Top 5 bets this sporting weekend

What’s the biggest game in the Premier League this weekend?

Leaders Chelsea face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in the match of the weekend looking to improve a surprisingly bad record against the Red Devils. The Blues haven’t beaten United in the past seven meetings, with United winning three of the last four. A run of five defeats in their last seven games cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job, and caretaker Michael Carrick knows that if they perform as badly as they did in Solskjaer’s last game, last week at Watford, they will get hammered. This could be Carrick’s only Premier League game in charge, with German Ralf Rangnick set to take over until the end of the season.

Total Goal Minutes (146-156)

United looked much more solid at the back in the 2-0 win at Villarreal in midweek than they have of late, and we’ve seen some selling in some of our goals markets with punters expecting a tight game. Indeed, both of last season’s Premier League games between these two finished goalless, but selling Total Goal Minutes in a game featuring United not only means you’re backing against Cristiano Ronaldo scoring, but also that defence that looked all over the place a week ago against lowly Watford holding firm against mighty Chelsea, who could be set to welcome back first choice forwards Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.

Who are the champions playing?

It’s 2^nd v 4^th at the Etihad on Sunday, when Manchester City welcome this season’s surprise package, West Ham. City will be out for revenge, having seen the Hammers knock them out of the EFL Cup on penalties at the end of October, ending their amazing reign as holders of that trophy, having won it four years straight. Both teams won in Europe in midweek to qualify for the knockout stages, City coming from behind to beat PSG in the Champions League, while West Ham were in Austria beating Rapid. City have won their last five home games against West Ham.

Headed Goal Minutes (21-24)

Both of these teams possess big threats at set plays, with excellent headers of a ball, and fantastic delivery from either side. Phil Foden and Aaron Cresswell both whip in left-footed crosses with plenty of pace that beg to be headed home. Even though these two teams played out a goalless draw in that EFL Cup clash, there are generally goals in this fixture, and West Ham have given as good as they got this season against the big boys, including ending Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season just before the international break.

Will Newcastle win their first game of the season?

The Premier League weekend kicks off with Arsenal against Newcastle at the Emirates. The Magpies have lost their last nine games at Arsenal, and haven’t even managed a goal in their past five visits, so it doesn’t bode well for new manager Eddie Howe as he takes his seat in the dugout for the first time. Arsenal are looking to bounce back themselves after the 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool, but they’d gone eight matches unbeaten before that, and a home game against the bottom club who have such a tragic record in this fixture looks like the perfect tonic.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Super Mega Minutes 53-61

Arsenal’s star striker has had a disappointing season so far, but he loves a game against Newcastle, and plenty of punters will be backing him to get among the goals on Saturday lunchtime. Aubameyang has scored at least once in all five games in the Premier League and FA Cup between these two sides over the past two seasons, and given Newcastle’s current plight, he’ll be confident of extending that record.

What is the biggest horse race of the weekend?

All eyes are on Newbury this weekend for the Trophy Chase on Saturday afternoon. Willie Mullins leads the Irish challenge with Ontheropes the ante-post favourite. Cloth Cap, the winner 12 months ago, is back for another crack, though with the severe weather forecast in England this weekend, it might be best to check the conditions on Saturday afternoon.

Eklat de Rire (4/1)

Only once in 109 runnings has the winner of this race gone off at 14/1 or bigger, so it may be worth looking at the shorter priced horses. Henry de Bromhead has excelled at the big jumps meetings this year, and his big threat to win the Trophy Chase is Eklat de Rire. At Cheltenham in March, de Bromhead became the first trainer to land the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the same year before landing the Grand National a month later. Rachael Blackmore, who rode National winner Minella Times for De Bromhead, will be going for glory on Eklat de Rire, and his preference for heavy ground and the predicted bad weather has seen him come into favouritism this afternoon.

What other sport is on this weekend?

The Davis Cup is being held across three venues this weekend, and Team GB play their games against France and the Czech Republic in Innsbruck on Saturday and Sunday. The competition has changed in recent years and is now the self-style world cup of tennis, with 18 teams in six groups of three playing a round robin format. The six group winners and two best runners-up make the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals and finals set for Madrid next weekend. No fans will be allowed in Great Britain’s group games because of the lockdown in Austria, but fans are set for Madrid. While there’s no Andy Murray, GB have one of the strongest teams, with Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans both currently ranked in the top 25, and doubles players Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski both having enjoyed Grand Slam success this season, Salisbury winning the US Open and Skupski the Wimbledon mixed doubles.

Great Britain to win the Davis Cup (12/1)

Being without Andy Murray used to spell the end of any chance of Great Britain winning the Davis Cup, but with Norrie and Evans in such good form, and two genuine doubles specialists waiting in the wings, this squad looks strong. This competition is synonymous with raucous crowds and electric atmospheres, so playing in an empty arena in Austria will feel pretty flat. If GB can make it through though, and as long as no further lockdowns come in, the Madrid semis and finals will be a festival of tennis, GB just have to book their place this weekend!