Premiership Preview - November 25th & 26th

Pinnacle Sports have the Red Devils favourite at 1.781 on a level Asian Handicap.

Chelsea and Manchester United met at Old Trafford in November of last year, when the Blues were thirteen points clear of United, but things are different this time around. The Mancunians come into this game three points clear of Chelsea and with such a superior goal difference, that they should stay on top of the Premiership - win, lose or draw.

Both teams come into this game in tremendous league form. United have won seven straight Premiership fixtures, conceding just twice, scoring more goals than any other Premiership side. Wayne Rooney is hitting top form at exactly the right time, but what might concern Fergie is that his side's sole Premiership defeat was in the previous crunch game at home to Arsenal, and that five days ago Celtic came out on top in a crucial Champions League clash.

Both clubs have been rock-solid in defence, conceding just seven goals between them over their last ten games, naturally giving rise to a low goal-expectation, which Pinnacle Sports has at 1.935 for OVER 2 goals and 1.971 for the UNDER. However, for all (14) Premiership meetings at Old Trafford the goal yield has been surprisingly high, averaging 2.7.

The Blues have already lost twice this season, both times on the road, so come into the game as slight underdogs, at 2.18 with Pinnacle Sports. Their most recent defeat was suffered at White Hart Lane where Spurs' width proved crucial. That will be not be lost on Ferguson, who has Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo to fill the role that Aaron Lennon so successfully applied. 

Though Chelsea had conceded exactly the same number of goals at this stage last season (7), they do have a defensive Achilles heel. Petr Cech is Mourinho's only long-term injury, but his absence could be critical, as his under-study, Carlo Cudicini, though a fine shot-stopper, is suspect on crosses. Tight games such as this are won and lost on such errors.

West Ham No Longer Under The Hammer

West Ham announced midweek a take-over by an Icelandic biscuit magnet, they'll have the chance to impress their new owner at home to Sheffield United on Saturday. West Ham have won back-to-back home games, but their overall profile is unconvincing, and Pinnacle Sports have them as slight favourites 1.933 (-0.5), while the Blades are 2.1 (+0.5) with just one away win under their belt, and the division's second worst goal-difference.

Home Comforts For Liverpool

Liverpool's problems on the road are well documented, but as bad as they are away from home, at Anfield they are very hard to beat. The Reds last home defeat was in October of last year, so with the visit of Man City, who's away record is exactly the same as their opponents - played six, drawn one, lost five - Pinnacle Sports's Asian Handicap is heavily skewed against Rafa's side 2.01 (-1 & -1.5) with the Citizens 1.917 (+1 & +1.5), having lost on seven of the last eight Premiership visits. 

Another Slip-up For The Trotters?

Another hiccup last week at the Emirates Stadium - drawing with struggling Newcastle - saw Arsenal's title chances slip further from their grasp. They go back on the road buoyed by a stirring midweek Champions League comeback against Hamburg, hoping to take advantage of a Bolton side suffering from a mini-slump. The Trotters have lost five straight, failing to score in all but one, with Nicolas 'Le Sulk' Anelka yet to find the net and repay some of his GBP8million price-tag. In the home side's favour is Arsenal's poor record at the Reebok, where they haven't won in four recent Premiership visits, clearly ill-at-ease with Bolton's in-your-face physical tactics. Nevertheless, Arsenal are 2.09 (-0.5) with Pinnacle Sports with Bolton 1.84 (+0.5) slight underdogs despite home advantage.

Villans Protecting Unblemished Home Record

Aston Villa are one of a quintet of Premiership teams yet to lose at home, and that record doesn't look under imminent threat with the visit of Middlesbrough. The Teessiders' are yet to win away from this season, and have strung together a ten league game sequence on the road without victory. The home side are 1.862 (-0.5) with Pinnacle Sports with Boro 2.07 (+0.5). If you were looking for one game in the Premiership schedule that might be entertaining, then this game would be a likely candidate. The last four meetings have averaged 3.5 goals, so if you find that statistic persuasive, you can back OVER 2 & 2.5 goals at 2.05.