PREMIER LEAGUE expert Daniel McCulloch (@DMcCulloch1984) is back to attack Saturday's 3pm best bets.
Huddersfield v West Ham | Saturday 10th November 2018, 15:00
With just four 3pm fixtures this Saturday afternoon, it’s a harder job than usual to find some value.
Indeed, while West Ham are getting towards what I believe is a backable prices – they are 11/8 having been 6/5 earlier in the week – it’s hard to have faith in a side prone to inconsistency at such a price away from home.
I do, however, like the look of Marko Arnautovic in the First Goalscorer market. He has netted first in three of his nine league games this season and is the outstanding attacking talent on display here.
I often prefer the Anytime market but on this occasion I think this is worth chancing as I do not expect many goals.
Huddersfield netted their first home league goal of the season on Monday night against Fulham and their six games as hosts have seen just eight goals to date. Given they have already faced Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham at the Kirklees Stadium, I don’t think their defence is the issue.
I expect a tight game with few goals and think that Arnautovic is excellent value at 9/2 to score potentially the only goal in it.
Newcastle v Bournemouth | Saturday 10th November 2018, 15:00
Again, while ultimately I would rather side with the away side in this encounter, I feel like the value has gone a little and would again prefer to focus on the goalscorer angle.
Last weekend Newcastle gave up a lot of decent chances despite beating Watford 1-0. The Hornets had 16 attempts on goal, hitting the woodwork and comfortably winning the game according to the Expected Goals metric.
Bournemouth have been exceptional this term, surprising many (including myself) and creating chances regardless of the opposition. Last weekend, Jose Mourinho commented that the Cherries should have been 6-2 up at half time against his side and I find it difficult to see how Newcastle can win this game without a large slice of luck.
However, I actually believe Callum Wilson to score anytime at 2/1 with Betway is the best value I can find. The Coventry-born frontman has been called up for England next week as a reward for his excellent start to the season. He has scored six goals in 11 matches and found the net in three of his last four, including the last two on the road.
Newcastle certainly don’t have the worst defence in the league but they are likely to miss Jamaal Lascelles and I fancy the Cherries to create chances against any opposition.
I also think a 2-1 victory to the away side is worth a few pennies at 10/1. Newcastle have already lost in this manner on four occasions this term, while Bournemouth have recorded two 2-1 victories.
I expect this to be a fairly frequent scoreline – both for and against – for the Cherries this season. They are a side who do not settle for a point and on this occasion I believe they can come out on the right side.
Best Bets
Huddersfield v West Ham – Marko Arnautovic to score first (9/2 Bet365)
Newcastle v Bournemouth – Callum Wilson to score anytime (2/1 Betway)
Newcastle v Bournemouth – Bournemouth to win 2-1 (10/1 Bet365)
