It promises to be another huge day in the title race in the Premier League on Sunday when the top two are both in action and have the chance to lay another significant claim for the trophy on a day when there are three games in all.
Sunderland host Leicester in a huge clash for both sides in the early kick off while Tottenham get the chance to respond when they welcome Man Utd to the Lane in the later TV game. Away from the cameras Liverpool play host to Stoke.
Sunderland vs Leicester
To say the stakes are high for both sides would be something of an understatement. If anything though this could be considered a bigger match for Sunderland than it is for Leicester.
Sam Allardyce has labelled the game ‘must win’ for his side although Norwich’s defeat on Saturday might have changed that. Either way you get the feeling he is going to have his team bang up for this one so we should see a thrilling game.
Leicester are becoming the masters of the 1-0 win and I’m sure they would snap your hands off for another one here but you just get the feeling they can’t keep on winning 1-0 and they might come unstuck soon, possibly somewhere like here when it is least expected.
Leicester have had a few trappy games recently which to their credit they have successfully negotiated but this is another. They’re far too short for me to back but I respect them more than enough by now not to oppose them.
Tottenham vs Man Utd
Depending on what Leicester do earlier in the day this will either be a chance for Spurs to close the gap or the pressure will be on them to answer Leicester’s result and make sure the Foxes get no further away from them. Man Utd saw City’s win on Saturday and need to respond as the race for fourth starts to get interesting.
Tottenham have been brilliant at the Lane this season where their young, dynamic side seem to come alive and at both ends of the pitch they are very tough to play against. They have however only won two of their last five and the pressure might just be getting to a young side.
Man United have been nothing like the side we’ve expected them to be this season and on the road their results have been particularly brutal at times. Before their win in the derby in their last away game they had gone three away games without a win but their win at Liverpool combined with the one at City suggests maybe they get their tactics better in matches they are perceived underdogs in.
I’m not sure who will win this match and with the pressure on both sides I wouldn’t want to bet on the outcome but I can’t ignore the 4/5 on under 2.5 goals here. There have been a pair of 0-0s in the last four matches between these two at the Lane and a 1-1 as well and the reverse meeting between the two on the opening day was only won 1-0 by United. Given the enormity of the game I think goals will be slim in supply here.
United have already won 1-0 at City and at Anfield in recent times and have only conceded one goal in their last four matches. Spurs haven’t scored against United in three so it might be worth chancing van Gaal’s men to clock up a hat trick of big match 1-0 road successes.
Liverpool vs Stoke
With what went on in Dortmund on Thursday night and what is to come this coming Thursday surely this match is low down on the scale of priorities for Liverpool? Even if it isn’t I’m not sure I can back them at odds on when by and large they have nothing to play for.
In terms of achieving anything Stoke aren’t playing for a whole lot more here but they’re a club who the further up the table they go and the higher they finish represents a step in the right direction so there is enough to keep them interested.
Mark Hughes’ side have plenty of quality in their ranks and have found their feet on the road in recent weeks with a win at Watford and a draw at Chelsea among a run of three unbeaten.
The last four league meetings between the two here have finished 0-0 0-0 1-0 and 1-0 so although Stoke don’t always get a result at Anfield they keep it tight but if Liverpool aren’t as focused on this game this could be the day the Potters finally get an elusive win at the Merseyside venue. Even if they don’t win there is plenty to suggest they can keep it tight enough to get something out of the game.
Tips
Back Tottenham vs Man Utd – Under 2.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfair
Back it here:
Back Man Utd to win 1-0 for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 with Bet365
Back Stoke (+1AH) to beat Liverpool for a 4/10 stake at 1.88 with Bet365
Back them here:
