MAN CITY and Chelsea are the only top-seven Premier League teams in action today on a disjointed card.
Leicester played last night while biggest game of the weekend is Liverpool v Spurs tomorrow.
That makes Man City v Aston Villa today's best match and while it could be one-sided it should be action-packed.
As they do against many rivals City hold an exceptional h2h record against the promoted men.
They've won nine home games in a row against the Midlands side and scored 34 goals – Villa are winless in 13 against the hosts which explains odds of 28-1 at betfair and that's been cut.
That makes City no bigger than 1-10 so again we're scrambling around to find value.
Villa have conceded eight in four away games and City netted 15 in five at home so over 3.5 match goals looks on but pays no more than 8-13 at betfair while over 4.5 is 7-5 with the same firm.
City and both to score could be the value bet at 7-5 with boylesports and I also like Villa to score at just under evens with Marathonbet.
Picking a first scorer is tough with so many contenders but it's likely to be Sergio Aguero or Raheem Sterling. Aguero's netted five in his last three against them at the Etihad and is 11-4 at Betfred.
Sterling sizzled with a hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition of Atalanta and is 18-5 at Unibet.
There are only four other Premier League matches today and having watched Sheffield United superbly shut out Arsenal on Monday best bet here could be under 2.5 goals at 21-20 with BetVictor and that's landed in seven of their nine top-flight matches.
Brighton beat Spurs 3-0 in their last home game and if it hadn't been for Everton's fine win against West Ham last week I'd be on the Seagulls. However, Brighton draw no bet at 9-10 Marathonbet could be the way to go.
Chelsea have won five in a row and are beginning to motor under Frank Lampard. Beating Ajax away in midweek was impressive and while a trip to Burnley can be hazardous I'm on the Blues at 10-13 with Unibet to make it four wins in five at Turf Moor.
Liverpool slipped up at Man United last week but should return to winning ways against Spurs.
Both sides notched big Champions League win in midweek but Spurs have struggled in the Premier League and while it's a bit tight I'm on Liverpool at 8-15 with Ladbrokes.
Sadio Mane looks better every time I see him and he is 22-5 at Unibet to score first.
In the Championship I like Alex Neil's Preston against a Blackburn side without a win in five.
Neil’s side are unbeaten in seven at home this season – only dropping points in draws against Leeds and Bristol City – and look a decent price at 21-20 with Ladbrokes.
Ipswich have suffered back-to-back defeats in League One the good news for Paul Lambert is Southend are today's opponents.
New boss Sol Campbell watched Southend crash 7-1 at home to Doncaster and Ipswich, short at 3-5 with Marathonbet, look worth taking -1 at 9-5 with Paddy Power.
Oxford have won four and drawn two, scoring 16, so should be plenty of goals when Rochdale visit.
Six of Dale's last seven have brought up btts and another pays 10-11 at Betfred.
In League Two I like Orient at home to Carlisle, Mansfield at Walsall and Cheltenham at Grimsby.
Recommended Bets
- Man City & Btts (7-5, boylesports)
- Man City v Villa over 4.5 goals (7-5, betfair)
- Brighton draw no bet (9-10, Marathonbet)
- Chelsea (10-13, Unibet)
- Preston (21-20, Ladbrokes)
- Ipswich -1 (9-5, Paddy Power)
- Oxford v Rochdale (10-11, Betfred)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
