Updated at 22.08
1. Tottenham to draw with Man City (23/10)
TOTTENHAM’S RECORD ON the whole against other top-six sides is certainly respectable.
Spurs have secured eight points from six games against their rivals, beating Man City and Chelsea along the way, while earning points against Arsenal and Liverpool.
Yet when restricted purely to away matches, their stats are less impressive, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side losing to Man United and Chelsea, and drawing with Arsenal, on their travels.
Yet since the defeat at Stamford Bridge in November, Tottenham have looked extremely impressive, winning 10 consecutive games in all competitions.
But given Spurs’ sub-par away form in big games, Pochettino may well be content with a point at the Etihad.
City, similarly, would also probably consider a draw to be an acceptable result, particularly considering how poorly they played in the catastrophic 4-0 loss to Everton last weekend.
2. Paul Pogba to score anytime against Stoke (17/10)
Paul Pogba has endured plenty of criticism this week following a disappointing display against Liverpool last weekend.
The 23-year-old France international is highly talented but remains far from the finished product, as his error-strewn performance on Sunday emphasised.
Yet Pogba wouldn’t be where he is in the game without having an extremely thick skin and an ability to respond well to setbacks. Not many young players who leave Man United go on to become top footballers in Europe, but Pogba did just that at Juventus.
While United, in general, were less than impressive against Liverpool, prior to that game, Jose Mourinho’s side had been in exceptional form. They should have too much for a Stoke side that have flattered to deceive at times this year.
3. Liverpool to win at Swansea with a -2.0 handicap (17/10)
Liverpool have shown some indifferent form of late, partially caused by an injury to Philippe Coutinho and the unavailability of Sadio Mane, who’s currently impressing for Senegal at the African Cup of Nations.
Yet Coutinho is now close to being fully fit, and even in the continued absence of Mane, they should have more than enough to beat a struggling Swansea side.
Paul Clement’s men are currently bottom of the league, with most pundits seeing them as dead certs for relegation.
Swansea’s biggest issue is without doubt their unconvincing backline. Following the departure of key centre-back Ashley Williams to Everton in the summer, the Welsh side have conceded 49 goals since the start of the season, which means they have the worst defensive record of all the teams in the Premier League.
Liverpool, by contrast, with 49 goals, have the best attack in the league, so it seems there can only be one outcome in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Moreover, in seven league games against top-six opposition this season, the Swans have conceded 22 goals. So don’t be surprised if Liverpool win by more than one or two at Anfield on Saturday.
4. Arsenal to win both halves against Burnley (13/10)
Arsenal haven’t had the best of times in recent weeks, dropping points against Bournemouth, Everton and Man City.
Yet the Gunners got back to winning ways last weekend with an emphatic defeat of Swansea.
The likes of Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey sometimes get criticised — and rightly so — for underwhelming displays in the really big games.
Yet expect Arsenal’s stars to thrive at home to Burnley on Sunday.
Sean Dyche’s 10th-placed side may have overachieved following promotion from the Championship last season, but their away form since the start of the campaign has been dreadful — gaining just one point from nine matches on the road. So expect this trend to continue at the Emirates.
5. Diego Costa to be first goalscorer against Hull (2/1)
Diego Costa and Chelsea looked to have resolved their differences following last week’s much-publicised dispute.
There will consequently be extra pressure on the Spain international to perform as a result of his recent controversial antics.
Yet you couldn’t ask for a much easier game to come back to than Hull at home on Sunday.
Marco Silva’s side are in the relegation zone and just one point ahead of bottom-placed Swansea.
With 14 goals, Costa is the Premier League’s joint-top scorer along with Man United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, and it would be no surprise if the 28-year-old attacker were to add to his tally against Hull’s shaky defence.
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