Betting expert Graham Ruthven returns with his best picks for the weekend action.
Player to score – Harry Kane (Tottenham v Newcastle) – 5/4
Wednesday night was a difficult one for Tottenham as they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Manchester United. However, Antonio Conte’s team have won every competitive match they have played in front of their own fans this season and are favourites to continue that run at home to Newcastle this weekend.
Harry Kane has scored in each of his last three home games. While the midweek defeat to United saw Spurs produce their worst performance of the season so far, the home win over Everton before that suggested Kane and Son Heung-min were starting to get back to their best as a strike partnership.
50 – Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have now assisted one another to score 50 times for Spurs in all competitions:
43 – Premier League
2 – Champions League
2 – FA Cup
1 – Europa League
1 – Conference League
1 – Europa League qualifyingBullseye. pic.twitter.com/pnIzxa0YrH
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 12, 2022
Player to be carded – Jose Angel Carmona (Real Madrid v Sevilla)
Jorge Sampaoli has steadied the ship at Sevilla since taking over earlier this month with the Andalusian side more intense in their pressing under the Argentine coach. However, this weekend will present Sampaoli’s Sevilla with their greatest test to date with a trip to the capital to face Real Madrid looming.
No Sevilla player has picked up more yellow cards than Jose Angel Carmona (four) this season and the young defender will be tasked with stopping a Real Madrid attack that will push and pull him out of position. Karim Benzema will drop deep, Vinicius Junior will spin in behind and Carmona will be in the firing line.
Match to be a draw – Everton v Crystal Palace – 9/4
Everton come into Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on the back of three straight defeats with Frank Lampard’s team in need of a positive result. The Toffees’ track record against the Eagles is a good one with Everton unbeaten in their last seven home games against the visitors from Selhurst Park.
While Crystal Palace will arrive at Goodison Park after a comeback win over Wolves during the week, Patrick Vieira’s team have failed to win any of their last six away matches in the league. Everton and Palace have both been guilty of wasting goalscoring opportunities in matches this season. A draw looks a good bet.
Both teams to score – Roma v Napoli – 8/13
Napoli sit top of Serie A with Luciano Spalletti’s team the early frontrunners in the race for the Scudetto. Napoli’s attack has produced an astonishing 25 goals in just 10 league fixtures and with Victor Osimhen back from injury it’s likely they will continue to add to their tally at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend.
Roma don’t have the depth of Napoli’s attack, but they have found the back of the net at least once in their last five matches in all competitions. On top of this, Napoli haven’t kept a clean sheet in Serie A since a 1-0 win over Spezia in mid-September. Napoli score goals, but they also concede them (including two against Bologna last weekend).
Napoli haven’t lost in 17 games. In that time they have scored 52 goals and conceded only 12.
Top Scorers in Italy. Top scorers in the Champions League. 🥇 pic.twitter.com/xZZsgSTPNh
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 12, 2022
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Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Manchester United is difficult to call with both teams in good form of late. However, Chelsea’s style under Graham Potter means this is likely to be a low-scoring encounter with under 2.5 total goals in each of the Blues’ last three matches in all competitions.
Chelsea have scored in the second half of each of their last five home matches. The Blues have also won at least one half in this five-match stretch. Looking at the form book, Chelsea have received under 2.5 cards in each of their last four matches against Manchester United. There might not be much between the two teams.