There is some mid-week Premier League action for soccer fans to look forward to this week, with four fixtures taking place on Thursday evening. There are some compelling fixtures at both ends of the league standings, including Watford’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United looking to bounce back from their damaging run of defeats against Aston Villa.
Relegation Rivals In Action
The big game this week sees teams at the bottom of the standings in action. Watford will be looking for a second win under Roy Hodgson when they come up against Wolves. The hosts have lost their last three games in the Premier League, while their record on a Thursday in the league is also weak, as they have been beaten on all three previous occasions.
However, Watford also have a poor record in mid-week fixtures, as the Hornets have lost 18 of their previous 22 games played away from home in the middle of the week. Their latest victory in a mid-week fixture came against Arsenal in January 2017. Wolves have only twice done the double over the Hornets, with West Midlands side last achieving the feat in 2008-09. The Hornets have a poor record on the road against their rivals this week, having won just three of their previous 20 visits to Molineux.
Elsewhere at the bottom of the standings, Leeds United will be looking to end a run of three straight home defeats. The Whites have a poor record in this fixture, as they have won just once in their previous nine home games against Aston Villa. Away sides have dominated this fixture in recent years, with the side playing on the road having lost on just three occasions in the previous 16 meetings. That record could continue with a success for the Villa.
Chelsea In Action, Newcastle Looking For Another Win
Chelsea are also in action on Thursday as they take on struggling Norwich City. The Canaries already look down in the Premier League, and are without a win in their previous 13 games against the Blues in the Premier League. Chelsea have also won the previous five played against Norwich, which includes the 7-0 win that they achieved earlier in the season.
The Blues also have an excellent record in midweek fixtures, having gone unbeaten in their previous four. Meanwhile, Norwich have won just once in their previous 29 midweek fixtures in the Premier League.
Newcastle’s form has seen them easily move to safety in the Premier League this season. However, they come up against the Saints this week, who have an excellent record in this fixture. Southampton have lost just twice in the previous 20 home games that they have played against Newcastle.
However, the Toon have lost just once in their last nine games against the Saints, and won this fixture 2-0 last season. This will be a tight fixture in the Premier League, but I expect Southampton to bounce back from their defeat against Aston Villa and maintain their unbeaten home record, which currently stands at ten.
Premier League Picks:
- Wolves @ -134
- Aston Villa @ +150
- Chelsea @ -334
- Southampton @ +100
