The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2017/18: Round 12

Editor
16 November 2017

The title leaders are away to Leicester - and Joe predicts goals

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The Betting Battle returns after the international break with Adam continuing to hold a healthy lead at the top, while a much needed winner for Dan last time has brought him back into touching distance with the pack. Here's where the editors' tenners are headed this weekend...

Adam : Back Over 2.5 goals in Crystal Palace v Everton @ 2.186/5
Harry: Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.26/5 in Leicester v Man City
Mike: Back Yes to Burnley Clean Sheet @ 5/4 v Swansea
Joe:Back Man City win/Both Teams to Score double @ 6/4 v Leicester City
Dan:Back the Draw/BTTS in Arsenal v Tottenham at 10/3

Adam Baylis
Back Over 2.5 goals in Crystal Palace v Everton @ 2.186/5
Saturday, 15:00

Roy Hodgson will probably have this game pencilled as a vital opportunity for three points in his quest to drag Crystal Palace out of the Premier League basement. But looking at the spirit Everton showed against Watford in their 3-2 thriller a fortnight ago, I'm not sure the Eagles will get much joy on Saturday out of the manager-less Merseysiders.

There's no doubt Palace have been unlucky in defeat on more than one occasion so far this season and despite their troubles in front of goal, the newly formed strike partnership of Zaha and Townsend look a lot more fluid when playing on home soil. They could give an Everton back four that have conceded 22 goals in 11 league fixtures some real trouble.

In equal measure, Hodgson's men haven't fared much better at the back, having also leaked 22 in 11 and I do wonder if this could turn into a repeat of their last home game (2-2 v West Ham). However after a few weeks of exotic selections in the battle, I'll keep it simple this week with Over 2.5 @ 2.186/5 in a likely stalemate.

Adam Baylis 2017-18 P/L: +£89.75

Harry Phillips
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.26/5 in Leicester v Man City
Saturday, 15:00

Leicester's games against the big teams this season have often ended in high-scoring affairs including a 3-2 loss to Liverpool and 2-1 loss to Chelsea. They are a potent attacking threat while also very weak at the back.

City's last three games have all gone Over 3.5 and they look in a different stratosphere to the rest of the Premier League. You'd expect a free scoring City to put a few past Leicester, while also struggling to contain the likes of Jamie Vardy and Demarai Gray in defence.

The only negative is that new Leicester coach Claude Puel is defensively minded, but providing Leicester continue to employ similar tactics, I'd be hopeful of an entertaining and high scoring fixture.

Harry Phillips 2017-18 P/L: +£45.50

Mike Norman
Back Yes to Burnley Clean Sheet @ 5/4 v Swansea
Saturday, 15:00

The international break may have changed things somewhat, but going into it Burnley were full of confidence having recorded back-to-back victories without conceding and climbing to seventh in the table, while Swansea were devoid of confidence after falling to 19th in the table following five defeats in six games.

And perhaps because of their terrific away form, Burnley's results at Turf Moor have gone slightly under the radar. They're actually unbeaten in five in front of their own fans and have kept three clean sheets in their last four home league games.

And it's a Burnley clean sheet that I'm wagering on this week. Sean Dyche's men look very organised defensively and only the three top clubs - Man City, United, and Spurs - have conceded fewer than the Clarets this term.

Swansea don't score many either - only Crystal Palace have scored less - so until Paul Clement's men show signs of finding some form they look opposable in one way or another.

Mike Norman 2017-18 P/L: -£6.50

Joe Dyer
Back Man City win/Both Teams to Score double @ 6/4 v Leicester City
Saturday, 15:00

Manchester City's 31 point start with +31 goal difference is the best ever 11-game start to a Premier League season. Across all competitions they have won 15, drawn two and lost none. Little wonder then, that they are just 1.374/11 to beat Leicester on Saturday afternoon.

That is clearly too short for me as a Battle selection, but there are ways of rolling up the away win to make backing the title favourites a more appetising proposition.

The one that catches my eye is backing an away win with both teams scoring at 6/4 on the Betfair Sportsbook.

With Nicolas Otamendi suspended the City defence is a little weaker than usual and Leicester may get a few opportunities to score.

And it goes without saying that the away side, scorers of 38 goals in the Premier League so far this season, stand a very strong chance of beating Kasper Schmeichel on more than one occasion.

Joe Dyer 2017-18 P/L: -£10.85

Dan Thomas
Back the Draw/BTTS in Arsenal v Tottenham at 10/3 (Sportsbook)
Saturday, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

This one has got draw written all over it hasn't it? Opta tell us that all three of Mauricio Pochettino's visits to the Emirates with Tottenham have ended level, while Arsenal haven't won any of their last six Premier League meetings with Spurs (D4 L2) - their longest ever winless run against their rivals in league competition.

So the 3.613/5 on the stalemate on the Exchange looks like a very fair price, but history suggests we can discard the goalless draw - BTTS has landed in 34 games in the Premier League era, more than any other fixture in the competition.

A fourth consecutive correct score of 1-1 is a big player at around 8.415/2 but with a few injury concerns on both sides, it could be a more open game than usual, and I'll cover the bigger scores by taking the draw/BTTS double on the Sportsbook at a decent price.

Dan Thomas 2017-18 P/L: -£41.25

***

For individual match previews of every single Premier League game visit our dedicated Premier League section here on Betting.Betfair.

The Editors' 2017/18 Season P/L:

1. Adam Baylis +£89.75
2. Harry Phillips +£45.50
3. Mike Norman -£6.50
4. Joe Dyer -£10.85
5. Dan Thomas -£41.25

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