The final day of Premier League exertion before the international break comes on Sunday with a triple header of action with each game live on TV on what looks a superb afternoon to enjoy a Sunday roast on the sofa with six hours of wall to wall football.
Any day like that would be good but this particular Sunday could be special because it is likely to have a huge bearing on the race for the Champions League spots.
Middlesbrough vs Man Utd
The era after Aitor Karanka begins with Manchester United heading to the Riverside and it will be interesting to see if Middlesbrough are a little more open and on the front foot under Steve Agnew because they were far too defensive and dare I say boring under the Spaniard.
Man Utd head up north off the back of a hectic schedule which Jose Mourinho has been quick to remind everyone about and that in itself adds a different dynamic to the match. In truth we are only able to speculate how Middlesbrough will play so this isn’t a match I’m rushing to bet on.
Tottenham vs Southampton
Tottenham will be looking to protect second place in the table when they host a Southampton side who have won their last two matches and scoring four goals in each of them. Tottenham will move back to within 10pts of the leaders Chelsea with a win.
Spurs have only dropped four points all season at White Hart Lane and Everton’s two goals in their last league match were the only two goals they have conceded in the last five there. They just don’t concede goals as a rule.
The problem Spurs have is they are not the same side without Harry Kane and he will definitely be missing here. As a general rule Southampton are usually well organised and look to hit sides on the break away from home and with Spurs lacking their most potent goal threat this has all the hallmarks of a match which will be low in goals but higher in tactical play and intrigue.
Man City vs Liverpool
The last match of the day is very much the biggest match of the afternoon. Man City in third host Liverpool in fourth with second place potentially up for grabs should Tottenham have failed to have won earlier in the afternoon.
City will be looking to rebound from their exit in the Champions League in midweek while Liverpool will be looking to continue a really good record against the better sides in the division this season so something is going to have to give.
With neither side able to defend I guess the obvious bet is the overs in the goals market but I can’t ignore how bad Liverpool are defensively or the fact that the Reds haven’t won in any of their last four away games and the last one they did win they weren’t all that convincing at Everton.
Only Chelsea have won at the Etihad this season and City were all over them for an hour. Liverpool have a good record against the top sides but City are a different juggernaut at home and with the pace they have in the side and the bit between their teeth after midweek I’m with the hosts in this one.
Tips
Back Tottenham vs Southampton – Under 2.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betfair
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Back Man City to beat Liverpool for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with BetBright
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