Swans to Take Flight Against Managerless Foxes
The Premier League returns this weekend and there are a host of great games from Friday to Sunday. West Ham and Brighton kick off proceedings on Friday night, but there are some good bets to be had on Saturday where the bookmakers have underestimated two teams playing on home ground.
Swansea beat Huddersfield 2-0 last weekend thanks to two Tammy Abraham goals, and they welcome managerless Leicester City to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Foxes parted company with Craig Shakespeare during the week, and caretaker manager Michael Appleton takes charge for the visit to the Swans. That win for Paul Clement’s side last week propelled them away from the bottom three, while Leicester’s draw with West Brom on Monday night left them in the drop zone. The bookmakers are offering very generous odds about a home win, and it could pay to side with Swansea.
Another home team that could be worth following on Saturday is Stoke, who play host to Bournemouth. The Cherries are also in the relegation zone, and although the Potters are only one place above the bottom three, their home form stands up to scrutiny. Mark Hughes’ side have traditionally been strong in front of their own fans and will be looking to make amends for that humiliating 7-2 defeat at Manchester City last time out.
We’re making it a trio of home bets with West Ham on Friday night who, despite a faltering start to the season, have won three of the last four games at the London Stadium.
Swansea v Leicester
Swansea are the headline pick at a very tempting 2.90Bet €100 to win €29019/10Bet £100 to win £290+190Bet $100 to win $2901.90Bet HK$100 to win HK$2901.90Bet Rp100 to win Rp290-0.5263Bet RM100 to win RM290 with BetVictor.
After losing back-to-back games against Watford and West Ham, the three points were crucial last week for the Swans and Paul Clement will want to keep the momentum going. It could be a very good time to play Leicester as the club searches for a new manager to take the team forward after Shakespeare’s sacking.
It’s been an incredible two years for Leicester, and quite a spectacular fall from grace after winning the Premier League in astonishing fashion the season before last. The club lost the support of many neutrals when it sacked title-winning boss Claudio Ranieri, and although Shakespeare steadied the ship, he has quickly gone the way of so many caretaker managers that take the job full time. The Foxes now find themselves in the bottom three after eight games and will be short on confidence when they run out on Saturday afternoon.
Paul Clement had his own ship to steady at Swansea last season, when he became their third manager of the campaign, but after surviving in the top flight more is expected this term. It hasn’t been the best of starts – wins over Palace and Huddersfield tempered by home defeats to Watford and Newcastle – but there were definite signs of improvement in the victory last week. At the odds, it’s worth siding with the team that has more stability and forward momentum.
Stoke v Bournemouth
Stoke are rarely odds-against at home to teams below them in the Premier League table, and Bournemouth’s away record suggests a bet on the Potters at 2.15Bet €100 to win €21523/20Bet £100 to win £215+115Bet $100 to win $2151.15Bet HK$100 to win HK$2151.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp215-0.8696Bet RM100 to win RM215 with BetVictor is a good one.
Stoke may have lost four of the last five games, but three of those were away from home and two were against Chelsea and Manchester City. In their four home games in the Premier League so far they have beaten Arsenal and Southampton, drawn with Manchester United, and only been beaten by Chelsea.
Bournemouth’s only win in the top flight this season came at home to Brighton, and they’ve lost all four Premier League away games at Spurs, Everton, Arsenal and West Brom. It looks like being a tough season ahead for the Cherries, and Eddie Howe will have to prove his managerial abilities all over again in the race for survival.
Stoke are going to be the side on the front foot for most of the game here, and with the added motivation to make up for last week’s thrashing, they are the side to bet on.
West Ham v Brighton
West Ham are the next home side fancied to take three points at 1.85Bet €100 to win €18517/20Bet £100 to win £185-118Bet $100 to win $1850.85Bet HK$100 to win HK$185-1.18Bet Rp100 to win Rp1850.8500Bet RM100 to win RM185 with Bet365 when they host the Seagulls on Friday night.
The Hammers have had a habit of shooting themselves in the foot this season. They were down to ten men and gave away a last-minute penalty in the 3-2 defeat at Southampton, and Andy Carroll received his marching orders when they were 1-0 up at Burnley last weekend. Slaven Bilic’s side went on to draw 1-1 in a game that they looked to be fairly comfortable in while it was still 11 vs 11. At the London Stadium, however, they’ve beaten Swansea and Huddersfield without conceding a goal, and only lost out 3-2 to a strong Spurs team.
Brighton have taken just one point from the Premier League travels – a 0-0 draw at Watford – and they’ve been beaten at Arsenal, Bournemouth and Leicester. It’s going to be a battle for survival for Chris Hughton’s side and it will be home form that probably decides their fate.
West Ham have been boosted by the return of playmaker Manuel Lanzini, and while Andy Carroll will be missed, his absence gives Diafra Sakho the chance to line up alongside Javier Hernandez – a partnership some West Ham fans have been asking for since the start of the season.
Tips Summary
Swansea to beat Leicester
Saturday 21st October, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 2.90Bet €100 to win €29019/10Bet £100 to win £290+190Bet $100 to win $2901.90Bet HK$100 to win HK$2901.90Bet Rp100 to win Rp290-0.5263Bet RM100 to win RM290
Stoke to beat Bournemouth
Saturday 21st October, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 2.15Bet €100 to win €21523/20Bet £100 to win £215+115Bet $100 to win $2151.15Bet HK$100 to win HK$2151.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp215-0.8696Bet RM100 to win RM215
West Ham to beat Brighton
Friday 20th October, 20:00 GMT
Odds: 1.85Bet €100 to win €18517/20Bet £100 to win £185-118Bet $100 to win $1850.85Bet HK$100 to win HK$185-1.18Bet Rp100 to win Rp1850.8500Bet RM100 to win RM185
- Premier League
- Stoke
- Swansea
- West Ham