The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2016/17: Round 15

Editor
08 December 2016

Dan fancies the spoils to be shared at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon

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Another win for Mike Norman last weekend saw him extend his lead at the top of the Battle with a profit of nearly £50 on the season while Dan Thomas climbed off the bottom with a welcome winning bet. Here's where the editors' tenners are headed for Round 15...

"United face a Tottenham team who have also been fond of a draw or two this season, with six stalemates from their 14 games - and three from their last four away trips."

Mike Norman
Back Sunderland @ 3.7511/4 to beat Swansea
Saturday, 15:00

At 3.7511/4 to back, I'd give my local pub team a chance of beating Swansea on current form.

Okay, that might be a bit harsh given Bob Bradley's men won, scoring five goals in the process, just a fortnight ago. But that victory came in a 'freak' game against a Crystal Palace side that were losing for the sixth league match in succession.

Ignore that win and the facts are that since their opening day victory at Burnley the Swans have lost nine, and drawn three, of their 12 other Premier League games this term. They've conceded 16 goals in their last five matches which is more than half a dozen clubs have conceded in the whole of the season!

Admittedly Sunderland are no great shakes either, but they have two huge factors in their favour - some good form and more importantly, Jermain Defoe.

The Black Cats have won three of their last four in the league including an away win at Bournemouth, and with Defoe in their side - currently the top English goalscorer in the division - I fancy Sunderland will find the back of the next a few times at the Liberty Stadium, and that should be good enough to take all three points.

Mike Norman 2016-17 P/L: +£48.90

Joe Dyer
Back Man City/Both Teams to Score double v Leicester @ 9/4
Saturday, 17:30
Live on BT Sport 1

Manchester City's title challenge takes them to the home of the current champions this Saturday and even without the suspended Sergio Aguero I am keen to support the boys in (sky) blue.

Leicester's results have been so bad recently that a relegation battle is becoming a genuine prospect. Just three league games have been won this season and not one of their last five. A skeleton team was beaten 5-0 in midweek and they are without two of their key performers in the suspended Danny Drinkwater and injured Kaspar Schmeichel.

And this weekend they face the Premier League's best away side. City perform better away from The Etihad this season, winning six of their seven on the road including their last three.

Aguero is a big loss but there are goals throughout the team and I fancy they will keep pace with leaders Chelsea by winning on the road again. Rather than take the 1.768/11 on a City win, I will add in both teams to score in a double that pays at 9/4. City have only kept two clean sheets in the top-flight this season so the Foxes may well find the back of the net.

Joe Dyer 2016-17 P/L: -£16.55

Dan Thomas
Back the Draw in Manchester United v Tottenham at 3.45
Sunday, 14:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

The word coming out of Manchester United is that the powers that be are much happier with the football being played under Jose Mourinho than they were with the fare served up by Louis van Gaal, but the league table doesn't make for particularly pleasant reading. The Red Devils are nearer to the bottom of the table (12 points) than they are to the top (13).

The main problem has been too many draws. United's games have ended all square in six out of the last eight and have been held at home by the likes of Burnley, Stoke and West Ham.

They face a Tottenham team who have also been fond of a draw or two this season, with six stalemates from their 14 games - and three from their last four away trips. Mauricio Pochettino's men have a kind looking fixture list over Christmas, so a draw will probably suit them fine and Mourinho probably wouldn't be too unhappy either, especially with United playing away in Ukraine on Thursday night.

I wouldn't put anyone off backing the 1-1 correct score at 7.413/2 but I'll play it safer and go for the straight draw.

Dan Thomas 2016-17 P/L: -£61.50

Luke Moore
Back Watford to beat Everton at 3.1511/5
Saturday, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports 1

After a winner the week before, it was back to another losing bet for me as the City-Chelsea game easily went over 2.5 goals. Ho hum.

This week I'm backing an underrated team at home against a vastly overrated side in the shape of Ronald Koeman's Everton. The Toffees are still in eighth, thanks largely to a strong start due to the kindness of the fixture list, but they aren't doing particularly well at the moment - just one win in their last nine Premier League games.

Watford are pretty inconsistent themselves but are in better form than Saturday lunchtime's opponents, and Opta tell us that Everton have only notched two goals in their last five Premier League away games. What's more, their most creative player, Yannick Bolasie, will miss this game through injury.

They may only just sneak it, but I think the Hornets will win this one. At a price of larger than 2/1, I'm happy to have them on my side this weekend.

Luke Moore 2016-17 P/L: -£67.30

***

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

The Editors' 2016/17 Season P/L:

Mike Norman
P/L: +£48.90

Joe Dyer
P/L: -£16.55

Dan Thomas
P/L: -£61.50

Luke Moore
P/L: -£67.30

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