West Ham to beat Southampton (9/2)
SLAVEN BILIC’S SIDE have been impressive this season, and if wasn’t for them drawing so many games (nine), they’d be even higher than their current sixth position.
They may be only one spot ahead of their hosts but, in Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia, West Ham aren’t short on match-winners. Add to that the impressive recent form of Winston Reid and Mark Noble and the Hammers look great value in Saturday’s late kick-off.
These sides have shared the spoils in their last four encounters in Southampton but the way the Irons have been playing of late, that could change today.
West Ham have pulled off a number of big away wins this year — against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City — and saw off the Saints 2-1 in the reverse fixture last December.
West Ham to win with draw no bet is also tempting and can be found for as high as 3/1.
Riyad Mahrez to score first for Leicester (11/2)
He’s been in superb form all throughout the season but Mahrez hasn’t scored in 2016 yet – hence the generous odds.
But, against Liverpool midweek, he went close twice – one effort forcing Simon Mignolet into a top-drawer save and was a constant menace, as he always tends to be.
Leicester have shared the goals recently – Vardy’s brace coming after a relatively quiet period for him. The supporting cast have stepped forward – the likes of Ulloa, Drinkwater and Okazaki all contributing.
Everyone goes through the odd dry spell – as Vardy proved – and maybe Saturday lunchtime will see Mahrez get back among the goals.
Swansea to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 (17/2)
Inevitably, a change in coach as had a short-term swing for Swansea though it really should be three wins on the trot and would’ve been but for the concession of a last-gasp equaliser against West Brom.
In recent weeks, the club’s key players have emerged from the shadows and started contributing again – most notably Andre Ayew and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
So, it bodes well for this weekend especially with Palace in free-fall.
It’s been five successive league defeats for them now and have failed to win a single Premier League game in 2016 so far.
But for their Cup success (wins over Southampton and Stoke), it would be a very bleak situation for Alan Pardew’s side considering how eye-catching their early-season form had been.
The Swans will fancy their chances on Saturday.
Aston Villa to win 1-0 (6/1)
If ever there was a fixture where Villa could pick up a solid result, it’s this one.
Norwich have lost their last five games in all competitions and are leaking goals left, right and centre. Now, Villa aren’t exactly the most prolific team either and, as they showed against Liverpool, the Canaries also have the ability to score occasionally.
Villa’s two main goal sources – Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede – are both unavailable but this has been a strange Premier League season.
Could a set-piece nick something for Remi Garde’s struggling side? Could an own goal prove decisive? We think that Norwich are vulnerable and that Villa Park has proved a much happier hunting ground for the hosts than anywhere else.
Anthony Martial to be first goalscorer (8/1)
A special talent, the French youngster has been one of the very few bright lights in Manchester United’s season.
He’s gone through a couple of droughts but his strike against Stoke will surely give him some renewed confidence and his trickery, pace and purpose will give Chelsea plenty of problems on Sunday afternoon.
Though Wayne Rooney has been United’s main goal threat in recent weeks, his record against the Londoners isn’t great, particularly in the last few seasons.
That’s why we think Martial may be a decent bet, particularly if some of his early enthusiasm and explosive running causes Branislav Ivanovic difficulties.
