Welcome to Tipster Picks!
We all need a bit of help sometimes, and our tipping trio are always on hand to share their wisdom in our games. They are:
- The Mailman – Better service than De Bruyne
- The Teacher – Giving lessons on a weekly
- Incognito Pro – The best spy since Bielsa
Will you follow their advice, or go your own way?
Ahead of the Football Survivor and Big5 2024/25 season, the tipsters have been mining the data once again:
The Mailman says…
- My pick: “Bournemouth only won two of their first eleven Premier League encounters with Southampton, but have now won the previous two against the Saints and will be strong favourites at St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday. The Cherries are currently on their longest ever unbeaten run on the road in the top-flight, without a loss in their last six league games away from home and Justin Kluivert will be hoping to become their first player to score in four consecutive away appearances. Southampton did beat Ipswich 2-1 last time out in the Premier League but have lost their previous six home fixtures, conceding 22 goals!“
- Potential pick: “Crystal Palace host Everton on Saturday, and although they have not beaten the Toffees in the last eight meetings between the two sides, Palace are entering this fixture in fine form. After only winning three of their first eighteen games of the season, Palace have since won four of their last six in the league and have kept three clean sheets in their previous four matches. David Moyes is on an unbeaten league run with Everton so far but has lost all three previous encounters with Oliver Glasner; twice against Frankfurt in the Europa league, and once against Palace while in charge of West Ham.“
- Risky pick: “Tottenham did beat Brentford 2-0 away last time out to end a four-game losing streak in the league, but have since been knocked out of both the League and FA Cups in a week to forget for the injury-plagued side. Spurs host Manchester United on Sunday, and they have not won in their previous seven league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which is their longest such run in the competition since 2008. The five defeats that Tottenham suffered there in this seven game period, are also more than they have lost in their previous seventeen home fixtures!“
The Teacher says…
- My pick: “Nottingham Forest head to Craven Cottage on Saturday, where they lost 5-0 the last time they faced Fulham there. However third-placed Forest are in scintillating form and a win this weekend will see them reach 50 points in a top-flight season for the first time since 1996 and in 25 games, would be in their second-fastest time ever. Chris Wood scored a hatrick and Anthony Elanga got three assists in Forest’s 7-0 thumping of Brighton in their last league game, and since the start of the season Elanga has assisted in 10 of Wood’s goals, the most for a specific player in that time!“
- Potential pick: “Newcastle are away to the defending champions this weekend, but are on an incredible run of form on the road in all competitions, where they have won six in a row and scored sixteen times. This could be the weekend where the Magpies break their curse away to Manchester City who have beaten them in their previous fifteen Premier League away ties. City were heavily beaten by Arsenal 5-1 last time in the league, and will still be reeling from their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Etihad. Anthony Gordon will also be a threat as the Newcastle player has scored in each of his last two league games against the Citizens.“
- Risky pick: “Manchester United may fancy their chances this weekend against a struggling Tottenham side, but United were humbled 2-0 at home by Crystal Palace in their last league game. Since Ruben Amorim took charge in November, the Red Devils have lost seven of thirteen league games and only five teams have picked up fewer points than Manchester United’s fourteen in this period. Tottenham have already beaten United twice this season, 3-0 in the reverse fixture and when they knocked them out of the League Cup quarter-final in a 4-3 thriller!“
Incognito Pro says…
- My pick: “Bournemouth’s win against Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday means that they are undefeated in seven games on the road in all competitions, and prior to their defeat at home to Liverpool they were unbeaten in twelve both home and away. Bournemouth travel to St. Mary’s to take on Southampton this weekend and following their 3-1 win in the reverse fixture, they will be hoping to complete the league double over the Saints for the first time. Southampton showed some promise with their second league win this season against Ipswich, but were knocked out of the FA Cup by Burnley shortly after!“
- Potential pick: “Nottingham Forest hammered Brighton 7-0 in their previous Premier League outing and have been victorious in eight of their last ten games in the competition, with five of their ten clean sheets this season also coming in their previous eight games. They are sitting comfortably in third place in the table, are four points clear of fourth placed Chelsea, and will be full of confidence ahead of their fixture against an in-form Fulham side on Saturday. Fulham got an impressive 2-1 win away against Newcastle in their last league game but have not won at Craven Cottage in their previous five league matches there.“
- Risky pick: “Everton could be a tempting pick this week after holding Liverpool to a draw in the Merseyside derby meant that David Moyes’ side are undefeated in the league since he took charge, but it is worth noting that his three wins have been against struggling Leicester, Spurs and Brighton sides and they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Bournemouth. Also, their opponents this weekend are Crystal Palace who beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford in their last league game and have only lost once in their previous nine fixtures in all competitions.“
Good luck!