As the FA of England still celebrates it’s 150th centenary year, the most commonly played fixture in English football History is meetings between Aston Villa and Everton, this Saturday afternoon being the 215th.
This game usually promises goals as well as entertainment; the five previous Premier League meetings have seen 20 goals registered, with last season’s 3-3 at Goodison Park being a particularly thrilling, end to end encounter. This weekend the action will take place in the heart of Birmingham, at Villa Park, a ground where Paul Lambert’s men have conceded at least 2 goals in each of their last three home matches.
Roberto Martinez’s attacking philosophy looks to be finally taking shape after a succession of 0-0 draws for the Toffee’s at the beginning of the season has now given way to 17 goals in their last four games, all ending with Over 2.5 goals being scored.
This game is being billed as the battle of the big Belgian strikers with Christian Benteke of Villa and Romelu Lukaku of Everton both very important, talismanic spearhead’s of the two Grand Old Clubs’ forward line. Lukaku managed to score in his first four game for the Blues, while Benteke also has a tally of 4 goals. Their shots to goals conversion rate is amazingly exactly the same at 28.6%, with only Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero boasting a higher percentage amongst Premier League strikers.
I’d go for the Over 2.5 goal result at 1.95 Euro odds or 19/20.
Southampton’s impressive run of form should continue this weekend after the confidence boost of grabbing a late equaliser at Old Trafford last Saturday in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Their opponents this Saturday will be a Fulham team who have made a slow start to the campaign, but have been bolstered recently by two successive victories, which has taken the pressure off Boss, Martin Jol.
Fulham will find their visit to the St Mary’s stadium a hell of a lot harder than their trip to Selhurst Park on Monday night, where they put Crystal Palace to the sword 4-1, and cost Ian Holloway his job. Saints Boss, Mauricio Pochettino is a man whose job is entirely secure, as Southampton currently sit in 6th place in the table with the best defensive record in the League.
Southampton have been involved in 11 successive under 2.5 goal games in the League, while crucially, they have not conceded a goal at home in their last three games on the south coast. I’d go for the Under 2.5 goal result here at 1.95 Euro odds or 19/20.
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