AFTER no losers last week Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) is back with three more Premier League picks this weekend.
Tottenham v Everton | Saturday 17:30 | Sky Sports 1
At this particular juncture neither of these sides get me aroused. That may be different this time next week after the transfer window but for now neither look particularly progressive.
I shoved all my faith, reputation and kids inheritance on Spurs Draw No Bet last week against Leicester and it was ultimately an unfulfilling ride as the game ended 1-1. No winners, no losers, money back in the back and shoulders duly shrugged. The only thing I felt after it was an increasing respect for Leicester and maybe I have got them wrong this year.
Spurs have yet to win this season. An opening day loss to Manchester United was followed by a 2-2 draw with Stoke (2-0 up before letting lead slip) and last week's shared spoils with Leicester. It all feels a bit stale and the fans will surely be looking for some key investment in the next few days.
Have Everton bought anyone yet? Or are they just spending their time tying up John Stones in the stationery cupboard so he can't go to Chelsea?
I'm still getting my head round Everton's 3-0 win at Southampton two weeks ago. Maybe that's more to do with the concerning early season decline in Southampton than the outstanding prospects ahead for the Toffees. Hmm.
I can't be having Tottenham at Evens here after their early season travails and the draw looks particularly big at 13/5 with Bet 365. Everton beat Manchester United last season and procured draws against Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. At 13/5 I'm happy to get involved in a similar score occurring here.
Chelsea v Crystal Palace | Saturday 15:00
This is definitely one of the tougher coupons of the Premier League season and it's fair to say I'll be treading carefully over the next day or two. I look at the 10 matches and see the draw as a big runner in around eight of them. Including this one.
It's been a shaky start to the season for Chelsea picking up just four points out of nine. Last week's 3-2 win over West Brom was encouraging but concerning at the same time. Chelsea conceded more than one goal in the league in just three of their last 23 matches last season. Yet West Brom's two goals on Sunday made it three out of three in this new season.
Opponents Crystal Palace nudged past Aston Villa last week to make it six points out of nine for the season. Palace are winning the hard way and picking up points despite tinkering with their team and formation during the game in their last two games. It bodes well.
I'm sweet on Alan Pardew's side having a really successful season and this match provides them with a real challenge on Saturday. Can they stay close to Chelsea and show they're a proper Top 10 side this season? I hope so.
I'll back them +1 on the Asian Handicap here at 23/15 with Bet Victor. That's better than 6/4. Palace's record against the top sides since Pardew took over in January is to be much admired. They've beaten Manchester City and Liverpool and succumbed to narrow one goal defeats against Arsenal (twice), Manchester United and Chelsea.
While Palace have failed to lose by more than one goal to the elite, Chelsea have struggled to rack up a dominating scoreline against anyone. They've won by more than one goal in two of their last 19 league games. A pithy figure. So that's why I'm happy to back Palace +1 here on the Asian Handicap, I'll need a draw or win to get paid out but I feel safe in the knowledge that a one goal defeat sees my stake returned.
Liverpool v West Ham | Saturday 15:00
It's taken me a while to get my head around this game to be honest. I think this is the third bet from this encounter that I've eventually typed out, but finally, after seeing odds of 13/10 kicking about I'll certainly be investing in Under 2.5 Goals.
I think West Ham are in a similar position as Sunderland were this time last week. Defensive discipline is everything and another bad defeat will simply not be tolerated. It seemed to work for Sunderland last week who cut their goals conceded tally from four in Week 1, three in Week 2 to just one last week against Swansea. West Ham have a similar challenge ahead.
After a brilliant winning clean sheet against Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season, the Hammers then conceded two at home to Leicester followed by four against newly promoted Bournemouth. A humbling performance!
Manager Slaven Bilic looked like a rattled man last week and the eyes of those who've backed West Ham to go down at big prices (hey, over here, oi, OI *waves frantically*) surely lit up.
After the horrors of last Saturday (I wonder if Aaron Cresswell managed to sleep at all this week?) I feel it will be back to basics on Saturday against Liverpool for West Ham. Organisation, discipline and determination will be the key words and that might just steer them to a respectable result.
Liverpool have started well eh? Seven points out of nine, a draw at the Emirates, unbeaten and no goals conceded. Fancy stuff Brendan! One things for sure though, it hasn't really clicked up front yet. Just two goals scored and up till Monday night's game against Arsenal just five shots on target.
Two 1-0 wins over Stoke and Bournemouth were sufficiently satisfactory and there's no way Brendan Rodgers would turn something similar down here. He must be getting off on the fact they have a big fat zero in the goals against column (was four this time last year) and he'll be keen for that defensive strength to continue here.
It almost feels like both sides will be happy with a low-scoring affair here and that's partly why I like the look of Under 2.5 Goals at 13/10 with 888 Sport.
Best Bets
Tottenham v Everton – Draw (13/5 Bet365)
Chelsea v Crystal Palace – Crystal Palace +1 Asian Handicap (23/15 BetVictor)
Liverpool v West Ham – Under 2.5 Goals (13/10 888 Sport)
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