Premier League betting tips: Kai Havertz’s injury and Man Utd on the glass mountain in moccasin slippers

The Premier League has a knack for throwing up curveballs, and this week’s twist is the injury news surrounding Kai Havertz, leaving Arsenal in a bit of a bind.

Meanwhile, Manchester United continue their slippery climb up the metaphorical "glass mountain," wearing those all-too-comfortable moccasin slippers.

Here, Sports News Blitz’ Bookie Basher takes a look at what’s on the cards this week, and whether Havertz’s absence and United’s struggles can help us cash in.

Brighton vs Chelsea

Brighton knocked the Blues out of the FA Cup last weekend. Will it be revenge or repeat this Friday night on the south coast?

A rousing comeback inspired by Georginio Rutter sent Chelsea packing on Saturday night, and the Frenchman has been a key player for Brighton since signing last summer in a club-record £40 million deal.

Rutter oozes class and looks too big at 9/1 to score first against a Chelsea side that have not kept a Premier League clean sheet since December 22.

Chelsea are so inconsistent. Sublime one week, massive collective wet fart material the next.

They've spent over £1.5billion on players since December 2019. Just outrageous, eye-watering sums.

They've been a banter club in my eyes ever since I found out part-owner Todd Boehly asked James Corden for advice on football matters.

One simply cannot have Chelsea at 5/4 here. An absolutely appalling, almost criminal price. If I didn’t pride myself on not being a grass I would almost certainly report it to the gendarmes.

Suggested Bet: Rutter to score first at 9/1 (bet365/Ladbrokes/Skybet)

READ MORE: Brighton vs Chelsea: Five key battles and score prediction for Premier League clash

Leicester City v Arsenal

It’s not really happening for Ruud van Nistelrooy and Leicester City, with the Foxes tucked inside the bottom three now - a huge 11/1 (if you shop about) to win at home against the Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s mob don’t have to focus on any domestic cup competitions anymore after that EFL Cup semi-final loss to Newcastle.

However, they are still in the title race and will know they cannot slip up here against a Leicester side who have looked poor for a while now.

The Kai Havertz injury news isn’t great if you follow Arsenal.

Gooners, if Havertz is done for the season, who do Arsenal have left who can play up front?

The Foxes have picked up just seven points from 33 available in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 11 matches in the Premier League, and they just don’t as though they have enough quality to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal here.

Suggested Bet: Draw / Arsenal (Half-Time - Full-Time) at 16/5 (Hills/888 Sport)

Crystal Palace v Everton

Nice to see Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner show the FA Cup some proper respect on Monday night.

Indeed, the Eagles are on a decent run but before you think about lumping the home win, please be aware that Palace have won just one of their last 20 Premier League games against Everton (D9 L10).

Following their 2-1 win at Goodison Park in September, Everton can complete the league double over Palace and look puntable at 100/30.

Suggested Bet: Everton to win at 100/30 (Betfair Sportsbook/Paddy Power)

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Liverpool v Wolves

They may be out of the FA Cup but who is stopping Liverpool’s title march? Not Wolves I’ll wager.

Seven points clear, this looks like Arne Slot’s year.

For me, the most telling part of Slot’s playing style - compared with Klopp’s machine gun funk approach - is how much more measured it is.

First half is all pretty casual. Suss out the tactics and do just enough. Then blast through the gears as required in the second stanza, win the match, and move on.

He may be as bald as a badger, but Slot's team are a well-oiled machine, and always seem to have enough in reserve.

Laugh it up fuzzball.

Suggested Bet: Liverpool to win 3-0 at 15/2 (bet365)

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United

It's pretty f***ing nuts to think these English giants are meeting in February and sit fourteenth and thirteenth in the table respectively.

Tottenham can at least point to a cartoon injury list. For Manchester United fans it must just feel massively depressing.

I watched that FA Cup tie against Leicester last time out and have never seen so many passes given away or such an obvious lack of overall strategy.

The Red Devils have scored just 28 goals in 24 Premier League matches this season at a goal-per-game average of 1.17 - only Leicester, Ipswich, Southampton and Everton average less.

Remember that bizarre period a few years ago when Paul Merson couldn’t preview a Premier League game without describing strugglers as being on the "old glass mountain with moccasin slippers on?”

Well, Manchester United are on a glass mountain cutting about in moccasin slippers.

Merson metaphors aside, if you think I’m wasting a score on the draw at 11/4 in Sunday’s late game, you’d be spot on.

Suggested Bet: Draw at 11/4 (betway/Skybet)

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The Bookie Basher

The Bookie Basher has been providing betting tips for decades, since the dawn of the internet really, and will write the Betting Blitz column for Sports News Blitz every week, giving guidance on how to bash the bookmakers.

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