The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2015/16: Round 16

Editor
10 December 2015

Both Joe and Mike are sweet on Stoke's chances against injury ravaged West Ham

Join

Twitter

Facebook

View the Betslip

All change in the Battle last weekend as a Leicester win sent Dan Thomas to the top, but just £3.40 separates in the top three so it could hardly be tighter as we go into round 16. Here's where the editors' tenners are headed this weekend...

"An incredible 13 of Palace's 15 games so far have been level at the break, while six of Southampton's seven away trips have seen the half-time draw bet land. That would suggest we have a better percentage chance than odds of around 2.26/5 indicate."

Dan Thomas
Back the HT draw in Crystal Palace v Southampton at 2.226/5
Saturday, 15:00

A few bets jumped out this weekend, including Everton to beat Norwich at a punchy price and Tony Pulis to do a job at Anfield and unders to land, but then I saw the half-time stats for these two teams.

An incredible 13 of Palace's 15 games so far have been level at the break, while six of Southampton's seven away trips have seen the half-time draw bet land. That would suggest we have a better percentage chance than odds of around 2.26/5 indicate.

Alan Pardew's men haven't quite got the balance right at home in general (I'm discounting the 5-1 defeat of Newcastle here as the Magpies were abject) and it always seems to take them a while to get into gear, while Southampton are a well organised unit on the road, so a tight opening looks likely.

I wouldn't put anyone off taking around 2.89/5 on the 0-0 HT score, but I'll play it slightly safer and take the draw at a nice price.

Dan Thomas 2015-16 P/L: +£2.70

Mike Norman
Back Stoke @ 3.185/40 to beat West Ham
Saturday, 15:00

I was very surprised to see Stoke priced up as the clear outsiders to beat West Ham on Saturday - I fully expected them to be a similar price as the Hammers, if not favourites themselves.

And the reason I say that is two-fold. First, Mark Hughes' men have been excellent away from home this season, and they're away from home here. They didn't concede a goal on their travels for five consecutive games, and very nearly made it six clean sheets in a row away from home at Sunderland last time, but they paid the price for Ryan Shawcross' dismissal late in the game.

Secondly, on current form Stoke are by far the stronger side.

The Potters have taken 10 points from the last 15 available, they've won nine of their last 12 in all competitions, and last Saturday they were extremely impressive in beating title favourites Manchester City.

West Ham on the other hand have fallen completely out of form. They haven't won in five league outings now, most of their best early season form came on their travels, and they've been dealt some huge blows in recent weeks by losing Manuel Lanzini, Diafra Sakho, and Dimitri Payet to long-term injuries.

Stoke look outstanding value at 3.185/40 to me.

Mike Norman 2015-16 P/L: +£1.40

Joe Dyer
Back a Stoke clean sheet @ 3.412/5 v West Ham
Saturday, 15:00

Stoke are gaining a head of steam and I can see why Mikey is keen to side with them in the Match Odds against West Ham this weekend.

I will support the visiting side too, and I am drawn to that rock-solid defence which is on a stunning run of seven clean sheets from 10 games in all competitions since October.

Against a West Ham side shorn of their main attacking talents including Dimitri Payet, Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini - a trio responsible for 12 of the London side's 25 league goals - they look a decent bet to record another shutout.

The Hammers have lost some of their goalscoring cut in recent weeks, especially since Payet suffered injury against Everton, scoring just two goals in three games and recording a blank last time out.

At 3.412/5 I'm happy to support Stoke to keep that imposing run going.

Joe Dyer 2015-16 P/L: -£1.70

Luke Moore

Back Romelu Lukaku to score against Norwich at 2.47/5
Saturday, 12:45
Live on BT Sport 1

Although Everton couldn't get the win against Crystal Palace last time out, they probably should have, and I was impressed with them going forward, not just the man I've selected to score on Saturday but all the supporting creative players also.

Romelu Lukaku has scored nine times in his last nine Premier League games and it is impossible to imagine him not having yet another hatful of chances against Norwich. All he's got to do is take one of them, and although he bagged one last week, he hit the woodwork twice and benefitted hugely from the form and creativity of Gerard Deulofeu, Ross Barkley and the overlapping full backs out wide.

I fancy the big Belgian to continue his run against a side who have kept just one clean sheet in the top flight this season.

Luke Moore 2015-16 P/L: -£24.70

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