I view Premier league fixtures post mid-week european football with a bit of trepidation and expectation of upsets . This is based mainly on nothing more scientific than "
pub banter".I have not checked any stats with regard to this feeling. I believe that teams perform better the weekend before european football and worse the weekend after the european matches.I realise that I should investigate this "european hangover effect" or give the matches a miss.
My feelings for this weekend fixtures involving the teams that competed in europe midweek.
Liverpool v Reading
Liverpool have a great home record ,they produce a lot of chances , but their defence is slow and exploited by the better strikers .I can see Liverpool giving someone a hammering soon , they started well last week.Cannot see Reading being good enough away from home to trouble Liverpool
Man Utd v Portsmouth
Man U may have the biggest hangover , but they will have to have the biggest cure as well.
Newcastle v Sheff Utd
Newcastle suprise a lot of us on Thursday evening against the second team in Serie A and as keg has highlighted , St James' could be bouncing on Saturday evening.Watching that match the injuries forced Newcastle to overload the midfield , not the type of tactics to please the home fans.
I do not like following promoted teams away.This is a clash of two poor sides.
West Ham v Arsenal
Arsenal do play better away from their new ground .They ctreated the chances midweek but just could not convert them.
Last weekend West Ham got 2nd home win against an average Blackburn side.
I can see this being a high scoring match which Arsenal should win.
Aston Villa v Blackburn
Blackburn scored their 3 goals yesterday late in the second half. The draw does look dangerous but this is a match that Villa should win and 2.1 @
betfred is a decent price.
Tottenham v Chelsea
Spurs created a lot oif chances last night , but will not have the opportuinities against the Chelsea defence. Chelsea were relieved to get a draw at Barca and would be suffering from the european hangover .I should be on Spurs but their defence was inconsistent and a better side would have punished them last night.
In posting my thoughts I have persuaded myself that the european hangover will not have much of an effect.
The bets in the E.P.L. I'm considering for this weekend are :
LIVERPOOL -1.5 @2.1...betfair
MAN U
-1.5@2.1...betfair
VILLA
-0.5@2.12...betfair
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