Home Heroes: Man Utd, Liverpool and West Ham can produce the goods
Neil Sargent looks ahead to the weekend's Premier League fixtures and backs United, the Reds and the Hammers to do the business on their own patches.
After successfully backing Slovenia, Slovakia and Czech Republic in last Friday night’s Home Heroes international special, it’s back to domestic duty this weekend as we put our faith in Manchester United, Liverpool and West Ham to continue the winning streak.
United face a Stoke City side who have caused them few problems at Old Trafford over the years, while Liverpool should put their poor form behind them against struggling Reading and West Ham look well placed to continue their strong start against travel-sick Southampton.
New customers to bwin who register here qualify for a free £20 bet and using that to back this week’s Home Heroes banker treble will return £61.85 if successful.
Man Utd to beat Stoke City @ 3/10
| Champions League | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dortmund | 1-1 | Bayern Munich | £150.00 | (13/2) |
| Dortmund | 1-2 | Bayern Munich | £160.00 | (7/1) |
| Dortmund | 0-2 | Bayern Munich | £175.00 | (31/4) |
| Dortmund win | £84.00 | (16/5) | ||
| Draw | £82.00 | (31/10) | ||
| Bayern Munich win | £34.00 | (7/10) | ||
Draw specialists Stoke have become experts in avoiding defeat this season, but on Saturday they visit a venue where they have had little change over the years.
You have to go back to December 1980 to find the last time the Potters avoided defeat at Old Trafford and back to 1976 for the last time they won there.
They have failed to score on eight of their last nine visits and, since their return to the Premier League in 2008, they have lost all four games by an aggregate scoreline of 13-1.
Tony Pulis’ side lost a late goal in a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September and this highlights the dangers of trying to hold out for a draw against the league’s top sides. United certainly fall into that category, having won four out of five at home in all competitions so far, and they should make it five out of six in this one.
Read a full Man Utd v Stoke betting preview here.
Liverpool to beat Reading @ 3/10
Liverpool have a shocking home record this season, having won only once in seven matches at Anfield in all competitions, but they should finally get their season up and running against Reading on Saturday.
Brian McDermott’s strugglers have yet to win a single game on their return to the Premier League and have picked up only one point from a possible nine on their travels. On top of that, they have lost both their previous top-flight encounters at Anfield, so Brendan Rodgers’ side will never get a better chance to win over the home fans with a victory.
With both sides in poor form, something has to give. And considering Liverpool’s superior quality and experience, it should be them who step up to the plate.
Read a full Liverpool v Reading betting preview here.
West Ham to beat Southampton @ 83/100
Poor travellers Southampton have lost all three of their away games in the Premier League this season, shipping 12 goals (an average of four per game) in the process. The 20 goals they have conceded is the worst in the league and their subsequent goal difference of minus eight is the third worst in the division.
In contrast, hosts West Ham are unbeaten at home in the league thus far, having won two and drawn one at Upton Park. Their strong start sees them sitting in eighth place in the table, a full eight places above the Saints, and their defence has shipped just eight goals – a tally that only five teams can better.
Home advantage will be crucial here and the Hammers look great bets to continue their good start at Southampton’s expense.
Read a full West Ham v Southampton betting preview here.