Weekend Premier League Tips: 6th & 7th February

The form of both of these teams means that in reality, I would probably have not selected this game for a tip on a normal week. However, I think other matches are equally difficult to predict and the way the season has gone, I felt I may as well give it a shot as there’s no such thing as a sure thing in the EPL this season!

Both teams come into this game on the back of a poor defeat, Villa against West Ham at home, Arsenal away to Wolves. The Gunners will also be without David Luiz and Bernd Leno for this game (and two others) after both were sent off during the defeat with Wolves.

In truth though, I don’t think that will have too great an impact on Arsenal and it may even help them a little. Villa are a strong side and I love how Dean Smith has turned this team from relegation battlers last season to a comfortable mid to top-half team this.

My one worry for Villa is that Arsenal don’t tend to lose too many games in a row and they are dangerous on the counter attack, so while I think Villa will have the better of the game, I am backing the Gunners to do enough to claim a point here.

Both these teams will have experienced a real boost after results in midweek went their way. United smacked nine past a Southampton side that played for 10 men from the 2-minute mark, and 9 men for the last few minutes of the game. Everton meanwhile were earning a fine 2-1 win on the road at Leeds.

However, what strikes me about this fixture is how in the two games that have been played between the two teams this season, United have dominated. They were 3-1 winners in the league game and then followed that up a few weeks later with a 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup with two late goals.

In both those games, I can’t ever say I felt United were in any danger of losing. They were also both at Goodison Park, which makes me worry for the Toffees given that this game is at Old Trafford and just after United put a confidence boosting nine past the hapless Saints.

I do think Everton can score a goal here on the counter attack, especially if James Rodriguez is fit. But I don’t think it will be anywhere near enough to land the win and I am expecting United to claim the victory here. Most likely by a 3-1 scoreline.

Two sides who got two big wins in midweek. While Leicester were excellent and controlled the game well in their win at Fulham, Wolves received some help with a couple of bone-headed moments of defensive madness from David Luiz and Bernd Leno, which saw them both sent off and helped Wolves ease to a 2-1 win.

I don’t think that the home side can rely on Leicester being quite so crazy in defence in this game given that the Foxes have an outstanding away record in the Premier League this season, with just one defeat (against Liverpool) on their record.

Wolves home record is not that great to be honest as they have lost as many games at home as they have won (four). I also feel that the lack of a focal point in attack due to Raul Jimenez’s injury has severely impacted the effectiveness of Nuno Santos’ team.

This should be a very good game of football to watch and although Wolves do play some lovely football, I think Leicester are far more effective and I think that extra edge in attack will be the key to drive them on to another big win on the road here.

A quick look at the history of this fixture and you would think that backing a Manchester City win is throwing money away. Pep Guardiola hasn’t won at Anfield with a Manchester City team in the Premier League and their last win came 18 years ago, when Anelka scored twice in a 2-1 win.

However, City come into this game in absolutely brilliant form, even without Kevin De Bruyne who has been injured for the last couple of games. They have the best defence in the Premier League and they will be facing a Liverpool side that have scored just once in their last four at Anfield and who looked utterly devoid of any attacking inspiration in any of those games.

The Reds should have Alisson, Fabinho and also Mane back in the team for this game, but even so they have struggled at home of late. City are playing by far and away the best and most consistent football in the Premier League at the minute and if they get just one goal, as they tend to do, that could well be enough for the win.

History may say backing City to win this is foolhardy, but the formbook suggests that they should be the team most likely to end up with three points at the end of the game. The only thing that may stop them is that Anfield hoodoo.