James Buttler looks ahead to the 15th round of Premier League action and picks out the best bets with a treble.
Everton vs Liverpool
133 years of Merseyside derbies and barring a meeting in the FA Cup this season, the 245th meeting between Everton and Liverpool will be the last at Goodison Park, with Everton moving to their new stadium next season.
Everton, in 15th place in the Premier League table, still have a lot of heavy lifting to do to ensure their new home will begin life in the top tier. The rather unexpected 4-0 drubbing of Wolves on Wednesday evening ended a run of five league games without a win for Sean Dyche’s side, in which period they scored just one goal.
But the Toffees face their city rivals with Liverpool top of the pile and flying under Arne Slot. The 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday might be seen as points dropped, but the Reds showed resolve in bouncing back from behind in the draw. Put it simply, Liverpool are way better than Everton.
It may be a derby where form goes out the window, and Everton won this fixture 2-0 last season, and Liverpool are skinny in the markets at 11/25, so let’s avoid the outright markets and back Mohammad Salah to score anytime at 23/20. He’s bagged nine goals in the last seven league games, he’s notched in each, and he appears to be keen to prove points about his contract. Put it this way, I’d prefer to have him to score than not score!
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Palace’s 1-0 win at Ipswich ended a four-game run without a win, but the Eagles are down in 17th and only three points above the bottom three. Boss Oliver Glasner says he’s “very happy,” but the Eagles have picked up just one win in seven home matches and welcome a Man City side who seem to have recovered from their early season slump.
By the high standards that Pep Guardiola has set the run of seven straight winless games in all competitions was surprising, with his team looking well off their usual ruthless selves. But a 3-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday with Kevin du Bruyne back in the starting lineup could well herald a return to form.
City haven’t won in five away matches, but I expect that to end on Saturday against an uninspiring Palace. City are ten-games unbeaten at Selhurst Park (W8, D2) and there are many worse bets than an away win at 8/13 with Betfair. That’s certainly a good enough price for our Saturday treble.
Aston Villa vs Southampton
Villa’s 3-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday ended a run of eight matches without a win and if they are to collect consecutive league wins for the first time since September, they couldn’t ask for better opponents than bottom side Southampton.
The Saints were woeful in their 5-1 home defeat to Chelsea. Manager Russell Martin wants his side to play football and pass it beautifully out from the back, but they simply haven’t got the defenders equipped to do that.
Unai Emery’s side win this convincingly, but 2/5 on a Villa win is the correct price, but not appealing. Southampton have scored in four of their seven away league matches and Villa to win and BTTS, just like against Brentford in midweek, is a much tastier addition to our treble at 13/8 with Bet365.
James Premier League Tips
Mo Salah to score anytime for Liverpool at 23/20
Man City to beat Crystal Palace at 8/13
Aston Villa to win and BTTS against Southampton at 13/8
Put those three lections into a treble and it's an 8/1 shot with Bet365.
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