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A round-up of the weekend’s top flight football with recommended bets for each match. All odds given are best on the market; just click on any of the links, sign up with the relevant bookie and claim your free bets.

Aston Villa v Everton:

Robbie Keane is in line for a debut with yet another side and will want to follow Thierry Henry’s lead by making an instant impact after arriving from the US. There has to be a good chance he will also start on the bench, so a ‘last goalscorer’ bet may be favourable at 13/2 (Bet365). Being a sub didn’t stop Henry.

Blackburn v Fulham:

With the Ewood Park crowd continuing to fill the home dressing room with more dread than any away game, Fulham look a bargain to win at best odds of 6/4 (Boylesports). Rovers have lost 8 out of 10 there and Fulham are on a good run. Clint Dempsey is on a rich vein of form and tends to score against this opposition; he’s 7/1 (Bluesquare) to break the deadlock.

Chelsea v Sunderland:

The Mackems are on electrifying form under the new boss, while AVB is under real pressure in the home dugout. The upset at long odds is worth considering. For those backing Chelsea, a shrewd punt could be Ramires to score ‘anytime’ at 11/4 (PaddyPower) after three in his last two. The Brazilian midfielder now has just two fewer than top scorers Sturridge and Lampard, with eight in all competitions.

Liverpool v Stoke:

Very much the sort of fixture that has been the achilles heel for the Reds this season. Liverpool may be unbeaten at Anfield in the league, but six draws from 10 outings is disappointing. Worse sides than Stoke have held Dalglish’s men; it’s 7/2 (Boylesports) that the spoils are shared again in this one. Gerrard is back though, he’s 5/1 (Bet365) to open the scoring and make it four goals in five since his return.

Man Utd v Bolton:

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to know what you will get from the champions these days. Crushing defeats to Blackburn and Newcastle, then 3-0 up at half-time against City. What I am sure of is that 1/6 (totesport) are miserable odds for a home win. It was a nervy 1-0 last season after a late Berbatov winner for the hosts; the same scoreline appeals at 10/1 (Skybet).

Tottenham v Wolves:

Spurs are pretty short odds to win (3/10 Coral) but to do so with a clean sheet tidies up the price to a respectable 21/20 (WilliamHill). That would have been a winning bet for five of the last six at White Hart Lane. Steven Fletcher is the danger man for the visitors - he’s already scored at Old Trafford and Anfield this term. He is 4/1 (Skybet) in the ‘anytime’ goalscorer betting.

West Brom v Norwich:

The Baggies have significant injury problems and struggle for consistency. But they won at Carrow Road in September to make it four league wins in a row against the Canaries. Norwich are having a fine season however, and it’s hard to look past a draw at 5/2 (Betfred). Steve Morison fired in a late winner at Loftus Road recently and he could be the most likely in the first goalscorer market at 9/1 (totesport).

Newcastle v QPR:

After thumping Man Utd 3-0, the visit of a side without a win in their last eight will leave the natives highly expectant in Newcastle. But this really has the makings of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show.’ Goal machine Demba Ba is off in Africa, along with influential midfielder Cheick Tiote. And then we have the possible new manager effect for QPR with Mark Hughes’s arrival. A 0-0 draw would surely suit him and looks like value at 11/1 (Sportingbet).

Swansea v Arsenal:

The Thierry Henry fairytale glossed over a pretty uninspiring Arsenal performance at home to Leeds on Monday night. Having recently lost to Fulham and dropped points against Wolves, Wenger should be worried. Make no mistake, Swansea deserve consideration at odds of 4/1 (StanJames) to win this one.  It should be tight no matter what; Sportingbet go 13/5 on there being under 1.5 goals in the match.

 

Wigan v Man City:

This fixture has suddenly become massive, with City likely to kick-off with United and Spurs level on points with them at the top of the table. Playing last could bring extra pressure on leaders already in a slump after two cup defeats this week. The Latics held Liverpool and Chelsea last month; another draw is 15/4 (Boylesports). But Wigan struggle for goals and City are 29/20 (WilliamHill) to be the only goalscorers.