Premer League tips

Last weekend: Loss of £20.41
Overall: Loss of £8.09

All odds are given by either Paddy Power or Skybet unless stated.

Weekend accumulators:

To win - Norwich, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Brom and Manchester United. Five pounds returns £100.84

Goals galore - Manchester United, Fulham, QPR, Swansea and West Brom. Five pounds returns £56.95

Manchester United vs Arsenal
It's safe to say there won't be a repeat scoreline from last year, but in a week where both clubs were involved in high scoring Capital One games, expect there to be goals at Old Trafford come Saturday lunchtime.

More fuel has been added to the United Arsenal fire with the summer move of Robin Van Persie! The Dutchman was the league's top goal scorer last campaign, and has started in fantastic form for the Red Devils, and I'm sure there will be many bets on him to score!

Manchester United haven't reached top gear yet but find themselves just a point off the leaders Chelsea, whilst Arsenal at times have been brilliant, but their points return isn't as high as they had hoped for.

Teams have beaten Arsenal when they've kept Santi Cazorla quiet, and if Manchester United can do so here, expect them to win!

Manchester United 3 Arsenal 2 - 22/1 - Lose £2.50

Manchester United to win - 8/11 - Returns of £4.31

Other Tips:
Robin Van Persie anytime goalscorer - 10/11 - Returns of £9.55
Both teams to score - 8/13 - Returns of £8.07
Over 2.5 goals - 4/6 - Returns of £8.33

Match returns - Profit of £10.26

Fulham vs Everton
Both sides came from early set backs to earn draws on last time out, however Everton will be the happier with their point considering Fulham had turned the game on its head against Reading to lead.

Martin Jol and David Moyes can both be pleased with how their sides have started the season, and if Fulham hadn't conceded late away to two of the three promoted sides then Fulham would be higher in the league.

Everton won at Craven Cottage 3-1 last year, but I can't separate them this time around.

Fulham 1 Everton 1 - 11/2 - Lose £2.50

Draw - 12/5 - Returns £8.50

Other Tips:
Nikica Jelavic anytime goalscorer - 7/4 - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score - 4/7 - Returns of £7.85
Everton first team yellow card - 10/11 with Bet365 - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £3.65

Norwich vs Stoke
Their 1-0 win over Arsenal appears to be a turning point in Norwich's season, as, including the win over the Gunners, they've won two from three in all competitions and rescued a point away to Aston Villa last week.

Leon Barnett was dismissed when these two met at Carrow Road last year

Stoke have started the season with too many draws, six from nine games to be precise, and at the moment they lack at cutting edge. With Michael Owen getting more minutes under his belt, I'm sure he'll start to score goals and help the Potters win more games.

Norwich need to win these sort of matches, and I fancy them to just edge it.

Norwich 2 Stoke 1 - 17/2 - Lose £2.50

Norwich to win - 8/5 - Returns of £6.50

Other tips:
Stoke first team yellow card - 4/6 with bet365 - Returns of £8.33
A headed goal to be scored - 22/10 with 188bet - Returns of £16
Draw HT/ Norwich FT - 5/1 - Lose a fiver

Match returns - £10.83

Sunderland vs Aston Villa
Both sides are in horrible form ahead of the game at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland winning just one league game in 16, with Villa's form even worse, with just the solitary victory from their last 19 games!

Stephen Fletcher aside, Sunderland have struggled to find the net this year, whilst Aston Villa have continuously left their best out and out goalscorer on the bench, with Darren Bent failing to start any of their last three league matches.

I fancy the draw between these two out of sorts sides!

Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1 - 5/1 - Lose £2.50

Draw - 12/5 - Lose £2.50

Other tips:
Christian Benteke to score anytime - 11/4 - Lose a fiver
Under 2.5 goals - 8/13 - Returns of £8.07
Half with most goals, Tie - 21/10 - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £11.93

Swansea vs Chelsea
Both sides bounced back from narrow Premier League defeats to win impressively in the Capital One cup. For long periods Swansea competed well with Manchester City, and only a Carlos Tevez wonder goal was the difference. Chelsea came back well from 2-0 down against the other Manchester side, but being reduced to nine men meant a late winner was inevitable.

Chelsea needed a late own goal to rescue a point last year, and Paddy Power are offering 7's on an own goal.

Back Chelsea to continue their fine league start with a win at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea 1 Chelsea 3 - 12/1 - Lose £2.50

Chelsea to win - 4/5 - Lose £2.50

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 8/13 - Returns £8.07
Juan Mata to score anytime - 11/8 - Void as player didn't play
Chelsea to score in both halves - 7/5 - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £6.93

Tottenham vs Wigan
Tottenham put their defeat to Chelsea well and truly behind them with an impressive away win against Southampton, whilst Wigan won for only the second time in their 2-1 home victory against West Ham.

This fixture has seen all manner of results. Tottenham thrashed Wigan 9-1 in 2009, but the following year Wigan stunned White Hart Lane with a 1-0 smash and grab.

Last year Spurs won 3-1, and back the same result here.

Tottenham 3 Wigan 1 - 10/1 - Lose £2.50

Tottenham to win - 4/9 - Lose £2.50

Other tips:
Over 2.5 goals - 4/7 - Lose a fiver
Tottenham to score three or more goals - 6/4 - Lose a fiver
Jermaine Defoe and Clint Dempsey to score - 7/2 - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £20

West Ham vs Manchester City
West Ham got what they deserved as they lost to Wigan for a third consecutive time! Roberto Mancini's side are starting to do what their city rivals have done for donkey's year, win when playing poor, and that was on show in their 1-0 win over Swansea last Saturday.

Manchester City have conceded first in all of their four away matches, but have recovered to at least gain a point in all of them, and considering West Ham took the lead against Arsenal and lost, a bet on the Hammers to score first and fail to win is a good one!

Upton Park is never the easiest of places to go to, with West Ham losing just one league home game this year! Manchester City are now the only unbeaten Premier League side left and I fancy them to edge it!

West Ham 1 Manchester City 2 - 7/1 - Lose £2.50

Manchester City to win - 4/6 - Lose £2.50

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 4/6 - Lose a fiver
West Ham to score first - 13/8 - Lose a fiver
Edin Dzeko last goalscorer - 11/2 - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £20

Day returns - Loss of £41.42

QPR vs Reading
The only two sides still without a Barclays Premier League go head to head at Loftus Road on Sunday, and it's fair to say, the loser will be in a lot of trouble!

Pogrebnyak got the winner when these two sides met earlier this year in the Capital One Cup

Indiscipline cost Queens Park Rangers once more as they conceded a late winner away to Arsenal last week following Stephan M'Bia's stupid dismissal. Reading have shipped in 10 goals in their last two games, culminating in an incredible Captial One match midweek against Arsenal where they let a 4-0 lead slip.

I think it's safe to say there will be goals, and I fancy QPR to just edge it!

QPR 3 Reading 2 - 25/1

QPR to win - 5/6

Other tips:
Over 3.5 goals - 7/4 
Both teams to score - 8/13
Bobby Zamora and Pavel Pogrebnyak to score - 8/1

Liverpool vs Newcastle
Liverpool's week started brilliantly as they raced into a two goal lead in the Merseyside derby; however they failed to hold onto that lead and were eliminated from the Capital One Cup by Brendan Rodgers' old club 3-1 at Anfield.

Newcastle were fortunate to beat West Brom last weekend, with a Sammy Ameobi shot deflecting in off Papiss Cisse for a much needed victory!

Newcastle will fancy their chances at Anfield, but I think Liverpool will edge it in a  low scoring affair.

Liverpool 1 Newcastle 0 - 6/1

Liverpool to win - 4/7

Other tips:
Liverpool to win to nil - 6/4
Luis Suarez first goalscorer - 9/2
Under 2.5 goals - 11/10

West Brom vs Southampton
Back to back last minute 2-1 defeats for West Brom means for the first time questions are being asked of Steve Clarke's side, and Southampton at home is arguably their biggest game of the season so far, as a win will get them back on track!

Southampton were very poor in the first half against Tottenham last weekend, and that was only worsened by a rubbish 90 minutes against Leeds in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday! Manager Nigel Adkins apparently has a fight on to keep his job, and an away points are vital if he is to do so!

I don't think West Brom will walk it, but I fancy them to win, especially given their impressive form at the Hawthorns.

West Brom 2 Southampton 1 - 7/1

West Brom to win - 8/11

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 8/13
Over 2.5 goals - 8/13
Romelu Lukaku to score anytime - 11/8

Middle of the pack for Jol and Fulham

Inconsistency was the real problem for Fulham last year, one week they were superb, whilst the next they were awful. With strength in depth in the attacking midfield department, when their flair players came to the party season, not many sides could contain the free flowing Fulham, especially at Craven Cottage. Despite alternating between a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formation last year, their real goal scoring threat came via the midfielder Clint Dempsey, who scored an impressive 17 Premier League goals.

Dempsey was Fulham's top scorer with 23 goals in all competitions.

Fulham will have a new look forward line about them this season, having lost three centre forwards in the space of six months, with Pavel Pogrebnyak's decision to join newly promoted Reading a real kick in the teeth for the Cottagers; however two freebie additions in Mladen Petric and Hugo Rodallega are more then capable replacements.

Both Dickson Etuhu and the inspirational Danny Murphy joined relegated Blackburn Rovers over the summer and despite the latter coming to the end of his career, it came as a surprise to see the former captain leave, given the fact he featured in 35 of the 38 league games last season. Mahamadou Diarra was a free transfer in the January transfer window last season, and the former Real Madrid man will have to go some way to fill the void left by Murphy.

Key player - Moussa Dembele. Since his arrival from AZ two summers ago, Dembele, when fit has been one of the first names of the Fulham team sheet. Whether playing off the striker or in the centre of midfield the Belgian international oozes quality and his form has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United and Spurs. If Dempsey is too leave, then it'll be his biggest season in a Fulham shirt given the fact more onus will be placed on him to produce goals from midfield.



Prediction - 10th. Fulham will one again be in and around the middle of the table. Under Jol they'll always be entertaining and a Europa League push isn't outside their capabilities, even if Dempsey does complete his move to Liverpool.

View from a fan - Matt Baldwin @MattRhys63

What would be a perfect season?
Qualifying for Europe via any means necessary, though ideally via winning a cup. As well as remaining undefeated against QPR and Reading, although that's just a personal thing.

What would be a nightmare season?
Getting relegated, which is a distinct possibility if some of our best players are lost either in the Summer or January. A nightmare for all Fulham fans would also be QPR finishing above us.

Do you have the right manager?
Yes, Martin proved last season he knows what he wants and what he doesn't, which is why we shifted Zamora out in January. He didn't suit the formation, so Jol brought in players that did I.e Ruiz initially as well as Pogrebnyak for five months. He also managed to maintain discipline through out the team with very few suspensions which is key for a small squad.

What Premier League player would you sign given the choice?
Realistically I would go for a defensive midfielder to replace Danny Murphy. Of the players out there, though I don't really rate him, I would take Charlie Adam.

Do Petric and Rodallega have the goals in them to replace Zamora, Johnson and Pogrebnyak?
Yes, Petric has been banging them in during pre-season (only pre-season I know, but at least he knows where the net is), I can see him playing on the left side of our attack in a 4-2-3-1, which is where Dempsey played and got all his goals. I'm concerned that he's only here for a season but hopefully he can tutor some of the younger players in our squad. Rodallega will fit in well sitting as the main striker up top. He had a bad season last year, but I think this year he'll come good.

How key is it to keep ahold of Clint Dempsey?
I don't think it is all that important. If we sell him for £15million for example, we can use that to invest in our youth system, which is one of the best in the country, (Trotta, Kacaniklic and Frei are all examples and there are plenty more coming) as we are not a team that'll go and buy £20million players so we need to look to the future. I would much rather sell Dempsey now and get good money, then let him go next season for free.

Fulham need to add strength in depth to avoid a tough season.

Despite being in the relegation mix come Christmas, Fulham easily avoided any end of the season with a terrific run of form in 2011, however with their Europa commitments I see the season being a challenge for the London club.

After Mark Hughes's resignation, the club appointed Martin Jol, who ironically was their first choice before Hughes' appointment last year. After three years managing in Germany and his native Holland, Jol's return to English football wasn't unexpected.

Under Roy Hodgson Fulham so famously made the Europa League final, however thier league form failed naturally, however the points tally they achieved would've seen them embroilled in a relegation battle the following year. And with the League's continual strength Jol will have to add to his squad if Fulham are to balance a Europa League run with a strong Premier League campaign. With John Arne Riise expected to move from AS Roma in the next few days, Jol will be hoping its the first of many signings.

Only Chelsea and both Manchester clubs conceded less goals then Fulham last year, and with the interest in Brede Hangeland seeming to fade away, Fulham don't really need defensive reinforcements. However the club struggled to score goals last year, with Andy Johnson, Moussa Dembele and Bobby Zamora mustering just 11 goals between them, one short of their top scorer in Clint Dempsey, who again had a terrific season. With Spurs apparently willing to sell Jol could be tempted to try and re-united himself with either Jermaine Defoe or Robbie Keane, whom both are apparently growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of game time.

I don't for one second expect Fulham to be caught up in a relegation battle, however additions are needed if they to get anywhere near the top half of the table, especially with a heavy fixture list expected due to the "burden" of the Europa League.