Premiership Betting
Can Tottenham Turn The Tide On Rampant Ronaldo?
Manchester United could turn their electric form into a tangible Premiership lead this weekend – but both United and Arsenal will need a little help from their local rivals in order to find breathing space at the top. United (4/5) travel to Tottenham (3/1), while second placed Arsenal (4/5) will be battling to match the Reds against Manchester City (3/1).
The fact that both teams are equal odds on favourites to win tough away ties reflect their dominance to date, but despite only goal difference elevating United above the Londoners, the Mancunians have been setting the pace with the strength of recent performances.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 7/2 favourite to open the scoring at White Hart Lane, single-handedly dispatched Portsmouth mid-week with a 'career-best' goal, but even more impressive is his run of 14 goals in the last nine games. He is now runaway Premiership top-scorer on 19 and has 27 in all competitions this season, threatening to break George Best's season goal-scoring record for a non-striker at United.
And Spurs have already felt the Portuguese pace-man's pinch, as he rifled two past Radek Cerny in last weekend's Old Trafford FA Cup tie. The north Londoners overturned one voodoo against their north London rivals Arsenal last week, but now face another: they have lost six consecutive league games at home to the Reds, a record the ruthless Juande Ramos will be eager to overcome.
The team who have scored and conceded more than any other at home will now see its sterling strike-force stripped of Jermaine Defoe, who departs for Portsmouth, while Jonathan Woodgate could build on a brave debut at Everton and bolster the back-line. At 16/1 either of Spurs' useful wingers Aaron Lennon and Steed Malbranque – who should make his 200th Premiership appearance – could be a tempting bet for first scorer.
Meanwhile Arsenal travel to Manchester City having bagged a hat-trick of goals in all but one of their last four games. Their hosts have failed to score more than once in six outings, seeing a previously imperious home record run aground. Emmanuel Adebayor has netted seven in five and could feast on Eastlands generosity from the City defence – a 2-1 Gunners victory and an opener from the Togolese top-scorer is a tempting 22/1.
Arsenal will be missing Tomas Rosicky through hamstring injury while striker Robin van Persie, Johan Djourou (groin) and Denilson (hamstring) are also out. The Gunners have won five out of six against City but succumbed to a 1-0 defeat last time out at Eastlands: the same result again is 8/1.
Only four points adrift of Arsenal and Manchester United, Chelsea (4/6) also face a gruelling away trip to Portsmouth (7/2), with injury-hit Frank Lampard still unlikely to feature. Chelsea have won nine on the trot and have kept four clean sheets out of five, allowing stony-faced Avram Grant to equal the opening stint record of his more media-inclined Portuguese predecessor Jose Mourinho.
New blood could be on show in both strike lines, with Chelsea recruit Nicolas Anelka 7/2 favourite to open the scoring. But Portsmouth new boys Jermaine Defoe (8/1) or Milan Baros (9/1) could immediately endear themselves to the fanatical Fratton Park faithful by penetrating Petr Cech's goal early on.
A 9/2 special awaits those brave enough to back all of the top three to score tricky away day victories.
Premiership Picks:
Manchester City vs Arsenal Arsenal at 4/5 with
Tottenham vs Man Utd Draw at 23/10 with
**All prices are taken from
