Man City, Stoke, Spurs to pick up crucial points in weekend Premier League action
Published:
Holly Thackeray | March 10, 2016
There’s a joyously jam-packed roster for football fans and, hidden among the Europa League and FA Cup action, are a handful of Premier League weekend gems to tickle your fancy.
Manchester City and Tottenham have not yet given up the title ghost, and travel to faltering, relegation-threatened Norwich City and Aston Villa respectively.
While, elsewhere across the English top-tier, top six place chasers Stoke City host stalled Southampton and Swansea City head to the south coast to battle Bournemouth. So, check out our previews for those fantastic four fixtures below…
Norwich City v Manchester City
- Premier League
- Saturday, March 12th
- Kick-off: 12:45 GMT
- Carrow Road, Norwich
- Live on Sky Sports 1
City to silence Canaries song
Man City regained a measure of Premier League composure last time out, as they comprehensively dispatched Aston Villa 4-0 on the road, and will fancy their chances of similarly crushing the Canaries.
The Citizens (odds-on 8/13 favourites) have already struck five past the Carrow Road club in all competitions this campaign, while Norwich have not notched a win or clean sheet in nine league games, since the beginning of January. This makes Manuel Pellegrini’s men tremendous at 2/1 to score three or more in their latest match-up.
Manchester’s Sky Blue side may have one eye on resting key players ahead of their midweek Champions League melee, but Norwich still seem a long shot at 3/1 to stop the rot with a draw.
Time for Iheanacho to shine?
It was excellent Argentine and recent brace bagger Sergio Aguero who opened scoring last time City arrived at Carrow Road, in an FA Cup clash. The South American sharpshooter is fantastic at 3/1 to sink a double or more here but, should he fail to feature, the Citizens have another secret weapon up their sleeve.
Striking sensation Kelechi Iheanacho was also on target against Norwich earlier this term, but has had to bide his time of late, though this tussle should see the Nigerian net threat (4/1 to open the scoring) garner more game time.
The Canaries may be too easy to take apart at the back, but have shown talent in attack, with wingmen Robbie Brady and Nathan Redmond respective 5/1 and 6/1 shouts to grab a goal anytime.
Bournemouth v Swansea City
- Premier League
- Saturday, March 12th
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- Dean Court, Bournemouth
Swans seeking to ruffle a few feathers
Swansea should travel to the south coast with a spring in their step, after back-to-back wins saw the Welsh club soar five points clear of the relegation scrap.
New gaffer Francesco Guidolin looks to be guiding his side to safety, but games against close competitors such as Bournemouth could prove crucial.
Influential Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson has hit a purple patch at just the right time, striking in two of his last three Liberty Stadium fixtures, so is the Swans’ best bet to strike anytime at 11/4.
Cherries to avoid Dean Court drama
Bournemouth themselves are unbeaten in three, but look a far better flutter at 12/5 for a draw than to victory against their guests, having already ended evenly with the Swans on Welsh soil this season.
Former Manchester United man Josh King rustled the net on that occasion, and also bagged the second against Newcastle United last matchweek. So, you can back the Norwegian (6/1 to strike last) and fellow forward Benik Afobe (11/2 for the opener) to be on target.
Stoke City v Southampton
- Premier League
- Saturday, March 12th
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- Britannia Stadium, Stoke
Stoke seeking to continue climb
Mark Hughes has his Potters stars hoovering up points at the moment, as the Midlands men forced Chelsea to a splitting of spoils at Stamford Bridge on their last outing, to top off their preceding three wins in a row.
Stoke are value at 13/8 to sink the Saints, then, as they continue to surge up the table and push for a top six spot. The hosts have suffered just one home loss from the last four, and have not given way to Southampton in a league scuffle since 2007.
Effortlessly aesthetic attacker Bojan Krkic (worth backing at 7/4 in the anytime market) delivered the decisive blow in the reverse, while marksman Mame Biram Diouf (6/1 to dispatch last) caused Ronald Koeman’s side problems last term and recently struck the equaliser at Stamford Bridge.
Stuttering Saints to come unstuck on the road
Recent rumbles have not ended well for stagnant Southampton, as the south coast club are without victory in three and look unlikely to change that at the Britannia.
The goals are far from flowing and, on the road in the league, Saints have scored just 11 this term. So, why not back the Potters at 3/1 for a triumph to nil.
Aston Villa v Tottenham
- Premier League
- Sunday, March 13th
- Kick-off: 16:00 GMT
- Villa Park, Birmingham
Spurs to pile on Villa blues
Visitors Tottenham are understandably odds-on at 8/15 to run out winners at Villa Park, as the Villans continue to lurch towards the Championship.
After four defeats on the trot and 14 goals leaked, coach Remi Garde will not want to hear about Villa’s recent record against a Spurs side keen to keep pace with league leaders Leicester City.
The north Londoners have won all but one of their last eight encounters with the Birmingham-based club across all competitions, with five of those resounding victories to nil. So, enhance Spurs’ value from odds-on to take three points, to 5/4 for that triumph to come with a clean sheet.
Cracking Kane odds
Hitman Harry Kane rounded off Tottenham’s previous rout of Villa by hitting the third and final goal, and the England international is 7/2 to be last on the scoresheet again. While, playmaker Christian Eriksen is also superb at 7/4 to get in on the action anytime.
Related
Coral’s top tip: Iheanacho is excellent at 4/1 to draw first blood for City.
