The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2017/18: Round 14

Editor
28 November 2017

David Unsworth's Everton face West Ham on Wednesday

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Dan dragged himself off the bottom of the table as Watford did the business at Newcastle at the weekend, but none of the other editors were able to land a winner. It's quickly on to another round with a full midweek programme - and here's where their tenners are headed...

Adam Baylis: Back Under 2.5 Goals in Arsenal v Huddersfield at 2.6613/8
Harry Phillips: Back Tottenham to beat Leicester at 1.84/5
Mike Norman: Back Arsenal -2 @ 17/10 v Huddersfield
Dan Thomas: Back West Ham to beat Everton at 3.3512/5
Joe Dyer: Back Over 2.5 Goals in Everton v West Ham at 1.855/6

Adam Baylis
Back Under 2.5 goals in Arsenal v Huddersfield Town @ 2.6613/8
Wednesday, 19:45

David Wagner's men can consider themselves hugely unlucky to not have come away with a point against league leaders Manchester City on Saturday. If they can carry a similar performance into this fixture at the Emirates then goals will likely come at a premium for an Arsenal side that aren't anywhere near as incisive as City.

Moreover, the Gunners haven't scored more than twice at home since September 9th and Huddersfield's woes in front of goal are there for all to see, having netted only nine times this season. While the home side will likely emerge victorious, I don't expect it to be easy so take the 2.6613/8 on Under 2.5 goals.

Adam Baylis 2017-18 P/L: +£91.55

Harry Phillips
Back Tottenham to beat Leicester at 1.84/5
Tuesday, 19:45

I'm keen to keep the teams used to playing mid-week on side today and am backing Spurs to bounce back from a poor draw at home on Saturday.

Leicester are a solid if unspectacular mid-table team and Pochettino's men should have enough firepower to see them off if they bring their A-game.

One concern is the form of Christian Eriksen - he is the key to unlocking away defences, but has failed to score and assist in his last five matches for Spurs.

However, there's every chance this is just a minor blip and this is, ultimately, the same Spurs team that thumped Real Madrid 3-1 at Wembley a few weeks ago. Given Tottenham are used to playing twice a week I expect them to be better prepared to deal with the short turnaround and fancy them to come out on top.

Harry Phillips 2017-18 P/L: +£25.50

Mike Norman
Back Arsenal -2 @ 17/10 on the Sportsbook v Huddersfield
Wednesday, 19:45

A difference of opinion between myself and Adam as I'm wagering that we'll witness at least three goals at the Emirates, and I'm of the opinion that they'll all go to the home side.

Arsenal are on a tremendous winning league run in front of their home fans and will make it 12 wins on the spin should they taste victory on Wednesday night, and they go into the clash with Huddersfield having recorded a very impressive 2-0 victory over Spurs in their last home game.

Huddersfield - for all they are gritty and determined - have a very poor record on their travels. In fact, the Terriers haven't scored a single goal away from home since the opening day of the season, and yet they haven't exactly played the best teams in the division either - Liverpool apart they've faced the likes of Palace (twice), West Ham, Burnley, Swansea, and Bournemouth.

But what convinces me that the Gunners should run out easy winners is the amount of energy Huddersfield burned on Sunday against Manchester City. David Wagner's men performed with enormous credit, but they ran themselves into the ground in that game before losing late on in heartbreaking fashion. I expect them to be a little fatigued having to travel south just a couple of days later.

Mike Norman 2017-18 P/L: -£4.00

Dan Thomas
Back West Ham to beat Everton at 3.3512/5
Wednesday, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Finally off the bottom of the Battle, thanks to Watford's win at Newcastle, and I'm looking to keep the momentum going in this midweek edition by opposing struggling Everton when they host West Ham in the live game on Wednesday.

The Toffees look to be in a complete mess at the moment - I watched the Europa League game against Atalanta and can't recall seeing a collapse like it for many years. And while that was a much changed team, it was the same story at St Mary's on Sunday as David Unsworth's men let a previously profligate Southampton side score four. In further bad news, Leighton Baines sustained a calf injury that will keep him out for a while.

It's only one point from two games for David Moyes at West Ham so far but the east Londoners showed plenty of fight in the Friday night clash with Leicester and he will have them well drilled for his return to Goodison.

I'm not sure a team who have conceded more goals than anyone (28) should be favourites for a game at the moment, and I'll take a chance on West Ham winning a rare away match at a decent price.

Dan Thomas 2017-18 P/L: -£25.25

Joe Dyer
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.111/10 in Everton v West Ham
Wednesday, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Everton are in a real mess and I can't see Wednesday night's visit of similarly troubled West Ham producing a drab affair.

Interim Toffees manager David Unsworth will soon be replaced by Sam Allardyce it seems, but whether the former England manager is in situ for this game looks doubtful. And even if he was I don't think he'd be able to have that much of an effect on on-field matters.

And let's take a look at what's happened on the pitch in recent weeks - battered 4-1 at St Mary's last weekend, a few days after Atalanta inflicted a painful 5-1 defeat at Goodison, that Europa League embarrassment coming after a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace. Add in the other two games played this month - a 3-2 win over Watford and a 3-0 defeat by Lyon - and we have 23 goals scored in five fixtures.

Yet you can back over 2.5 at 2.111/10.

That must have something to do with the presence of David Moyes on the sidelines with his new club West Ham. The former Everton manager doesn't have a reputation for expansive, exciting, attacking football but he must be targeting a result here with the Hammers facing a relegation rival here before lining up against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the following three games.

Everton can't help but concede, are without a host of defenders and West Ham will be desperate for points - how can there not be goals?

Joe Dyer 2017-18 P/L: -£30.85

***

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 +£91.55
2. Harry Phillips +£25.50
3. Mike Norman -£4.00
4. Dan Thomas -£25.25
5. Joe Dyer -£30.85

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