Premier League betting tips: Trust in Declan Rice, and brace yourself for a Manchester Derby short on fireworks

The Premier League rolls on, and after a midweek dose of chaos (with Chelsea vs Spurs still to come Thursday night), it’s time to see where the value lies this weekend.

Sports News Blitz’s Bookie Basher is back with more tips - because let’s face it, we could all use a win.

How are we getting on? I don’t know about you - and don’t want to sound too dramatic but the working week continually restarting is properly ruining my life.

I know, I know. Bank Holiday soon, right? A time to rest, relax, recharge.

And if the opportunity presents itself drink 15 pints and throw plastic chairs at a riot van.

I digress. Some tasty Premier League games this weekend so let’s get cracking.

In Declan Rice we trust…

Everton vs Arsenal

Let’s have it right. The priority for Arsenal’s new sporting director surely has to be getting a proper number nine through the door this summer.

An early-kick off trip to Goodison won’t be easy and while a returning Bukayo Saka will rightly be the pre-match media focus, I am actually all over Declan Rice to have more than one shot against the Toffees at odds against.

After playing mostly in the holding role for the Gunners last term, the England star has been given a bit more freedom this season by Senor Arteta.

Indeed, in his last 15 matches, he’s had at least one shot in 14 of them.

The camel coats don’t seem to have fully cottoned on to this trend, so I am all over the 13/10 that he gets at least two shots off this weekend.

Suggested Bet: Rice to have 2 or more shots at 13/10 (Paddy Power)

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest are going for a third Premier League win in a row here and there is clear daylight now between them and fifth place Newcastle.

Nuno Espirito Santo deserves to win Manager of the Season ahead of Liverpool boss Arne Slot if he can guide the Tricky Trees into the Champions League promised land, but a trip to Villa is never easy.

Both teams are in great form, but Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 14 home Premier League matches (seven wins and seven draws) since losing to Arsenal in August.

Forest beat Villa 2-1 in December but in the corresponding fixture last season, Villa won 4-2 at home.

There seems so little between the teams I reckon the draw could be a shout at 11/4.

Suggested Bet: Draw at 11/4 (Betfair Sportsbook)

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Fulham vs Liverpool

Liverpool claimed bragging rights on Merseyside with that win over rivals Everton on Wednesday night and it would take an act of God to prevent them winning the league from here.

The Reds require only 13 points from a possible 24 available to guarantee a record-equaling 20th top-flight triumph, and they are surely a bet to win in London?

Liverpool have scored 38 goals in 15 away Premier League matches this season, at an average of 2.53 goals per game.

Luis Diaz was excellent on Wednesday, and Liverpool’s options up top are the reason they are so close to another title success.

Fulham will give it a go here - and my hunch is they will score - but Liverpool should be backed to get the job done at Craven Cottage.

Suggested Bet: Liverpool to win & both teams to score at 13/5 (General)

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Manchester City going into this without Erling Haaland - the quickest player ever to reach 100 Premier League goals and assists - is not ideal.

The big fella’s absence certainly limits the champions as an attacking force. Talking about attacking forces, we need to talk about Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Zirkzee played 78 minutes at the City Ground in midweek and failed to have a shot, register a single touch in the Forest penalty area or create a single chance for his team-mates.

How naughty are those stats? Zirkzee has now been without a goal in the Premier League since December 1, 2024. That's fully 17 appearances ago. Wow.

Indeed, the Red Devils had 23 shots at the City Ground but suffered a 1-0 loss to Forest and this particular Manchester derby reeks of a low-scoring sh*t show (I can’t get excited about the away win at 11/10 given how vulnerable Pep’s mob have looked on their travels this season).

It’s been a season to forget for both managers to this point.

It’s also hard to know whether all this is taking it out of Ruben Amorim, due to his subtle tactic of starting each day looking like he slept in his car.

Suggested Bet: Under 2.5 goals at 13/10 (bet365)

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