Premier League Preview - Sunday, August 29th

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Last Updated on Friday, 27th Aug 2010, 

Written by BetRepublic

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13:30 – Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City:

These two sides sit fifth and sixth respectively in the Premier League after two matches with both sides having won one game and drawn one game. While i’m sure that both sides will not be this high in the table come the end of the season, who will stay this high up for a little longer with a win? William Hill make Bolton the favourites to win the game at odds of 2.20, with both Birmingham and the draw available at odds of 3.30.

Bolton began the season with a 0-0 draw at home to Fulham and then claimed a 3-1 win away at West Ham on the second weekend. Following this they defeated Southampton 1-0 at St. Marys Stadium in the Carling Cup, so have started the season well. Birmingham have the same set of results after drawing 2-2 with Sunderland on the opening day, then beating Blackburn at home and finally defeating Rochdale in the cup. Birmingham have come from behind in all of these three matches and need to cut that out in order to stand a chance of improving on their ninth place finish last season.

I expect this game to end level and that both sides will find the net, both of which I’ll be backing at odds of 3.30 and 1.95 respectively with William Hill.

15:00 – Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion:

Liverpool suffered a long night on Thursday in Turkey but came through with two late goals to ensure their progress into the group stages of the Europa League. Can they carry on against West Brom and pick up all three points after a poor start to their Premier League campaign? Bet365 make Liverpool the massive favourites for the three points at odds of 1.22, with West Brom available at odds of 15.00 and the draw can be backed at 6.00.

Despite being down to ten men for the second half of their opening home fixture against Arsenal Liverpool dominated the game against the Gunners and would have won the game except for an own goal by Pepe Reina. They also won the home tie against Trabzonspor in the Europa League, but it’s their away form that has been poor – losing 3-0 at Man City and just about getting past Trabzonspor in Turkey with two late goals. However, they are at home and they face the newly promoted West Brom, who took a 6-0 thumping on their only away league game this season – away to Chelsea. Since then they have beaten Sunderland at home and then progressed to round three of the Carling Cup by beating Leyton Orient 2-0 in mid-week.

West Brom will arguably be the fresher of the two sides, but can they get a result? Liverpool have got rid of bad influence for the squad Javier Mascherano to Barcelona, but they may be without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who missed the game in Turkey through injury, and they will still be without Joe Cole through suspension. West Brom will be full of confidence after beating Sunderland and they will relish the trip to Anfield, feeling that they can get something from the game. And, you know, I happen to think they will too and i’m backing the draw with less than 2.5 goals to be scored in the match. Both bets can be backed at odds of 6.00 and 2.30 respectively with Bet365.

15:00 – Sunderland v Manchester City:

Manchester City go into this game having played four competitive matches this season, and they are yet to concede a goal. Sunderland, on the other hand, threw away a two goal lead in their opening game against Birmingham City and then went on to lose to West Brom. Not a good start to the season for Steve Bruce’s men, but can they turn it around against the big spenders? William Hill make Manchester City the 1.85 favourites to pick up the points at the Stadium of Light, while Sunderland are available at odds of 4.00 and the draw can be backed at 3.40.

Sunderland have scored four goals in their two home games this season, scoring two in their game against Birmingham City in the Premier League and another two against Colchester in the league, with Darren Bent scoring three of those four goals and scoring first on both occasions. Can Bent score first again?

If he is to score again, then he will have to get past Joe Hart, the goalkeeper who has yet to concede a goal in a competitive game since returning to Man City from Birmingham City, where he spent last season on loan. It is a tough task, but City will be confident of getting something from this game due to the ability of Hart and their solidity at the back.

Bent is Sunderland’s best attacking asset, having scored twenty-four goals for the team last season, I feel that Hart will be up to the task of keeping him from scoring. As a result of this I’m backing a Manchester City win to nil at odds of 3.00 and Manchester City to win the game by at least two goals at odds of 3.40 with PaddyPower.com.

16:00 – Aston Villa v Everton:

The final game of the weekend sees a demoralised Aston Villa host a frustrated Everton team. Villa will be hurting after taking a 6-0 beating at Newcastle last weekend and then being dumped out of Europe by Rapid Vienna in midweek, while Everton need to start converting their dominance into victories, after being the best side in their opening two games and ending up with just one point after losing one and drawing one.

PaddyPower.com make Aston Villa the favourites to take the three points at home at odds of 2.40, while Everton can be backed at 2.90 and the draw is available at odds of 3.30.

Villa are still without a permanent manager and it seems that they have more problems than that after their shocking performance at St. James Park last weekend that saw the newly promoted Newcastle score six goals following Villa’s penalty miss. They looked good at times against Vienna on Thursday night, but conceded three goals as they lost 3-2 at Villa Park and brought their goals conceded tally for the week to nine. Will Everton be able to take advantage of this?

I believe that they will as they’ve looked good in the two games they’ve played in the league this season – away to Blackburn and home to Wolves. After failing to put away their chances in their two Premier League encounters they managed to do so against Huddersfield Town in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night as they scored five times in a 5-1 win. Will they be able to find the net and claim the win in the midlands on Sunday afternoon?

I’m sure that David Moyes’ men will do so and i’m backing them at odds of 2.90 to claim all three points for the first occasion this season. I’m also expecting a few goals too, so i’m backing over 2.5 goals at odds of 2.10. Both of these bets are available with PaddyPower.com.