Premier League betting preview: Southampton- Liverpool

football betting tips -

Premier League: Southampton- Liverpool

We opposed Liverpool on Thursday in the Europa League, part of the reason for doing so was this game, which is huge in terms of the race for a top 4 place. For a long while we looked like collecting there, but a late and much discussed Liverpool winner saw them edge home and our stakes returned. The Reds are proving very tough to beat, have not lost inside 90 minutes in 17 starts and are still involved in three competitions. Ahead of the cup replay with Bolton Wanderers earlier this month I discussed how the options for boss Brendan Rodgers were greatly increased and key players were at the top of their game .....

All the FA Cup betting criteria that we gave to West Ham United, Stoke City, Sunderland etc recently applies equally to Liverpool, this competition offers a genuine chance of some silverware and whilst getting into the top four would still be a target and they have the small matter of the Merseyside derby game at the weekend, they have to keep all their options open for now and they will be motivated to win this and maybe with the big game at the weekend, to get this done quickly if at all possible. They got an incredible boost last weekend with the return of Daniel Sturridge, who welcomed his return with a goal after coming off the bench, having been absent since August, it only took 12 minutes and he had other chances either side of the goal and suddenly things look so much brighter for Liverpool. Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho (pictured) are near the top of their game, Coutinho has settled now , Liverpool believe he is "world class" and have given him a newly extended, five year + contract this week, Sturridge's comeback was greeted like the return of the prodigal son and 2015 once again offers much promise.

Saints have had an incredible season, way beyond expectations, but the goals have dried up and they have not scored in over 250 minutes at home and not at all here on the South Coast since New year's Day, they have not played for 11 days since the last of these matches at St Mary's a 0-0 draw with West Ham United, ahead of which I wrote .....

The Hammers have taken points from their only two EPL visits to St Mary's and buoyed by their performance in a  1-1 draw with Manchester United  at the weekend, although disappointed it was not all three, they can again come away with at least one more this evening. Ahead of the match on Sunday I wrote ...

Hosts have taken at least a point from three of the last five h2h meetings in East London and this is the strongest the Hammers have been over that sequence and the visitors have gone backwards over the last two seasons and have really struggled away from Old Trafford, already dropping points this season at Stoke City, Tottenham, Aston Villa, WBA, Leicester, Burnley and Sunderland, a group which includes five of the bottom seven in the EPL. If you throw a draw at L2 side Cambridge United and 4-0 loss at L1 MK Dons in cup ties into the mix, it makes uncomfortable reading and I see no reason why they should be odds on to beat a host who have lost just once, to Arsenal, in 11 starts at the Boleyn Ground. The defeat to the Gunners, who are the Irons bogey side was controversial, with United having a "good " goal, which would have earned a share of the points, disallowed.
 
The home side do have some injury issues, with James Collins, Winston Reid, Carl Jenkinson and Andy Carroll all facing late tests, they have proven they can win without Carroll this season, Reid and Jenkinson would be missed, but Song and Kouyate have both played central defence and are options. The injuries sound worse that they probably are, if Reid was available it would probably be the same starting who beat Liverpool 3-1 here.
 
The visitors arrive without defensive midfielder Michael Carrick, this has been a problem area for United as long as I care to remember, they are without a win in four away starts without him this season, conceding at the rate of two goals per hame and 7 of the 9 away games he has missed over the last two seasons have gone "over".
 

A really interesting game, but it would be great to see team news first, goals seem likely, but I feel the hosts will get their share, I would suggest 1.25 units West Ham United +0.25 ball 2.33 asian line/Sportmarket, if either Reid or Jenkinson play, I would up that stake a little.

Jenkinson did play and they look set to go with a largely similar line up against the Saints, although there is a chance that Carroll might see a little action. For the hosts,the goals have dried up a little, they miss the incredible work rate of Shane Long up front and defensively are without a recognised left back with Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett out, with Toby Alderweireld missing in central defence, that looks tough against the Hammers, who play with plenty of width and who have scored an EPL high 14 headed goals this season and that threat is there regardless of whether Carroll plays or not. Also , Morgan Schneiderlin will face a late test, Saints are 4-1-9 without the defensive midfielder since returning to the top flight. If he misses out too, that will be the icing on the cake for United. 

Saints have won just one of seven home starts when they have conceded and I cannot see this beat up backline keeping the Hammers out for 90 minutes.
 

The hosts could not find a breakthrough goal, despite the Hammers playing for 30 minutes with ten men, after their keeper was dismissed and striker Graziano Pelle has now not scored in eight. Saints are not the surprise package they were early season, everyone has played them now and know what to expect, the supply to Pelle has been cut off and I can see Coutinho, Sterling and Sturridge giving the home side a lot of problems on the break. Saints have not won in six home starts when their opponent scores and I do not see the Reds coming up short in that department in a game where the onus is on the hosts to take the game to the visitors. Hosts are a little better off defensively, but Toby Alderweireld and Ryan Bertrand (see above) are still sidelined. X2 game for me.

1.5 units Liverpool level ball 2.11 asian line/Sportmarket.
 
Good Luck.
 
 
 
 
 

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