Weekend Football Picks (December 1-3)

The weekend football picks are below... I will update the season profit/loss in the Midweek Football Picks before the Champions League games during the week.


West Ham United v Chelsea Pick: Chelsea fans are right to be upset with the direction the club took by employing Rafa Benitez, particularly considering the fractured relationship he had with those fans while manager of Liverpool.

The back to back goalless draws has hardly inspired and this is a far tougher game than the layers clearly think it is. West Ham United have shown enough at Old Trafford during the week that suggests they can at least get a point from this game and holding Manchester City here also backs up that thinking.

I just can't see how Chelsea are so short in the market on current form which has seen them win 1 in 10 and backing West Ham to avoid defeat looks the best way to get involved.


Liverpool v Southampton Pick: Liverpool have won just 4 of 16 home games in the Premier League during this calender year and that makes them far too short in the markets to win this game.

Southampton should be full of confidence after picking up 8 points from a possible 12, but I don't trust them fully defensively to think they can hold Liverpool here.

However, I think Southampton do have something about them and they do look a side that could push Liverpool as long as they don't make the defensive errors that have blighted them this season. Liverpool are too short as I mentioned and I will back the Saints with a 1.5 goal head start.


Manchester City v Everton Pick: Everton are playing very well at the moment, although they are not turning draws into wins despite their performances. They will feel confident they can shock Manchester City here as they have won 8 of the last 10 games between the teams, but I just think City may have turned a corner with their own recent results.

I think this will be close, but I have a feeling City continue with the momentum ahead of the Manchester derby next weekend, but this could be a close game and backing the home side to win by a single goal looks the way to go.


Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa Pick: A relegation six pointer might be a bit over-dramatic before Christmas, but don't tell me that Queens Park Rangers are not going to be in big trouble if they lose this game, the first Harry Redknapp will be in charge of at Loftus Road.

Both teams should attack from the off with the three points being so important and I think both defences have shown enough vulnerabilities to think that goals is in the offing in the game.

Both sides have conceded 14 goals in their home and away games respectively and we could see those tallies added to on Saturday afternoon.


Reading v Manchester United Pick: I think Manchester United are going to have too many attacking options for Reading when all is said and done in this match, but it is hard to find a really good angle in United games with the way they have been erratic all season.

However, one element that stands out to me is the lack of clean sheets achieved by United away from home, something that I believe will be exploited by Reading who have been scoring freely at home for the most part this season.

I imagine United will come through with a 1-3 scoreline so taking both teams to score with an away win looks the call.


West Brom v Stoke City Pick: West Brom may just have had their bubble burst when Swansea over ran them in a 3-1 win at the Liberty Stadium and this is a game where they have regularly struggled in the recent past.

Stoke City have been playing better themselves to ensure they are not involved in a relegation scrap and I think they could be the first team to win at the Hawthornes this season.

However, I just don't have enough faith in Stoke who are not a great team on their travels so will back them on the draw no bet market.


Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: This should be one of the more entertaining games of the weekend and I think taking the over 3.5 goals could be the way to go.

Both sides will be playing attacking football and Fulham have been involved with a number of high-scoring games as they have been vulnerable defensively while also showing enough attacking creativity to cause problems for other teams.

Spurs themselves have been vulnerable all season at the back as Andre Villas-Boas tries to employ new methods at the club, but the likes of Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale and Jermaine Defoe should also be able to create chances and score goals.

Half of the last 8 games at Craven Cottage has seen at least 4 goals shared by the teams and that is my call for a small interest in this one.


MY PICKS: West Ham + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton + 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Manchester City to win by 1 Goal exactly @ 3.75 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Queens Park Rangers-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.15 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Both Teams to Score and Manchester United Win @ 3.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Stoke City Draw No Bet @ 2.75 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Fulham-Tottenham Hotspur Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.00 William Hill (1 Unit)