Opta Stats: Tottenham to dominate QPR at Loftus Road

Guided by Opta's insight, Christian Crowther chooses four bets for this weekend's Premier League action...

 

QPR v Tottenham (Saturday, 12:45, Sky Sports 1)

Tottenham have scored the highest percentage of second-half goals in the Premier League this season (72%)

Tottenham are on the charge as they seek their fifth straight win and Harry Redknapp's former pupils are likely to leave little room for sentimentality at Loftus Road.  Despite winning at Chelsea, Rangers will face a barrage from the word go and, having led less times than any other side in the league (six), their visitors should be  well on their way to victory by the break, particularly as their last two games suggest that Spurs are finally getting in the habit of scoring the first half. If so,  Spurs are well practised in ramming home a few more in the second 45.

 

Everton v Swansea (Saturday, 15:00)

Everton have scored the highest percentage of first-half goals in the Premier League this season (57%)

Thanks to some smart finishing (and Branislav Ivanovic), Swansea clinically executed their second smash-and-grab raid on a top London club this season in the Capital  One Cup on Wednesday night. However, the Welsh side will have had little more than 60 hours to recharge before kicking off for this Premier League match on Merseyside  against an Everton team who clearly have no trouble finding the net pre-turnaround. The Toffees should take early advantage of any Swans' fatigue.

 

Reading v West Brom (Saturday, 15:00)

The Royals have shipped more goals than any other team in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season (12)

If you had to list all of Reading's on-pitch problems this season then it would require a fairly lengthy piece of parchment. Shipping goals would have to come top of  any such dossier and not least conceding late on in matches. One of the Premier League's most golden rules is not to switch off in the latter stages of games but  Reading clearly didn't read their manuals properly back in the summer. West Brom's top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who has grabbed over half his goals in the final 20  minutes, could be the latest beneficiary of any Royal's late slackness.

 

Arsenal v Manchester City (Sunday, 16:00, Sky Sports 1)

There have been just five goals scored in the last five meetings in all competitions between Arsenal and City

This will rightly be billed as one half of a pretty 'Super Sunday' even by Sky Sports' often hyperbolic standards. Nevertheless, those in search of goal-filled  entertainment may have to look elsewhere in the weekend's schedule. The champions have actually failed to score on each of their last five visits to Arsenal's shiny  new stadium. Judging by September's drab 1-1 dress rehearsal at the Etihad Stadium, the unders trend is no closer to being bucked. No wonder many visiting fans didn't  fancy the £62 admission fee.

 

Recommended Bets:

Back Tottenham to lead at half-time and full-time away to QPR @ 2.98

Back Everton to be winning at half-time v Swansea @ 2.14

Back Romelu Lukaku to score last in Reading v West Brom @ 7.8

Back Under 2.5 goals in Arsenal v Man City @ 2.2

 

Bet HERE

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