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Premier League Preview: A Midweek Motza to be Made

The remainder of the matches postponed for Cup fixtures and international breaks are played out over the next few days, with Champions League aspirants involved in all three. Hope you love backing goals - the model has found plenty in three midweek games to get April off to a flyer!

ARSENAL v NEWCASTLE UNITED

Tue 2 April 6:00am EDT

The Play: Both to Score - YES

After Spurs threw a point away at Anfield on Sunday evening, the door is ajar for places three to six on the table to jostle for two Champions League spots. With one point splitting the four contenders going into Monday night’s clash at the Emirates, Arsenal need to survive a growing injury list to return to UCL football.

Even with several missing personnel, they’d fancy themselves to stretch out an unbeaten home run to 16 matches against a Newcastle side suffering their equal worst season since 2013/14. Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey are doubtful, while Lucas Torreira misses this midweek game through suspension. 

Newcastle are without Fabian Schar (suspension and injury), Jamaal Lascelles and Rob Elliott, with Jonjo Shelvey likely to enjoy a rare start in midfield. Salomon Rondon is absolutely flying, having scored in three consecutive appearances for club and country, which ought to instill confidence in any Stats Insider follower who will be snapping up the orange smiley for both teams scoring in this clash.

The Gunners have scored two or more in their last seven at home, as well as in their last 12 against Newcastle, so they should be holding up their end of the bargain with ease. Recent clean sheets at home to Chelsea and United would be of some concern in regards to this play, but the Maggies have found the back of the net in six of eight away trips against top-half opposition.

Whereas the bookies have the “yes” option for both teams scoring as the narrowest of favourites, the Stats Insider model is producing that result in 57% of 10,000+ simulations at the time of publication. Our live match pages will keep you updated on any changes as we creep closer to kick-off. 

VIEW STATS INSIDER'S FREE MATCH PREDICTIONS


CHELSEA v BRIGHTON

Thur 4 April 5:45am EDT

The Play: Over 2.5 Goals / Both to Score - YES

Chelsea are another side having to balance a most crucial mid-week battle with continental preparations, as the Blues face six games in 20 days including a Europa League quarter-finals tilt with Slavia Prague. 

They resume their late-season charge with a home clash against one of the worst travelling sides in the league in Brighton (W3, D2, L10 on the road), who have never managed to keep Chelsea to less than two goals in any of their three Premier League clashes this century. 

Six separate goalscorers in their last five league matches suggests they’re a potent force irrespective of any rotation. Most league fans would envy Chelsea’s two potential paths to the Champions League, yet Chelsea’s support is engaging in open war with the unpopular Maurizio Sarri. 

40% of Chelsea’s home games and 60% of Brighton’s away matches have produced over 2.5 total goals, with the Seagulls scoring in three of five away trips against top-half clubs. The bookies have the overs as comfortable favourites given Chelsea’s attacking options and the fact that Brighton have conceded in their last ten league games on the road. 

At time of writing, 63% of 10,000+ simulations are coming up with three or more total goals, which identifies a six percent edge in our favour. The model finds even greater value in both teams scoring, which is near a 50/50 call according to the model. Both teams have scored in Brighton’s last five on the road, and followers will be hoping for a repeat of the 2-1 result to Chelsea in the reverse fixture. 

VIEW STATS INSIDER'S FREE MATCH PREDICTIONS


TOTTENHAM v CRYSTAL PALACE

Thur 4 April 5:45am EDT

The Play: Both to Score - YES

Only Huddersfield and Fulham have collected fewer points than Tottenham in their last six league matches, illustrating the deep rut that Spurs have fallen into. Lillywhites everywhere will be hoping the new stadium can bring about a change of fortune as they enjoy five of their remaining seven fixtures at home.

Crystal Palace have won their last two on the road, albeit against much weaker opposition, but will be full of confidence having picked up 14 points from their last eight matches. They’ve been a thoroughly entertaining side to watch at both ends, with four of their last five league games producing over 2.5 total goals (thanks to 11 goals in total from them alone) and both teams scoring in all but one of their last six (and in eight of their last ten). 

Tottenham, once considered one of the greatest back fours the Premier League has to offer, has kept just one clean sheet at home in six matches, but have leaked goals at home against just two bottom-half clubs. 

Stats Insider followers get another double play to enjoy here, with four percent edges both in favour of over 2.5 total goals (61% likelihood) and both teams scoring (55% likelihood). 

VIEW STATS INSIDER'S FREE MATCH PREDICTIONS

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Aaron Murphy

Armchair critic in all sports that don't involve tackle counts. Unashamedly biased towards Victorians. Stands up because he loves the darts. Wisden Almanacks are his idea of a good book. If he's not playing sport, watching sport, or talking sport, he's thinking about sport. Sport.

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