PREMIER LEAGUE: The Striker previews NEWCASTLE v BOURNEMOUTH, BRENTFORD v LIVERPOOL and ARSENAL v ASTON VILLA all with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
NEWCASTLE V BOURNEMOUTH
12.30pm The Premier League fixtures keep coming on BETDAQ Betting Exchange! After a full midweek fixture list, we’re straight into another hectic weekend. We have an interesting Saturday ahead with Liverpool and Arsenal in action – given Liverpool dropped points midweek they are under a little pressure. We start the action with Newcastle Bournemouth in the early kick off, and this should be an entertaining game. Both sides are having a very good run of things at the moment – Newcastle have been on a storming run after a poor start to the season. Another win midweek Wolves extended their run of wins to six and with Chelsea and Manchester City dropping points again, suddenly Newcastle are heavily involved in the Top Four battle again. I have to say I didn’t see this coming after their summer with transfer sagas and then their under-lining numbers were poor at the start of the season too. You could have even said when they went five games without a win over September and October and Eddie Howe was under pressure – we had rumours of Jose Mourinho coming to Newcastle! No one is talking about that now, and their stats have improved.
Their average xG conceded is still a little high at 1.42, and so far they’ve been getting away with things at the back – sides haven’t been taking their chances as their actual goals conceded average is just a little over a goal a game. Bournemouth are another side with a high average xG conceded that have been getting away with things – their average xG conceded is 1.49 but their actual figure is 1.19. Newcastle come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.67 with Bournemouth 5.5 and the draw is 4.4 at the time of writing. Although Newcastle are on an excellent run, I have to say that the 1.67 feels a little short here. Bournemouth have been creating a lot this season – they are in the top five on attacking figures in the Premier League this season. I couldn’t put anyone off a Newcastle lay from a value point of view, but Both Teams To Score looks a very nice bet here at 1.67. I know both sides have been over-performing at the back this season, but they are conceding a lot of chances plus they have both been very good going forward.
The Striker Says:
Three points win Both Teams To Score at 1.67 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/NewBth
BRENTFORD V LIVERPOOL
3pm We have three games kicking off at 3pm, and Brentford hosting Liverpool looks to be the pick of them. Both sides were involved in draws midweek with Brentford managing to stop Manchester City here, and then Liverpool dropped points against Nottingham Forest. Liverpool are still in an excellent position, and in fairness Nottingham Forest have been having an excellent season – it’s remarkable they sit inside the Top Four to be honest! Liverpool still have a four point advantage over Arsenal, and they have a game in hand too – there’s absolutely no need to panic, but you’d equally have to say that if they drop points again here, the door is opening slightly for Arsenal. Liverpool come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.53 with Brentford 6.4 and the draw is 5.2 at the time of writing. I have to say I was quite confident that Manchester City would get the job done here this week, and it was disappointing to see them throw away a two goal lead in the last ten minutes. It’s just been that type of season for City, but you have to still give Brentford credit because they finished the game with an xG very close to 2.0.
Liverpool have quite clearly been on a different level compared to City this season, and I wouldn’t let the midweek result here put me off Liverpool at 1.53. Brentford have an average xG conceded of 1.84 this season which is the joint-worst defensive figure in the Premier League. Their attacking figure at 1.36 isn’t going to trouble a side like Liverpool, especially considering how impressive they have been at the back under Slot this season too. Brentford have been massively over-performing in front of goal – they are scoring close to two goals per game on average which they deserve a lot of credit for, but they are coming up against the best side in Europe this season here. I just don’t see the Brentford defence being able to handle Liverpool – I did think about going for a bigger price on Liverpool to cover a handicap, but the 1.53 is worth a Five Star NAP in my opinion.
The Striker Says:
Five points win Liverpool to beat Brentford at 1.53 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BrfLiv
ARSENAL V ASTON VILLA
5.30pm We finish Saturday in the Premier League with a cracker as Arsenal host Aston Villa. As I said above, with Liverpool dropping points midweek the door is still slightly open for Arsenal, but given Liverpool come into this weekend with a four point lead and a game in hand, Arteta still needs Liverpool to drop plenty of points. Although I can’t see Liverpool losing the title from here, it would be nice to have a bit of drama on the run-in – I actually see Liverpool winning the title quite easily this season though. Aston Villa haven’t been as good this season compared to last season, but they have been grinding out results – they’ve been fantastic in the Champions League, but they are in the bottom six on attacking figure in the Premier League. The fact that they still have an outside chance at getting back into the Top Four highlights just how good they have been at grinding out results this season, and it also highlights just how poor the likes of Manchester United, Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City have been to be honest! Villa are only three points off fourth spot, but it is very unlikely they finish the season there.
Arsenal come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.54 with Aston Villa 7.6 and the draw is 4.5 at the time of writing. It will be interesting to see how Emery sets his side up here; I would suggest that Villa are quite cagey to begin with at least. Arsenal have been exceptionally solid at the back recently – they were conceding a fair amount of chances at the start of the season, but they have the best attacking figure in the Premier League again now. Quite Arteta has faced criticism this season, I do feel he was trying to fix the issues at the back, and that had a negative impact on the attack. I feel we’ll have quite a close game here, and I was surprised to see Over 2.5 goals trading odds on. The last three meetings between the sides have had Under 2.5 goals collect, and I feel this game sets up as another cagey affair. I can’t see Villa wanting an open game here, and we know how good Arsenal have been at the back too – I’d have Under 2.5 goals as the favourite, and I’m happy with a position there at 2.1.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 2.1 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/ArlAvl
