The English Premier League continues this mid-week, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Bournemouth vs. Southampton and Manchester City vs. West Ham United matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Bournemouth vs. Southampton
Three-Way: 1: Bournemouth +218; X: +235 Draw; 2: Southampton +170 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Bournemouth +122; Southampton -123
Total +2.5: Over +127; Under -130
BOURNEMOUTH
The Cherries are without a win in the last two Premier League matches and the latest 1:2 home defeat to Burnley sent them to the 15th position with 14 points, two behind Southampton. Chris Wood and Robbie Brady scored for the Clarets at Vitality Stadium to give a 2:0 lead to Burnley, while Joshua King clawed one back in the 79th minute, but it proved to be insufficient for Bournemouth’s comeback. Eddie Howe’s side is a slight underdog in the New Forest Derby, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cherries get three points here.
Bournemouth played 17 games so far in the 2017/18, recording seven victories, two draws, and eight losses, with a goal difference of 18:18, which is 2.11 goals per contest on average. The Cherries are in hot and cold form at home this season as they won only one out of the previous four matches at Vitality Stadium. The Saints were the better team when the two sides met last time in Bournemouth; it was 3:1 for Southampton.
Callum Wilson is the team’s top scorer with four goals in six appearances, while Joshua King with three, and Andrew Surman with two goals are right behind him on a goal-scoring chart. The right-winger Jordon Ibe is the best assist maker with three dishes to his name, but Howe needs to see more from the former Liverpool player, and Ibe can make difference in this tilt, so he should be closely monitored as a potential MOTM. Eddie Howe cannot count on the pair of defenders Brad Smith (groin) and Tyrone Mings (back), while Junior Stanislas is doubtful with a groin injury.
SOUTHAMPTON
The Saints suffered an unlucky defeat to Man City at Etihad as Raheem Sterling scored the last-gasp goal in the 96th minute to give a 2:1 win to the Citizens. Southampton was down after Kevin De Bruyne gave a 1:0 lead to Pep Guardiola’s team early in the second half, but OriolRomeu equalized and Southampton bravely fought to preserve a draw until Sterling scored a winner. Mauricio Pellegrino’s side is currently in the 11th position in the Premier League and a potential win here could send them back to the top half of the table.
Southampton played 15 games in this campaign, recording four victories, four draws, and seven losses, with a goal difference of 14:19, which is 2.20 goals per contest on average. The Saints didn’t win in the last four away matches in the Premier League, and they conceded in each of them, so the hosts have a solid opportunity to find the net behind Fraser Forster’s back.
The captain Steven Davis, Manolo Gabbiadini, and Charlie Austin are the team’s leading scorers with three goals apiece, while Dusan Tadic added a couple of goals to his name at the moment. Shane Long, Ryan Bertrand, and Nathan Redmond recorded a pair of assists, but Long and Redmond must improve as they didn’t contribute to the attack sufficiently thus far. Mauricio Pellegrino is delighted to have all of the players at his disposal as no new injuries occurred as all of them are healthy and raring to go.
Bournemouth vs. Southampton – Match Prediction
Southampton’s defense is quite leaky lately and I am sure they will allow at least one goal at Vitality Stadium, but the offense showed improvement and I think the saints will also score here.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-109)
Manchester City vs. West Ham United
Three-Way: 1: Manchester City -526; X: +1250 Draw; 2: West Ham +3000 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2.5: Manchester City -119; West Ham +120
Total +4: Over +110; Under -115
MANCHESTER CITY
The Citizens continued with their phenomenal run as now they have 19 wins in a row and after the latest 2:1 victory over Southampton, when Raheem Sterling scored a winner in the dying seconds, it seems that Man City is destined to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side has eight points more than their city rivals Manchester United, but no matter what other teams are doing and how they are struggling to keep the pace with them, City is not slowing down. They are huge favorites against the deflating West Ham in a tilt between the top offense and the worst defense in the Premier League.
Manchester City played 21 games in this season, recording 20 victories and a draw, with a goal difference of 60:13, which is almost 3.50 goals per contest on average. The Citizens won eight out of the previous ten H2H meetings at Etihad, while West Ham managed to win just once, and it was in 2015. Guardiola’s team has ten wins in a row at home and judging by the Hammers’ current form, I believe City will continue that winning streak.
Raheem Sterling is the team’s top scorer with 13 goals in 19 appearances, while Sergio Aguero with 11, Gabriel Jesus with ten, and Leroy Sane with eight goals are following him on a goal-scoring chart. Kevin De Bruyne recorded a goal and an assist in a win over Southampton, and is the most creative player at Etihad alongside Davis Silva, as they have ten assists to their respective names, while Sane added eight dishes thus far. Pep Guardiola will be without defenders Benjamin Mendy (cruciate ligament injury) and John Stones (hamstring), while Sane is doubtful with an illness.
WEST HAM UNITED
The Hammers lost both away matches since David Moyes took over the reign at London Stadium, and West Ham is without the Premier League win in the previous five, so it’s needless to say they need a positive result on Sunday. However, Moyes’ side is facing the hottest team in Europe and he should be happy to leave Etihad with only two or three goals in his net, so the former Everton manager surely doesn’t count on points here. West Ham lost 0:4 to the Toffees at Goodison Park as Wayne Rooney destroyed them with a hat-trick, while Manuel Lanzini missed a penalty in the 59th minute when the result was 2:0 for the hosts. The Hammers are in the 18th position with ten points, and it seems that they will remain in the relegation zone after this tilt.
West Ham United played 17 games in the 2017/18 season, recording five victories, four draws, and eight losses, with a goal difference of 20:32, which is a bit over three goals per contest on average. The Hammers conceded at least a goal in the last eight matches, so I reckon they will have a mountain to climb to keep the net intact at Etihad, and that is practically impossible.
Andre Ayew is the team’s leading scorer with five goals in 15 appearances, while Chicharito with four, and Diafra Sakho with three goals are also the key contributors to the attack. The Argentinean playmaker Manuel Lanzini is the best assist-maker with three dishes to his name, and he will be looking to bounce back after missed penalty, so Lanzini is the player to watch for the visitors. David Moyes cannot count on Jose Fonte (malleolar), but Chicharito (hamstring), and Sam Byram (thigh) could be back into contention and are listed as doubtful.
Manchester City vs. West Ham United – Match Prediction
The Citizens are expected to defeat the sorry visitors on Sunday, but I still think that it will not be an easy win. I expect the visitors to play strong on the defensive end, limiting the City’s forwards to only a few goals, not allowing the total goal count to exceed 4.
MY PICK: Under 4 goals (-115)
