Weekend Six Pack – Liverpool rampant, Wigan to start their great escape

Each week Rob Hartnett from 188BET.com will bring you six of the best football betting opportunities from the weekend action.  Rob is the public face of the leading In Play betting specialists and appears regularly on the Bolton, Wigan, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Everton websites doing betting previews.

With the season hotting up for so many teams near the top and at the bottom this can be a tricky time of the year for bettors.  It can also be one of the best as odds tend to reflect better on sides that might want to win but are not as well equipped to do so as their opponents.

Take heed if you are betting in play this weekend.  Aston Villa travel to West Ham having lost one of their last nine meetings but having lost a lead ten times in this campaign.  Sunderland are one of only three teams yet to win from a losing position which will boost Birmingham, while Man City have scored fewer goals in the last 15 minutes of games than any other side.

All the odds quoted are available at time of writing on the In Play specialists, 188BET

April 16^th to 17^th

Birmingham and Sunderland +2.5 Goals at 2.11

Neither side are in great form, with five and one point respectively from their last six games, and this is a crucial game for both teams.  Winning is important as one point may not be enough to stay ahead of the pack.  Both sides games over this period have averaged over 2.5 goals per game and nerves may play a part.  If one side gets a lead the game could become very open.

Wigan to beat Blackpool by one goal at 4.10

Take out the top four and Wigan’s form look good enough to spring a minor upset here.  They have won nine points and scored nine goals in five games since early February against more modest opposition.  Both teams have scored in every game played at Bloomfield Road this season but a key figure is that five of Wigan’s six wins have been by a single goal.  Odds of 4.10 about the same again compare favourably to 3.00 in the 1X2 market.

Everton to beat Blackburn by 2-0 or 2-1 at 3.85

Blackburn have taken only one point from their last six games while Everton have the best record in the premier league with 12 goals and 14 points.  Rather than steaming in to 1.74 about the home win though, you should take heed of the fact that five of the six home games Everton have played against bottom seven sides have ended in draws.  They should win but combined odds of 3.85 about a 2-0 or 2-1 correct score are more attractive.

Man United to beat Man City at 2.13

United’s win over City in February was the sixth in eight meetings.  City’s overall record against the six sides nearest them in the league is also modest with only two wins, three draws and five defeats.  The missing pair of Rooney and Tevez will change the game but Rooney missed nine games in the early part of last season and United won eight while Tevez accounts for 40 per cent of City’s goals and plenty more.

Bolton to lead at Half Time against Stoke at 2.95

Bolton came from behind to win their last successful FA Cup semi final, back in 1958 but they will look to get a better start against Stoke.  The potters have the worst first half record in the league but the fifth best after the break.  They have conceded first in 2 out of every three games this season, and the odds against them doing so before half time look fair

Liverpool to win or draw against Arsenal at 2.25

Liverpool have won three of their last five away games and put up their best performance of the season in dismantling Man City on Monday night.  Arsenal have failed to score in their last two at the Emirates and confidence appears to be fragile.  Liverpool are fair value at 4.85 to win but five of the last ten meetings including two of the last three in London and the reverse at Anfield have finished 1-1 so the odds on that at 6.50 are worth a go as are the 2.25 about Arsenal failing to win.

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Weekend Six Pack, Wigan Athletic