Watford are backed to beat Everton as one of our best bets for Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Premier League recommended bets
2pts Watford to beat Everton at 13/10
1pt Brighton to draw with Swansea at 9/4
2pts Burnley to beat Southampton 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at 9/4
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Leicester City v Stoke City (1230 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)
Leicester are a tough side to get a handle on this season, but will hope the return of Riyad Mahrez and a confidence-boosting FA Cup win last week will mean they have enough in hand to see-off struggling Stoke.
It feels like we've been prefixing Stoke with 'struggling' all season, but even though Paul Lambert has managed to plug the leakiest defence in the league to some extent, they're still deep in relegation trouble.
Lambert has garnered five wins, four goals and two clean sheets from his four games in charge it didn't take a rocket scientist to work out what the problem was but he's at least addressed their defensive problems even if it's resulted some ordinary football being played.
They're now just two points from safety but their next two games away at Leicester and in particular at fellow strugglers Southampton take on even greater significance given their next four games are against Man City, Arsenal, Everton and Spurs.
Stokes are winless in eight away games in the league and have just one win in seven against the Foxes and just two wins in 29 in Leicester.
Leicester themselves have just two wins from their last 10 league games but that extra quality of Mahrez and Jamie Vardy (who's scored in four straight premier League games) may just provide that spark which will otherwise be lacking in a game that should be low on goalmouth action.
AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle United (1500 GMT)
Three points separate AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle as the Cherries welcome Rafa Benitez’s side to the Vitality Stadium.
Eddie Howe’s men have been in great form at home, stretching their unbeaten run on the South Coast to five games with victory over Stoke at the beginning of February.
Newcastle have won just three of their 13 away games this season, but have picked up seven points out of a possible 15 in their last five ties away from St. James’ Park. Steve Cook grabbed a rare goal by scoring a 92nd minute winner in the reverse fixture this season, making it back-to-back victories on Tyneside.
It was a win for the Toon last time out though as a solid defensive performance, coupled with Matt Richie’s second-half strike, secured a 1-0 victory over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United. You imagine that they’ll take confidence from that as they look to push themselves away from the drop zone.
On the other hand, it was a nightmare trip to West Yorkshire for Bournemouth as they were hammered 4-1 by struggling Huddersfield Town. In similar fashion to Newcastle, and half of the Premier League in all honesty, Howe’s side could be dragged into a relegation scrap. They may sit in 10th in the standings, but just five points separates them and 18th-placed Southampton.
The Bournemouth boss will be furious at the fact they were convincingly beaten by a Huddersfield side who had lost each of their last five outings. The clash with Newcastle provides the opportunity for them to get back to winning ways.
Callum Wilson sits as Bournemouth’s top scorer this season. Price Boosted to 11/2 to find the net first on Saturday, he’s scored three goals in 2018 and if Howe’s men are to secure victory, you’d imagine Wilson will be looking to get onto the scoresheet.
Super 6 prediction: Bournemouth 2-0 Newcastle (Tom Carnduff)
Brighton and Hove Albion v Swansea City (1500 GMT)
Swansea’s resurgence under Carlos Carvalhal continues as they extended their unbeaten run to ten with a draw away at Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup.
The Welsh outfit seemed doomed to the drop but remarkably now find themselves in sitting in 16th, one point above the relegation zone.
Brighton have enjoyed a decent first-half of the season as they make their debut in the Premier League, they’ve also picked up five points out of a possible nine in their last three outings.
Under Carvalhal, the Swans have become a difficult outfit to come up against away from the Liberty Stadium. They’ve drawn each of their last five away games in all competitions and will travel to the Amex with the aim of picking up at least another point.
Chris Hughton’s side have lost just two of their last ten at home, those being heavy defeats against Chelsea or Liverpool, and can take confidence into the clash with Swansea after a convincing 3-1 victory over West Ham in their last Premier League outing in Sussex.
Carvalhal described Swansea’s current situation as "before we were in the deep of the ocean, we only saw fishes, stones and a lot of black things, but we can look to the coast now.”
As funny as he makes it sound, he’s not wrong. The Swans will be eager to continue their fine run of form when they make the trip to Brighton and are more than capable of leaving with a point.
I’d be looking at the draw for this one. Swansea’s ability to pick up points under Carvalhal will benefit them greatly as they look to complete an incredible turnaround away from relegation. Brighton have been in good form at home, but you’d imagine the visitors will make it as difficult as possible so that they don’t leave empty-handed.
Super 6 prediction: Brighton 1-1 Swansea (Tom Carnduff)
Burnley v Southampton (1500 GMT)
Southampton have slipped into the relegation zone and are fighting for their Premier League lives as they travel up to Turf Moor to face a Burnley mired in an 11-game run without a win and three defeats in four games at home.
Those Burnley stats may look bad but it’s hardly panic stations for Sean Dyche just yet as his team somehow still sit in seventh in the table despite collecting a league-worst five points in their last ten games.
Even the famed Turf Moor fortress has been stormed of late with three defeats and a draw in the last four – albeit against four of the top five in Spurs, Liverpool, Man United and Man City.
Burnley haven’t won since December but welcoming a Southampton side with two away wins all season gives them the perfect chance to get back to winning ways.
Three of the last five games have been 1-0 wins for Burnley, including the last two, and Turf Moor is not the place to visit if you’re looking for goals – the 2.2 goals scored there on average is the second lowest in league history.
The FA Cup has provided some respite for Southampton, as have back-to-back wins at West Brom, but Mauricio Pellegrino is still under pressure after his side slid into the bottom three.
They have scored seven goals in their last three away games, although five of those came against the aforementioned Baggies, and Burnley at home after two weeks off will be a much tougher nut to crack.
Saints have not yet beaten a team in the top half of the table yet this season, and the Clarets are currently leading the way as the ‘best of the rest’ behind the top six teams in the league – despite their bad run this should be a game where they can get back on track.
Super 6 prediction: Burnley 1-0 Southampton (Paul Higham)
Liverpool v West Ham United (1500 GMT)
Liverpool could move up into second place in the Premier League table if they can continue their recent dominant form over West Ham at Anfield on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp found it tough to get to grips with West Ham at first as he failed to win any of the first four games, but the Reds have hit four in their last two wins against the Hammers.
David Moyes has never won at Anfield as a manager and he could not be picking a more difficult time to try to break that duck as Liverpool have had a week off after destroying Porto 5-0 in the Champions League.
Although Klopp never takes it too easy on his players, a week off in the sun to prepare should mean they hit the ground running with a trademark fast start at Anfield.
West Ham have a poor overall record at Anfield, but in recent times they’ve improved and they’re actually unbeaten in their last three visits to the ground.
Andy Carroll won’t running out at his old club again, while West Ham are also without Pedro Obiang and have a doubt over Manuel Lanzini and Winston Reid. Liverpool have no fresh injury worries.
Liverpool are rightly red-hot favourites but these are the types of games that Klopp’s men have slipped up in in the past – although they’re in decent form and even have three clean sheets in their last four games.
Sadio Mane got back into the goals with a hat-trick in the Champions League but Mo Salah remains the main man as he averages a goal or assist just over every hour – and he’s the main Moyes will have to plan on stopping.
West Ham may sit up in 12th but are only four points of the relegation zone themselves so will be keen to try and get something from the game – you suspect they’d take a point if it was offered to them before kick-off.
Michail Antonio has not been in the best form for West Ham this season, but he’s scored in three of his four games against Liverpool and, if he plays, could again be a threat especially from set plays.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham (Paul Higham)
West Bromwich Albion v Huddersfield Town (1500 GMT)
It��s a clash between two of the Premier League’s relegation candidates at the Hawthorns as West Brom meet Huddersfield Town.
David Wagner’s side have struggled away from home this season. They’ve registered just two wins away from the John Smith’s Stadium, the first of which came on the opening day of this season against then-manager Frank De Boer’s Crystal Palace.
Whilst Huddersfield’s dismal away record would give most teams hope, West Brom have been equally poor at home. They’ve won two in front of their fans this season, drawing another seven, the worst home record out of any side in England’s top flight.
The Terriers hammered Bournemouth last time out, with January addition Alex Pritchard opening the scoring in a 4-1 victory over Eddie Howe’s men. Stevie Mounie also got onto the scoresheet that day but Wagner has shown throughout the season that he is more than happy to rotate, particular in the striker department.
For the hosts, they’ve lost their last four in all competitions and have lost twice to Southampton during that run. They also have some injury doubts for the clash with Nacer Chadli, Jake Livermore, Hal Robson-Kanu and Daniel Sturridge all potential absentees.
For Town, the influential Aaron Mooy will miss out with a knee infection whilst Elias Kachunga is continuing to recover after being stretched off in the victory over Watford back in December.
The West Yorkshire outfit may have a poor away record, but given West Brom’s struggles at home, the Terriers seem a big price at 7/2 to come away from the Hawthorns with a win.
West Brom have seen three or more goals in their last five games and there have been at least two goals in every Huddersfield Town game in 2018. Whilst it may not appear it on face value, goals may be the market to explore.
Super 6 prediction: West Brom 1-2 Huddersfield (Tom Carnduff)
Best bet: Over 2.5 Goals at 11/8
Alternative: Half-Time/Full-Time - Draw/Huddersfield Town at 8/1
Watford v Everton (1730 GMT, BT Sport 1)
Saturday’s late-kick off sees Everton travel to face Watford at Vicarage Road, live on BT Sport.
Both sides sit mid-table in the Premier League standings, and although Watford are 11th, they find themselves just four points above the relegation zone.
They host a big-spending Everton side who have failed to hit the heights expected of them. Their revival under Sam Allardyce has firmly dragged them away from immediate relegation danger, although they’re not as high as they’d probably want to be.
Watford have struggled in front of their home crowd this season, sitting in 18th in the home standings. Although their home form has drastically improved in recent weeks, a 4-1 hammering of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea being the highlight in a run of just one loss in their last five at Vicarage Road.
Everton’s away form has been abysmal. They’ve conceded nine goals in their last two games away from Goodison Park and have lost their last four on their travels. However, they’ll be boosted by a lengthy injury list for their opponents.
Javi Gracia has enjoyed a good opening month to life in England and will be eager to close four-point gap on 9th-placed Everton with victory on Saturday. Their last five appearances at home have seen them score 12 goals and they are more than capable of capitalising on the defensive issues that Allardyce’s side have shown.
Watford look good value at 13/10 given their recent upturn in form and Everton’s inability to secure points away from home. Over 2.5 goals can also be found at Evens, each of these Watford's last four games at home and Everton's last four away have finished with three or more goals.
Despite their form, Everton do possess quality players who are capable of posing attacking threat for the Toffees going forward. Oumar Niasse has found the net in recent weeks and also scored when these two sides last met, he is 9/4 to score at anytime.
Prediction: Watford 2-1 Everton (Tom Carnduff)
Best bet: Watford to win at 13/10
Alternative: Watford to win and over 2.5 goals in the match at 5/2.
Posted at 1645 GMT on 22/02/18.
