Tricky 'Toffee' trip to end in triumph for United

The Premiership weekend kicks off at Goodison Park in a match between Everton and Manchester United. Everton, after another summer of no investment, have had their custormarily slow start to the season, currently sat in 13th position, with ten points from their opening eight league games. Their home form has seen no clean sheets and only one victory in four matches including defeats to QPR & bitter rivals Liverpool. Wednesday nights Carling Cup action saw a strong Everton side lose a hard fought game in extra time to Chelsea & also standout performer Royston Drenthe received his marching orders for two yellow cards which now means he's suspended for this weekend. After his worst defeat of his tenure, Sir Alex Ferguson's United will be looking to bounce back to winning ways & close the gap on local rivals City, if only for a couple of hours. A flying start of six wins from seven games has been followed up with a draw at Liverpool & the humbling defeat from Man City. There will almost certainly be changes to United's lineup, a big positive was Tom Cleverley's successful return from injury in Tuesday's League Cup game & Dimitar Berbatov may get a rare runout in the league, with him continuing to be overlooked it looks a very strange decision to hold on to him & pay his large salary when Paris Saint-Germain came with the money this summer. It looks like an over-reaction has been made by the bookmakers with the 5/6 on offer for a Manchester United & taking that can give a winning start to the weekend.

(Drenthe, suspended.)

The Hawthorns is the setting for Saturdays evening kick off. King Kenny’s Liverpool travel to West Bromwich Albion managed by former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson. West Brom have been in good form with two draws and two victories in their last four. The loss of Shane Long for up to six weeks following a knee injury he picked up during the last match against Midlands rivals Aston Villa however will be a setback for the Baggies. Liverpool come into the game in sixth position, recent form for the Merseyside club has been good and the form of Uruguayan Luis Suarez is exciting the Kopites, there is a doubt over his fitness following the midweek game against Stoke, Kenny Dalglish admitting that Liverpool will have to ‘see how he is’ prior to making his team selection. We expect the 5’11 striker to start the match, if not then one of Kuyt, Carroll or Bellamy will fill his void. Despite West Brom’s decent form and the doubt over Suarez’s fitness we think Liverpool will return to Anfield with 3 points. The Reds can be backed at a tasty 11/10 with William Hill.

('Long but not forgotten', the Irishman is likely to be out for at least 4 weeks)

In The Championship Birmingham entertain Brighton at St Andrews, Chris Hughton’s men have been sneaking up the league fairly unnoticed in recent weeks, most probably due to participation in the Europa League meaning they haven’t been playing at the same time as most. The Blues were last defeated on 21^st September, when they succumbed to Manchester City in the Carling Cup. Since then an impressive run, which includes six wins and a draw, have catapulted Birmingham to eighth in the table with two games in hand over most. Brighton sit 13^th in the League, Gus Poyet has shown that his side can mix it in this division after some early season victories. However they are on a run of 8 games in all competitions without victory. Some of the early season praise may need to be revisited as victories in the league this season have come against teams currently placed 23^rd, 16^th, 9^th, 11^th, and 24^th. We think that this one will go to form with Birmingham claiming the 3 points, available at 11/10 with various bookmakers.

In the lower leagues we can see victories for Charlton, Huddersfield, and Swindon. Charlton have a long trip to Hartlepool, who, after a a decent start to the campaign, have faltered of late with four defeats in the last five with the aggregate score being a fairly comprehensive 12-3 to the opposition. We think that The Addicks will have too much for Wadsworth’s side and win this encounter. Charlton are best priced at 6/5 with Stan James to do so. Huddersfield travel to bottom club Yeovil where the hosts have already lost five times in eight games this term. Lee Clark has been heavily linked with the vacant Leicester City managerial post however we don’t think this will stop the Terriers coming out on top at Huish Park. Huddersfield haven't lost in an age and should have too much for the doomed South West outfit. Huddersfield are available at 4/5 with William Hill. Finally, in League Two, Swindon take on Bradford (can you believe both of these teams have played Premier League football?!) at the County Ground. Bradford sit 21^st in the table with just 13 points from their 15 matches. Swindon however find themselves in the play-offs after three straight league victories, we think it’ll go to form with Paolo Di Canio’s men having too much for the visitors, best priced at 4/6 with William Hill.

Selections
Manchester United to beat Everton at 5/6 (various)
Liverpool to beat West Brom at 11/10 (William Hill)
Birmingham to beat Brighton at 11/10 (various)
Charlton to beat Hartlepool at 6/5 (Stan James)
Huddersfield to beat Yeovil at 4/5 (William Hill)
Swindon to beat Bradford at 4/6 (William Hill)

An accumulator on the above teams pays a mouthwatering 50+/1