Opta Stats: Everton to match Chelsea in Blues battle

With the help of Opta, Christian Crowther picks out four bets from the closing Premier League fixtures of 2012...

 

Aston Villa v Wigan (Saturday, 15:00)

No team has scored fewer home goals than Villa this season (8) and only West Ham (5), have scored fewer away goals than Wigan (6)

Aston Villa's fledgling squad have quickly gone from the sublime to the ridiculous in their last three games, following up their best performance of the season at Anfield with an 8-0 hiding from Chelsea before failing to register again in a home 0-4 thumping by Tottenham. Not helping the Villans is a string of injuries, absentees including potential goal-getters Gabby Agbonlahor, Andreas Weimann and Darren Bent. With similarly toothless Wigan in town, themselves ravaged by injuries, this could be a paint-drying exercise at Villa Park.

 

Fulham v Swansea (Saturday, 15:00)

Swansea's last two away games have produced just one goal in total

On a similar theme, two sides meet at Craven Cottage with goalscoring again a mutual problem. Swansea's last three league games have averaged a goal each whereas their hosts Fulham have troubled the scoresheet only twice in their last three league games. Michael Laudrup will point to a new-found resoluteness as the reason for his entertaining side's lack of action, while Martin Jol would have to admit his team are struggling at present.

 

Everton v Chelsea (Sunday, 13:30, Sky Sports 1)

Everton have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games against Chelsea (W3 D4 L1)

Not many teams in the top flight boast as good a recent record against the three-time Premier League champions as David Moyes' Everton. Both clubs are fighting it out for those precious Champions League spots at present and are playing very well too, chasing their third festive win in a row. Everton are unbeaten at home this season and, as they did against Tottenham, will fight tooth and nail to protect that record.

 

QPR v Liverpool (Sunday, 16:00, Sky Sports 1)

No team have scored fewer first-half goals than Rangers this season (6)

This should be billed on Sky Sports as the battle of the big disappointments as both sides have fallen way short of expectations this term. While there are many differing factors which have prevented success, applicable to both is a lack of goals. In Rangers' case, especially at Loftus Road, they have not been able to impose themselves on the match within the first 45 minutes, which builds pressure to score in the second half - something Liverpool have managed five times in their last four league matches.

 

Recommended Bets:

Back Under 1.5 goals in Aston Villa v Wigan @ 3.4

Back Under 2.5 goals in Fulham v Swansea @ 2.04

Back the draw in Everton v Chelsea @ 3.4

Back the second half to be the highest scoring in QPR v Liverpool @ 2.1

 

Bet HERE

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