What a week Round 21 was!
It saw one of THE goals of the season scored by West Ham’s Andy Carroll, new Hull manager Marco Silva making a winning start to his tenure and Pep’s Man City dropping out of the top four after a humbling defeat against Ronald Koeman’s Everton.
Active punters prior to the West Ham-Palace game would’ve also put a fair bit of money on Manuel Lanzini scoring because of his incredible stats against the Eagles. His record against Palace prior to Saturday’s game read “played 3, scored 3”. And guess what, the Argentine scored for the FOURTH game running against Palace, with an exquisite chip that would have garnered far more praise if it hadn’t been overshadowed by Carroll’s incredible overhead kick effort.
Lanzini scores a beaut against Palace (VIDEO)
If you had noticed Lanzini’s record against Palace and put some money on him scoring, you’ve been a very happy punter come full time at the WHUFC v Palace fixture. If not, no worries- check out this in-depth look at two of the most crucial sections to focus on if you want to join millions of happy punters each season.
Premier League markets are incredibly fun to bet on. From last-minute winners to manager meltdowns, the Premier League has been the most entertaining league in the world for over 25 years. Bettors invest in various markets, from who’ll be title winners at the end of each season to which striker will win the coveted Golden Boot for scoring the most goals.
Goal scorers
When it comes to goal scorers, you should be looking at three facets before placing your wagers. Those are, in order of importance, reliability, form and value.
Sergio Aguero is a phenomenal talent and will always score goals in the Premier League. He is the prime example of a reliable striker. The odds for him notching first can be as long as +400, which is an excellent return for a striker of his goal-scoring prowess.
Form is vital when deciding whom to back. Teams in good form often have a wealth of scoring talent. If a team is on a good run, look at the players with solid goal scoring records in previous seasons who are yet to catch fire in the current campaign. Also, back streaky players when they catch fire. When forwards find form and confidence, back them even if the returns aren’t brilliant as they’re bound to score in bundles.
Many inexperienced bettors head straight for the strikers because they are the most likely to score. However, some defenders and midfielders are known to score crucial goals and the returns can be extremely fruitful, especially in tight games between top opposition.
In games between top sides, players such as John Terry, Gary Cahill and Vincent Kompany have historically scored the opener in games. Those particular players don’t score anymore but are great examples of long shot, clutch bets. They offer huge returns and, if you pick the right fixture, can pay out more than you’d thin.
Some players are also more prone to score against certain teams. Harry Kane performs brilliantly in London derbies and is a great bet to score in those particular fixtures.
Winning and Futures Markets
Teams with the most momentum at the tail end of the season usually win the most titles. While many factors contribute to this, it is worth remembering the high-profile collapses from the runaway leaders in some seasons:
Backing a team such as Arsenal to win when they are top of the table in December is a bad bet more often than not. You’re getting poor potential returns for a team who is renowned for making a precipitous fall from grace.
People often look back on Manchester United’s consistency and give all the credit to their overall talent and depth. While that’s true, United were at their most imperious in seasons where they signed talented players desperate to make a name for themselves and win the title. United signed Dwight Yorke ahead of the treble-winning season. Robin van Persie, who ended his quest for the Premier League title just a few short months after arriving at Old Trafford, is another example of a key, timely signing that pushed the Red Devils over the line.
The most reliable market is the over 2.5 goals bets. Aside from teams without recognised Premier League scorers (often the promoted teams), games frequently go over the 2.5 goals mark. Backing low-priced favorites in games against weaker opposition isn’t the best investment.
You should back good home teams regardless of their position in the standings, especially when they’re playing teams who don’t fare well on their travels.
The greatest league in the world is dubbed as unpredictable but that’s not entirely the case. You just have to know where, and how, to source bets with the best value.