Jose Mourinho v Antonio Conte

Free betting tips: Premier League previews and best bets for Manchester United v Chelsea and Crystal Palace v Tottenham

14:01 · SUN February 25, 2018

Manchester United host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday and George Pitts thinks the hosts will edge a tight tactical encounter.

Premier League recommended bets

2pts Harry Kane to score anytime and Tottenham to win at evens

2pts Manchester United to win and under 3.5 total goals at 2/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur (1200 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)

This is a big clash for teams situated at opposite ends of the Premier League table.

While Crystal Palace are battling to stay well clear of the bottom three, Spurs are vying for a place in the top four.

Roy Hodgson’s Eagles go into the weekend in 15th place, just a point clear of the relegation zone, and winless in their last four league matches. They are without star man Wilfried Zaha (knee) for another few weeks and Hodgson will be worried by the fact Palace have not won a league game without the Ivorian since September 2016.

Some good news, though, is that Mamadou Sakho could return from injury to bolster their back line.

They host a Tottenham side yet to taste defeat in the league in 2018, but in the midst of a hectic fixture schedule. This match had to be put back 32 hours due to Spurs’ FA Cup replay with Rochdale on Wednesday, before they face Huddersfield at the weekend ahead of a midweek Champions League clash with Juventus.

Squad management will be key for Mauricio Pochettino in order to help his side cope with the workload, in an important 10 days which could shape the rest of their season.

With Zaha, I would be tempted to back Palace at Selhurst Park but his absence takes a lot of creativity out of Palace’s XI. I think Tottenham might win with at least a two-goal margin, so a -1 handicap at 7/5 looks a good price while Harry Kane to score and Tottenham to win at evens looks like a good way to double your stake.

Lucas Moura scored his first goal for Spurs since joining from PSG in January and the Brazilian could be full of confidence, so a goal at 9/4 anytime is also a decent shout.

The hosts have a few players returning from injury, but with the likes of Zaha, Jason Puncheon, Jeffrey Schlupp and Scott Dann out, they are still missing some vital, experienced players. Spurs have a difficult few weeks ahead, but I think they will do enough to see off their London rivals in this one.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Best Bet: Harry Kane to score anytime and Tottenham to win at evens

Alternative: Tottenham to be winning at half-time and full-time at 13/10

Manchester United v Chelsea (1405 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)

The meeting we have all been looking forward to since Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte’s war of words reignited last month, let alone the prospect of two tactical masterminds meeting in the battle for the top four.

It all started again in January, some of Mourinho’s comments included: inferring that Conte is a ‘clown’, alluded to his match-fixing suspension and demanded an apology for the Italian’s comments.

Conte – whose Chelsea side appeared to go through a bad run of form in the process – referred to amnesia in his reply to Mourinho and went on to call him a little man, as the pair’s comments went back and forth through the media.

On the field, it appears to be going better for Mourinho than Conte, second and fourth in the Premier League respectively. The Red Devils are 16 points behind leaders Man City and the Portuguese boss has accepted he is now just battling for a runners-up spot, while Tottenham are hot on Chelsea’s heals and, dependant on results, they could drop to fifth after the latest round of games.

Nemanja Matic lifts the Premier League title

Nemanja Matic: The Serbian lifts the Premier League title with Chelsea

A player Chelsea have missed this term, as well as Diego Costa is Nemanja Matic, a rather underrated part of their title-winning team. What was their loss is United’s gain and the Serbian has taken to life at Old Trafford.

As ever in these games, expect United to be set up tight more defensively minded – in last year’s fixture Ander Herrera memorably marked Eden Hazard out of the game as United ran out 2-0 winners.

United are stronger since their last meeting with Chelsea – where Alvaro Morata’s strike helped the Londoners to the win – having added Alexis Sanchez to the ranks and the Chilean can be backed at 3/1 to score with Manchester United winning.

Conte has won three out of four clashes with Mourinho’s United, but the hosts remain favourites.

With Liverpool hot on their heels, Mourinho cannot afford to draw and I think they will see out their task and edge this contest in what will be a tight tactical battle.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

Best Bet: Manchester United to win and under 3.5 total goals at 19/10

Alternative: Alexis Sanchez to score and Manchester United to win at 3/1

Posted at 1910 GMT on 23/02/18.