (Christian Benteke), club captain (Fabian Delph) and most experienced defender (Ron Vlaar), and with a boss in Tim Sherwood undertaking his maiden Premier League campaign from the off, a promising start has turned rather quickly into an unmitigated disaster – six defeats and a draw from their last seven games.
Who would have predicted a meeting between two struggling sides when the fixture list was initially released? Perhaps our very own football tipster oracles, who again we must turn to in order to see how it all may unfold on Saturday afternoon.
West Brom v Sunderland, Saturday 17/10/15 at 15.00 GMT
You would be forgiven for having missed the second managerial appointment in the top flight to have taken place over the break for international matches. That was at the Stadium of Light with the announcement that ‘Big’ Sam Allardyce would be taking the reins at struggling Sunderland – and boy do they need him. Bottom of the league with no wins from their first eight matches, the Black Cats are in desperate need of a coach with the ability to navigate the choppy waters at the bottom of the Premier League, and there is no better man than Big Sam. His sides may not be the most aesthetically pleasing on the eye, but he has more than proved in his long career with Bolton and West Ham, among others, that his style is mightily effective.
West Brom also find themselves in the middle of a period of rotten form that has seen them lose their last two, and are currently hovering just one place above the relegation zone – but still five points better off than their visitors. Similarly to Tottenham, the Baggies may find themselves the unfortunate victims of the ‘new manager effect’, although Tony Pulis will be hoping to at least maintain the gap which is appearing above the bottom three teams. Fortunately, in a situation like this where a call is difficult to make, the best football tipsters are there to do it for you.
West Brom 2.00, Draw 3.30, Sunderland 4.00
Full weekend fixtures
Crystal Palace V West Ham, Saturday at 15.00 GMT
Everton V Man Utd, Saturday at 15.00 GMT
Man City V Bournemouth, Saturday at 15.00 GMT
Southampton V Leicester, Saturday at 15.00 GMT
Watford V Arsenal, Saturday at 17.30 GMT
Newcastle V Norwich, Sunday at 16.00 GMT
Swansea V Stoke, Monday at 20.00 GMT
