ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Midweek Premier League

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK looks ahead to the pick of the midweek Premier League matches…

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BRIGHTON v CHELSEA
Tuesday, 8pm

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Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior returns to the club where he ended his playing career in desperate need of a result.

The Blues’ hopes of Champions League qualification were further dented by a tepid 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

Chelsea have now lost each of their last four Premier League games and five of their last six in all competitions. They have also failed to score in five of those defeats.

Brighton’s fortunes are much more positive and victory for them would leapfrog Chelsea in the table.

Not only are Fabian Hurzeler’s men one of the division’s most in-form teams they also have a good recent record against Chelsea and beat them 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the reverse meeting in September.

Danny Welbeck was on the scoresheet that day and features in my 11/1 build-a-bet which is Brighton to win, Welbeck to score and Marc Cucurella to be carded against his former club.

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BURNLEY v MANCHESTER CITY
Wednesday, 8pm

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Manchester City can go top of the table for the first time since the opening weekend of the season by winning their game in hand at Turf Moor on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola’s side cranked up the pressure on current leaders Arsenal with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in Sunday’s summit showdown at the Etihad, landing this column best bet in the process.

The Citizens trailed Arsenal by nine points but have hit top gear at just the right time and they have lost just one of their last 20 Premier League games, although six of those have ended in draws.

Burnley have had a very disappointing campaign and unless they can come up with a shock victory, their relegation back to the Championship will be rubber stamped.

It is not beyond the realms of fantasy that the destiny of the title will be decided on goal difference, and while even a 1-0 victory would put City top on goals scored surely Guardiola will see this as the perfect opportunity to rack up a big win.

City have already put five past Burnley once this season and going further back, Burnley have lost the 11 meetings between the pair.

Clarets boss Scott Parker has lost five from five against Guardiola by an aggregate score of 16-1.

City at -2 on the handicap at 21/20 with starsports.bet is my idea of the bet of the week.

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BOURNEMOUTH v LEEDS
Wednesday, 8pm

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All eyes were on Bournemouth on Saturday to see how their players would react to news of manager Andoni Iraola’s Impending departure at the end of the season.

The Cherries responded in flying colours with a 2-1 victory at over Newcastle at St James Park and are now unbeaten in a club record at 13 Premier League games, winning six and drawing seven.

That impressive run has propelled them to eighth place in the table, level on points with Chelsea in sixth.

The players appear motivated to ensure Iraola leaves on a high by securing a place in Europe for the first time in their history.

That will be music to the ears of the former Dortmund and Leipzig boss Marco Rose, who has now been officially announced as Iraola’s successor come the summer.

Leeds meanwhile all but secured their Premier League status with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to basement boys Wolves, following on from their impressive 2-1 triumph at Manchester United six days earlier.

That means manager Daniel Farke can turn his attentions firmly to this weekend’s upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley.

Bournemouth to win and both teams to score pays at 13/5 with starsports.bet looks appealing.

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RECOMMENDED SELECTIONS
1️⃣ BEST BET: Manchester City -2 on the handicap 2pts at 21/20 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
2️⃣ NEXT BEST: Bournemouth to win and both teams to score 1pt at 13/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Brighton to win, Danny Welbeck to score and Marc Cucurella to be shown a card 0.5pts at 11/1 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: Brighton, Hull, Southampton, Bournemouth 0.5pts at 25/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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