AUG 15: ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW

FIRST up in the Premier League today it's Southampton v Everton and let's hope it's more exciting than the dross served up at Villa Park in Friday night.

At Daily Record towers we switched from the USPGA golf to the football and from seeing players shooting birdies and eagles we watched overpaid stars fire blanks.

Louis van Gaal will be happy enough with a second successive 1-0 win but Man United fans won't wear this style for much longer.

And you know what was the worst thing about watching the game – I missed big John Daly firing three balls off the tee into Lake Michigan swiftly followed by his 7-iron.

So let's hope Southampton-Everton is better although I'll only see the first half before heading to watch my own team.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman has work to do again this season having sold star man Morgan Schneiderlin and top defender Nathaniel Clyne but the Dutchman is determined to improve in his second term in charge.

It will be a tough task to finish higher than seventh but even without crocked keeper Fraser Forster they look in better shape than today’s opponents Everton.

Both sides drew 2-2 last week – Koeman was at home nursing an Achilles injury as his side held Newcastle away while Roberto Martinez suffered in the dugout as the Toffees struggled to take a point off promoted Watford.

And the stats are in Saints’ favour big time. They are unbeaten in six Premier League meetings with Everton on the south coast and the visitors have failed to score on each of their last three visits to St Mary’s.

Martinez is hit by the absence of skipper Leighton Baines and of the eight matches he sat out last season his side won just two.

So it’s Southampton for me although I’d love to have been offered a bigger price than evens at Betfred.

Graziano Pelle netted at St James’ Park and is worth a look at 9-2 with Hills and bet365 to score first in the lunchtime live match.

It’s a less than enthralling Premier League card with Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool not in action until Sunday and Monday.

Next best game could be Swansea v Newcastle with both sides starting out by drawing 2-2. Swansea were impressive at Chelsea even though they were helped by keeper Thibaut Courtois’s red card.

On the evidence of that one they should beat Newcastle even though the Geordies expect to be much improved under Steve McClaren and a clutch of new signings.

The Swans are 19-20 with William Hill and bet365 but best bet could be over 2.5 goals at 1-1 with bet365 Betfred.

Spurs should beat Stoke but were poor at Old Trafford last week. Stoke have showed their ambition by signing the excellent Xherdan Shaqiri from Inter Milan but he’s suspended today.

For Spurs to do well they need Harry Kane to hit last season’s heights and I’m on him at 7-2 with bet365 to break the deadlock.

Recommended Bets

Pelle (Southampton) to score first
(9-2, Betfred)

Swansea v Newcastle over 2.5 goals
(1-1, bet365, Betfred)

Kane to score first
(7-2, bet365)

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