Will Martinez be smiling once again on Saturday?
With Liverpool and Manchester City sharing the spoils at Anfield on Sunday, this column moved into a profit and Paul Robinson is determined to increase that as he takes another early look at Betfair's fixed odds ahead to this weekend's fixtures.
Wigan v Stoke
Back Wigan @ 2.25n/a
Wigan got off the mark for the season with an impressive 2-0 win at Southampton on Saturday and that should boost their confidence after the opening day defeat to Chelsea. In truth, Roberto Martinez's side were unlucky against The Blues as after conceding two quick goals, they were the better team for the rest of the match and it was only a lack of cutting edge that cost them. They weren't as wasteful against the Saints though as Franco di Santo and new boy, Arouna Kone, opened up their accounts for the campaign. Losing Victor Moses is a blow for Martinez, but he has the highly promising, Ryo Miyaichi waiting in the wings and they should still have more than enough to overcome Stoke.
Stoke were hugely disappointing against Arsenal on Sunday and if the Gunners had an in-form striker it could have been a heavy defeat for the Potters and not a 0-0 draw. Their form away from the Britannia doesn't make pretty reading; no win in 10 and six defeats, and I can't see that changing here as they offer so little as an attacking force.
Swansea v Sunderland
Back the draw @ 3.185/40
Michael Laudrup's Swansea are earning all the plaudits but I'm still not convinced. First QPR threw the match away with too much of a gung-ho attitude and then West Ham did similar, gifting them two goals. It's easy to retain possession with a healthy lead but I'm not so sure that the Swans will be as comfortable when put under the cosh by the opposition. Despite keeping two clean sheets, the defence doesn't look as secure a unit as it did last year and better finishing from their opponents would have made things interesting.
Sunderland had a rest over the weekend as their game with Reading was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Last week I described them as a team that were hard to beat, but lacking in firepower and Martin O'Neill was obviously reading as he's since bought Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher. O'Neill teams typically start the season with a bang and I see similar happening this year. They will use their high energy levels to give Swansea little time and space to play their new counter attacking style football and with their new boys signed, they are now much more capable of scoring themselves.
Liverpool v Arsenal
Back Liverpool @ 2.05n/a
After a disappointing loss to WBA, Liverpool kick started their season with a 2-2 draw against the reigning champions. They should have won it, and they would have if Martin Skrtel had have taken a look before attempting a silly back pass. That aside though, Brendan Rodgers will have been absolutely delighted with his side's performance, especially young lads, Raheem Sterling and Sebastian Coates, who he bravely brought into the starting 11.
Arsenal have begun with two 0-0 draws and Arsene Wenger must have been sickened when Robin Van Persie opened his Manchester United account on Saturday. Replacements, Oliver Giroud and Lukas Podolski are yet to fire and while Santi Cazorla has looked superb, if the strikers aren't scoring, his incisive passes are wasted. One positive he can take is that the defence haven't conceded yet, but in truth, they haven't really been tested and it will be a different story at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool look marginally further ahead in their development than Arsenal do, and with home advantage plus a possible Nuri Sahin debut, odds-against about a reds victory looks too good an opportunity to turn down.
Recommended Bets
Back Wigan to beat Stoke @ 2.25n/a
Back a Swansea v Sunderland draw @ 3.185/40
Back Liverpool to beat Arsenal @ 2.05n/a
Prices are based on our Fixed Odds product, so any winnings are exempt from commission.
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