English Premiership: Betting Preview and Picks
By SHAWN YOUNG
The soccer season is in full swing and we've enlisted the help of a former European oddsmaker. Shawn Young is back with his weekly picks for the pitch.
SATURDAY
CHELSEA (-1, evens, 2.5 goals over -125) vs. ASTON VILLA
FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium
Chelsea beat MU 2-1 away and Villa beat Bolton 1-0 away Saturday.
With nothing appetizing in the EPL Saturday, I’d like to bet this instead.
Chelsea humped Villa 7-1 on March 27. Villa says there’ll be no repeat here. I think Chelsea still wins comfortably.
Injury worries are piling up for Villa. The length of the season is wearing on the players. Villa has had a few good results this year, including a 2-1 win over Chelsea. When the chips are down, this team is still a year or two away. We saw that in the 7-1 loss and the League Cup final.
Chelsea has a deep squad and has been bounced out of Europe. A league and cup double will salvage Chelsea’s season if the Blues can pull it off. They’ll be one step closer after Saturday. Villa will be tentative and Chelsea can rip a tentative team apart.
Chelsea has a game-time decision on Branislav Ivanovic. Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, Ricard Carvalho, and Jose Bosingwa remain out. Petr Cech may play in Cup-keeper Hilario’s place and that would be an upgrade.
Aston Villa has major game-time decisions on James Milner and Richard Dunne. Emile Heskey came on as a substitute last weekend and might not be fully fit. The talking heads are screaming for England U19 Nathan Delfouneso to get a start. Heskey, John Carew, and Gabriel Agbonlahor are all ahead of him.
Pick: Chelsea 3, Villa 0
SUNDAY
LIVERPOOL (-1.5 flat, 2.5 goals over -125) vs. FULHAM
Liverpool beat Benfica 4-1 and Fulham beat Wolfsburg 1-0 away Thursday.
Both these teams played European games Thursday. The advantage goes to the deeper squad, Liverpool. Liverpool will be seeking revenge for a 3-1 road loss to Fulham in October.
Fulham has only one win in the league since February 21 while the club has collected the European scalps of Shakhtjor, Juventus and now Wolfsburg since. The loss of interest in the EPL won’t really hurt the club. The Cottagers are safe.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are running out of time to chase down fourth place and the chance at the Champions’ League that goes with it. Liverpool will likely have to settle for the Europa League instead (that’s soccer’s NIT to you hoops fans), but will help itself by winning here.
Sniper Fernando Torres (knee) will play for Liverpool Sunday after scoring against Benfica. Ryan Babel and Maxi Rodriguez were ineligible for the Europa League game, but can play here. Daniel Agger played well Thursday and could get another start at left back.
US international Clint Dempsey (thigh) is out for Fulham. Bobby Zamora (Achillies) and Simon Davies (ribs) are unlikely to play. David Elm was in hospital last weekend with a virus, but has returned to training and might play. But half an hour seems to make the most sense.
Pick: Liverpool 2, Fulham 0