Terrific trio of northern and Midlands Premier League previews
Coral writers preview three Saturday Premier League 3pm fixtures involving Liverpool at home to West Bromwich Albion, high-flyers Swansea City playing hosts to Newcastle United and Stoke City on their travels to Sunderland.
Liverpool v West Brom
Daniel Sturridge is the talking point of this fixture for three different reasons; the first being whether he is fit to play or not. The England striker was left out of the Three Lions’ squad to face European minnows San Marino and Estonia after Reds boss Brendan Rodgers “spoke at length” with Roy Hodgson. However, it seems he will feature at some point against the Baggies.
Secondly, Sturridge is currently in talks about signing a new deal at Anfield, which brings us to the third point that he has netted in both of his matches against West Brom as a Liverpool player. He can take confidence and positivity from a potential extended contract to help fire the Merseysiders back on track this term after a slow start to the season. Back Sturridge odds-on at 10/11 to net anytime, or 7/2 to score last.
The Reds, though, go into this game on the back of winning just one of their last six matches in all competitions in normal time and find themselves below the Baggies in the table. They have also lost two of their last three home fixtures to the West Midlands side.
West Brom, who are on a run of two straight league victories, are enticing 7/1 chances to cause another shock and beat them. A draw at 7/2 is deemed more likely with Coral, with Liverpool’s odds-on 2/5 price not worth it.
Swansea v Newcastle
Heavily-under pressure Magpies manager Alan Pardew is seemingly holding onto his job by a thread, after gaining just three points and no wins from his opening six games.
It doesn’t really get any better for Newcastle (16/5 for victory), who travel to Swansea (odds-on at 17/20) knowing they have lost all of their last four meetings with them. They can take heart, though, from the fact that the Welsh club not won in three Premier League matches. A draw at 5/2 looks tempting.
For the Swans, back England call-up Jonjo Shelvey, who scored last last season here, at 5/1 to net anytime. Wilfried Bony got a double in the reverse fixture, meanwhile, and is 6/1 to get two or more again.
Sunderland v Stoke
The Black Cats have drawn five of their six games this Premier League season so far, so back that outcome again at 11/5.
Stoke were 2-1 winners here this season in the Capital One Cup, and they are priced at 7/4 for victory again, and 10/1 by that scoreline. Former Barcelona product Marc Muniesa surprisingly got both goals for the Potters that day, and the defender is an 8/1 shout to net anytime once more.
Mark Hughes’ men have started the season fairly brightly, getting eight points so far to put them in 11th, but their pattern of ‘lose, draw, win, lose, draw, win’ may suggest another defeat. Sunderland are 29/20 chances to record their first victory of the campaign, therefore.
