Tag: Chelsea

Sunderland vs. Chelsea: Top vs. Bottom Clash

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

This midweek fixture sees top place Chelsea travel to the North East looking to extend their winning streak to 10 straight games on the trot. They play a Sunderland team rooted to the bottom of the table with just 11 points from 15 games. Chelsea will be looking to extend their run against a team in dire straits, and Sunderland will be hoping for any advantage in a game many have written off before the whistle has even been blown.

Winning Streak

Chelsea has been flourishing under new manager Antonio Conte. The last time they lost in the League was September 24th against Arsenal, and have only conceded twice since then. It’s starting to look as though Conte is well and truly capable of bringing the same form to London that made his old club Juventus so untouchable in Serie A during the last few seasons. Chelsea is increasingly looking like they will be the team to beat for the title come May, especially with no European campaign to distract them.

It’s certainly hard to see Sunderland getting anything against this Chelsea side. Conte will be able to draw from a squad with few injuries to key players: Terry, Mikel and Oscar are all doubtful, but none of these has been integral to their early successes. Matic made his return against West Brom and will likely start. The manager will be able to field a squad unchanged from Sunday if he chooses to; key men Costa and Hazard may just provide too much of a challenge for Sunderland to deal with.

Can Sunderland turn it around?

On the face of it, this game could be looked at as a typical top vs. bottom. 3 goals in the 2nd half saw the Black Cats washed out in their relegation 6 pointer away against Swansea on Saturday, and David Moyes will know that his team will fall well short of the mark against the League leaders if they can’t make drastic improvements.

However, a closer look at Sunderland’s recent form does show some promise. Going into November saw them absolutely floored at the bottom of the table, with only two points from the first 10 games. Since then, they were able to take 9 points from 5 games, all through wins. This run has seen them pull themselves back up into contention, but whether these results are the signs of an overall shift in form is yet to be seen. The poor weekend results against relegation rivals Swansea was a massive blow and may haunt them later on in the season.

Injuries are another major concern for Moyes, with Cattermole, Rodwell, Watmore and Gooch all ruled out. The squad will see little change from that of Saturday when the hole left in the midfield by these absences was telling. The clubs only real goal scoring threats, Defoe and Anichebe, are both available to play.

Cats vs. Lions

Head to head form suggests slightly better prospects for Sunderland than their current form does. Chelsea’s last visit to the Stadium of Light saw Sunderland win 3:2 in an enthralling encounter last May, a result vital to last season’s survival. Prior to that, they have 1 win and 9 consecutive defeats to the London club at home.

It’s really hard to envision Sunderland taking anything from this game. We will likely see Moyes taking an ultra-defensive approach, as he did against Liverpool at Anfield in November. Couple this with Chelsea’s superb defensive record, it’s hard to see them getting a goal, let alone points on Wednesday. But with Defoe up front, backed by a home crowd, it’s certainly not an impossibility.

Bet 365 have Chelsea to win at 1/3, so it might be worth trying to enhance these odds. Chelsea Win/BTTS No is at 6/5, with this result slightly favoured by the bookies over Chelsea Win/BTTS Yes at 15/8.

If you are keen on a Chelsea clean sheet, it could be worth taking Chelsea 2:0 or even 3:0 at 6/1 and 15/2 on William Hill, add Costa as an anytime goalscorer and you might just have some tasty odds. If you think that Sunderland is capable of an upset, Coral have a draw at 17/4.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: The Title Decider?

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It’s certainly too early to call this weekends’ showdown between Manchester City and Chelsea a “title decider”. Despite this, we will still be able to gain some important indicators from this match as to who the likely champions will be. We have a lot more data to go on when it comes to predicting the champions than we had back in August. For example, Manchester United will clearly not be champions this season, and we don’t need to wait until it is mathematically certain to see why.

When Statistics Reveal the Answers

Quite often, statistics get to the very heart of the matter and reveal the truth. The league champions usually finish with a total of around 85pts. The points’ totals of City, Chelsea and Liverpool so far clearly indicate that this figure will be reached this season. United have 20pts from 13 games. Clearly, given their current level of performance, they will not amass 65pts from their remaining 25 matches. So what do the statistics reveal for the Manchester City vs Chelsea encounter?

Chelsea made a solid start to the season in August. They won all three of their league games. Looking back on these three games and how they played out revealed that all wasn’t well with the Chelsea system. All three of Chelsea’s opponents were relatively weak and this papered over the cracks. This led to a poor September where Chelsea only took one point from a possible nine. A home defeat to Liverpool and a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal highlighted the shortcomings in the Chelsea team.

The Trend is up

Analysing form in football betting usually means looking at trends. Chelsea had a total of 10pts from six matches after September. Since then they have taken maximum points from seven matches. This includes wins over Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham. Antonio Conte has turned things around very rapidly. They are becoming very difficult to score against and should they win at the Etihad this weekend, they will become serious title challengers and favourites.

The current trend is favouring Chelsea, and Manchester City’s recent form has been patchy. If we take away the great start to the season by City and the mediocre one by Chelsea then the difference in their recent form clearly gives the Blues a significant edge. Manchester City can be backed at 11/10 with Bet365.

Their recent home draws to Southampton, Everton and Middlesbrough seem to indicate that 11/10 is too short. Far too short when you consider that the visitors are possible champions elect. Stan James offers 13/5 on the draw with Betfred quoting 5/2 for a Chelsea win. Both teams may be happy with a point and so the value bet seems to indicate the draw at 13/5.

London Calling: Chelsea vs. Tottenham Preview

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Take two London clubs, one that’s yet to lose and another sitting top of the Premier League and what have you got? That’s right, you’ve got a recipe for something truly special. Chelsea vs. Tottenham has always been a battle of attrition, but this season’s inaugural derby on November 26 could be so much more.

Spurs are yet to sample the bitter taste of defeat in the Premier League this season; however, despite this unblemished record, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are still sitting fifth in the table after 12 games. In contrast, even with two defeats already under their belts, Chelsea’s finest are now riding high on 28 points.

Drawing the Short Straw

The difference, in this instance, is draws. While Chelsea has drawn just once and won nine times, Tottenham has a 50/50 win/draw split. This ability to shut down teams but simultaneously fail to punish them has made Spurs something of a unique proposition this season. In some respects, they’re the most impressive team in the league thanks to a lack of losses and only eight goals conceded.

However, on the flipside, they’re one of the most disappointing sides in the top five. As impressive as it is to remain unbeaten, the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son haven’t exactly been emphatic up front. With only 18 goals overall, Tottenham appears to lack the firepower necessary to compete with the Premier League’s big boys.

Indeed, if you contrast that strike rate to league leader’s Chelsea, Diego Costa and co have notched up 27 goals. In fact, when you bore down into the individual stats, Tottenham’s leading light, Harry Kane has only scored once this season. Yes, he’s only played 90 minutes and is far from his best, but it’s setbacks like this that have stopped Spurs from becoming an unstoppable force.

Smooth Sailing for Chelsea

For Chelsea, the lack of injury worries and dips in form has seen the blues slip past their rivals and quietly assume control of the league. Fortunately, for those in the south-west of the capital, Antonio Conte won’t have any such worries heading into the Tottenham match. Everyone appears to be present and correct ahead of the clash, and that could be the difference this time around.

According to the odds makers at Sun Bets, Chelsea are the comfortable favourites to take all three points with a betting line currently sitting at 8/11. This confidence is echoed at Coral (7/10) and William Hill (3/4), which would suggest we’ll see Chelsea continue to tighten their grip on the league.

For Tottenham manager Pochettino, injury issues and suspensions will continue to be a problem. Just as Conte has enjoyed a relatively smooth ride this season, Pochettino will have to do without full-back Danny Rose (suspended) and Toby Alderweireld (injury). These missing links could result in a formation change to 3-4-3, which would essentially see Spurs mimicking Chelsea.

Identical Tactics Could Cancel Each Other Out

Now, if Tottenham were firing on all cylinders, going kick-for-kick with Chelsea wouldn’t be a bad idea. However, as we’ve already seen, there has been a distinct lack of attacking prowess from Tottenham and that could be problematic on Sunday. Of course, if you’re in the market for some value or you’re simply a diehard fan of the Lilywhites, Sun Bets will give you 15/4 on a Tottenham win.

For those with an eye on some actual value, the draw could be the most promising betting option for this game. Given Tottenham’s ability to shut down teams but fail to score, 11/4 on a draw with Coral looks to be too good a price to turn down. Naturally, with home advantage, no injury worries and the weight of momentum on their side, Chelsea will be tough to stop. However, if Spurs can dig in and display some flashes of genius as they have at times this season, a draw is more than possible.

Premier League Betting: Can Chelsea Stake Their Claim

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Last season was an absolute disaster for Chelsea. They were responsible for what was the worst title defence in the last 20 years. On top of all that they had to part company with Jose Mourinho, a manager that had not only delivered them three league titles but had also become the most successful manager in their history. It seemed to be asking too much back in August to expect the blues to mount a serious title challenge this season.

Just too Many Problems

The so-called “experts” had the two Manchester clubs as clear favourites for the title. So did the bookies. Chelsea had just signed a new manager in Antonio Conte. Although he had been hugely successful with Juventus, the Premier League was a step into unknown territory for him. Add to that the disastrous previous season and Chelsea just had too many problems coming into the 2016-17 season to fight for the title…..or so we thought.

Except the “experts” were wrong. Not only are Chelsea now serious title contenders, but Conte has imposed his system and style very rapidly, and the players at Stamford Bridge are responding to it very well. Their 5-0 hammering of Everton before the international break was the most complete performance by any team in the league so far this season.

Down by the Riverside

Chelsea travels to meet Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Sunday. Middlesbrough has made a solid if unspectacular start to the season. They stand only a point above the relegation zone. However, they have had several good results of late. They have drawn away to Arsenal and Manchester City while defeating Bournemouth 2-0 at home. It will be interesting to see how they handle Chelsea so soon after their games against the Gunners and City. Will this give us any clues as to who the champions will be?

It is often said that defences win titles. If that is the case then you have to make a serious case for Chelsea to not only challenge for the title but to actually win it. They have the offensive capability to match teams like City, Liverpool and Arsenal. Where Chelsea has the edge is in defence, and in the fact that Conte has given the entire team an identity. It will be a hard game away to Middlesbrough, but Chelsea over ninety minutes will be tough to stop.

So Place Your Bets

William Hill quotes Chelsea at only 1-2 to come out on top while a home win for Boro is a tempting 6-1. They also quote the draw at 4/1. So it’s time to make a bet. Betting on a team playing away from home in the Premier League at 1-2 never seems an attractive proposition. The league is too tough and volatile as Manchester City have found out recently. If you fancy Chelsea to win but don’t like the short odds, then how about a punt on the correct score? William Hill quotes 6-1 for a 2-0 Chelsea win, while you could get 15/2 if Chelsea wins 2-1.

Chelsea vs. Everton: Will the Blues Unstick the Toffees?

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In the battle between fourth and sixth, many would expect the former to snatch a narrow victory, but will Chelsea really have it that easy when Everton come knocking on November 5? In seasons gone by, a visit from the Toffees would have been seen as another routine win for Chelsea. However, this season, things look set to be a little different.

Although the Premier League stats are currently weighting in favour of Antonio Conte’s side, it’s worth remembering that the last time the two teams squared off it was Everton who clinched the win. Yes, that game was back in March, and yes it was an FA Cup quarterfinal, but the fact remains that Everton won 2-0.

The Odds Tell a Different Story

Now, if you looked at the current football betting odds on Sun Bets, you’d probably never guess that the last meeting between these two went the way of Ronald Koeman’s men. At the time of writing, £10 on Everton will earn you a £50 profit thanks to a 5/1 betting line at Sun Bets.

Branching out across the industry, Sky Bet’s odds makers have a similar outlook at 19/4, while BetVictor has priced the away team at 11/2. On the other side of the coin, 11/20 and 5/9 can be found at BetVictor and Sun Bets respectively, which would suggest all three points will stay at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

At this point, it’s important to say that living in the past isn’t a particularly strong strategy for a team playing in the present. But, it’s hard to ignore the fact Everton hold the upper hand. Of course, if we leave the past behind, the current dynamics certainly favour Chelsea. 21 goals in ten Premier League games is a testament to the work Diego Costa et al have put in so far this season.

Equally impressive has been Chelsea’s defensive record of late. The combination of David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta paid dividends in October with clean sheets becoming the norm. Indeed, it’s this combination of defence and attack that has left Chelsea nipping at the heels of the top three.

Stats Belie an Everton Injury Crisis

However, as strong as Chelsea’s stats are, Everton have been equally impressive this season. Just eight goals against in ten games (compared to Chelsea’s nine) have earned Everton some impressive results. Indeed, with 18 points already in the bag and a place in the Champions League still on the table, the Toffees will start the game with a lot of confidence.

Unfortunately, confidence might not be enough to get Everton through an untimely injury spell. Keeper Maarten Stekelenburg is out due to a foot injury while Leighton Baines will also be watching from the sidelines with a hamstring strain. The loss of two key players couldn’t come at a worse time, and that could be the reason the odds are against Everton this time around.

There’s no doubt Everton have a much better chance of beating Chelsea than they have in previous seasons; however, that might not be enough. Although 5/1 is an extremely attractive price given the situation, it’s hard to see past Chelsea and that’s why the bookies appear to have it right this time.

Southampton vs. Chelsea: Can the Saints Pull off a Miracle?

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To say Southampton have over performed so far this season would be an understatement. The Saints are currently sitting eighth in the Premier League after nine matches with three wins and four draws. Add to that record just two losses and eight goals against, and Southampton are nipping at the heels of Manchester United.

However, with another tough match against Chelsea set to take place this Sunday, the question is: can Claude Puel’s men upset the odds?

Peruse the current betting markets for Southampton vs. Chelsea and you’ll see the odds are firmly in favour of the visitors. Heading into the game, Chelsea are priced at 11/8 for the win at Paddy Power and 7/5 with Sun Bets. Although not overwhelming odds, especially since you can find betting lines around the 19/10 mark, the current state of play would suggest that Chelsea are the betting favourites at the very least.

Chelsea Scoring Goals for Fun

Antonio Conte certainly hasn’t had it all his own way at Chelsea this season. Indeed, the Blues’ recent cup defeat to West Ham won’t exactly go down as a glittering moment in his career. However, with three straight wins in the Premier League, including a 4-0 drubbing of Manchester United, he certainly appears to be doing something right.

Perhaps the biggest threat Chelsea pose a lot of teams at the moment is their firepower. 19 goals for and just nine against in their first nine games is an impressive figure. Diego Costa has already bagged seven this season, and with his presence being felt on the training pitch this week, there’s every chance he’ll find the mark on October 30. According to Coral’s odds makers, Costa is 6/4 to score at anytime during the match and 4/1 to score in either half. Given his form so far this season, 4/1 for him to score in the first half looks a great bet.

However, if there’s one thing we know about Southampton this season, it’s that they know how to draw. Much like an artist knows how to draw a straight line, Southampton has managed to stifle teams with a strong defensive line. Cedric, Maya Yoshida and Jordy Clasie have all held strong at crucial times this season, and that’s allowed the Saints to pick up a point against Manchester City. Of course, holding a team to a draw isn’t quite the same as out-playing them and getting the win, but given the club’s relative size (metaphorically), a draw with the league leaders isn’t a bad result.

A Strong Saints Side Could Score a Draw

23/10 on the draw is the current price at Sun Bets, but if you want to take that a step further and start predicting the scoreline, 11/2 on a 1-1 draw is a fair price at Paddy Power. If you stick to this assumption that Southampton will be able to fend off Chelsea’s attacks long enough to secure a point, then 6/1 on the Blues to come from behind to draw is great value.

Southampton took the lead against Man City early but couldn’t stay strong long enough to get the win. The same could certainly happen again on Sunday. An early goal for the Saints would certainly settle the nerves, but there’s little chance it would be enough against a Chelsea side seemingly capable of scoring at will this season.

From an objective perspective, this game looks to have a Chelsea win written all over it. However, Southampton’s players have shown they’re more than capable of thwarting the ambitions of bigger clubs and there’s no reason they couldn’t do the same over the weekend. Indeed, while the majority of the money will be on an away win, the smart money is likely to be on a draw in all its forms.

Make sure you check out our betting partners for the latest Southampton vs. Chelsea betting odds.