Black Cats can claw Gunners draw, Foxes hunt Swans success in Premier League
Published:
Lee Gormley | April 22, 2016
This Sunday sees a continuation of exciting Premier League action, as Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland face a tough test in their bid to beat the drop, with the Wearside outfit hosting Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.
Following that afternoon clash in the Northeast, top-flight leaders Leicester City look to maintain their strong position at the summit by overcoming Swansea City at the King Power Stadium. So read on for Coral’s previews of both live televised top tier tussles…
Sunderland v Arsenal
- Premier League
- Sunday, April 24th
- Kick-off: 14:05 BST
- The Stadium of Light, Sunderland
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Gunners face trip to Wearside
Sunderland will kick-off their crucial clash with Arsenal in the Premier League drop zone, but are boosted by their recent victory over relegation rivals Norwich City, as they prepare for a fixture they have failed to win since February 2012.
Allardyce’s Black Cats have showed plenty of grit in recent weeks though, with four successive domestic draws and that triumph over Norwich coming either side of a defeat to front runners Leicester.
Arsene Wenger’s Gunners recently returned to third position in the standings after a successful outing over West Bromwich Albion, but their form on the road will boost Sunderland’s hopes of gaining at least a point, which they are 14/5 with Coral to achieve.
The visitors have won just two of their last eight away games, a run which also includes four stalemates, and the Londoners are 10/3 to suffer a defeat on their latest travels, while a victory to nil can be had at 9/4.
Defoe danger to Gunners
Arsenal secured a comfortable 2-0 triumph over the Baggies last time out thanks to a clinical double from Chilean attacker Alexis Sanchez, and the South American forward is 7/1 for another brace or more on his latest appearance.
All of Olivier Giroud, Joel Campbell (2/1 anytime) and Aaron Ramsey (2/1) were on target in both 3-1 league and FA Cup wins over the Wearside club already this season, and the aforementioned French frontman is 5/1 to strike last.
Jermain Defoe has been key to Sunderland’s staying up so far this campaign, having dispatched three goals in his previous five matches and 16 overall for the term, making the former England international hitman 6/1 to open proceedings here.
Fabio Borini is always up for the fight in these vital match-ups and, after netting an important penalty against the Canaries previously, he is 9/4 to strike again anytime on home turf, while Jeremain Lens is 4/1 to follow up his cup strike in this fixture by bagging another.
Leicester City v Swansea City
- Premier League
- Sunday, April 24th
- Kick-off: 16:15 BST
- The King Power Stadium, Leicester
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Foxes hunt Swans success
Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester have only four games left to hold out for a historic Premier League title triumph, beginning with a home encounter against Swansea, who the Foxes have overcome in three of their previous four meetings.
Tottenham are hot on the Foxes’ trail at this decisive stage of the season and any slip up from the hosts could be punished, but they are 13/8 to secure a victory without conceding in front of the King Power Stadium faithful.
Although, the Swans have showed encouraging signs in previous outings and rallied to many impressive results, including wins over Arsenal, Norwich and Chelsea, and the Welshman club are 19/4 to bounce back from their defeat to Newcastle United with three points here.
Mahrez to star in Vardy’s absence
The Foxes will be without their leading marksman Jamie Vardy for this match-up, meaning fellow PFA Player of the Year nominee Riyad Mahrez will be key to any success gained, and the Algerian attacker is 5/1 to open the scoring here.
Meanwhile, the ever reliable Shinji Okazaki is 5/4 to net anytime, with other forwards Leonardo Ulloa and Demarai Gray 5/4 and 7/2 respectively to dispatch on home soil.
For the visiting side, towering frontman Bafetimbi Gomis is 11/4 to strike anytime for Francesco Guidolin’s Swans, while fellow attacking dangers Alberto Paloschi and Gylfi Sigurdsson are both available at the same odds for a goal of their own.
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