Tomas Rosicky is closed down by Ron Vlaar and Matt Lowton back in August. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/Press Association Images
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Premier League preview: how to fill out your football accumulator this weekend
It’s back to the bread and butter of the league after a week of cup action and this round sees the fixtures corresponding to the opening day of the season being played.
CHELSEA can go top for at least a day with a win away to Hull this afternoon with Manchester City not in action until tomorrow and Arsenal facing Aston Villa on Monday night.
Jose Mourinho’s side are unbeaten in the league since going down to Stoke at the beginning of December and while the Tigers have a decent home record, the squad has been struck down by a bug this week.
Bet: Chelsea @ 8/11
Cardiff v West Ham, City of Cardiff Stadium
Cardiff welcome West Ham to the Welsh capital for a huge game at the bottom of the table. Sam Allardyce has admitted this week that his job could be on the line after suffering heavy defeats to Nottingham Forest (5-0) and Manchester City (6-0).
Opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed the perfect start to his tenure by knocking Newcastle out of the FA Cup last weekend and new signing Magnus Wolff Eikrem could make his debut at some point.
Bet: Cardiff @ evens
Everton v Norwich, Goodison Park
Roy Keane will be in the stands to watch the Irish players involved as Norwich visit Goodison Park. The Toffeed are on the verge of breaking into the top four with Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy continuing to impress under Roberto Martinez.
Chris Hughton’s Canaries, meanwhile, are winless in five Premier League games but have shown encouraging signs by grinding out draws against Crystal Palace and, most recently, Fulham.
Bet: Everton @ 2/5
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Fulham v Sunderland, Craven Cottage
Basement side Sunderland travel to London buoyed by the 2-1 victory over Manchester United in their Capital One Cup semi-final first leg.
Two wins either side of a 6-0 hammering by Hull has helped the Cottagers move up into 16th but they’re are far from safe and must see this as a crucial three points.
Bet: Draw @ 9/4
Southampton v West Brom, St Mary’s
West Brom this week announced former Real Betis boss Pepe Mel as their new head coach and the Spaniard takes on man he will know well from their time in La Liga, Mauricio Pochettino.
The Saints haven’t been having the best of times in the league and are without a number of injured players including goalkeeper Artur Boruc, Victor Wanyama and Dani Osvaldo.
Bet: Draw @ 5/2
Tottenham v Crystal Palace, White Hart Lane
Two different managers were at the respective helms of these two when they met back on the opening day of the season but Andre Villas-Boas and Ian Holloway have since vacated their positions with Tim Sherwood and Tony Pulis now in charge.
The Eagles have shown a clear improvement under Pulis while Tim Sherwood suffered his first real set-back with defeat to rivals Arsenal last Saturday.
Bet: Tottenham @ 2/5
Manchester United v Swansea, Old Trafford (5.30pm)
Having got back on track in December after a patchy period, Manchester United’s 2014 reads: Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3. All 2-1 defeats, David Moyes has watched on as his team went down to Spurs, Swansea and Sunderland.
After knocking United out of the FA Cup, the Swans visit Old Trafford for the second time in a week. But with a trip to Chelsea next on the cards, the home side are in dire need of a win.
Bet: Draw @ 3/1
Newcastle v Manchester City, St James’ Park (12.45pm, Sunday)
Free-scoring Manchester City are the best team to watch right now. The have won eight out of their last nine Premier League games and tore West Ham apart in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.
The Magpies have suffered three back-to-back losses and this looks likely to be a fourth.
Bet: Manchester City 7/10
Stoke v Liverpool, Britannia Stadium (4.10pm, Sunday)
Liverpool travel to the Britannia Stadium intent on handing Stoke just a second home defeat of the season. A win tomorrow would see the Reds do the double over Mark Hughes’ men after Simon Mignolet’s heroics prevented the Potters from earning a draw with a penalty save.
Both sides come into the game on the back of FA Cup third round wins and Daniel Sturridge could be in line for a return to action after an ankle injury.
Bet: Liverpool @ 4/6
Aston Villa v Arsenal, Villa Park (8pm, Monday)
What a difference a couple of months make. The first day of this season saw many Gunners fans questioning Arsene Wenger’s summer transfer dealings after they went down 3-1 to Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Half a season later and Arsenal sit top of the league with Monday night’s opponnents back in 11th.
Bet: Arsenal @ 8/13
A successful tenner bet will get you back €5,274 this week.
Premier League preview: how to fill out your football accumulator this weekend
All games kick-off at 3pm unless stated otherwise
Hull v Chelsea, KC Stadium (12.45pm)
CHELSEA can go top for at least a day with a win away to Hull this afternoon with Manchester City not in action until tomorrow and Arsenal facing Aston Villa on Monday night.
Jose Mourinho’s side are unbeaten in the league since going down to Stoke at the beginning of December and while the Tigers have a decent home record, the squad has been struck down by a bug this week.
Bet: Chelsea @ 8/11
Cardiff v West Ham, City of Cardiff Stadium
Cardiff welcome West Ham to the Welsh capital for a huge game at the bottom of the table. Sam Allardyce has admitted this week that his job could be on the line after suffering heavy defeats to Nottingham Forest (5-0) and Manchester City (6-0).
Opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed the perfect start to his tenure by knocking Newcastle out of the FA Cup last weekend and new signing Magnus Wolff Eikrem could make his debut at some point.
Bet: Cardiff @ evens
Everton v Norwich, Goodison Park
Roy Keane will be in the stands to watch the Irish players involved as Norwich visit Goodison Park. The Toffeed are on the verge of breaking into the top four with Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy continuing to impress under Roberto Martinez.
Chris Hughton’s Canaries, meanwhile, are winless in five Premier League games but have shown encouraging signs by grinding out draws against Crystal Palace and, most recently, Fulham.
Bet: Everton @ 2/5
Fulham v Sunderland, Craven Cottage
Basement side Sunderland travel to London buoyed by the 2-1 victory over Manchester United in their Capital One Cup semi-final first leg.
Two wins either side of a 6-0 hammering by Hull has helped the Cottagers move up into 16th but they’re are far from safe and must see this as a crucial three points.
Bet: Draw @ 9/4
Southampton v West Brom, St Mary’s
West Brom this week announced former Real Betis boss Pepe Mel as their new head coach and the Spaniard takes on man he will know well from their time in La Liga, Mauricio Pochettino.
The Saints haven’t been having the best of times in the league and are without a number of injured players including goalkeeper Artur Boruc, Victor Wanyama and Dani Osvaldo.
Bet: Draw @ 5/2
Tottenham v Crystal Palace, White Hart Lane
Two different managers were at the respective helms of these two when they met back on the opening day of the season but Andre Villas-Boas and Ian Holloway have since vacated their positions with Tim Sherwood and Tony Pulis now in charge.
The Eagles have shown a clear improvement under Pulis while Tim Sherwood suffered his first real set-back with defeat to rivals Arsenal last Saturday.
Bet: Tottenham @ 2/5
Manchester United v Swansea, Old Trafford (5.30pm)
Having got back on track in December after a patchy period, Manchester United’s 2014 reads: Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3. All 2-1 defeats, David Moyes has watched on as his team went down to Spurs, Swansea and Sunderland.
After knocking United out of the FA Cup, the Swans visit Old Trafford for the second time in a week. But with a trip to Chelsea next on the cards, the home side are in dire need of a win.
Bet: Draw @ 3/1
Newcastle v Manchester City, St James’ Park (12.45pm, Sunday)
Free-scoring Manchester City are the best team to watch right now. The have won eight out of their last nine Premier League games and tore West Ham apart in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.
The Magpies have suffered three back-to-back losses and this looks likely to be a fourth.
Bet: Manchester City 7/10
Stoke v Liverpool, Britannia Stadium (4.10pm, Sunday)
Liverpool travel to the Britannia Stadium intent on handing Stoke just a second home defeat of the season. A win tomorrow would see the Reds do the double over Mark Hughes’ men after Simon Mignolet’s heroics prevented the Potters from earning a draw with a penalty save.
Both sides come into the game on the back of FA Cup third round wins and Daniel Sturridge could be in line for a return to action after an ankle injury.
Bet: Liverpool @ 4/6
Aston Villa v Arsenal, Villa Park (8pm, Monday)
What a difference a couple of months make. The first day of this season saw many Gunners fans questioning Arsene Wenger’s summer transfer dealings after they went down 3-1 to Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Half a season later and Arsenal sit top of the league with Monday night’s opponnents back in 11th.
Bet: Arsenal @ 8/13
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