ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Premier League Weekend

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK looks ahead to the pick of this weekend’s Premier League matches…

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TOTTENHAM v BRIGHTON
Saturday, 5.30pm

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The Roberto De Zerbi revolution at Tottenham got off to a far from dream start.

Last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland saw Spurs slip into the relegation zone for the first time since 2009.

It also saw their captain Cristian Romero ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a freak injury colliding with his OWN goalkeeper.

Romero’s tears were a microcosm of Tottenham’s season and I am more convinced than ever that there is not going to be a happy ending in their battle to avoid the humiliation of dropping into the Championship.

De Zerbi’s first home game in charge is against his former club Brighton on Saturday and the Seagulls are in excellent form, with five wins from their last six games.

Victory in north London could see the visitors move up to sixth if other results go their way and at 11/8 to win with starsports.bet look a very backable price to me.

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CHELSEA v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 8pm

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Saturday night sees a crucial game in the race for a Champions League place as sixth-placed Chelsea host third-placed United.

Both teams suffered chastening defeats last weekend as Chelsea were thumped 3-0 at home by Manchester City and United lost 2-1 to Leeds at a stunned Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have a wretched record at Stamford Bridge, winning only one of their last 12 visits and have lost in each of the last two seasons.

They are also light at the back with both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez suspended, the later for his brainless hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Chelsea’s loss to City means Liam Rosenior’s side have won only one of their last seven games against meaningful opponents, discounting the 7-0 FA Cup drubbing of League One strugglers Port Vale.

With teams behind them in the table starting to cluster up, there is a fear among Blues fans they may miss out on Europe altogether, let alone the top five.

Having said that United’s home form has been far better under Michael Carrick than on their travels so I am going to avoid the win markets.

Casemiro was sent off when these two met in the reverse fixture earlier in the season but is in good goal-scoring nick and has found the net against Chelsea in the past.

The outgoing Brazilian to score at any time is 17/4 with starsports.bet.

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MANCHESTER CITY v ARSENAL
Sunday, 4.30pm

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What a game in prospect on Sunday afternoon as leaders Arsenal attempt to get their stuttering season back on track when they travel to nearest title challengers Manchester City.

The incentive for City is that if they win this one then they will have the chance to draw level on points with the Gunners when they go to Burnley next Wednesday for their game in hand.

Pep Guardiola’s men also have the phycological advantage having beaten Arsenal at Wembley in the EFL Cup final to spark the north Londoners’ recent slump.

Arsenal may be Champions League semi-finalists for the second year in a row, but their dour 0-0 draw at home to Sporting in mid-week hardly inspire confidence they can go to the Etihad and emerge with three points.

Mikel Arteta also has fitness doubts over a number of key players including Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard so the travelling fans should be fearing the worst.

It is not a particularly adventurous bet but City to win at 4/5 with starsports.bet look too good a price to ignore.

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CRYSTAL PALACE v WEST HAM
Monday, 8pm

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The final game of the weekend is a big one in the relegation battle as West Ham make the trip from east to south London to take on Conference League semi-finalists Crystal Palace.

The Hammers climbed out of the bottom three by thrashing Wolves 4-0 last weekend.

From looking dead and buried at the turn of the year, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games.

While the bulk of their wins come at the London Stadium, this feels like a good time to play Palace in the afterglow of the Eagles’ European quarter-final triumph over Fiorentina.

Palace have only tasted victory at Selhurst Park in the league twice since November so I am going to back West Ham’s greater need for points to come through.

Jarrod Bowen did everything but score against Wolves and looks back to his best so I am going for a build-a-bet of West Ham to win, under 3.5 goals, under 3.5 cards and Bowen to score at any time which returns 17/1 with starsports.bet.

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RECOMMENDED SELECTIONS
1️⃣ BEST BET: Manchester City to win 2pts at 4/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
2️⃣ NEXT BEST: Brighton to win 1pt at 11/8 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Casemiro to score any time 1pt at 17/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: West Ham to win, under 3.5 goals, under 3.5 cards and Bowen to score at any time 0.5pts at 17/1 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: Brighton, Manchester City, Leeds, Southampton 1pt at 13/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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