Seeley’s Selections – Saturday’s Live Premier League

The first live Premier League match of 2015 could have been a better one the TV big-wigs have chosen the clash from The Stadium of Light between Sunderland and Liverpool to start the New Year off, well it can only get better.

Sunderland v Liverpool, 12:45 Saturday, BT Sport 1
The Reds travel here as amazingly BoyleSports’ odds-on favourites at 10/11 to win this one. Why? What has Brendan Rogers’ side done to warrant such short odds?

I couldn’t touch them with my barge pole or yours, especially when only Burnley and QPR have conceded more away goals than them and they have lost more games than won away from Anfield.

That said, how could we make a case for backing Sunderland either at the 7/2 available with BoyleSports? We can’t.

Gus Poyet’s men have only won once all season at home and have become somewhat of the draw specialists drawing 9 of their last 19 matches and by process of elimination, another stalemate is the best bet in this one at BoyleSports’ stand-out bargain of 13/5.

Earlier in the season when the two met at Anfield, it ended in a 0-0 draw and given that four of Sunderland’s last 10 matches have also ended goalless, that’s tempting again in this one with no goalscorer available at 17/2 with BoyleSports.

Instead of steaming into back the 0-0, there are a couple of other ways to get against goals in this one. Seven of the home side’s last 10 matches have seen less than three goals scored and this is a fixture that very rarely produces goals with seven of the last eight previous meetings featuring less than three.

Under three goals here looks banker material again at BoyleSports’ 20/23 but last season this match ended 3-1 to Liverpool and that’s a 13/1 with BoyleSports for a repeat here. I really can’t see goals and if we do get one, we will be very lucky and that will surely be the winner and for both Both Teams To Score punters the “NO” it must be in your weekend long-lists at evens.

Since Steven Gerrard has announced his end of season departure to the MLS he’s netted four times in his last two matches. Stevie G was the only real quality on show in the FA Cup against AFC Wimbledon and his double set-up a fourth round clash with Bolton. The Liverpool skipper is 6/1 to keep his goalscoring form going with the opener and 10/1 to score two or more again both with BoyleSports.

I can’t see lightning striking three times and I expect this to be a bore-draw.

Seeley’s Selections:
Draw @ 13/5
Correct Score 0-0 @ 17/2
No Goalscorer @ 17/2
Under 2.5 Goals @ 20/23
Both Teams To Score – No @ Evens

Crystal Palace v Tottenham, Saturday 5:30pm, Sky Sports 1
The Alan Pardew Premier League era starts for Crystal Palace on Saturday evening when his side host in-form London rivals Tottenham at Selhurst Park in what is a very tricky clash for the new manager.

Pardew got off to a winning start in his new managerial reign in the FA Cup 4-0 drubbing at Dover last weekend but this is one of the toughest challenges in the Premier League at the moment and I don’t expect his winning start to continue.

Pardew has spoken in the press conferences ahead of this London derby about the challenge he is facing to keep his new side in the Premier League this season and with just one win their last 14 league matches, he may have to wait to get back to winning ways.

The Eagles are 13/5 with BoyleSports to give the new boss a perfect home-coming, but I would want a bit more than the new manager effect to back a side that has failed to score in four of their last six matches.

Tottenham travel here on the back of a 5-3 demolition of Chelsea in their last league appearance (DVD available in the club shop) and Mauricio Pochettino will have a job on his hands to keep his side’s feet firmly on the ground and extend their unbeaten run to eight matches, but I think he’s capable of it.

I like the visitors here at the 23/20 available with BoyleSports. I think they have too much quality in every department and although I believe Pardew will keep Palace up this season, he’s going to have to wait a week or two to get his first Premier League win. Palace have only won once in their last six home clashes with Spurs and that unwanted record for Eagles fans looks set to continue.

The only good news from me for the Selhurst Park faithful is that I can see them ending their goalscoring league drought here and Both Teams To Score is a worth a small play at BoyleSports’ 4/5.

With goals expected at both ends, seven of Tottenham’s last 10 wins have been by a 2-1 margin, and that again looks the most likely score-line which will carry a couple of quid of my money at the very generous 15/2 with BoyleSports.

It’s not an original call, but it does look an obvious one, in-form Tottenham striker Harry Kane looks the most likely first goalscorer at BoyleSports’ offer of 4/1. Kane, who tore a rock-solid Chelsea defence to pieces with a New Year’s Day brace, has already netted seven Premier League goals this season and with confidence sky high, the 23/20 with BoyleSports on him scoring at anytime is the much the better play.

REMEMBER “Double Bubble” – if Harry Kane or any of your first goalscorer selections on ANY Premier League game this weekend nets the opener inside the first 20 minutes, BoyleSports will double the odds on your winning selection!

B Lucky!

Seeley’s Selections:
Tottenham to win @ 23/20
Both team to score – Yes @ 4/5
Correct Score: Palace 1-2 Spurs @ 15/2
Harry Kane Anytime Goalscorer @ 23/20
Harry Kane First Goalscorer @ 4/1 (8/1 Double Bubble)