ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League Midweek

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK landed his best bet at the weekend, and he looks ahead to the pick of the midweek Premier League matches, including another boosted ALEX ACCA.

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⚒️ WEST HAM V MANCHESTER UNITED 🔴
Tuesday, 8.15pm

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You would not have believed it a month ago, but Tuesday’s clash in east London is a meeting between two of the Premier League’s most in-form teams.

West Ham have given themselves a fighting chance of staying up by winning three of their last four games while Manchester United boast a 100 per cent record from Michael Carrick’s four games in charge.

If they can make it five wins from five the rejuvenated Red Devils will open up an eight-point gap on Liverpool in the race for a Champions League place for 24 hours at least.

But Hammers old boy Carrick knows that will not be easy with United having lost on each of their last three visits to his former club.

This is also the first midweek game Carrick has had to manage so it will be interesting to see if he rotates any players having named the same team for the last two games.

Either way, United will not have it easy against the rejuvenated Hammers, but I am backing Carrick to clock up his fifth straight win, especially as the hosts have lost 12 and won only four of their last 20 Premier League games at the London Stadium.

It might even help United that West Ham are in good form as they are more likely to go on the front foot, leaving gaps for the likes of Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo to exploit in behind.

United have led at half-time in three of Carrick’s four games at the helm so United to be winning at half-time and full time at 13/8 with starsports.bet looks a solid proposition.

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🦅 CRYSTAL PALACE V BURNLEY 🟣
Wednesday, 7.30pm

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Palace gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm by picking up a much-needed 1-0 victory at bitter rivals Brighton on Sunday.

That ended a nine-game winless run for Oliver Glasner’s side and put daylight between them and the bottom three.

The FA Cup holders have a golden chance to record back-to-back victories when they welcome a Burnley side without a win in 16 games to Selhurst Park on Tuesday night.

The only time the Clarets have gone 17 top-flight games without a win was back at the start of the 1889-90 season, but it is hard to see manager Scott Parker avoiding an unwanted place in the record books.

The fight seems to have gone out of Parker’s team and Palace have an extra spring in their step following the transfer window signings of Jorgen Strand Larsen and Evan Guessand.

Guessand set up Ismaila Sarr’s goal at the Amex and club record signing Strand Larsen will want to make an immediate impression with Palace fans on his home debut.

If, like me, you fancy a Palace win with Strand Larsen scoring first you can combine those selections with both teams to score, no, as a build-a-bet at 7/1 with starsports.bet.

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⚫️ SUNDERLAND V LIVERPOOL 🔴
Wednesday 8.15pm

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Liverpool’s quest for a top-five finish suffered another set-back as they slumped to a dramatic 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City on Sunday.

As costly as dropping three points having led until the 84th minute was Dominik Szoboszlai’s late red card which means the Hungarian will miss Wednesday’s trip to fortress Stadium of Light.

Szoboszlai has been the champions’ best player in what has been an underwhelming title defence, even when asked to play out of position at right back as he was at the weekend.

Sunderland are also without their star man Granit Xhaka due to injury, but can boast being the only team yet to lose a Premier League home game.

Even with Xhaka watching from the stands, the Black Cats held their own at leaders Arsenal on Saturday for much of the game and the hosts’ 3-0 win was not really a fair reflection on the game.

Victory for Regis Le Bris’s surprise package would see them draw level on points with their visitors and Arne Slot’s men do not travel well, winning just two of their last ten league games on the road.

Liverpool would be ecstatic to come away with a win but with no Szoboszlai, I do not rate their chances so Sunderland/draw double chance at 11/10 with starsports.bet is the way I’d play it.

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🐝 BRENTFORD V ARSENAL 🔴
Thursday, 8.15pm

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Whisper it quietly but Brentford boss Keith Andrews is rivalling Mikel Arteta in the manager of the season stakes.

It looks an unnecessary gamble when Andrews was promoted from set-piece coach to replace Thomas Frank in the summer having previously been overlooked for the top job at lowly MK Dons.

But clearly the Bees board knew something the rest of us didn’t and far from being the relegation candidates many of us predicted, Brentford have their eyes on a European place.

Andrews has even got his team winning away, but the fact they go into these midweek fixtures in the lofty position of seventh in the table is largely down to their impressive home form.

Only Manchester City and Nottingham Forest have tasted league victory at the Gtech this season so Arteta will not be taking the trip from north to west London lightly as his side aim to take another step closer to ending their 22-year title drought.

The Gunners have bounced back impressively from losing at home to Manchester United by beating Leeds 4-0 and Sunderland 3-0.

With captain Martin Odegaard injured, Declan Rice has stepped up as a real driving force and has come up with some big goals this season. I like the look of the England international to score first at 10/1 with starsports.bet as my long shot of the week.

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2️⃣ NEXT BEST: Manchester United half-time-full-time 1 pt at 13/8 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Declan Rice to score first 0.5 pts at 10/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Crystal Palace to win, both teams to score no, and Jorgen Strand Larsen to score first 0.5pt at 7/1 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: Southampton, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Arsenal 9/1 (boosted from 15/2) 1pt (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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(FEB 2026): PROFIT/LOSS: -4.95 points

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