"I feel this will be the day City show they are still very much in the title race by putting on a show against Liverpool."
Back Over 2.5 Goals in Man City v Liverpool at 1.75
The Inside Man is back with his Under/Over 2.5 Goals dilemma. Which way will he go this week in his selected matches?
Saturday
Arsenal v Stoke
Attitude plays a huge part in the scoreline of a football match.
For the bulk of this season, Stoke were consummate professionals, playing to their defensive and combative strengths. And so they chalked up the points as they went, through a long series of hard-fought and low-scoring games.
But since Christmas, that's all changed. Stoke's last six matches have all been high-scoring, yielding 25 goals in total. For me, this difference in results most likely comes from a change in mentality. With 30 points already, the Potters have positioned themselves in midtable, a healthy distance from the relegation battle. With 39/40 traditionally considered the magic number for safety, it appears Tony Pulis's side now want their points to come in big chunks, by going more ambitiously in search of wins.
And Arsenal are just the sort of team who'll relish a more end-to-end encounter, as opposed to the siege-like fixture this usually equates too. The Gunners' last six home games have contained 26 goals. And with 10 of those having been goals conceded, there should be plenty of chances for Stoke to find the net and make this a game to remember.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 1.758/11
West Ham v Swansea
75 percent of Swansea's away games this season have been low-scoring. And the average number of goals per game is actually dropping, with three of their last four road games having ended 0-0.
There's no doubt the Swans take a defensive approach when on their travels. They boast the Premier League's best away defence, having conceded a goal less than Man City. They've also scored less goals than all the teams above them, as well as quite a few of the sides below them. And the departure of striker Danny Graham to Sunderland means Michael Laudrup now has even less firepower at his disposal.
As for West Ham, they go into this game short on confidence and unlikely to be too attacking themselves. After three heavy beatings on the road recently, the Hammers will be glad to get back to Upton Park. But their last home game saw them held 1-1 by struggling QPR, and unravelling a stubborn Swansea defence could prove even more difficult. But Big Sam is ever the pragmatist. So don't be surprised to see him settle for a sensible point, to stop the rot, and help edge his side further away from relegation.
Recommended Bet
Back Under 2.5 goals @ 2.0621/20
Sunday
Man City v Liverpool
I'm expecting fireworks at the Etihad on Sunday. I feel this will be the day City show they are still very much in the title race by putting on a show against Liverpool.
Not that their home games are ever boring. 36 goals in 12 home matches tells you that. And now that Sergio Aguero is back fit, and troublemaker Mario Balotelli has departed, that average should rise.
Liverpool will bring plenty to this party though. The Reds away matches have been even more fruitful, bearing 40 goals from their 12 games. Luis Suarez is in rampant form at the moment, while Liverpool are enjoying their most prolific run since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, having scored in each of their last 11 league games.
City have big defensive problems going into this fixture with the absence of their rock at the back, Vincent Kompany, a massive loss for them. New signing Coutinho is unlikely to debut in time for Liverpool, and so this game looks set to be all about the forwards. With Liverpool's last six away games having all been high-scoring, I can't see any way in which that run won't continue here.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 1.758/11
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