The Coral Football Jackpot has rolled over yet again. We normally guarantee customers a pool of £100k, but because the top prize still has not been won this season, that will now be a massive £425k.
Chelsea v Aston Villa – Home win The Blues are still unbeaten in all competitions this term and boast the Premier League’s top scorer in Diego Costa. Jose Mourinho’s men have won all their top-flight games on home turf so far this season and put 10 past the Villans over their last two meetings at Stamford Bridge.
Crystal Palace v Leicester City – Away win After holding Arsenal and Everton to draws and slaying giants Manchester United last time out, the Foxes will be relishing their next clash against the Eagles. Leicester have lost just one of their last eight encounters with Palace, who have only taken five Premier League points from a possible 12.
Hull City v Manchester City – Away win Current champions City did the double over Hull last season, and will have the wind in their sails after a morale-boosting draw with table-toppers Chelsea. The Tigers are struggling, with just one win in five Premier League games, which should make them easy prey for Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
Manchester United v West Ham United – Home win Last time they played at Old Trafford, United crushed QPR 4-0, and Louis van Gaal will be expecting a similar performance when Sam Allardyce’s side come to visit. The Red Devils relish duelling with the Hammers, and have not lost to them in their last seven encounters in all competitions.
Southampton v QPR – Home win QPR have been cannon fodder so far this season, and now face a Southampton side who are unbeaten at home and sit second in the league. The Saints, fresh from defeating Arsenal in the FA Cup, will entertain a Hoops team that have won just once in all competitions.
Sunderland v Swansea – Draw The Swans are in a rich vein of form right now; however, the Black Cats can dig their claws in when they want to, and might be hard to beat on Wearside. Sunderland haven’t had the best of starts, though at home in the league have drawn both of their games against Man United, and Spurs. Garry Monk’s side collected three points at the Stadium of Light on the last game of the previous season running out 3-1 winners.
Birmingham v Fulham – Draw The Cottagers showed character against Blackburn as they succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat following Felix Magath’s sacking. Their 2-1 win over Doncaster in the Capital One Cup will have raised morale, and they face a Birmingham side who haven’t won in six league games, and hover perilously above the drop zone.
Blackburn v Watford – Home win This has all the bearings of a cracker; although Blackburn have struggled for consistency this term, they still sit two points off a play-off spot. Despite being in fourth, Watford have also displayed a similar kind of form, though ultimately it could come down to home advantage, with Ewood Park a hostile place for visitors.
Bolton v Derby – Draw Derby are unbeaten in five matches in the league, two points off the play-offs, while the Trotters are at the wrong end of the table. The Lancashire outfit have claimed just one Championship win this season, though boss Dougie Freedman is confident of a change in fortunes. If the crowd gets behind them, they could just snatch a valuable point.
Charlton v Middlesbrough – Draw Two teams that are doing well in the Championship may not be divided in south London. Boro will want to maintain their play-off status and, after a gruelling Capital One Cup tie against Liverpool, may be content with a point, while their hosts are a point off the top six.
Nottingham Forest v Brighton – Home win Neither of these sides have won at home in seven of their last eight meetings with each other, but recent form suggests Championship table-toppers Forest should see off 18th-placed Brighton, who are without victory in four games. Back Stuart Pearce’s side to get over their midweek Capital One Cup heartache.
Arsenal v Tottenham – Home win North London derbies are always ferocious, so expect more fireworks and a high scoring encounter. Arsenal are currently in better Premier League form than bitter rivals Spurs, and have won each of their last four home games in league and cup against them.
Reading v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Draw Newly-promoted high-fliers Wolves travel to Berkshire club Reading, but know that they have lost three of their last four meetings with them, and to nil. One of those matches was a draw at the Madejski, and that looks the likely outcome here again.
West Bromwich Albion v Burnley – Draw Both these clubs sit in the Premier League’s bottom quarter of the table and, with Burnley drawing their last three, back that outcome again. Their last meeting at The Hawthorns ended in that result in the FA Cup in 2009.
Stoke City v Newcastle United – Home win The Potters have lost just one of their last seven home league games against the Magpies, and won their previous two at the Britannia. Alan Pardew can’t seem to gel his new-look team, and his tenure as Toon boss is looking all the more precarious as they lie at the foot of the table.
