Black Cats, Hammers, Clarets and Saints in Premier League action

Coral writers preview current Premier League top six clubs West Ham United and Southampton, as they face respective trips to strugglers Sunderland and Burnley.

Sunderland v West Ham
Sam Allaryce’s Hammers are a team in superb form, winning their last three Premier League games and six of their previous nine, taking them up to fourth place, ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton.

Sunderland, on the other hand, have not really recovered from their humiliating 8-0 defeat to the Saints, gaining just one victory from their seven matches since.

As a result, visitors West Ham go into this this encounter as the slight 13/8 favourites with Coral to take all three points. They won 2-1 in this same fixture at the Stadium of Light last season, and are tempting 9/1 chances to record that scoreline again.

Gus Poyet’s Black Cats, though, were convincing 3-0 victors the campaign before, so take odds of 7/4 if you fancy them to end West Ham’s run and take three crucial points. A draw, meanwhile, is priced at 23/10.

Former Newcastle United centre forward Andy Carroll will be relishing this battle in particular, as he returns to his old rivals. The Gateshead-born frontman, who netted twice last time out against Swansea City and last season against the Mackems, is 5/4 to net again anytime, and 7/1 for two or more.

Sunderland’s Scotland striker Steven Fletcher is in line to return to the XI, and he is 7/4 in the anytime market. Emanuele Giaccherini and Billy Jones, meanwhile, are out injured, but Sebastian Coates is available. Only Mark Noble misses out for West Ham.

Burnley v Southampton
The Saints are another side who have battled above their weight so far this term, although are currently on a run of three straight losses, and four games without a win in the Premier League.

Ronald Koeman’s men are still up in fifth in the table, and are odds-on favourites at 3/4 to see off Burnley on the road. They have won their last two battles against the Clarets in all competitions.