Free betting tips: Premier League previews and best bets for Saturday's action in the top-flight including Liverpool v Watford
Find out why Paul Higham expects Liverpool to be given a scare or two along the way when they take on Watford tonight.
Premier League recommended bets
2pts Bournemouth to win and over 1.5 total goals at 13/10
2pts Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 6/4
1pt Wilfried Zaha to score and Crystal Palace to win at 9/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Bournemouth v West Brom (1500 GMT) (GP)
Alan Pardew’s West Brom need to catch a break sooner rather than later if they are to avoid relegation – and it is now or never.
Pardew has reportedly escaped the axe due to the lack of potential replacements and a win here would give him and the Baggies a much-needed boost.
They are eight points from safety and face Burnley and Swansea at home in the games after this, so it is a great chance to put a good run together. But they have only won three games all season and it does not look good for Albion with eight games to go.
Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth, meanwhile, have been indifferent at home this season, winning five, drawing four and losing six.
They are capable of pulling off a performance at the Vitality though, having beaten Arsenal and Everton, and they will see this as a good chance to move closer to that 40-point mark which usually sees teams over the line and safe from the drop.
They are without victory in their last four and I do not think they will have much trouble ending that winless run here (10/11).
The 4-1 home loss to Tottenham was a harsh scoreline and they had played well – especially in the first half. Lys Mousset performed well and he is 9/4 to score anytime – which would be just his second Premier League goal of the season. Jermain Defoe also looks a good anytime bet at 28/17, even if he has not been a sure starter in recent weeks.
Bournemouth to win and over 1.5 total goals in the game looks to be the best bet for me though at 13/10, while you can back the Cherries to win with a clean sheet at 40/17.
A late survival bid would be good for the neutrals, but I cannot see it and the free-falling Baggies should lose here, with three points edging Bournemouth closer to securing their Premier League status for another campaign.
Score prediction: Bournemouth 3-0 West Brom
Best bet: Bournemouth to win and over 1.5 total goals at 13/10
Alternative bet: Bournemouth to win to nil at 40/17
Huddersfield v Crystal Palace (1500 GMT) (GP)
Another bottom-of-the-table clash as 15th-placed Huddersfield host 18th-placed Crystal Palace at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Palace have had an unfortunate run of games which has seen four successive defeats – to Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham and Everton – and Roy Hodgson’s side have been incredibly unfortunate not to have gained anything from these matches either.
They saw a contentious goal disallowed v Chelsea, they were 2-0 up v the Red Devils before losing 3-2 and Spurs’ Harry Kane left it late at Selhurst.
Now the Eagles can look forward to playing bottom-half rivals Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Brighton in three of the next four games. With the return of star man Wilfried Zaha, I see no reason why they cannot secure Premier League survival in the next eight games.
Huddersfield, meanwhile, are four points clear of the drop and have won two of their last five.
David Wagner’s men have slid down the table in 2018 but they have put themselves within a realistic chance of survival. They must take action quickly though, as they have eight games remaining and their last four fixtures are against Chelsea, Everton, Man City and Arsenal.
They will be hoping for a repeat of the season opener, as they started life in the top flight with a 3-0 win over Palace at Selhurst Park. Palace are much-changed though, with a new manager in Hodgson and a style which makes them much tougher to break down and I think the visitors will come away with the points (7/4).
Backing Zaha in a score-and-win double looks great value at 9/2, while a Palace win with both teams scoring is a very tempting 5/1. There is great value to be had here, and you should not go wrong with a coupon backing the visitors in some capacity.
Score prediction: Huddersfield 1-2 Crystal Palace
Best bet: Wilfried Zaha to score and Crystal Palace to win at 9/2
Alternative bet: Palace to win and both teams to score at 5/1
Stoke v Everton (1500 GMT) (PH)
Things are getting desperate for Stoke now and they’ll have to start throwing caution to the wind as they welcome an Everton side who have been enduring a nightmare run on their travels.
Sam Allardyce suffered a big dip after a positive start at Goodison, and while a welcome home win against Brighton took some pressure off, they’ve lost six in a row away from home in all competitions – and have not tasted victory on the road in three months.
They're in no danger in the league, ten points above the drop zone, but Allardyce seems on a short leash with the fans after some dodgy displays, especially away from home, so will want to silence a few doubters.
Paul Lambert has managed just one win during his tenure so far, although they have stopped conceding goals in bunches they’ve had too many draws to drag themselves out of the relegation zone.
Stoke are just a point behind 17th-paced Southampton, albeit with a much worse goal difference, and with Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal to play on the horizon a three-point haul against Everton is a must.
Gylfi Sigurdsson will be a big miss for the Toffees as they look to finally arrest their away funk – although with Stoke far more desperate they are taken to just about grab what could be a huge lifeline.
Only once since Lambert took over has there been more than two goals in the game, so 4/6 on under 2.5 looks the side to be on, while Cenk Tosun has scored in successive games and is 5/2 to complete the hat-trick.
Score prediction: Stoke 1-0 Everton
Best bet: Stoke to beat Everton at 7/5
Alternative bet: Draw/Stoke in half time/full time betting at 9/2
Liverpool v Watford (1730 GMT - BT Sport 1) (PH)
Liverpool will look to get back to winning ways after last week's disappointing display at Old Trafford, and on paper they have the perfect opportunity back at Anfield against a Watford side that has been suffering with an acute case of travel sickness of late.
The Reds can go back into third above Tottenham with a win they're expected to achieve with ease, given Watford have lost seven of their last eight away games, scoring just twice, and have lost nine of ten at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's side has struggled at times against teams willing to sit back and defend, but whether this Watford side are up to that assignment seems improbable - especially with Liverpool having a week to sulk over losing at Man Utd.
More likely is they come out flying as they so often do at Anfield, where they're unbeaten in 17 Premier League home games and have bagged at least two goals in their last six - plus they've never lost back-to-back league games under Klopp.
We know where the goals are coming from for Liverpool - Mohamed Salah drew a rare blank last week but is 9/4 to opening the scoring at Anfield, while Roberto Firmino (10/3) and Sadio Mane (4/1) are the other dangers.
Liverpool may still have a problem with set plays and Watford have some strong physical players, none more so than Troy Deeney who will want to make amends for missing a penalty last week against Arsenal.
Watford lost 6-1 in this fixture last year and, although they could well find the net again as there's been 72 goals in 21 meetings between these two so Liverpool to win and both teams to score (6/4) looks to be the way forward.
Score prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Watford
Best bet: Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 6/4
Alternative bet: Liverpool to score in first 10 minutes at 3/1
Posted at 2030 GMT on 15/03/17
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