Swansea v Manchester United: Preview and Predictions

After Brendan Rodgers left, to hunt a top-two finish elsewhere, you may have been left expecting Swansea to flounder in their second Premier League season – a notoriously tricky time for recently promoted sides.  They’ve performed remarkably well and approaching the Christmas fixture list they look almost certain to be approaching their third spell in the Premiership.

          With the Welsh side’s survival looking beyond doubt they can approach this game with confidence and enjoy the sense of occasion a Manchester United visit brings for smaller clubs.  This should be a concern for Manchester United, who have been upstaged by unlikely opposition in the form of Norwich this season and were at times upstaged by Reading.  Manchester United fans will be hoping defensive lessons have been learnt from recent performances.

          Manchester United are the only Premiership side yet to draw a game this season and this well could be the weekend where they do – but we’re going to placing all our eggs in the United basket this weekend.  Aston Villa’s visit to Chelsea could be just as uncertain...

Robin Van Persie will be needed to provide or assist goals this weekend against a strong Swansea defence.

Swansea v Manchester United: Verdict – Manchester United 8/13

Manchester United v Sunderland: Preview and Predictions

Fans of Chelsea and Manchester City wishing United will be dropping points soon will have tasted a rusty mouthful of their own sick when they saw who'll be visiting Old Trafford this weekend – Sunderland.

          Historically Sunderland have found this fixture to be a pointless affair – and they’re in a much more sorry state that they have been on previous visits in their recent past. 

          Wayne Rooney hasn’t had the best season by his standards, in spite of becoming the youngest player to have scored 150 Premier League goals – but his efforts last weekend in the Manchester Derby may have invigorated his campaign.  Sir Alex Ferguson will want his more experienced players to conclude this match in the first half in order to be able to use the game as an opportunity to field some of the less used players this season. 

          Manchester United’s defence has not lived up to the expected standards this season – so this game should be used as a defensive exercise. The real upset will be a Sunderland goal if there is one.

          This could be a high-scoring affair – so if you fancy wider odds that the outright result offers you, you may want to look towards goal markets, with over 3.5 in the match being one to keep you interested throughout the ninety minutes at 6/5.  It could be a day of embarrassment for Sunderland, although most of their fixtures have been low-scoring affairs.

 Manchester United v Sunderland: Verdict – Manchester United 2/9

Manchester City v Manchester United: Preview and Predictions

Ignoring their midweek performance, Manchester United have been a side that have had little problem scoring goals this season – which is why we’re favouring the both teams to score market over the outright result in our low-risk accumulator selection this weekend. 

          We expect that in a huge fixture like this Manchester United will be able to match City for most of the game, but with the 38 league game undefeated record being in favour of the home side, we’re not certain they’ll claim all three points.

          Roberto Mancini lost his position at Inter Milan, where he was popular with fans and players, as a result of poor form in Europe.  His failed campaign in the Champions League was the first time a Premier League side went without a win – which means he may be feeling a bit of déjà-vu.  This is a fixture he’ll be wanting to win almost us much as the fixture that brought the league title to the club.

          Psychologically, you could argue that the league will have been won by United if they travel across town to take all three points.  With the upper hand in United’s favour points wise and City with their home record, we expect both sides to walk away with something to show for their spoils – expect a draw.

         

Manchester City v Manchester United – Verdict: Draw 5/2

Norwich v Manchester United: Preview and Prediction

Saturday 17^th November 15:00: Norwich  V Manchester United– Verdict: Manchester United 2/5

Arsenal and Tottenham both went to Carrow Road in the first part of last month to come home empty handed and since then Norwich haven’t lost a match. A team previously expected to battle relegation, Norwich have made a strong case for their remaining in the Premiership long-term and are becoming a side, simlarly to West Brom, who are fast gaining an impressive reputation amongst their peers.

          Although an upset isn’t impossible –  remember Norwich hadn’t beaten Arsenal in over ten years when they beat them in October – it seems unlikely and you can expect an away win.  Norwich won't not be judged on this performance, providing the final score isn't cricket like; the outcome of only a few teams' seasons relies on performances against Sir Alex Ferguson.

Premier League High-Risk Accumulator

Premier League High-Risk Accumulator 36/1

Arsenal v Fulham – Verdict: Arsenal 1/2

Aston Villa v Manchester United - Verdict: Manchester United 1/2

Everton v Sunderland – Verdict: Everton 1/2

Stoke v QPR –Verdict: Stoke 5/6

Reading v Norwich – Verdict: Draw 9/4

Chelsea v Liverpool – Verdict: Chelsea 17/20

There are bound to be some upsets this weekend, but for a small-stake backing this gamble offers you quite a few talking points.  The Reading and Norwich draw bumps the price of this sixfold up, and that’s the highest risk of the lot if you want to lower the risk.

          If Saturday’s successful then you’ll have landed a 36/1 bet on Chelsea for Sunday with this accumulator.  Recently we said Daniel Sturridge was a tasty as a tramp’s toenail, but we’re bound to be a lot kinder to him if he plays with the weight of this bet behind him.

          The more reserved of you may want to look into making the most of the double chance markets instead of the outright result and if that’s the case then you may want to favour a draw in the Stoke game as well as the win.

          Good luck with whoever you back and whoever you support – and follow on twitter: @tfpredictions

Premier League Low-Risk Treble

 Aston Villa v Manchester United – Verdict: Manchester United 1/2

Everton v Sunderland – Verdict: Everton 1/2

Southampton v Swansea – Both teams to score 4/7

We’ve spent a long time looking over the Premier League fixture list expecting something to jump out at us like a magic-eye puzzle, but the games this weekend are actually quite close to call. 

          Swansea’s visit to Southampton may be reminiscent of Fulham’s a few weeks back – so both teams scoring seems like a safer call than a result in that one.  

          One of the reasons football is so popular is because of the way form can quickly change.  Everton are on form and Sunderland have been pedestrian lately, but this could change in their meeting – we’ll obviously be hoping it won’t.

          The safest backing of the weekend is Manchester United in their visit to Aston Villa and you can expect to see either their greying babyface or their plug-ugly troll scoring; Van Persie or Rooney will surprise us if they don’t convert – they’ve been outstanding lately.

          This treble offers a realistic 25/10 but adding Arsenal to the list, for those of you that are less conservative, will give you a higher price of 43/10.

Aston Villa v Manchester United: Preview and Prediction

Saturday 10^th November 15:00: Aston Villa v Manchester United – Verdict: Manchester United 4/7

Aston Villa may think they’ve turned the corner.  They’ve drawn to Norwich (as bad as losing given the circumstances for Lambert) and have beaten Swindon (as they should do) before beating Sunderland (like kicking a puppy in the face these days).  Although they may well feel that some of the weight is off of their shoulders Manchester United will feel the mountain has come to Mohamed.  Manchester United, after their usual slow starts to seasons, are just about looking like they might be finding their feet and are now sat at the top of the table.
           In today's games strikers are rarely treated to a run of games when they're in poor form, let alone a season, and that's meant lasting partnerships between forwards had been few and far between.  Rooney and Van Persie look to be forging a partnership that may be spoken about for years to come and you can expect one or the other to be on the scoresheet.

           Expect Manchester United to treat Aston Villa with the contempt you’d show a fat spoilt step-child - these are not vistors Paul Lambert will be looking forward to having.

Low Risk Accumulator for 3rd Nov

Low Risk Accumulator for 3^rd Nov  3/1

Man United v Arsenal – Verdict: Man United 7/10

Swansea v Chelsea – Verdict: Chelsea 4/5

Tottenham v Wigan – Verdict: Tottenham 1/2

At 3/1 this treble should offer you more than a bit of fun for Saturday’s Premier League fixtures, especially considering the first game of the weekend is the televised clash between Manchester United and Arsenal.  The more reckless of you, or those of you that support Arsenal, may want to make the most of the draw at 3/1 – but we see it as an unlikely prospect.  Fans of Chelsea and Man City can have a weekend where they can back Manchester United and share in the glory of the Gunners if they lose their money.  The most likely to cause concerns out of these three fixtures is the Chelsea game – Swansea can play fast paced football and a draw isn’t beyond them in spite of returning squad members like Torres being available for selection.

Manchester United v Arsenal: Preview and Predictions

Manchester United v Arsenal Saturday 3rd November 12:45 - Verdict Manchester United 7/10

  Manchester United have begun to find their feet as a side and are breathing down league-leaders Chelsea’s neck like an elderly Labrador.  By beating a wavering Arsenal side at home Sir Alex Ferguson will look ever more likely to getting his wise and liver-spotted fingers on the Premier League trophy.

          After losing to Chelsea this week Manchester United will want to quickly return to winning ways and having rested the likes of Van Persie and Rooney they should be capable of overturning Arsenal, who are priced at 19/5.  Interestingly Arsenal are the only side in the Premier League not to have scored a goal in the first half-hour of a game and Manchester United have been making very quick starts to games of late, conceeding after taking the lead - so steer clear of Arsenal first goal-scorer markets.  The second half of this game could be tense and fast-paced - if Arsenal haven't thrown their chances away in the first.

          Van Persie faces his former team in this fixture and having him either score or assist, only to praise Wenger and label Arsenal a 'top-team' or something equally as condescending in a post-match interview is almost certain - but this will be an emotional and heated game with his involvement nonetheless.  It could quite easily end up being as dirty as a bag-lady's bra-strap and with all of the furore involving referees and key decisions this is the hardest fixture of the weekend to officiate.

          Arsenal don’t seem in any shape to be taking three points at Old Trafford, although it’s not within the realms of possibility.  Arsenal fans may revel in the fact a second string squad was able to mount an epic seven goal comeback against Reading, but we have to remember they allowed the Royals to help themselves to four first.  Van Persie and Rooney tend to be slightly more effective than Pog/Roberts partnership and we expect Manchester United to give Arsene Wenger and his sleeping-bag-style jacket more to ponder in the run up to the opening of the transfer market.

Follow us on twitter @tfpredictions

27th to 28th October High-Risk Premier League Accumulator

High-Risk Premier League Accumulator for 27th to 28th October 103/1

Arsenal v QPR - Verdict Arsenal 1/3
Aston Villa v Norwich - Verdict Norwich 3/1
Man City v Swansea - Verdict Man City 2/9
Reading v Fulham - Verdict Fulham 6/4
Everton v Liverpool - Verdict Draw 11/5
Newcastle v West Brom - Verdcit Newcastle Evens

This sixfold offers a price at 103/1 and, although its an unlikely backing, we thinks it's tempting and at the end of the day you can lose a pound in the bottom of your bag.  When you consider the chances of winning a tenner on the lottery are 54/1 we think this is a much better backing this weekend.  Norwich are the long shots and will send the winnings through the roof if they manage to beat Villa - look towards them to let you down here.

European High-Risk Accumulator 23rd to 24th October

European High-Risk Accumulator: 73/10

Shakhtar Donetsk v Chelsea 23^rd October 19:45 – Verdict draw 21/10

Barcelona v Celtic 23^rd October 19:45 – Verdict Barcelona 1/11

Manchester United v Braga 23^rd October 19:45 – Verdict Manchester United 4/11

Ajax v Manchester City 24^th October 19:45 – Verdict Manchester City 4/5

We’re always going to keep away from tipping accumulators that look like Lisa Riley’s shopping-list.  We tend to favour backing three or four teams and tend to only tip the ones we know a bit about.  If you want to reckless tip on a Croatian youth team game on a wet Wednesday you’ll have to look elsewhere – or just save yourself the time and buy a lottery ticket.  This week’s Champions League is mostly made up of tight fixtures – of which we include Chelsea’s away game with Shakhtar.  Chelsea have been high-flying in the Premier League and have their captain John Terry available for selection – but blue eyes may be elsewhere, notably the Manchester United visit on Sunday.  We think a draw in this game is a real possibility and doubters of the ability should tread carefully.  Celtic have a snowball’s chance in the microwave of beating Barcelona and we think Manchester United’s pairing of Van Persie and Rooney will be fruitful again if the pair start.  Manchester City have also been backed by us to win on the ground that Ajax’s last Champions League encounter saw them embarrassed by Real Madrid.  If you don’t feel like risking the Chelsea fixture then you can drop it to get a smaller, but safer, price of 17/10.  Good luck – whoever you choose to back this week!

Low Risk Accumulator for 20th to 21st October

Low Risk Treble - 27/10

Manchester United v Stoke - Manchester United 3/10
Norwich v Arsenal - Arsenal 4/7
Liverpool v Reading - Liverpool 4/11


With this week's promise of some extremely exciting fixtures comes the daunting reality that the games are about as easy to judge as the recent John Terry debacle.  We haven't given more than a couple of games a green-light this weekend and that's why our low-risk list is a treble - which pays out at around 27/10.  In the singles markets we think that Arsenal is a better backing than Liverpool, regardless of the shorter price, but Manchester United's hosting of Stoke seems the safest by a wide margin.  We recommend you play for fun this weekend and look for your stake in the pockets of an old raincoat rather than your savings account - which may tempt you to look at our high-risk accumulator for more of a talking point.  Good luck whover you choose to back!

Newcastle v Manchester United 7th October 16:00

Verdict: Manchester United 19/20



Alan Pardew's side -as was the case last year in their away fixture to Chelsea - clearly have the ability to cause problems for teams at the top of the table.  At some stage in the season there is going to be an upset and it could be this weekend against Manchester United - however they are the odds on favourites with the bookmakers.  The Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie partnership has begun to bear fruit, and for that reason I think it would be unwise to be against them turning Newcastle at home.