BetUK Blog

Chelsea have been outstanding on the road this season and we can expect that away form to continue tonight when the Blues travel to Everton.

The head-to-head record offers very little hope for the hosts. Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 20 games against Everton and the last time they tasted defeat to the Toffees was way back in the pre-Abramovich years (November 2000). Chelsea teams have won on 5 of their last 6 visits to Goodison Park and they are 3/5 with BetUK to do so again here.

Everton’s home record and Chelsea’s away form combined makes for a very one-sided reading and recent history between the clubs lends further weight to an away win. Furthermore, Everton have been decimated by injuries and started last weekend’s game at Manchester City without a recognised striker – this is a serious worry coming in against a side who haven’t conceded an away goal for the last 6 consecutive games.

On that note, a Chelsea clean sheet looks likely. Everton are one of the division’s lowest home scorers and Scolari’s side have obliged in this market in 10 of their last 11 away games. Clearly Moyes is short of attacking options at present – he didn’t have any last week – so scoring against this defence should be very problematic. Expect the Blues to win 1-0 or 2-0 tonight, available at 11/2 and 6/1 respectively.

Which Arsenal team will turn up at the Emirates today for Liverpool’s visit? The one that has beaten Manchester United and Chelsea or the one that has lost to Hull and Fulham?

We think it highly probable that the real Arsenal WILL turn up today and it is worth getting on the Gunners to beat Liverpool today at 13/10 with BetUK.

Arsenal are unbeaten at home in their latest nine games in Big Four clashes, a run stretching back to December 2005 when Chelsea won at Highbury on their way to a second successive title.

Since the concept of the Big Four took shape at the start of 2003/04, Arsenal have tasted defeat at home just twice in 16 games. Moreover, the Gunners have an excellent home record against Liverpool, with last season’s 1-1 draw the first time they have dropped points against the Merseysiders in the Big Four era, an excellent record in comparison with the 48% of home victories in the 65 Big Four clashes since 2003/04.

We reckon the most likely scorelines will be Arsenal to win 2-0 or 2-1, available with BetUK at 11/1 and 17/2 respectively.

West Ham host Aston Villa on Saturday and will be very lucky to emerge with a point as the London team now have just one win from their last 11 games. They currently lie 16th, just a point above the drop zone, and given the financial dire straits of the club, their best players could well be up for auction in January too.

Newish manager Zola’s home league record since arriving at West Ham currently reads P6-W1-D1-L4-F5-A11: just four points from a possible 18. In fact, he has taken more than double that amount on the road, with nine points from 21, and that includes visits to three of the Big Four!

The one huge positive the fans have taken in recent weeks is the Hammers’ superb defensive record: just three goals conceded in their last five games is as good as any side in the division. However, goal scoring is what is really hindering them (just two goals in their last five home games) and made them an under 2.5 goals dream in recent weeks, with the last five consecutive Hammers fixtures covering that market.

Villa on the other hand are in tremendous form and have even dislodged Arsenal in fourth place in the league. Last weekend’s 4-2 dismantling of Bolton extended their unbeaten run to five games and lifted them to 2nd in the form guide.

So what we seem to be looking at here is a low scoring encounter with Aston Villa edging it. Perhaps the value is to bet on under 2.5 goals being scored at 9/10 or Aston Villa to win 1-0 at 11/2 with BetUK.

West Ham travel across London to the cauldron of Stamford Bridge today and have little chance of defying their 12/1 odds to beat Chelsea. Since West Ham’s re-promotion to the top flight in 2005/06, Chelsea have won all six league meetings between the sides and are 1/4 with BetUK to win again today.

With just four goals in six away games under former Chelsea player turned West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola, coupled with Chelsea’s defensive record against non-big four sides, and the chances of a home shut out look likely. Chelsea to win to 1-0 or 2-0 at 6/1 and 5/1 respectively are therefore tempting scorelines to bet on with BetUK.

It is also important to recognise the importance of Didier Drogba to the Chelsea team at home. His physical presence is crucial in breaking down sides who congest their back line to counter the Blues’ fluid passing, and after bagging one from off the bench in mid-week, the Ivorian is good value at 7/2 to bag the first goal with BetUK.

There could be value in betting on West Ham to score first in tonight’s game against Spurs at Upton Park. Tottenham have conceded first in six of their seven away trips and five of eight games at White Hart Lane this season - one of the worst records in the Premier League.

By contrast, West Ham are far better at scoring first, having done so in four of seven home matches. Those stats indicate a touch of value about the even money price on the hosts scoring the first goal of the game with BetUK.

If Liverpool need a confidence booster before the visit of West Ham to Anfield tonight, they need only look in the record book. The “head-to-heads” section shows that the Reds have won each of their last seven Premier League meetings against the Hammers on Merseyside, and have an excellent record of 10 wins and three draws in 13 matches during the Premier League era.

The loss of Fernando Torres for another couple of weeks with injury rules him out of this game, which means Liverpool will be reliant on Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard for goals against a side that could prove difficult to break down. There could certainly be a shortage of goals.

In our opinion Liverpool to win to nil is the most likely outcome with 1-0 or 2-0 the most likely scorelines. Have a look at all BetUK’s prices for this match here.