Stick with our Euro rule and back Everton to beat United
After match action on Thursday, Solskjaer’s poor travellers could slip up at Goodison Park
It is never worth giving up on a betting system after just one attempt and wins for Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers last week had me second-guessing myself for tipping both sides to lose after they had been in Europa League action last week. But it never pays to be once bitten, twice shy in this game, which is why I am going to back Manchester United and Wolves to lose this weekend.
It would have been tempting to side with Everton to beat Manchester United at Goodison Park tomorrow, even if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side had not been in action on Thursday night. No team in the top half of the Premier League have lost more away matches than Manchester United this season and only Sheffield United have scored fewer goals on their travels.
Manchester United have scored just 14 goals in 13 Premier League away games and have been kept goalless in five of those fixtures. Their opponents, Everton, were unlucky not to beat Arsenal last weekend and they are unbeaten at home since Carlo Ancelotti took the helm just before Christmas.
With striker Dominic Calvertlewin staking a claim for a place in the England squad and star midfielder Andre Gomes ready to challenge for a regular first-team slot after suffering a broken ankle in November, Everton should continue to improve and they look good value at 6/4 to claim another home victory.
Nuno Espirito Santo, the Wolves manager, had the luxury of resting some players for their Europa League second leg against Espanyol after winning the first leg 4-0, but they will still have to be at their best to beat Tottenham tomorrow. Spurs may be without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, but that is factored into their price, which is why we are getting 7/5 about a Tottenham home win.
The brave among you might also be tempted to throw a couple of quid on Portsmouth to beat Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday night. Portsmouth are 7/1 to upset their Premier League opposition and are unbeaten in the league at Fratton Park this season. The only blip on their home record came when they were beaten 4-0 in the League Cup by local rivals Southampton, but I would expect this game to be a lot closer.
The countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is well and truly on, with just 10 days until the biggest meeting of the year gets under way. As a result, there are no potential Festival winners on show this weekend, but we could boost our betting bank by backing Enrichissant to win the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury this afternoon (3.15).
He is an improving young horse, who won by 18 lengths at Huntingdon on his last chase start and he seems to be ideally suited to testing conditions, which he seems certain to get today. He sneaks in at the bottom of the weights and is well worth an each-way bet at 10/1.